Category Archives: Optimal Health

Optimal Health

Taking Care of Immune Health

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Getting ready to take a brisk walk with Francesca. Being outdoors surrounded by nature is one of our favorite ways to maintain a positive outlook.
Getting ready to take a brisk walk with Francesca. Being outdoors surrounded by nature is one of our favorite ways to maintain a positive outlook.

I find it heartwarming to see so many examples of resilience and compassion making headline news. Glass walls may separate the most vulnerable from their loved ones, but care and love are still on full display. Older folks may need to shelter in place, but neighbors are stepping up to help shop for supplies or lend a helping hand.

It’s important to realize just how connected we all are. If we focus on staying healthy and positive, we’ll have an easier time navigating the uncertainty ahead. Plus, the better we take care of ourselves, the better we are able to help those around us.

Videoconferencing from home. Many employees are moving to remote work to help maintain social distancing.
Videoconferencing from home. Many employees are moving to remote work to help maintain social distancing. 

Putting it all into perspective

Staying informed can go a long way to helping you feel calmer. But be careful not to overdo it. Even the experts suggest that we take breaks from watching and listening to the news, including social media, to avoid becoming too anxious.

Staying positive can help too. In fact, a positive attitude is directly linked to a healthy immune system. What’s more, researchers recently found that optimism is a trait associated with living longer. For this study, the researchers compared results from two large, independent, long-term surveys. One survey was the decades-long Nurses’ Health Study with more than 69,000 women, 70 years of age on average, followed for 10 years. The other was the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study, with about 1,400 men, 62 years of age on average, followed for 30 years.

Both groups reported how optimistic they were, whether they felt in control of important situations in their life, and if they expected good or bad things to happen to them in the future. Findings are published in the September 2019 issues of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Not only did the more optimistic and positive participants live longer, they lived up to 15 percent longer. To me, that’s an impressive difference just by looking on the bright side of things.

“Optimistic individuals tend to have goals and the confidence to reach them; thus, optimism may foster health-promoting habits and bolster resistance of unhealthy impulses through greater engagement with one’s goals, more efficacious problem-solving, and adjustment of goals when they become unattainable,” explain the researchers.

Interestingly, the researchers say your outlook is about 25 percent inherited, but the rest is learned and influenced by your social connections.

Time to choose more foods that support your immune defenses

It’s always a good time to let your positivity and optimism shine. What better way to start than by focusing on a healthy diet to fortifying your body’s immune defenses? 

Whether you’re heading to the kitchen to prepare more home-cooked meals or ordering food delivered, I encourage you to keep healthy food choices top of mind. Of course, before preparing or eating any food, it’s important to wash your hands with clean water and soap for at least 20 seconds. And, as you think about each meal and snack, ask yourself, “What is the best choice I can make to fortify my immune defense?” 

For inspiration, here are five essential immune-boosting nutrients and ideas for foods you can add to your menu now and all year long:

1. Vitamin C

Slices of orange and lemon. All citrus fruits—oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits and more—are a rich source of vitamin C.
Slices of orange and lemon. All citrus fruits—oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits and more—are a rich source of vitamin C.

For all its body benefits, vitamin C is most recognized for its role in immune health. Without it, you would be hard-pressed to maintain the protective membranes that line your nose, mouth, throat and intestinal tract. Your body would also have a hard time producing and activating key immune cells and maintaining a healthy inflammatory response.

Fresh fruits and vegetables, especially oranges, lemons and other citrus fruits, are your best food sources. Although, don’t overlook frozen options as freezing helps retain the vitamin. In fact, commercially frozen foods are often higher in vitamin C than their fresh counterparts shipped across long distances and stored on supermarket shelves.

2. Zinc

A meal featuring garbanzo beans (chickpeas). Garbanzo beans are a good source of zinc.
A meal featuring garbanzo beans (chickpeas). Garbanzo beans are a good source of zinc.

Zinc is critical for healthy immunity in large part because it is required for the optimal function of neutrophils, natural killer cells and other immune cells. Plus, zinc helps maintain the integrity of skin and the protective membranes that line the nose, mouth, throat and intestinal tract. 

You’ll find zinc in meat, fish, poultry, milk and milk products, but don’t overlook plant sources such as nuts, enriched cereals, garbanzo beans and other legumes, and whole grains.

3. Vitamin A

Vitamin A helps maintain the integrity of your skin. In this way, it fortifies your body’s first line of defense against foreign invaders. Plus, vitamin A plays a central role in the ability of white blood cells to develop and differentiate. All good stuff for immune health.  

Animal foods are a source of pre-formed vitamin A (retinol), but don’t overlook plant foods that contain carotenoids like beta-carotene that easily convert to vitamin A in the body. For this reason, one of the easiest ways to boost your intake of this protective vitamin is to add more fruits and vegetables to your daily plate, especially orange, yellow and green varieties. 

4. Vitamin E

Nuts and seeds. A good source of powerful vitamin E.
Nuts and seeds. A good source of powerful vitamin E.

While most people recognize vitamin E as a powerful antioxidant, it also helps fortify the body’s immune defenses. Why? Molecules and enzymes in immune cells use vitamin E to help maintain optimal function.

Just about any meal or snack is an opportunity to boost your intake of vitamin E. You’ll find it in a wide variety of foods like fortified cereals, vegetable oils, seeds, nuts and nut butters. Fruits, vegetables and fish are also good sources.

Toss a few sunflower seeds on top of scrambled eggs at breakfast. Grab a handful of almonds as a mid-day snack, or serve up a spinach salad with a drizzle of olive oil at dinner. It all adds up to more support for your hard-working immune cells.

5. Vitamin D

In the body, the major circulating form of vitamin D (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D) is a potent immune modulator. Nutrition experts attribute this action to an intracellular vitamin D receptor and key enzymes expressed by immune cells that metabolize vitamin D. So, it’s important not to skimp on this immune defender.

Yes, you can produce vitamin D in your skin from sunlight, but it may not be enough. So be sure to add food sources to your daily plate. Fatty fish, egg yolks and cheese are natural sources and other foods may be fortified with vitamin D.

Of course, you can fill any nutrient gaps between what your diet provides and what your body needs when you include Double X multivitamin in your daily routine.

The real value of prevention 

There’s no debate that healthful habits practiced throughout a lifetime go a long way to helping people of every age stay healthy in good times and bad. All without spiraling healthcare costs out of control or putting an undue strain on the healthcare system and healthcare personnel. 

While it may feel like we have little control over the environment or the economy these days, remember we do have control over how we react and adapt. 

Stay positive and take good care of yourself and those around you.

Sending lots of love, 

Dr. Sam Signature

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Optimal Health

Tap Into The Power of Sleep

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Two feet peek out from underneath a pink and white comforter.
Two feet peek out from underneath a pink and white comforter. A growing body of research confirms the power of sleep for immune function, weight management, blood sugar regulation, brain function and much more.

I remember back during my graduate school days, we really didn’t understand the benefits of sleep, let alone the damaging effects from too little of it. It was just something we needed to do. The less of it, many of my peers thought, the better, as more could be accomplished during the waking hours. It was like an honor badge to get by on less sleep. The idea, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead,” thrived and resonated with those interested in achieving more each day.

Those days are long gone.

Whole body benefits

Today, we know better, thanks to the growing body of sleep research. Study after study points to sleep benefits for immune function, weight management, blood sugar regulation, brain function and much more. 

It’s the brain benefits of sleep that are particularly exciting to me, including a potential protective effect against Alzheimer’s disease.

In one preliminary study,  researchers asked 15 healthy, young men to come into a sleep lab where they spent one night of 7 to 9 hours of restful sleep and then another night deprived of a full night’s sleep, in no particular order. 

After just one night of sleep deprivation, the men’s blood level of tau — a biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease — increased by an average of 17%. By contrast, after the night of restful sleep, the tau level increased by only 2%. Results are published in the January 2020 issue of Neurology.

More research is needed to explore the potential link between blood tau level and an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, but this preliminary finding is certainly intriguing. 

It makes you wonder what would happen with chronic sleep deprivation? 

A cat sleeps soundly under a quilt. Of all mammals, only humans willingly forego getting enough sleep.
A cat sleeps soundly under a quilt. Of all mammals, only humans willingly forego getting enough sleep.

Only humans are willing to give up sleep

All mammals sleep. Only we humans are willing to forego sleep. In UC Berkeley Professor Mathew Walker’s best-selling book, Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams, he explains that animals sleep even though they are vulnerable to attack by other animals in this exposed state. 

Sleep is that important. Some people – about 1% of the population– are genetically predisposed to function on only 4 to 6 hours per sleep per night. The vast majority of adults, however, need a solid 7 to 9 hours of shut-eye each night, although older adults can get by with 7 to 8 hours.

Woman asleep on bed. No question about it night of restorative sleep is like gold, and makes you feel like you can conquer the world.
Woman asleep on bed. No question about it night of restorative sleep is like gold, and makes you feel like you can conquer the world.

Better sleep sets up your day for success

If you’re like me, you want to wake up in the morning feeling rested and alert, and that comes from a good night of deep sleep without interruptions.

Here are a few tips that may help:

Stick to a routine. Go to bed and wake up at the same time even during the weekends. This helps your body’s natural circadian rhythm. Whatever you do, avoid the temptation to make up for lost sleep by sleeping more on the weekend. It doesn’t work that way. Worse, you’ll have a harder time waking up during the week.

Keep electronics and LED lights out of the bedroom. Electronics and artificial lights emit blue wavelength light that can trick the brain into thinking it’s daytime, which can lead to sleep problems.

Avoid heavy exercise and meals before bedtime. Too much exercise, alcoholic drinks or heavy meals too close to bedtime can lead to a fitful night’s sleep.

Keep your bedroom dark and cool. Ambient temperature is one of the most important factors that affects your sleep quality. If the temperature is too hot or cold, it can affect your body’s core temperature, and that can lead to fragmented sleep. So before you go to bed, set your thermostat to around 65°F (18.3°C).

Limit beverages close to bedtime. If you wake up during the night with the urge to urinate, it can disrupt your ability to get a good night’s sleep. The folks over at sleepfoundation.org have a good tip to help you stop those midnight trips. Cut down on your beverage intake about two hours before you go to bed, particularly caffeinated or alcohol drinks that can have diuretic effects. Drink your normal amount of fluids, just do so earlier in the day. 

Journal before bedtime. Some people find that writing their thoughts down on paper before they go to bed helps them leave their worries behind and allows them to get to sleep faster. Take 5 minutes or so and write down what’s on your mind — tomorrow’s “to do” list, something amazing that happened during the day, or something your grateful for – and you just may wake up less stressed and more refreshed.

Woman wide awake in bed. If you have trouble sleeping, get out of bed and do a soothing activity that can help you get back to sleep.
Woman wide awake in bed. If you have trouble sleeping, get out of bed and do a soothing activity that can help you get back to sleep.

Tossing and turning all night long

If you find yourself unable to sleep, despite even your best of intentions, here are two things you can do that may help:

  1. Leave your bed. It can be tough when you feel nice and cozy, but you don’t want to condition yourself to be awake while in bed. Get out of bed and do a calm, soothing activity — read, meditate, listen to music — that can help you get back to sleep. 
  2. Press reset. When the morning arrives, get outside and let the sun’s rays work their magic to help reset your circadian rhythm.

Better sleep, better life, better planet

March 13, 2020 is World Sleep Day. This annual event promotes awareness about the importance of sleep. This year’s theme is Better Sleep, Better Life, Better Planet. It seems like a really good theme to me, and a familiar one.

For those of you who are familiar with the Nutrilite philosophy, you’ll recognize sleep as a foundational pillar of optimal health along with nutrition and supplementation, exercise and positive attitude. Not only is this the best way to prevent disease, it’s the best way to enjoy life to the fullest.

Imagine, it can all start with a good night’s sleep!

Don’t you agree? Be sure to leave a comment, I would love to know what you think.

Cheers,

Dr. Sam Signature

P.S. Don’t forget to subscribe to our RSS feed and have blog posts delivered right to your inbox.

Optimal Health

What You Need to Know About Nutrient Testing: A Primer for Optimal Health

Dawna Venzon, PhD, RD., Principal Research Scientist, in the Prototype R&D laboratory. Buena Park, Calif. According to Dr. Venzon, "One of the best ways to make sure you get enough nutrients is to eat a balanced diet with plenty of vegetables and fruit."
Dawna Venzon, PhD, RD., Principal Research Scientist, in the Prototype R&D laboratory. Buena Park, Calif. According to Dr. Venzon, “One of the best ways to make sure you get enough nutrients is to eat a balanced diet with plenty of vegetables and fruit.”

Have you ever wondered what blood tests you need to determine if your nutritional needs are met? That is the question I recently received from a reader who also happens to be a very good friend of mine (Thank you, Lloyd!).

In order to get the most up-to-date information, I went straight to Dr. Dawna Venzon, PhD, RD. She is one of our resident nutrition experts here in Buena Park, California.

Dawna is full of energy and extremely passionate about optimal health, especially healthy eating. She is also a Principal Research Scientist for the Nutrilite™ brand. With talent and passion like hers behind the brand, it’s easy to see why people around the world consider Nutrilite products the best nutritional supplements around.

Dawna shared with me the challenges with today’s blood tests, what developments are on the horizon and, importantly, what we all can do right now to make sure we prime our bodies with optimal levels of nutrients. It’s all good information that I’m eager to share with you.  Read on to learn more.

Is there a simple way to test whether you are getting enough nutrients?

“Unfortunately, the answer is largely no,” says Dawna. She explains that the status of only a few nutrients like vitamin A or iron can be assessed through something as simple as a finger stick and a dried blood spot.

But those are the exception. In reality, using blood tests to monitor nutrient status is quite difficult. Although scientists are developing new techniques to make nutrient assessment easier and even avoid blood tests altogether by using measurements in the skin, eyes or other tissues. It’s certainly an exciting area of research. 

Using a lancet, an individual pricks a fingertip to obtain a drop of blood for testing. Only a few nutrients can be assessed using this method.
Using a lancet, an individual pricks a fingertip to obtain a drop of blood for testing. Only a few nutrients can be assessed using this method. 

Why is it so difficult to measure nutrients?

“The mystery,” says Dawna, “is largely because nutrients exist in such small quantities in the body, and we still need sophisticated analytical techniques to detect and measure them.” She points to three main factors that make monitoring nutrient status complicated. 

First, blood levels don’t always represent true nutrient status because nutrients are often stored in tissues and only released into the blood when needed. Calcium is a good example. While calcium is critical for bone health, it is even more important as an electrolyte in the blood. To maintain blood calcium, the body may pull calcium from bones, but this can compromise bone health. So, measuring the blood level of calcium might not be a reliable measure of whether or not calcium storage is adequate. In these cases, more complicated tests need to be done to evaluate nutrient status beyond what can be measured in the blood.

Second, the term “adequate” as it relates to nutrient levels is still being defined, and it continues to be a subject of debate among nutrition experts. One big challenge is most of the recommendations for vitamins and minerals are set based on what happens in the body during nutrient depletion. Adequate daily intakes are set to avoid the well-documented signs and symptoms of nutrient deficiency. On the other hand, little is known about higher amounts, amounts that not only allow us to avoid deficiency, but also help us maintain optimal health.

Recommendations for vitamin D intake are a good example. In the U.S., the recommended intake was originally set to avoid rickets based on a certain blood level of a vitamin D metabolite. Since then, however, a growing body of research shows these levels are too low for most people, so the recommended intake for vitamin D has been increased. Still, experts continue to debate whether this increase is enough for optimal health.

Finally, some nutrients that are critical for health have yet to be determined essential so an adequate intake has yet to be established. Phytonutrients fall into this group. Lutein is a good example. Lutein is a well-known phytonutrient found in dark green, orange and yellow plants. When we eat these plants, the lutein accumulates in our eyes where it helps protect our vision as we age.

“A few progressive countries have dietary recommendations for phytonutrients like lutein,” says Dawna, “but we still need to find better standards to confirm what normal or adequate blood levels are.”

Broccoli, zucchini, corn and other colorful vegetables on a cutting board. Dark green, yellow and orange plants like these are rich sources of the phytonutrient lutein.
Broccoli, zucchini, corn and other colorful vegetables on a cutting board. Dark green, yellow and orange plants like these are rich sources of the phytonutrient lutein.

If we can’t measure, how do we know if we’re getting enough nutrients?

“One of the best ways to make sure you get enough nutrients is to eat a balanced diet with plenty of vegetables and fruit,” says Dawna. If you’re unsure about the quality of your diet, you can also see a Registered Dietitian for a comprehensive diet assessment.

Two women discuss nutritional needs. Making an appointment with a registered dietitian nutritionist may be beneficial to help you determine whether what you are eating is meeting the optimal nutrition mark.
Two women discuss nutritional needs. Making an appointment with a registered dietitian nutritionist may be beneficial to help you determine whether what you are eating is meeting the optimal nutrition mark.

You can also monitor the quality of your diet by using free resources such as the USDA’s choosemyplate.gov.

Dawna also points out that the Nutrilite™ Supplement Recommender is a fantastic and simple way to evaluate your diet and lifestyle for nutrition needs and to find Nutrilite supplements that can help met your individual needs. Plus, the tool is currently being updated to make it even better and more personalized.

Of course, a great way to close any potential nutrient gaps in your diet is to include a high-quality multivitamin like Double X in your daily routine. This habit not only helps you eliminate any vitamin and mineral gaps, but helps close any phytonutrient gaps as well.

Welcome page of the Nutrilite Supplement Recommender website available at nutriliterecommender.amway.com.
Welcome page of the Nutrilite Supplement Recommender website available at nutriliterecommender.amway.com. 

Knowledge is power

I can’t thank the good doctor enough for sharing her insights with me. For me, knowledge is power. The more you learn, the better you can take care of yourself.

It is certainly a dream of mine to one day have simple tests, whether through blood, skin, eye or other means, that are readily available to accurately measure the body’s nutrient status. Imagine having this type of information at our fingertips to help us improve our diet or choose supplements that best meet our own individual needs.

Wouldn’t that be great?

Of course, a big thank you to my friend Lloyd for the question that inspired this post. If you have a question, please feel free to send it my way and I’ll do my best to answer. Till then, may we all be like Lloyd, skateboarding, writing and pursing life with vigor … well into our 80s and beyond! 

Cheers,

Dr. Sam Signature

P.S. Don’t forget to subscribe to our RSS feed and have blog posts delivered right to your inbox. 

Optimal Health

Feel the Power of Plants

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A bowlful of assorted fruits, nuts, seeds and other foods. When you choose a diet that is primarily plant-based, your reward is powerful benefits that extend well beyond disease prevention. Photo: Brooke Lark
A bowlful of assorted fruits, nuts, seeds and other foods. When you choose a diet that is primarily plant-based, your reward is powerful benefits that extend well beyond disease prevention. Photo: Brooke Lark

Last year, 37 leading scientists from around the world met as part of the EAT-Lancet Commission to answer one question. What kind of diet and food production will we need if we are to feed the world’s growing population now and for generations to come? Their landmark report, published in the February 2, 2019 issue of Lancet, reveals the answer. The best diet for our sustainable future is a plant-based diet, but with a twist that may surprise you.

Good for you, good for the planet

Our best chance to sustainably feed the world is to follow what is now being called a flexitarian diet. That’s the conclusion of the EAT-Lancet Commission after their full scientific review. A flexitarian diet is a vegetarian diet with a little flexibility. It’s largely plant-based, but also includes a moderate amount of fish, meat, dairy and other animal foods. 

You’ll find my father’s wisdom in the flexitarian diet. After all, the foundation of Nutrilite™ supplements and philosophy has always revolved around plants. While my father was living and working in Shanghai during the 1920s, he was fascinated by how people living on rural farms with access to plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables were healthier than city dwellers. He also knew cows grazing solely on alfalfa and water had shiny coats and produced plenty of milk. He theorized, plants must contain yet-to-be-discovered compounds important for health, compounds he called “associated food factors,” known as phytonutrients today. 

It’s a good bet that many of the health benefits that a flexitarian diet offers are due in large part to the wide range of phytonutrients that naturally occur in plant-based foods.  

In fact, a flexitarian diet just may be the solution that you are looking for. Are you interested in weight loss? Do you need help to better manage your blood sugar or reduce high cholesterol or maybe control high blood pressure? Do you want more energy? A flexitarian diet can help. Plus, a flexitarian diet helps you keep your carbon footprint to a minimum. That’s a win-win for sure.

Examples of flexitarian meals. A plate filled with plant-based foods is the hallmark of this type of meal. Animal-based foods, if added, are used as condiments or garnish.
Examples of flexitarian meals. A plate filled with plant-based foods is the hallmark of this type of meal. Animal-based foods, if added, are used as condiments or garnish.

6 tips to eat like a flexitarian

Here are six tips you can put to use right now to move closer to enjoying a plant-based diet with flexibility:

1. Go at your own pace. Remember, making a slow change to allow your taste buds to adapt is better than no change at all. The diet is meant for a lifetime, so use its flexibility to your advantage. Some people embrace the Meatless Mondays movement. Others eat animal-based foods only at dinner. Yet others use animal foods as condiments or as a side dish to control portions. 

2. Try something new. Get out of your comfort zone. The next time you are grocery shopping, bring home a few new plant-based choices. Experiment with recipes. You never know when you’ll hit on something you really like. Whenever possible, choose organic fruits and vegetables, like those we use for Nutrilite™ supplements grown using our sustainable Nutrilite farming practices. And, if you want to help make your carbon footprint even lighter, choose locally grown produce.

3. Change your focus. Rather than completely cutting animal products out of your diet, crowd them out. Meat, milk and eggs have the biggest burden on the planet, so that’s a great place to start. Replace them with vegetables, lentils, beans, whole grains and other plant foods. Plus, you’ll be eating more fiber, which helps you feel full and stay regular. You may even feel lighter on your feet and think more clearly.

4. Find a plant-based substitute. One key for this change of lifestyle is to find plant-based alternatives that you like as much or more than their animal-based counterparts. For example, if you enjoy dairy milk, try pea milk or oat milk, hemp milk, or cashew, almond or other nut milks instead. There are so many options, each a little different. In fact, this might be a great place to start your flexitarian journey.

5. Nourish your gut. Adding fermented foods like kefir, kimchi or sauerkraut to your plant-based diet is a great habit to help maintain a healthy gut microbiome. These are rich sources of probiotics that help balance the bacteria in your gut. (You’ll see the benefits of this dietary change in a matter of days.) Supplementing with a daily probiotic can help too. It helps fill the gap between the probiotics in the foods we eat and the probiotics your gut needs to thrive.

6. Fill any potential nutrient gaps. While a plant-based diet is generally nutrient rich, it may fall short in a few vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin B12. Plus, whether by choice or circumstance, you may be unable to include fruits and vegetables from all five color groups in your daily diet. If so, you could be depriving your body of key phytonutrients for optimal health (think lycopene to support heart health or lutein for your vision). This is where Nutrilite™ Daily and Double X really shine. In addition to essential vitamins and minerals, each product provides powerful plant phytonutrients from a trusted source (our very own sustainable farms). It’s a special benefit found only in our products. It’s also what makes Nutrilite™ multivitamins unique, completely different from any other on the market.

You may recognize a plant-based diet as one that people in Blue Zones eat. These areas of the world are where people age, often into their 100s, with gusto. Here, people don’t wait until disease hits. Rather, they develop healthy habits early, which they continue to follow for the rest of their lives. They stay active, have purpose, regularly de-stress, and engage in other healthy habits, including eating a plant-based diet.

Embracing a plant-based diet with a little flexibility may be just what you need to add life to your years (and it’s good for the planet, too).

Here’s to being more flexible in the New Year!

Cheers,

Dr. Sam Signature

P.S. Don’t forget to subscribe to our RSS feed and have blog posts delivered right to your inbox. 

Optimal Health

A Happy New Year Starts by Doing This One Thing

Francesca and I are all smiles as we gather with the kids, their spouses and the grandkids for this holiday photo complete with matching plaid shirts. My big reason to stay healthy is to have the energy to keep up with this active bunch and enjoy life to the fullest. December 2019.
Francesca and I are all smiles as we gather with the kids, their spouses and the grandkids for this holiday photo complete with matching plaid shirts. My big reason to stay healthy is to have the energy to keep up with this active bunch and enjoy life to the fullest. December 2019.

Happy New Year! As the celebration continues, you may be thinking about making a few resolutions to fill this year with success and prosperity. If so, I hope you include a resolution focused on optimal health. I truly believe good health is the only way to enjoy an active, fulfilling life with purpose. Plus, there’s a bonus: Your good health and high energy shows others just what optimal health looks like and helps you build a thriving Nutrilite business. But before you begin the hard work of turning your resolutions into reality, I encourage you to do one thing. 

Find your big reason for why optimal health is important to you.

What’s your big reason?

What’s a big reason? It’s much more meaningful than counting steps in a fitness app,  completing your morning meditation, or seeing the numbers on the scale move closer to your ideal weight. Don’t get me wrong, these are all good habits that can get you closer to your goals, but even the best action plan will fizzle fast unless you have a compelling reason to keep moving forward.

So ask yourself: Why is being healthy so important to you?

When you find your big reason, I can almost guarantee that you’ll make better choices. What’s more, you’ll be more likely to stay committed for a longer period of time.

One study, published in the July 2015 issue of the journal Appetite, really drives this point home.  For this study, university researchers recruited participants from the United States, Canada and other countries who were vegans and then asked them about the reasons they chose this type of diet. 

You probably recognize many of the benefits of plant-based diets. For example, vegetarians and vegans are at lower risk of developing a wide variety of common health conditions, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, certain types of cancer, and obesity.

In fact, just about any move you can make toward a more plant-based diet is likely to deliver serious benefits for your health (and the health of the planet). But this is only true if you can stick with it. 

Strings of red lanterns in celebration of Chinese New Year. May this year be your year for success, prosperity and optimal health.
Strings of red lanterns in celebration of Chinese New Year. May this year be your year for success, prosperity and optimal health.

Better choices start with a big reason

Turns out, the study participants who ate a vegan diet the longest were those who did so for ethical reasons rather than simply for health reasons. In short, they had a compelling reason, a reason so strong that it fortified their resolve to continue to make the better choices.

There’s no debate that staying healthy takes work. I wish I had a shortcut to share, but in reality, I work at it just like everyone else. I stick to my morning exercise. I choose to eat healthy meals and eat my Nutrilite supplements. I make it a priority to keep stress low and restful sleep high.

What makes it a whole lot easier to keep at it is my big reason why. I commit to these habits so I can do one thing: I want to have the energy I need to be fully present in all that I do whether it’s in business or life. 

As you welcome in the New Year, I encourage you to find your big reason. Make it one that excites you about getting up in the morning, one that inspires you to take on new challenges, and the one that helps you to chip away at any obstacles that keep you from all the success you deserve in health, life and business.

Cheers,

Dr. Sam Signature

P.S. Don’t forget to subscribe to our RSS feed and have blog posts delivered right to your inbox.