A colorful assortment of fruits and vegetables. New research shows that a low intake of vegetables and fruit is among the leading dietary risk factors for mortality around the world. Aim to eat 5-9 servings per day (mostly vegetables) in a variety of colors.
Eating well isn’t rocket science. Study after study confirms that a healthy diet is a plant-based diet. Yes, you could dive deep into the research, like our Nutrilite scientists do, to uncover the amazing synergy of plant compounds and their impact on our health. But sometimes a simple rule-of-thumb is all you need. One of the easiest ways to improve your diet is to do one thing: Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits (mostly vegetables) in a wide variety of colors, every day.
A trash receptacle overflows with plastic bags, aluminum cans and other waste products. The World Bank estimates the average amount of solid waste in China is almost one kilogram per person per day. Photo: Pete Linforth from Pixabay.
Happy Earth Day! This year the Earth Day Network is shining the spotlight on ending plastic pollution among other global goals. There’s no debate that plastic scraps and waste continue to fill our landfills, rivers and oceans, choking our planet. For decades, China has been taking on much of the burden of recycling global plastic waste, all while the country struggles with its own pollution and climate change challenges. That all stopped in 2017 under a new government policy that bans the importation of most plastic waste. This action has policy makers, environmentalists and others asking: Where will the world’s plastic waste go now?
A blanket of snow makes a tranquil scene as we ride a ski lift up the mountain. Wherever you may be on your journey to optimal health, may joyous moments find you around every bend. Telluride, Colo. March 2019. Photo: F. Rehnborg
Last month, I was spending time with my family in Telluride when one of the biggest snowstorms of the last 25 years descended on Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. We had no choice but to hunker down and wait for it to pass. When the storm had finally subsided, it left behind an incredible blanket of snow, and I was excited about hitting the slopes to take on one of my favorite runs. Sadly, my excitement was short-lived. An out-of-control snowboarder blindsided me, leaving me with three broken ribs, a punctured lung and one painful ride to the emergency room.
A couple sitting on a bed. Most healthy adults need between 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night to function optimally.
We all know the refreshing feeling of getting a good night’s sleep. You greet the new day with energy, a clear mind and positive mood. But, just what is it about sleep that makes it so critical to good health and how can you get enough? UC Berkeley Professor Matthew Walker captured all the essentials in his book Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams. It’s easy to see why he’s the director of the university’s Sleep and Neuroimaging Lab. Sure, he’s well qualified, but Dr. Walker really loves sleep and wants all of us to love sleep, too. His book is a fascinating read. For me, six facts about sleep really captured my attention.
Amway leaders and I gather for this group photo at Founders Council 2018. These energetic folks kept the action lively and are wonderful examples of the Be a Product of the Product message that is central to the Amway business model.
During my travels, people often ask me what inspired the message of Be a Product of the Product. Some folks believe it was my father. After all, his visionary approach to life certainly inspired my passion for learning and nutrition. Others think it was one of my professors or colleagues from my days as a young doctoral student at UC Berkeley, pioneers like Dr. John Gofman, Dr. Alex Nichols or Dr. Jack Farquhar. These men certainly shaped my worldview about how a healthy diet and lifestyle is the cornerstone of optimal health. But, no. My inspiration to spend a lifetime sharing this important message came from two other mentors, Rich DeVos and Jay Van Andel, as well as from Alma Stewart, one early and very inspiring Nutrilite distributor.
