Spa Nutrition

Get to know the ‘good’ parts of red wine!

noreply@blogger.com (Spa Nutrition by Sequence XO) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 07:00:00 +0000

When the “French Paradox” first aired on 60 Minutes back in 1991 it began opening the eyes of both consumers and researchers across the U.S. on the health benefits of red wine. So much, that red wine sales quadrupled. The “French Paradox” outlined how the French outlive Americans and suffer 40 percent fewer heart attacks despite their tendency to smoking and consume a diet rich in fat. What’s the secret? It boils down to wine, food and lifestyle.

What’s in the wine? Grape Seed Extract and Resveratrol
The interest in both Grape Seed Extract and Resveratrol originated from the “French Paradox” theory. Due to the way red wine is fermented, using both the grape’s skin and seeds, it increases the antioxidant activity in red wine versus white wine.

To put into perspective the antioxidant power of grape seed it has been found to be 20 times more powerful than vitamin E, and 50 times greater than vitamin C. Grape seed is an excellent free radical scavenger (scavenges molecules responsible for premature aging and disease), and even referred as the “secret anti aging vitamin”. Grape seed extract also strengthens the lining of the heart and blood vessels contributing to a healthy functioning heart.

Grapes also have a naturally occurring compound within the skin of the grape to help protect the plant from fungal infections, injury, stress and UV radiation. This powerful compound is called Resveratrol. It’s considered a part of the plant’s natural defense system, protecting the tissues from illness and disease. Resveratrol has shown to provide these same protective features on human cells and tissues, making its effect on human health a popular ingredient to supplement with.

Each of these ingredients can be obtained by drinking a glass of red wine or in concentrated doses without the alcohol by choosing a quality nutritional supplement. Sequence XO Spa Nutrition products such as Radiance Age Less Formula and Fusion Antioxidant Formula. To find out more on Sequence XO’s Spa Nutrition product line please visit our official website at: www.spanutrition.com.

Eating Your Exhaustion Away

noreply@blogger.com (Spa Nutrition by Sequence XO) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:00:00 +0000

Fatigue is one of the most common reasons that people visit their doctors. Many of the contributing factors include: stress, depression, anemia, allergies, menopause, premenstrual syndrome, weight gain, caffeine and lack of sleep. Whatever the fatiguing factors may be there’s one ingredient that underlies most cases – poor nutrition. One important aspect of beating most cases of fatigue is giving your diet a good ‘fall’ cleanup by tossing old energy-robbing foods and bringing in a fresh set of energizing foods.

Nutritional tips to pump up your declining energy levels

Iron: Anemia, which is often caused by iron deficiency and usually causes fatigue in women of all ages. Women tend to shy away from iron-rich foods, so they have depleted iron stores, says Susan M Lark, M.D. in her book Chronic Fatigue and Tiredness. Without iron, red blood cells can’t do their job – transporting oxygen to all the places it needs to go in the body. The result is fatigue.

Excellent sources of iron from non meat sources include Cream of Wheat, tofu and quinoa (a grain that can be cooked like rice).

Supplement options: Choose a nonheme iron supplement or 500 milligram capsules of hydrolyzed (liquid) liver extract a day, says Michael T. Murry, N.D.

Caffeine Craze: Too much coffee, soda or energy drinks may be the cause of your energy loss. Caffeine steals B vitamins from the body and interferes with the absorption of essential minerals like iron. Without sufficient amount of B vitamins, your body has a tough time converting the nutrients from your food into energy. Plus the more chronic your caffeine consumption becomes so does the energy dips.

If you can’t eliminate caffeine from your diet completely try limiting your consumption by consuming only 1-2 cups of coffee or switching to tea. That’s about 300 milligrams of caffeine per day.

Supplement options: Choose a B-complex vitamin supplement that will help keep energy levels naturally stable throughout the day.

The Sweetest Pair: Nothing goes better with a cup of coffee than a crumble coffee cake – right? Unfortunately, sugar, like caffeine, provides the body with a false sense of energy. Sugar can also deplete your B-vitamins and essential minerals, which increases anxiety, forgetfulness and irritability. Sugar has also shown to decrease energy and impair your immune system.

Instead reach for high fiber packed foods like dried fruit (1/2 cup), nuts (1/4 cup) or yogurt (satisfy that sweet tooth).

Nutrients Vital For Life & Energy
It’s no secret, our food is less nourishing than in past decades, we over eat and we don’t exercise enough. Add to the mix our high stress lifestyles, polluted environment and overly medicated society and our bodies become depleted of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, essential proteins, good carbs and fatty acids. Supplementing is key to maintaining a healthy body both inside and out!

Most experts recommend that people with fatigue issues take a good multi-vitamin and mineral supplement. Make sure you have a healthy B-complex vitamin for healthy brain function and energy regulation. Don’t forget your beta-carotene, a potent antioxidant that sweeps up free radicals, keeping the body healthy and with loads of energy.

To see Sequence XO’s supplement line please visit our website at www.spanutrition.com.

Tip of the Week: Feed your mood

noreply@blogger.com (Spa Nutrition by Sequence XO) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 05:36:00 +0000

Are you eating healthy but still feel sluggish? Change the order of your food selections. Foods high in carbohydrates, increase levels of the brain chemical called serotonin, which are known to improve your mood and can make you drowsy. On the other hand, high-protein foods like turkey, fish and yogurt trigger the release of the energizing brain chemicals dopamine and nor-epinephrine. If you know you crash after lunch, skip the heavy or high-carb mid day meal and eat a light, protein-rich lunch, such as tuna sandwich, fruit and soy milk instead. Then when you want to wind down at the end of the day, go for a carb dinner.

Anti-Aging Secrets from 9 Breakthrough Ingredients

noreply@blogger.com (Spa Nutrition by Sequence XO) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 07:01:00 +0000

Beauty From Within Series

So it may be true that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but some surprising ingredients may also have those same powerful anti-aging secrets. Ingredients like green tea and olive oil may hold the key to keeping a healthy immune and cardiovascular system, while keeping wrinkles at bay. Next time your purchasing your favorite cosmeceutical or moisturizer make sure they have some of these key ingredients:

Learn how these breakthrough ingredients can keep you looking young:

Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) moisturizes skin from the inside out, smoothing out wrinkles and acts as an internal cosmetic to hydrate skin. HA is also important for healthy joints and connective tissue.

Olive oil
Olive oil is known as a healing fat for its high content of both monounsaturated fatty acids and antioxidative substances. Studies have shown that olive oil offers protection against heart disease by controlling LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels while raising HDL (the "good" cholesterol) levels. No other naturally produced oil has as large an amount of monounsaturated as olive oil.

White Tea
The secret of white tea lies on how the buds are plucked. White tea undergoes less ‘processing’ than green tea leaves and instead of air drying, the unwithered leaves are steamed. Leaving the tea leaves closer to their natural state, enabling the tea to contain more polyphenols, the powerful antioxidant that fights disease and aging. Also in 2004 a study at Pace University concluded that white tea can help boost your body’s natural defenses by protecting the immune system.

Green Tea
The secret of green tea lies in its rich epigalloatechin gallate (EGCG) content. EGCG is a powerful antioxidant for the heart, immune system and has shown to inhibit blood clots. Some of the newer research on EGCG has linked green tea to actually rejuvenate dieing skin cells. "Cells that migrate toward the surface of the skin normally live about 28 days, and by day 20, they basically sit on the upper layer of the skin getting ready to die, but EGCG reactivates them," said Dr. Stephen Hsu, a cell biologist in the Medical College of Georgia.

Lycopene
Lycopene is a bright red carotenoid pigment, found in tomatoes and other red fruits known for its antioxidant and sunscreen protection. Plus lycopene has shown very positive results in reducing the risk of prostate issues and improving skin texture.

Alpha-Lipoic-Acid
Alpha-lipoic-acid, is a sulfur-containing fatty acid that is found inside every cell of the body, where it helps generate the energy that keeps us alive and functioning. Lipoic acid is a key part of the metabolic machinery that turns glucose (blood sugar) into energy for the body's needs. As well as providing the body with natural energy, lipoic acid has shown to be a powerful topical treatment for sun-damaged skin. Ingesting lipoic acid can help naturally neutralize harmful chemicals known as free radicals – molecules that cause aging and disease.

Olive Juice
Researchers in Japan tested the anti-inflammatory response of olive juice but were pleasantly surprised to find that the study participants enjoyed better skin. The study showed that the use of olive juice had a positive affect on inflammatory skin conditions and improved skin health dramatically after just two months of consuming a dietary supplement containing olive juice.

Lutein
Known for its eye protecting properties researchers began exploring other benefits Lutein may have. A recent human clinical study showed 10 mg of lutein daily increased skin hydration, elasticity and skin lipid content. This is the first research to show improvement in skin health through lutein supplementation alone. Lutein research has also suggested that it may improve breast health.

Cocoa
Cocoa butter has long been used topically in many skin creams and cosmetics because it is thought to be good for the skin. Now, new research published in the 2006 Journal of Nutrition, reveals the potential benefits of consuming flavanol-rich cocoa in skin health. The study found that certain components in cocoa may actually help improve the appearance of the skin by increasing hydration, decreasing skin roughness and helping to support the skin’s defense against UV damage.

More energy, great skin, and a healthy immune response for the fall!

noreply@blogger.com (Spa Nutrition by Sequence XO) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 07:01:00 +0000

It’s late August and that means Fall is just around the corner. It’s the time where the seasons begin to change and the days seem a little busier. Our bodies need a little more energy, our skin may need a bit more moisture and our immune response may need a jump-start. Luckily there is a superfood from the Amazon called acai (pronounced ‘a-sah-ee’) loaded with powerful antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and fiber to keep energy levels in full gear this fall.

Acai it’s an antioxidant phenomenon
The acai berry is a dark berry grown in the Brazilian Amazon in some of the richest soil on the planet. As a result, each berry is packed with the most naturally complete nutrients in the world to provide the body with what it needs to increase energy, keep skin looking luscious and keeping you from missing essential school or work days.

Acai Berry Supports Healthy Immune Response
Nothing is more essential to living a healthy life, than having a strong immune system. Antioxidants are vital to strengthening the body's immune response by destroying free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that feed off of our healthy cells destroying them and leaving us prone to disease and unhealthy aging.

Acai Berry Increases Energy
While the immune system is perhaps the most important benefit from the acai berry, many people also use it to boost their energy levels. The failure of people to eat a diet high in antioxidants leads to drastically decreased energy levels as they grow older. Many people have reported having increased energy, stamina, and vitality comparable to when they were in their twenties when they added acai berry to the diet.

Acai Berry For Luscious Skin
Perhaps the most important health benefit of the acai berry, however, is its strong impact on the aging process. As a matter of fact, acai is generally acknowledged to be one of the top superfoods for anti-aging. The amino acids and vital trace minerals found in acai provide proper regeneration, thereby slowing damaging effects to the skin that cause signs of aging. The fatty acid found in acai is similar to that of olive oil and is high in monounsaturated oleic acid, which produces suppler skin and greatly reduces inflammation, inflammation being one of the leading causes of aging.

Radiance – Skin Care, Sun Care and Energy Boosting Beverage
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but it’s also in a 16-ounce water bottle. You think the outside looks good; just wait until you see what’s inside. Have a glass a day and help bring out some of that inner beauty. It’s a makeover from the inside out. So go ahead, drink yourself beautiful.

Radiance includes green tea, white tea, acai berry, gogi berry, mangosteen, blueberry, cranberry, strawberry, hyaluronic acid, lutein, lycopene and much more! To see all the ingredients click here. Every serving has 3 grams of fiber. Try it today!

Save 50% off and receive a free gift with every order. Enter promo code: radiance08 at checkout.

Stress – Some Good, Some Bad

noreply@blogger.com (Spa Nutrition by Sequence XO) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 07:00:00 +0000

Go to www.spanutrition.com to receive promo price

Did you know that some types of stress can actually be good for you? That’s right, some forms of stress can be good, but other types of stress can also cause major health issues. It is reported that 85 percent of lifestyle diseases, such as heart attacks, diabetes, high blood pressure, even obesity are linked to over stress. But stress can be something that we can use to our advantage. Stress is an incredible asset that stretches capacity and fuels creativity.

Good stress vs bad stress
Good stress is known as acute stress. It is fueled by adrenalin and provides the immediate sources needed to think clearly and react quickly. Bad stress is often referred to as chronic stress. When you lose control of good stress, it becomes persistent and never-ending. Symptoms include an increase in blood pressure, insomnia, depression and fatigue. During hard times, it’s easy to lose control of your stress levels. When we let chronic stress take over, we become less productive and efficiency goes down. That is a bad recipe for anything we do in life. Understanding how to use stress to push us and give us the motivation we need to push forward is beneficial in any aspect. Below are some tips on how we can better find a balance between good stress and bad stress:

Step 1: A healthy mind = a healthy body
The average person has 60,000 thoughts a day, and nearly 80 percent of them are negative. Imagine what this is doing to your body! This negativity affects your thought patterns and behaviors subconsciously, and this has an unhealthy impact on your body.
Rephrase the way you say things to yourself. You can actually change the response of anxiety by repeating affirmations, which will introduce a new positive pattern behavior in your thinking. Instead of being anxious, give empowering messages to yourself: I am strong, I am grateful, I can get through this. Repeat these positive affirmations throughout your day to transform the stress and change your attitude.

Step 2: Cut back on stimulants
Stress, anxiety, insomnia, and a racing mind are byproducts of taking in too much caffeine. Researchers show that vitamins like B complex, C and E along with minerals like manganese, selenium and zinc are helpful in relieving stress. Foods and dietary supplements that include these essential nutrients are ideal when the body is exposed to chronic stress. Try adding Sequence XO’s Spa Nutrition products to your daily diet and exercise routine to help balance your stress levels. Learn more about Spa Nutrition.

Step 3: Relax and take a deep breath
If you are in a stressful situation, you may notice that your breathing becomes very shallow. Unfortunately, many adults breathe this way all the time; somewhere along the way, we stopped breathing abdominally, as we did when we were babies. This habitual shallow breathing mimics the bodily actions of stress, which can actually induce your body to feel anxiety.

When you learn to breathe deeply all day - by breathing from your diaphragm - you will reduce general anxiety and gain other proven benefits, such as lowered blood pressure and heart rate. Also, it is estimated that 70 percent of the toxins and wastes in our bodies are eliminated through respiratory breathing. So start breathing deeply!

Here's how: Make it part of your every day schedule to practice 20-30 minutes of deep breathing every day, and your body will respond by being relaxed all the time.

Step 4: Try the Nutrient GABA
A healthy brain needs a balance between neural chemicals that excite the nerves and those that calm the nerves. GABA (gamma amino butyric acid) is the primary neural transmitter for calming the transmission of nerve signals. It can help prevent anxiety-related messages from reaching the brain. Having low levels of GABA can increase anxiety, insomnia, irritability, and depression. Look for dietary products, like Sequence XO’s Calm, that contain GABA to help support relaxation and de-stressing.

Step 5: Get out and help others
Most of us could sit around all day agonizing in our heads about bad news and working our way into a negative inner dialogue. The way to get out of our own head is by doing something good for someone else. Offer to help someone else and completely focus on his or her needs. Give a friend a hand with moving or planning an event. Volunteer for a charitable cause. It's amazing how taking the focus off yourself can reduce your stress and anxiety.

Complexion Boosters: Keep summer skin beautiful

noreply@blogger.com (Spa Nutrition by Sequence XO) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:02:00 +0000

Summer is well under way! It’s the time of year where we need to protect our skin from the damaging effects of UV exposure that can lead to wrinkles, photo-aging and even the beginning stages of skin cancer. In recent studies, researchers have found that an array of antioxidants can protect specific skin cells against UVA and UVB induced damage. Exposure to UV light accounts for 90 percent of the symptoms associated with premature skin aging, and most of the effects by age 20.

Keep your skin youthful from 20 to 60

Skin in your 20’s: Your skin tends to be more stable than in your teens, usually oiliness and spots will disappear. You really do not see any visible facial lines yet, but if you look closely you will notice your expression marks will start forming. Some men and women will still see some acne depending on hormonal changes and cravings.

Solution: Make sure your diet is full of antioxidants like lutein, gogi berry, mangosteen, tomatoes and blueberries to support sun protection and skin elasticity. Drink lots of water and avoid smoking.

Skin in your 30’s: This is definitely a decade where you will begin seeing any overexposure to smoke, alcohol, pollution and UV light on your skin, that occurred in your teens and 20’s. You will begin to notice visible fine lines around the eyes and mouth and your cellular repair process begins to slow, which leads to weakened collagen. Skin may look duller and darker and may take longer to recover from late nights or stress.

Solution: Spend a little more time on learning what is good for your body. Choose the types of foods that enhance your metabolism, energy and provide beautifying properties from within. Supplementing with antioxidants like pomegranate, grape seed, green tea and alpha lipoic acid, which provide protection from free radical damage (the rusting effect of our cells). Increase your diet with vitamin A, E and C to boost your immune and diet for healthy looking skin and body. Try Sequence XO’s Fusion antioxidant supplement to help protect your skin. Learn more about our products

Skin in your 40’s: Wrinkles and spider veins will become more apparent during this stage of our lives if we did not protect our skin in earlier decades. Discoloration, uneven skin texture, dryness and dullness are more apparent.

Solution: Avoid yo-yo dieting, this will only add to dullness of your skin and create havoc on your hormones. Instead try portion control and don’t forget the most important meal of the day – breakfast. Women who eat breakfast tend to be 10 pounds lighter than woman who skip it all together. Try drinking your breakfast with yogurt, protein blended with a low-carb antioxidant beauty mix, like Sequence XO’s Radiance beverage powder. Learn more about our products

Skin in your 50’s and 60’s: Pigmentation and sagging skin are usually the biggest problems in this stage of our lives. Unless you have exercised regularly, you will see the effects in loss of tone and muscle. Also cellular regeneration and circulation will slow causing flaky patches, dullness, goose pimples and fragile skin spots.

Solution: Diet and exercise is very important to keep skin and muscles healthy. Increasing your protein and essential fatty acids like omega 3’s are crucial in keeping bones and joints healthy. Adding supplements with antioxidants, essential fatty acids, phyto-nutrients, protein and minerals are very important to the health of your collagen (muscles, connective tissue, joints, skin, hair and nails). Try Sequence XO’s Radiance to boost protein and phyto-nutrients in your diet. Learn more about our products

Have a question? Comment? Please email us, we’d love to hear from you.

Is your water aging you?

noreply@blogger.com (Spa Nutrition by Sequence XO) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:17:00 +0000

There are many different forms of water available for your drinking pleasure. It’s important to understand the benefits of each to ensure that you are drinking and topically using the right type of water for healthier skin and body. According to Dr. Dennis Gross, tap water contains heavy metals that can act as free radicals, which can destroy collagen. Even by washing your face with tap water can lead to impurities and heavy metals to cling to your skin, creating a breeding ground for damage to occur throughout the day.

What kind of water is best for you?

Below is the list of the most popular water options available and explanations of how they benefit your health.

Ionized water
What is it?
Water treated with electrolysis to remove acidic particles, such as sodium, calcium, iron, copper, chloride and bromide. The water has been purified from most impurities except organic compounds.

Benefits:

Acts as a natural antioxidant
Helps with the body’s natural oxygen production
Stabilizes body’s acid/alkaline balance – balancing the body’s pH
The molecular structure of ionized water is smaller, which allows for easier passage into the cells and tissues
Used externally, ionized water is beneficial for healthy skin, hair and scalp

Distilled water
What is it?
Water that has been heated to a boiling point eliminating impurities from the water as it vaporizes. Through a distiller, the vapor water is then cooled to become pure liquid water while the impurities such as the metals, ions, minerals, and contaminants are disposed of.

Benefits:

Helps to flush out impurities from the body
Allows the proper “flushing” of the blood through the kidneys, not having to have to deal with other impurities found in un-distilled water.
No impurities, just pure H2O
Acts as a solvent in the body by dissolving nutrients so they can be assimilated by the cell
Collects “rejected” minerals and flushes them out as waste

Filtered water
What is it?
Water that has been filtered through a carbon based filter to remove chemical agents such as chlorine.

Benefits:

Ensures that only organic minerals are retained in the water
Helps to remove synthetic compounds, which turn into vapor at relatively low temperatures leading to toxins in the body if not removed

Comments? Have questions? Please feel free to email us

Curbing the ‘bad’ cholesterol for a healthier heart

noreply@blogger.com (Spa Nutrition by Sequence XO) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 07:01:00 +0000

Many of us have heard that there is ‘good’ and ‘bad’ cholesterol, but do you know what each one does within in the body? HDL, or the ‘good’ cholesterol, is known to protect the heart from disease and tends to carry cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it’s passed from the body. We need the ‘good’ cholesterol to help create hormones like adrenalin, estrogen and testosterone. Whereas, LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol actually accumulates on artery walls hardening into plaque that can block blood flow leading to stroke, heart disease or a heart attack.

Foods that can raise your ‘good’ cholesterol and help protect your heart

To help keep the ‘bad’ cholesterol at bay try adding some of these great foods to your diet:

Garlic – Clinical trials have shown that eating about two cloves of garlic per day may help prevent clogging of the arteries and reduce your risk of a heart attack. But it’s not only the amount you eat but also how you prepare it that may be the trick to enhancing the benefits. Chopping or crushing garlic in a press and letting it sit for 10 minutes releases more of its therapeutic properties. So the next time you add garlic to your recipes make sure you chop it and let it sit.

Adding garlic: stir one teaspoon of chopped garlic into 2 tablespoons of low-fat mayo to use on sandwiches or wraps.

Extra-virgin olive oil – Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fats, which can lower LDL when they replace saturated fats in the diet. “In fact, every 1 percent decrease in your intake of saturated fat – can reduce your LDL level by 2 percent,” says R.D. Melissa Ohlson. What you need to watch out for is replacing your saturated fat with carbohydrates like white bread or low-fat cookies, which can lower your LDL’s, but they also lower your HDL as well.

Adding unsaturated fats by cooking with olive oil, avocado, and nuts will help keep your cholesterol in check.

Almonds – A recent study from the University of Toronto found that adults, who ate an ounce of almonds a day as part of a healthy diet, lowered their LDL levels by 13 to 20 percent. Almonds are particularly heart-healthy because they have the most vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant known to help protect the heart.

Adding almonds: toast the almonds with spices or herbs in a pan at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes to bring out the flavor!

Keeping Your Blood Sugar in Check For a Healthy Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Spa Nutrition by Sequence XO) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 07:00:00 +0000

About 48 million men and women have fasting blood sugar levels high enough to qualify them as pre-diabetic – and many of them don’t know it. Having diabetes quadruples your chances of having a heart attack, which is why keeping your blood sugar in check is so important.

Try adding these foods to your diet to keep your heart healthy:

Barley – A study from Creighton University School of Medicine found that barley was better at controlling blood sugar levels than the much-touted oats. Barley has high levels of soluble fiber called beta-glucan, which is digested very slowly and helps lower the ‘bad’ cholesterol.

How to add barley in your diet: Substitute barley flour for about half of the all-purposed type flour called for in your desert recipes. You can even add barley to soups, side dishes, or in place of rice or potatoes.

Spice it up! Add Cayenne chili peppers to your next meal.
To help prevent big spikes in your blood sugar levels researches from the University of Tasmania, found that adults who ate a chili-seasoned burger with a sugary beverage, had their blood sugar levels much lower than when they finished the drink and the burger without the chili spice.

How to add cayenne to your diet: Next time you make homemade salsa or sauce make sure to drop a teaspoon or more of this fiery substance. Give your next chocolate dessert a little POW with cayenne pepper.

Carrots – Crunching on half a cup of dark yellow vegetables, like carrots, each day cuts the risk of diabetes in women by 27 percent. To enhance your absorption of antioxidants from your veggies serve them with a little fat, such as olive oil (a great side dish with dinner).

Read our next blog entry: Fighting ‘bad’ cholesterol

Should you cleanse before starting a weight loss program?

noreply@blogger.com (Spa Nutrition by Sequence XO) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 07:00:00 +0000

The real question is how are you planning to cleanse your body to get ready for a weight loss program? Most people will starve or drink a water concoction with maple syrup for a week before they actually start their diet. But in reality you’re doing more damage and could possibly add more weight once you do start your diet – which can be discouraging. Instead switch your focus from cleansing to training. Use the first 14 days of your diet as a trial and error period where you start making healthier choices.

Food Smart: Training tools for both mind and body

The number one rule to weight loss is fat burning. By choosing fat burning foods and incorporating exercise to your daily routine you’re on your way to making healthy life changes, which will affect the way you look and feel. Here are some great food ideas to get your metabolism going:

Healthy Protein Choices:
Crabmeat omelet
Poached eggs
Lobster salad (light on the dressing)
Chef salad
Cobb salad
Rosemary roast chicken
Spicy seafood skewers
Peppered roast beef
Lemon and dill grilled halibut
Pork tenderloin

Healthy Carbohydrate Choices:
Spinach
Kale
Mustard greens
Couscous
Artichoke (watch the mayo and butter, use lemon and herbs to season)
Romaine lettuce
Endive
Spring mix

Healthy fats and oils:
Olive oil
Nuts and seeds
Grape seed oil
Avocado
Avocado oil
Sesame oil
Coconut oil
Butter (real butter not margarine)
Ghee
Almond butter

Read our next blog entry tomorrow: Beat High Blood Sugar with these amazing superfoods.

De-stress in luxury. Roses, honey, and lavender…Ahhh, let the relaxing begin

noreply@blogger.com (Spa Nutrition by Sequence XO) — Thu, 29 May 2008 08:18:00 +0000

Through the ages, Kings and Queens pampered themselves in milk baths to reap the luxurious skin benefits it offered. One of the most famous milk bathers was Cleopatra. Milk contains fatty acids, vitamin A and E, and lactic acid that provide nutrition directly to the skin. Cleopatra’s soothing ritual increased her skin’s water content and acted as a mild exfoliate. Today, milk derived skin care can go beyond the royal tub. Products are incorporating milk-derived nutrients and vitamins into both topical and drinkable skin care.

The Internal Spa Treatment

We know that by applying nutrients directly on the skin we are helping keep our largest organ hydrated, vibrant and looking youthful. Well, the same philosophy applies to our internal health. The way we appear to the world actually begins from the inside. Our inner layers, organs and cells need just as much pampering as we do on the outside. Next time you want to draw a bath, customize your home spa experience with Sequence XO’s Spa Nutrition.

Calm it’s like a massage in a glass!

The Spa Nutrition line carries a refreshing beverage called Calm, clinically tested to relax your body, heighten your mental clarity and help restore your natural energy. Calm is enhanced with Lactium, a milk protein extensively researched in France to provide stress relief, beautiful skin and maintain healthy hormonal levels. Calm has all the benefits of spa cucumber water, yet royally charged with amazing healing ingredients.

So next time you take a bath make sure you reach for a martini glass full of Calm for your internal spa experience. Look and feel beautiful with Spa Nutrition.

How to make your next tub fit for royalty!

Prepare an 8-ounce martini glass of water and drop a Calm wafer. Let dissolve for 4 minutes and add ice cubes for a cool beverage. If it’s a cold day, drop Calm in warm water for a sensational tea. Set aside for your drinking pleasure once you enter your bath.

Then draw your bath. Before getting into your bath brush your body to remove any dead, dull cells, so that you allow all the wonderful nutrients to be absorbed by the deeper layers of the skin.

Add one cup of liquid milk or half a cup of dried milk to your bath water, depending your preference. The milk will help exfoliate, soften and nourish your skin from head to toe. Soak for 15-30 minutes.

Dry yourself by blotting your skin with an extra soft towel. Try not to rub the water off, as this could strip away your newly acquired nutrients. Leave skin moist for your final step. Generously apply a multi-vitamin-milk body lotion to finish off your royal treatment.

Other ingredients you may want to add to your bath water:
Honey: Adding 1-3 teaspoons of liquid or dry honey can help soften and protect skin.
Baking soda: Adding 1-tablespoon purifies the skin and acts as a cleanser.
Sea salts: Adding 1-teaspoon helps to detoxify and also soften skin.
Lavender oil: Add a few drops for an added stress-relieving aroma as well as for its antiseptic qualities.
Rose pedals: Use liberally for its intoxicating aroma to provide further relaxation as well as adding a complete luxurious experience to you next bath.

Post or email us your favorite recipe and enter to win a month supply of Spa Nutrition! Emails should be submitted to info@sequencexo.com.

Spa Spotlight: Meet one of our Spa Resource Partners

noreply@blogger.com (Spa Nutrition by Sequence XO) — Thu, 29 May 2008 08:08:00 +0000

Steaming Stone Spa and Salon offers massage, steam and stone therapies. We also offer skin, hair and nail care solutions. Nutrition and fitness Consultation and Chiropractic services are also available.

Steaming Stone Spa: Essential Pampering from Head to Toe

Spa Mixer: Relaxing Island Mojito

noreply@blogger.com (Spa Nutrition by Sequence XO) — Thu, 29 May 2008 08:07:00 +0000

3 Mint sprigs
1-2 teaspoon of organic sugar
3 tablespoons of fresh lime juice
1 ½ oz of Coconut rum or light rum
1 Calm effervescent wafer
4-6 oz of Sparkling water to top off
Ice cubes
Bar shaker

Add Calm to room temperature sparkling water. Let dissolve and set aside. In a tall thin glass, crush part of the mint with a fork and coat the inside of the glass. Add sugar and lime juice and stir thoroughly. Top with ice. Add rum and mix. In a bar shaker add ice cubes and Calm mixture, stir for 10 seconds to cool. Top off your glass with the cool Calm mix. Add a lime slice and mint sprig for garnish and enjoy your Relaxing Island Mojito!

Acai! Its berry good for you skin

noreply@blogger.com (Spa Nutrition by Sequence XO) — Thu, 15 May 2008 07:00:00 +0000

Imagine a rich purple berry from the Amazon being a new, luxurious beauty product. Yes, you heard us right! Acai berries are the latest sensation in skin care. The antioxidants in acai berries provide your skin with a host of health benefits – including strengthening capillary walls, reducing inflammation and restoring the skin’s radiant look and feel. This summer make sure your skin is looking its best and protected from harmful elements that might show up later down the road.

Acai the richest antioxidant source

Acai pronounced ‘ah-sigh-ee’, is unlike any other fruit on the market, with a subtle hint of chocolate and cherry, it’s a flavor unlike any other. Over the last decade acai has been researched for its many health benefits ranging from boosting energy levels, building the immune system, and its detoxifying properties.

So what makes Acai so powerful?
Acai is a rich source of polyphenolic flavoniods, which are the same antioxidants that give wine its health benefits. Antioxidants are needed by the body to battle free-radicals, whose oxidative damage contributes to wrinkles and aging skin. As well as being considered the richest source of antioxidants, acai is also rich in mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids – providing sources of nourishment for supple looking skin. Acai also contains phytosterols, which can help the body prevent absorption of cholesterol.

How to get Acai
Luckily you can get acai in supplements, beverages and other berry formulas! We recommend our Radiance Age Defying Beverage. Not only is Radiance rich in acai berries, but also blueberries, pomegranate, mangosteen and gogi berries. Ninety percent of the skin issues start within the body so why not take your skin care to another level – deep within. Radiance provides internal care for sun protection, vibrant skin, suppleness and rejuvenation.

Look and feel beautiful with Spa Nutrition™! Check out all three of our formulas -Radiance, Fusion and Calm

SPOTLIGHT: Meet one of our resource partners!

noreply@blogger.com (Spa Nutrition by Sequence XO) — Thu, 15 May 2008 07:00:00 +0000

Meet our resource partner BodyWerks Spa – Rated one of the top spas in Orange County

BodyWerks was created by husband and wife team, Dennis and Gina Loya, who reside in Orange County with their four children. Dennis is the Healer while Gina handles the business end of things.

BodyWerks Spa Extreme Pampering Perfected

Antioxidants 101

noreply@blogger.com (Spa Nutrition by Sequence XO) — Thu, 01 May 2008 07:14:00 +0000

The latest buzz around the health industry today is antioxidants. Research has shown that antioxidants provide a wide range of benefits when it comes to the sustainability of your health. These helpful compounds help with cholesterol and blood pressure stabilization. They aid in the break up of plaque in the blood vessels ultimately supporting the body’s circulatory system and enhancing blood flow. They are a great source for enhanced energy levels and they improve nutrient uptake at the cellular level which leads to many health benefits including healthy aging.

What are antioxidants and how do they work?
We know that antioxidants are good for us. But what are antioxidants and why are they so good for us? To truly understand the answer to this question, we must first understand how antioxidants work.

As we all know, we need oxygen to live. But oxygen has one major downside in comparison to the many benefits it gives us. Oxygen initiates a process in our body called “oxidation”. Under normal circumstances, our cells are made up of molecules that have a full set of electrons, which are responsible for keeping them stable. Think of these molecules as three legs on a three-legged stool. The stool is stable with all three legs, but as soon as one of those legs is missing, the stool falls and looses its functionality. When oxygen comes in contact with these molecules, they lose an electron (or they get “oxidized”), which converts them to an unstable type of molecule known as a free radical.

Because of their instability, free radicals are always scavenging the body looking for other molecules to attach to and steal their electrons for their own stability. During this scavenger hunt, free radicals will attack proteins, fats, and even DNA to look for these electrons. Once they find those electrons and steal them, the molecules they attack get their structure changed, which ultimately affects their function. Eventually, those structures cannot perform their function as efficiently as they would have before they were attacked by roaming free radicals.

The answer to keeping these free radical from attacking our body are antioxidants. Antioxidants immobilize free radicals by donating one of their electrons to replace the ones lost during the oxidation process. The body produces antioxidants naturally, but with the ever-changing environment we have reached a point where our body cannot sustain enough antioxidant production naturally to help with the growing free radical intake. Supplementing with antioxidants will aid in efficient free radical neutralization.

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SXO products with rich sources of antioxidants:

Fusion – the antioxidant formula
Fusion is a formula developed with the world’s most effective antioxidants including Acai berry, pomegranate, grape seed extract and green tea for immune support, enhanced circulation, and detoxification for healthier looking skin.

Radiance – age defying formula
Dubbed as our internal skin care product, Radiance has an array of health benefits that positively affect the health of our bodies that have a direct reflection on our skin. Radiance is sweetened with fructooligosaccharides also known as (FOS) or sweet fiber. FOS are extracted from fruits and vegetables and known to contribute to our dietary fiber intake. Provide your body with great nutrients on the inside and see the beautiful results on the outside!

Nature’s Hidden Beauty Secret: Hyaluronic Acid

noreply@blogger.com (Spa Nutrition by Sequence XO) — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 07:17:00 +0000

When it comes to outward signs of aging, there’s no shortage of theories about the causes. In recent years, several beauty products containing hyaluronic acid (HA) have been introduced into the market, ranging from vitamin supplements to HA injections. However, most people are looking for better ways of keeping a youthful appearance without invasive procedures.

So what is hyaluronic acid exactly?
Beauty is not just skin deep; in fact, the health and beauty of your hair, skin and nails is directly affected by the nutrients that you provide your body with internally and externally. One of these exciting nourishing ingredients is called hyaluronic acid. HA is capable of holding 1,000 times its weight in water. Since it is one of the most hydrophilic (water-absorbing) molecules in nature, HA is often described as ‘nature’s moisturizer,’ providing the body with essential moisture and a viable way to erase wrinkles.

Hyaluronic acid is a key component of our collagen structure, including the joints, skin, veins and eyes. Hyaluronic acid’s lubrication abilities have made it one of the best anti-aging beauty secrets available on the market today. HA’s major role in the skin is to help regulate moisture levels by absorbing water and slowly releasing it as the cells in skin become dehydrated. By drawing in and holding onto water in the outer cell layers, HA enables effective skin hydration, delivery of nutrients and removal of toxins. Without an adequate amount of HA, nutrients cannot be moved into skin cells and waste cannot be eliminated from cells. When HA is taken as a supplement, it moisturizes from the from the deepest layers of the skin to the outer layer, helping to maintain smooth, elastic skin.

Science and hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid supports healthy skin, as noted in a study published by the Journal of Cellular Physiology in 1998. The study showed that HA helped reproduce healthy skin cells. But as we age, the HA content of the skin changes due to two separate clinically proven factors: the body decreases the amount of HA it produces and begins to distribute it differently. So instead of the deepest layers sending HA to the surface layers of the skin, it reverses making skin look dehydrated and wrinkly.

Supplementation is one of the key factors in counteracting the body’s inability to produce HA. This new scientific evidence is paving the road for hyaluronic acid and other important nutrients like grape seed extract, Lutein and Lycopene to become the skin care of the future. Studies show benefits from oral supplementation within one to three months. In fact, the ABC program 20/20 aired a special on the small village in Japan known as Yuzuri Hara, where 10 percent of the population is 85 and older. The show attributed the people’s lack of cancer and heart disease, as well as their increased longevity, to a key component of their diet, hyaluronic acid.

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring protein in the body. It has been used orally with no adverse reaction and incredible results. There is considerable evidence that the loss of HA is directly involved in the acceleration of aging. Nutritional supplementation of HA is an excellent way to help support and protect your body from the negative affects of aging. This ‘internal cosmetic’ breakthrough is allowing more and more people to feel younger and healthier as they age.

Radiance by SXO Spa Nutrition
Looking at skin care with an inside outside approach will not only benefit the way you look but also the way you feel. Providing your body with the right nutrients provides support to all the vital functions the body performs on a daily basis. Our cells need healthy nutrients just like the outer layers of your skin. So drink yourself beautiful for healthy looking skin and feel like a million bucks!

The road to a healthier lifestyle begins with Sequence XO

noreply@blogger.com (Spa Nutrition by Sequence XO) — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 07:01:00 +0000

The Problem: We live in a world where the foods we eat lack proper nutrients, the water we drink is contaminated, the air we breathe is toxic, and our busy lifestyles don’t allow us to get the proper amount of exercise we need.

The Solution: Spa Nutrition…a line of nutritional products designed by Sequence XO. Spa Nutrition provides all the vitamins and minerals you need on a daily basis, but with a twist of luxury and relaxation. Inspired by spa treatments, Spa Nutrition is the perfect first step in getting that healthier lifestyle we all desire. Combine Spa Nutrition with a healthy diet and an active lifestyle and you’ll be feeling beautiful from the inside out in no time at all.

Understanding our unhealthy environment
Our environment doesn’t allow us to live a healthy lifestyle. We are constantly surrounded by pollution in the air, contaminants in our water and eating nutrient deprived foods.

Contamination of water and soil
A recent article from the Washington Post reported that there were a vast array of pharmaceuticals, including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones, found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans. Drinking water is not the only thing that contaminants affect. The water we use to grow our produce and feed the live stock that eventually becomes our food source is also affected in negative ways.

If our soil is negatively affected, then our produce feels a direct affect. Our fruits and vegetables today do not carry nearly the amount of nutrients required for our body to function at an optimal level. Agriculture today takes shortcuts in order to save money and that directly depletes the nutrients in the soil that our fruits and vegetables are grown in. Additionally, with the addition of pesticides and genetic alterations of our foods, who knows what we are really putting in our bodies.

Poor Diets and lack of exercise
According to Obesityinamrica.org, 65.2% of the U.S. adult population is overweight, while 30.5% are obese. Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. The key point from the facts stated above is that this problem is “Preventable”. We all need to make the choice of living a healthier lifestyle.

Solutions from Sequence XO
Sequence XO’s Spa Nutrition line of supplements have been formulated to assist in the process of overall well being and healthy lifestyle living. These products aid in the replenishment of essential nutrients and antioxidants, assist in naturally reducing stress, enhance and strengthen your skin and create a whole new experience when combined with your favorite spa treatment.

Fusion - the antioxidant solution
Fusion is a combination of the world's most potent antioxidants; from Asia to South America to Europe this formula is essential for any anti-aging and anti-stress regimen. Fusion is formulated with Green Tea, Grape Seed Extract, Pomegranate, Acai berry and other essential antioxidants to combat oxidative stress. Fusion is the connection for true health when combined with Sequence XO's Calm and Radiance.

Radiance - drink yourself beautiful with this citrus berry beverage
Radiance is the solution for defying age! The secrets in Radiance are two clinically tested ingredients called Lutein and Hyaluronic Acid. Lutein has demonstrated to increase skin hydration and elasticity plus help correct the damaging effects from the sun or artificial light. Hyaluronic Acid also known as 'Nature's Moisturizer' provides the body with essential moisture to erase away wrinkles. Radiance also includes essential proteins and fruit extracts that rejuvenate the skin by helping to repair and renew the natural vibrancy of your skin.

Calm - relax with a massage in a glass
Calm is an anti-stress fizz tonic for all spa enthusiasts to enjoy! Calm is formulated with an array of B-vitamins, minerals and adaptogenic (stress aiding) herbs to help in the release of every day stress. Calm is also formulated with Ayurveda herbs traditionally used in India and Africa to help boost the immune system, mental clarity and rejuvenation. The well-researched combination of ingredients give Calm its strength to enhance your spa treatments from the inside out. Try the anti-stress fizzing tonic today!

For more information please visit www.spanutrition.com

Unwind and relax with a natural internal spa treatment

noreply@blogger.com (Spa Nutrition by Sequence XO) — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 07:01:00 +0000

Stress is normal to life. We actually need some stress to survive. However, most of the stress we face today can have a negative effect on our health. There is even evidence that stress can actually make us look older, lower our immune response and increase our weight gain. Though stress affects mostly our cells and tissues, the first place you will actually see the effects is on our skin. Smoothing out the worries with the right relaxation solutions and products can make a world of difference on our skin.

Stress on your skin

Stress increases the signs of aging in skin. A 2001 study in the Archives of Dermatology found that psychological stress such as anger, confusion, anxiety, depression, fatigue and tension can decrease the skin’s ability to function correctly – leading to wrinkled and sagging skin. To help manage some of the every day stresses we can turn to nutrition breakthroughs in foods, beauty, health supplements and even new beauty treatments, which all help us get that younger looking skin.

Managing stress with breakthrough nutrition!
Stress Relieving Foods:
Researches show that vitamins like a B-complex, C, E along with minerals such as magnesium, calcium, selenium and zinc are helpful in relieving stress. Try adding some of these food choices daily:

Fresh fruits like blueberries, cranberries, pears, oranges and apples
Green leafy vegetables like spinach, spring mix salad, bok choy, mustard greens
Green, yellow and red vegetables
Seeds and nuts like almonds
Select good protein choices like tuna and lean beef. Even though beef gets a bad wrap there is quite a bit of good nutrition such as iron, magnesium, zinc, vitamin B2, C and E.

Stress Relieving Supplement Ingredients:
Lactium
More than 12 years ago, researchers in France discovered a chain of amino acids with relaxing properties within a milk protein hydrolysate. The French researchers were intrigued with the calm state of babies after consuming milk and discovered this milk protein called Lactium provided stress relief. This 100% natural ingredient has been clinically proven to provide relaxation, mental clarity and tension relief from the stresses of every day life. Lactium is lactose free.

B-Complex
B-vitamins have been well researched for their anti-stress properties. From nervous system support to maintaining healthy red blood cell counts, B-vitamins provide the adequate source of energy the body needs to deal with stressful situations from the cellular level.

Herbal Complex
Rhodiola rosea is an ancient herb used in Europe and Asia for centuries to help cope with fatigue, depression, stomach ailments and nervous system disorders. Another important herbal ingredient for relieving stress is Panax Ginseng. Panax Ginseng has been widely used for immune response, help relieve fatigue and increase mental concentration. Both these important herbs are also known as an adaptogen – meaning a natural product that increases the body’s resistance to stress, trauma, anxiety and fatigue.

Calcium/Magnesium
These two important minerals are essential for bone health but are also responsible for over 300 other biochemical reactions in the body. Magnesium and calcium help regulate the immune system, blood sugar levels and promotes healthy blood pressure all areas that stress can disrupt. Make sure your diet has adequate amounts of calcium and magnesium to help the body release stress.

Stress Relieving Beauty Treatments:
Massage
Massage is often seen as just a reliever of physical discomfort, but in reality a relaxing massage can help calm the mind too. By using different massage techniques, massage therapists are able to loosen sore muscles, increase circulation, and improve mental clarity.

Exercise (Yoga/Pilates)
Lower impact exercise can help relax our muscles and mind from the stresses of every day, plus helps us maintain a healthy heart!

Topical Skin Care
Make sure you are soothing your skin with nourishing topical products that provide essential nutrients. Though your skin is a protective barrier from the outside world – remember, what you put on your skin is absorbed into your body possibly reaching your delicate internal organs.

Each of these areas will assist in fighting stress so that you end up each day looking and feeling younger, energized and well rested!

The Spa Good Feeling with SXO’s Calm

noreply@blogger.com (Spa Nutrition by Sequence XO) — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 07:01:00 +0000

Life can be tough. Work, kids, deadlines…you could probably use a nice backrub. No time? Okay, how about a drink? Good thing that drinking can be done anytime, anywhere. Drop Calm into a glass and watch your stress fizz away. It’s like a massage in a glass.

What is Calm and how do I use it?
Calm is an anti-stress tonic that helps melt the stress right off your shoulders. Formulated with an array of B-vitamins, minerals and stress aiding herbs to boost your immune system, rejuvenate the body and increase mental clarity. This warm cup of tea is like having a massage in a glass.

Just drop a Calm wafer in a mug and add warm water and watch your stress melt right off you.

Ingredients:
Lactium®: A milk protein hydrolysate containing bioactive peptides to relieve stress by support a healthy digestive, immune and cardiovascular system. Lactium is a food grade ingredient with no side effects and is lactose free.

Gama Amino Butyric Acid: Also known as GABA prevents anxiety and stress-related messages from reaching the motor centers of the brain, and is essential for brain metabolism.

Ashwaganda: This herb is well known for its use in Ayurveda medicine traditionally used in India and Africa for boosting immune response, achieving mental clarity and total body rejuvenation. Clinically Ashwaganda has been recently attributed to enhancing memory and brain cognition.

Rhodiola rosea: This adaptogen herb has been used for centuries in European and Asian cultures to combat stress related symptoms like fatigue, depression, digestive issues and nervous system disorders.

Inositol: Inositol is part of the vitamin B family. Inositol promotes healthy brain development and function. Inositol is currently being studied as a possible treatment for depression, panic attacks and even Alzheimer’s disease.

Panax Ginseng: Ginseng has been traditionally used in ancient Chinese medicine for thousands of years to prevent weakness and fatigue. Today this herb has been extensively researched to be a powerful antioxidant and adaptogen.

Vitamin B1: Also known as thiamine, this vitamin is essential for the nervous system, muscular and cardiovascular functioning, all of which are adversely affected by stress.

Vitamin B2: Also known as Riboflavin, is essential for proper functioning of the adrenal gland and digestive system.

Vitamin B3: Also known as Niacin, is essential in producing hormones related to combating stress. Niacin is a natural source of energy and provides support for circulation and maintaining cholesterol levels within normal range.

Vitamin B5: Also known as pantothenic acid or as the “anti-stress vitamin” for its important role in supporting the adrenal gland. This vitamin is also beneficial in the maintenance of healthy skin, muscles and nerves.

Vitamin B6: Also known as pyridoxine, is important to maintaining healthy blood sugar levels within normal range.

Vitamin B12: In the form of methylcobalamin, vitamin B12 assists in the maintenance of healthy nerves and red blood cells.

Biotin: also known as vitamin H, is of great importance for metabolizing fat and carbohydrates. Biotin is essential for the metabolism of a vitamin B-complex.

How to buy:
You can purchase Calm the anti-stress effervescent either on www.spanutrition.com or at one of our retail partner outlets. To purchase directly with Sequence XO please visit our website and click on PRODUCTS. Click on the Buy Now to enter our secured ecommerce pages.

Please note that by clicking on the BUY NOW you are not purchasing the product. Here you can see our product prices.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Pomegranate and Your Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Spa Nutrition by Sequence XO) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 20:03:00 +0000

A major factor in keeping a healthy heart is through proper circulation. A properly functioning circulatory system needs to have blood flowing through veins and arteries without any barriers. Hardening of arteries refers to the build up of plaque in the walls of the arteries. This decreases blood flow which can eventually lead to heart attacks and strokes. Arterial hardening can be caused by many factors including poor diet, oxidative damage from free radicals and even stress. Research has shown that pomegranate enhances circulation and may reduce blood vessel damage.

The Good & The Ugly: Pomegranate & Cholesterol

noreply@blogger.com (Spa Nutrition by Sequence XO) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 20:03:00 +0000

To put it simply, LDL equals bad cholesterol and HDL equals good cholesterol. LDL is known as bad cholesterol because it tends to build up in many areas of the body in the form of plaque, which inhibits circulation. HDL is known as the good cholesterol because at higher levels HDL seems to protect against heart attacks and studies have shown that people who have low levels of HDL are more prone to heart problems. Additionally, HDL seems to regulate the transport of lipids in the body.

So how does pomegranate come into play? As a potent antioxidant, pomegranate helps regulate the degree at which cholesterol is oxidized. Pomegranate has also been shown to stabilize the retention of LDL cholesterol. We may finally have the upper hand on the battle against bad cholesterol by incorporating the powerful benefits of pomegranate into the mix of healthy eating and exercise.

Want better results? Try adding a pomegranate spa treatment or pomegranate skin care line to see a glowing and radiant appearance!

Pomegranate and Photo-aging

noreply@blogger.com (Spa Nutrition by Sequence XO) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 20:02:00 +0000

Photo-aging is a term that is becoming more mainstream in the world of skin care. Photo-aging refers to the premature aging of the skin due to exposure to the harmful rays of UV light, which comes from the sun or artificial light. In a recent study conducted by the Department of Dermatology at the University of Wisconsin, researchers suggested that pomegranate fruit extract protects specific skin cells against UVB-induced oxidative stress. It is more important now than ever to protect ourselves and ensure that we are taking preventative measures by supplementing with skin strengthening ingredients, such as pomegranate, to allow for more radiant and stronger skin.

The Power of Pomegranate

noreply@blogger.com (Spa Nutrition by Sequence XO) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 20:01:00 +0000

For centuries, pomegranate has been utilized by many civilizations for its wonderful benefits. Throughout history, pomegranate has been referred to as a symbol of health, fertility and eternal life. Pomegranate is one of the earth’s oldest known fruits. It is a native of Persia, yet its historical uses span to Greek mythology, Chinese ceremonies and even Egyptian rituals. Now, even science has begun proving pomegranate’s health benefits. From blood pressure to skin care and even prostate support, pomegranate is a fruit that everyone can benefit from.