One-a-Day, Centrum, GNC, Rite Aid, or Shaklee… is there a difference?

I know you'll want to read the October issue of Making a Difference!. Just look at what you'll find this month:
 

Are you gambling with your health?

Most people think that there's no difference between One-a-Day, Centrum, GNC, Rite Aid, your supermarket brand, or Shaklee food supplements.

In reality, there's a monumental difference between nutritional products. So... if you care about your health (and your pocketbook), it's time to throw out everything you think you know about vitamin and mineral supplements! It's time to learn the truth!

Read on... there's more...
What's in your supplement?

Co-factors, balance and bioavailability...

When you eat a naturally grown fruit, vegetable, nut or grain, you're getting a complex variety of known and unknown vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and other factors that all work together to build and maintain your health.

Unfortunately, vitamins can be labeled as natural if they contain as little as 10% of the natural form of the vitamin.

Learn all about it here...


Plus... Shaklee ingredient philosophy

As well as..  How changing brands can change your life! 

Nearly half of American adults use supplements regularly, generating over $30 billion a year in sales, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH). While you can buy a multivitamin product for mere pennies per day, what does that mean... really mean... for your health?

Then learn what... The most expensive supplement is...

Also featuring… 

What do we love? Basic H²! 

Most people in Shaklee love all of the Get Clean product line. But the overwhelming favorite is still... Basic H²! Nothing else is quite as versatile, gentle, and yet powerful as this remarkable liquid.

Basic H² is so versatile!  Learn what chores you can tackle with Basic H² in this issue.

To read about these important subjects in this edition of Making a Difference!, click here



Once you've read these articles, it’s easy to order the featured products! Just visit www.pamtonymcdonald.myshaklee.com or email tpmcdaaa@comcast.net.

If you, or someone you know, would like to receive FREE NEWSLETTERS & REPORTS just email me at tpmcdaaa@comcast.net.

Note: This is not a spam but a service to Shaklee friends and family. To remove your name, simply reply to this email and type REMOVE in the subject line.

GET Healthy and BE Healthy Promotion!

Well I'm back in school and especially enjoy one of my classes called Introduction to Integrative Healing.  Each week we see a variety of short videos that pertain to the current topic being discussed.  This week the topic was about our current US medical system framework.  Boring you might say, but this short video is worth watching.  I am definitely going to encourage my own children to take the 17 minutes out of their day and get inspired by her message.

I continue to be in awe of all the smart people out in the world and this includes Rebecca Onie who is found of the Health Leads program in the above short video.  She believes that in addition to offering health care services that can help patients to GET healthy, we need to offer services to patients so they can BE healthy and not get sick in the first place.  AMEN to that!

Enjoy and have a great day.

Specialty Oils from around the World in Stillwater, MN - who knew?

Sample & Savor Oils & Vinegars at the Olive Oil Company!

While shopping in downtown Stillwater, Minnesota this past weekend, I came across a unique shop that specializes in imported Extra Virgin Olive Oils, Balsamic Vinegars and Specialty Oils from around the world.

We all know that there are many health benefits associated with taking Extra Virgin Olive Oil as well as Balsamic Vinegar, however, I had no idea that there was such a wide variety of flavors that could enhance our daily meals.

As you can see from the picture below, the store is set up so that customers can sample the wide variety of oils and vinegars on tap.  Not only did I buy many oils and vinegars for myself but I also bought some as gifts.  

I don't really have any favorite oil or vinegar as this is a new experience for me but I will say that I love combining either the  Espresso Balsamic Vinegar or the Blueberry Vinegar with the Hojiblanca Extra Virgin Oil as a dressing on my salads.  This is absolutely delicious!   After you start cooking with these oils and vinegars, and taste the difference, you will never want to buy any of the unhealthy prepared dressings from the grocery store again.



I have already tried two recipes from their "Sample & Savor" cookbook, Roasted Cauliflower with Orange Olive Dressing and the Peanut Chicken Satay -  Fantastic is all I can say.

If you want to learn about oils and vinegars this is the place to visit.  Rebekah Chapman, who co-authored their cookbook, educated me and helped me navigate through the store and decide what to purchase.  She also mentioned that they will give a $1 credit for every washed empty bottle returned.

If Stillwater is not a convenient location for you, then you might be interested to know that there is another Olive Oil Company store located in White Bear Lake.  I plan to visit that store the next time I need to buy more oils and vinegars.

Check out their website and blog at www.stillwateroliveoil.com.  Treat your taste buds, go explore...

 

 

 

No other supplement in the world can do this…

I know you'll want to read this issue of Making a Difference!. Just look at what you'll find this month: 

 
Your body’s most critical system...
The evidence is overwhelming... the most important step you can take to improve your overall health is to increase the strength of your immune system. Every health crisis... from the mildest of colds to the deadliest of cancers... tests the power of your immune system.

Fortunately, Shaklee has the tools you need to build your immune system to peak performance!

Find out more in this issue…

And... The #1 cause of low immunity...

The difference between health and... disaster!
One of the most important functions of the human body is to protect itself against bacteria and viruses that can cause disease and stop them before they do serious damage. 

In this article you’ll learn about the components of the vast immune system and how they work together to fight foreign invaders.

Plus... Immune system facts...

Shaklee’s immunity arsenal...
Scientists worldwide now recognize the crucial role that nutrition plays in supporting immune function. It is now widely agreed that the right supplements can modulate immune response.

This month you’ll learn about the most powerful component of the immune system and which Shaklee supplement to stimulate its production in the body. In fact, it’s the only supplement available that can do the job!

To read about these important subjects in this edition of Making a Difference!, click here


Once you've read these articles, it’s easy to order the featured products! Just visit www.pamtonymcdonald.myshaklee.com.

To learn more about...
- health, nutrition and fitness
- cleaning products that are safe for you and for our planet
- natural skin, personal and beauty care
- air and water filtration
- how you can work part-time for a full-time income... from the comfort of your home

...just email me at tpmcdaaa@comcast.net and start receiving our FREE NEWSLETTERS & REPORTS.

My wish for your continued great health through Shaklee,

Pam McDonald

P.S. If you know anyone who would benefit by receiving Making a Difference! Newsletters, please forward their first name and email address to tpmcdaaa@comcast.net and I will make sure they get their FREE COPY each month. 

Easy Potato Cobb Salad

 Potato Cobb Salad

Summer is FINALLY here and that means plenty of picnics, potlucks and get togethers with family and friends.  I thought I would share this colorful Potato Cobb Salad recipe that I make for year-round occasions.  It is so easy and best of all, it can be made a few hours before guests arrive. 

You can put the salad on a white platter or bowl so the colorful ingredients stand out!



Potato Cobb Salad - makes 10 hearty servings
(from Southern Living cookbook)

3 lbs. Yukon gold potatoes

3/4 tsp salt

1 (16 oz.) bottle olive-oil-and vinegar dressing, divided

8 bacon slices

8 cups mixed salad greens

2 large avocados

1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

3 large tomatoes, seeded and diced

12 small green onions, sliced

2 cups (8 oz.) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

4 oz. crumbled blue cheese

Freshly ground pepper to taste

1.  Cook potatoes in boiling salted water to cover 30 minutes or until tender.

Drain and cool.  Cut into cubes

2.  Sprinkle potatoes with 3/4 tsp salt.  Pour l cup dressing over potatoes and 

gently toss.  Cover and chill 2 to 24 hours.

3.  Cook bacon (I bake in the oven for less mess)

Put bacon on cookie sheet in 400 degree oven for 15 - 20 minutes.

No turning necessary and no mess.  Remove bacon and drain on paper towels.  Crumble bacon.

** I buy the Applewood Smoked Dry-Cured Bacon from Niman Ranch (no antibiotics, hormones or animal by-products)

4.  Arrange salad greens on a large serving platter.  Peel and chop avocados; toss with lemon juice.  

5.  Arrange potatoes, avocados, bacon, tomatoes and next three ingredients in rows over salad greens.  Sprinkle with pepper to taste.  Serve with remaining dressing.

The amounts of ingredients might vary depending upon the size of the serving platter that you use.  In addition, I use about half the amount of dressing that this recipe calls for, in the marinade for the potatoes and when serving the salad. 

***Be sure to visit your local farmer's market or coop to get the freshest ingredients for this healthy salad.  

I saw this on the Shaklee website and thought it was worth sharing in honor of Earth Day and while we wait patiently, (not!) for Spring to arrive.  

Why Water?

Everyone knows that water is essential to life. But what's coming out of your tap or bottle may not really be your healthiest choice.

The Real Dirt on Clean Water

Sure, your water may look clean but is it?

Most people think that governmental agencies ensure that our water's clean. And while the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the Clean Water Act to safeguard our water supply, it only set standards and testing requirements in our municipal water treatment facilities for 114 different contaminants out of literally hundreds more.

In fact, the Environmental Working Group obtained test results from a database of over 20 million records from state water officials to determine the quality of drinking water in 45 states. The results revealed 316 contaminants were present in our water supplies. Among them were 202 chemicals that aren't regulated by any safe water standards.ⁱ

Checking the quality of your local water is easy to do. Just visit the National Drinking Water Database.

So yes, your water looks clean. But really, it's not.

Why Filtration?

The simple answer? You either use a filter or you are the filter.

Only 2% of all treated water is used for drinking water. The rest is used on your lawn, shower, laundry, or used for farms or industry. It's simply too time-consuming and expensive to test and remove the thousands of chemicals that may be present in any particular water source.

And even if your water was perfectly clean before it left your municipality, it still has miles to travel in pipes before it gets to your home. Who knows what it runs into along the way?

What are you really drinking?

Here's what may be in your water, and some of its hazardous effects:

Industrial Pollutants (such as benzene, nitrates, and petrochemicals): Long-term exposure may cause increased risk of cancer, as well as blood, nervous system, kidney, and liver problems.

Agricultural Pollutants (pesticides such as atrazine, lindane, alachlor, and others): Long-term exposure may cause increased risk of cancer, as well as eye, liver, kidney, spleen, blood, and nervous system problems.

Heavy Metals (such as lead, copper, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium): Even at low levels, long-term exposure may cause behavioral problems and learning disabilities. The EPA estimates that between 10 and 20% of total lead exposure in young children comes from drinking water.ⁱⁱ

Disinfection By-products (such as: trihalomethanes, chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane,and bromoform): Long-term exposure may cause increased risk of cancer, as well as liver, kidney, or central nervous system problems.

With all these problems with tap water, you might think that bottled water is the answer—but you're wrong. What most people don't know is that there're no regulations regarding the quality of bottled water. That's right, none. Bottling companies don't even have the same regulations to follow that your local municipal water supply does. That means that despite the clean look of your bottle, in many cases the water it contains isn't any better than tap water.

The bottom line is that you can't control what happens to your water before it gets to your house. But you can control what happens after. If you want to make sure you have really clean drinking water, you really have to use a filter—a good one.

i http://www.ewg.org/tap-water/executive-summary.php

ii http://water.epa.gov/drink/info/lead/lead1.cfm

* Comparison of current WQA and NSF certified reduction claims conduced on May 26, 2011, referencing Brita® pitchers using OB03 cartridge and PUR® pitchers using CFR-950Z cartridge and is valid only for the named products marketed at that time. Product data claims obtained from the NSF and WQA website certification listings. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. "Big name brands" defined as Brita and Pur.

** Compared to Brita and Pur pitcher filters at 40 gallons.

† Compared to traditional carbon production.

Why Get Clean® Water?

Because it's safe, powerful, green and smart—and it outperforms both Brita® and PUR®*, hands-down:

• Safe It reduces 59 harmful contaminants—at least 21 of which Brita doesn't even touch—including up to 99% of water-borne lead.
• Powerful It's incredibly thrifty, delivering over 80 gallons of purer water from every hardworking, environmentally friendly filter—twice as much as big-name brands—for just a little over a penny per glass**.
• Green It uses a unique refillable filter system, so there's less waste in landfills.†
• Smart It features a convenient smart-meter that shows you exactly when to replace your filter, so there's no more guessing. And on top of all that, it's 'Gold Seal' certified to tough ANSI/NSF Standards 42 and 53 by the Water Quality Association (WQA).

http://pamtonymcdonald.myshaklee.com/us/en/category.php?main_cat=HomeCare&sub_cat=water

"The Ethics of What We Eat"

I recently came back from a wonderful vacation with my husband in Scottsdale, Arizona where we got plenty of rest, warm sunshine and healthy food.  We did splurge on a bit too much on salsa, guacamole and chips though.  Unfortunately, we came back to the reality of Minnesota's harsh cold weather temperatures and a few new inches of snow.  We are so sick and tired of the cold and ready for spring no doubt.  Anyway, what I found to be very interesting was that in Scottsdale, all of the restaurants we visited had foods on the menu that were grown and raised by the local farms.  This trend of supporting the local farmers is something that I hope continues to grow in all states throughout the United States.   

As many of you know, I am taking a Food Science Nutrition course at the University of Minnesota and have been watching some really interesting videos.  I just finished watching a video called, "The Ethics of What We Eat" by Peter Singer.  It is dated from 2009 but the information is very pertinent and really makes us think about the different possibilities of what we should eat.  

One of the statements worth repeating - "Is there something wrong with a society that doesn't really know how their foods are being produced.  Don't we have a responsibility to know so that we can make an ethical decision?"

Enjoy the video!