This week I have an article from Joan Banks Stutes. 

Joan is the owner of JoansTravelAdventures.com.  Joan has traveled all over the world and is very experienced on the subject.  She knows what to expect and how to plan your travel, mitigating risks and having the best, relaxing, stress free travel experience.

Travel Tips by Joan, The Travel Lady

In 2002 my husband became ill in Bolivia.  Good Bye Lake Titicaca!  While I had to submit extensive documentation to the travel insurance company, we did get reimbursed for the medical expense incurred and the cost of getting home.

Basic Travel Insurance plans include reimbursement should your trip be interrupted or cancelled because of the death, illness or injury.   Other features include reimbursement for Trip Delay, Medical Expenses, Lost/Stolen or Damaged Baggage, Travel Accident Protection & Worldwide Emergency Assistance.  Gold and Silver plans have additional coverage at a higher cost.

Insurance and protection plans offered by insurance companies provide for cash reimbursement. Some tour company packages offer vouchers for future travel instead.

When should you purchase Travel Insurance?

ALWAYS,,,,,,, when embarking on a cruise, a long or expensive journey, or traveling outside USA. Becoming ill on a cruise ship can be devastatingly expensive if a helicopter evacuation is required. $25,000 coverage is offered on most cruise policies. Rearranging flights home from distant lands can be costly in the event of illness or death of a family member.

Cost? One example: Travel insurance for 2 people in Hawaii for one week was $90. Basic plans cost 4.5%-6% of the cost of the trip.

 Travel Insurance is offered by Travel Guard on my web site JoansTravelAdventures.com

All flight and hotel packages booked on my web site include the opportunity to purchase Travel Protection when booking the travel package.

A friend broke his leg the day before a family vacation to France. While in the hospital recovering, he cancelled his flights and began the fight for reimbursement.  He now purchases travel insurance every time.

Call me 408-806-7230 or visit my web site www.JoansTravelAdventures.com for your travel needs.

Joan – The Travel Lady –

Bras and gravity

By Maggie Roberge (The Bra Lady)

When I was a pre-teen of 13, I secretly envied my friends that had developed breasts early.  They were the ones that got to wear bras.  Regardless if it was only an AA or a D, it meant the same.  They had crossed the line to womanhood. It wasn’t the boys that first noticed this rite of passage; it was we, less endowed, girls ogling on the sidelines wondering when we would be next. While these gals may have been the ones envied back then, now, years later, having an ample bosom or any bosom for that matter, can be a different story. The muscles that were supple in youth lose their elasticity and gravity does take its course.  Those funny cartoons you see of Madeline, the frumpy old lady that has the boobs hanging to her knees? This picture isn’t far off for a lot of ladies.

I recently met up with a friend from high school. Donna was always one of the popular ones. She was cute with a curvy figure, and as we put it back then “well stacked”.  Today, she still has the great personality, but things have shifted somewhat. Those perky ladies that used to jut proudly out, well, for want of a better expression, took a nose dive. I found myself again ogling, not out of envy, but out of concern. When Donna walks, she looks as if she is striding downhill. Her body is being pulled forward by the weight of her breasts.    She moans and groans and talks about needing a breast reduction and suffers multiple issues. She has backaches, neck aches and indented lines where the bra strap is digging into her shoulders.  These are also signs that the bras she once wore are simply not right for her changing body.  Donna needed to take a serious look and toss the outdated bra that was allowing her breasts to dangle freestyle

Throughout the years it’s fairly common that women’s breasts grow and shrink.  When the body changes we need to adjust and wear undergarments that ‘serve’ us with correct support.  .Regardless of the size of bust one has, it is so important to pick a bra that fits right. This is especially true because as you get older the breasts begin to droop, lending not only to a matronly appearance, but also resulting in muscle discomfort and headaches.  The natural spine alignment is thrown off as the extra weight of the breast causes pressure on the back.   Naturally the first thing that comes to mind is, if I lose weight, I’ll lose breast weight and that will resolve the aches and pains. Right and wrong.  You may be healthier when you lose weight, but when the fat leaves the tissue, the breast is still left drooping and falling to the bottom of the bra cup.  The sagging breast tissues role off the chest wall and under the arm, and continues to pull on the neck which reduces the blood flow to the head.  The result?  Headache 101.  Having the right bra is one way to combat this for the tissue will be lifted up and supported.     

Now, my friend Donna really may need a breast reduction to help with her issues, but, without the correct bra afterwards she realizes that she could still be facing the same problems she is having now. As Oprah’s been saying on her show over the past few years, 85% of women are wearing the wrong bra.  Are you one of them? Think about it. Does your flesh squeeze over the top of your bra?  Does the back of your bra ride up? Does the shoulder strap leave deep gauges in your shoulder? Do you just look a bit frumpy and sagging? 

Do yourself a favor.  Have a fitting by a professional bra fitter.  The right bra will not only enhance your appearance, but it could be a contributing factor for helping to alleviate the back and neck problems you find yourself plagued with. 

Ladies, with the right bra, and the right fitting, the results can be simply ‘uplifting’. 

Maggie Roberge, “The Bra Lady” www.myessentialbodywear.com/beautyblooms 408-319-7612

Another Benefit of Health: Wealth

By Dan Kadlec Thursday, Sep. 11, 2008, TIME.COM

Investing the money you would have spent on cigarettes from age 40 to 65 may net $100,000, not counting what you save by avoiding disease.

Such costs have given rise to a wellness industry that promotes healthy living now as a means of avoiding disease and expense later. The industry, which has exploded to $2 billion in annual revenue from less than $100 million a decade ago, promotes smoking-cessation and stress-reduction programs, as well as healthy-diet and daily-exercise regimens such as stretching and moderate weight training. Even a cursory estimate shows how quickly a few health measures pay off.

Lose weight. Obesity is linked to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and more. Obese people spend a third more than fit people on health services and three-quarters more on medications, according to Rand Health. The average annual out-of-pocket cost for diabetics is $454, according to an analysis of government data conducted by Nationwide Better Health, a health-management company. But those costs skyrocket to $12,000 or more for the 1 in 2 diabetics who do not carefully tend to their illness, says Nationwide. Bottom line: shed some pounds, avoid these diseases and invest the related windfall from, say, age 40 to 65–and you could pad your nest egg by up to $700,000.

Stop smoking. Not buying cigarettes alone can add up to more than $100,000 if you stop at age 40 and invest the difference conservatively until age 65. If you avoid emphysema and cancer, your savings multiply. The potential savings from medical treatments could add tens of thousands of dollars more to your nest egg.

Get moving. Exercise and diet are keys to avoiding high blood pressure and heart disease, which together have annual costs to the individual of $606, according to Nationwide’s analysis. Investing that sum for 25 years may provide more than $35,000.

Such savings are not guaranteed. Even healthy people get sick, and living healthily usually means living longer, which layers on costs for other health woes you may encounter as you age. Still, the most important steps to retirement security may have more to do with what you give up (fatty foods, cigarettes and more than two alcoholic drinks a day) than with what you sock away. This is one situation in which less means much more.

Let’s talk nutrition! 

Good nutrition is the cornerstone of good health. Yet eating right to get the proper nutrients to maintain a healthy body and mind can be challenging. While many of us take supplements, they are not all created equal!!

Eating right is a challenge for most of us. This is why 49% of our food dollars are spent on fast food, and only 25% of us eat the recommended amount of fruits or vegetables each day. If your busy lifestyle doesn’t allow you the time you need to find, cook and eat healthy foods, then you need to supplement your diet.  So who can we turn to for advice?  What can we do to help ourselves?

Dr. Seidman and the National Institute of Health .

Dr. Seidman is an active scientist and has funding from the National Institutes of Health and other major institutions for the past 20+ years.  http://befreeandwell.com/site/sab  He is considered an expert on, amongst other things, the molecular basis of aging, and nutrition/antioxidants and their relationship to health and aging, and herbal therapies.  He’s received numerous awards including being honored as one of the top 1% of Doctors in the USA, and has been awarded a US patent on a supplement that positively effects age-related hearing loss and has several patents pending on aging, mitochondrial function and Alzheimer’s disease.  Let’s take a look at the SCIENCE behind Vi-Pak, the product Dr. Seidman created, and get educated!

What Makes This Product Unique?

The Vi-PAK® boasts patented and scientifically formulated ingredients and is exclusively distributed through the representatives of ViSalus Sciences®. The Vi-PAK® uses four unique supplements to provide our bodies with the nutrients it needs for health. The Advanced Anti-Aging and Health System are designed to give your body the nutrients that most daily diets simply lack. By combining the chelated Multi-Mineral & Vitamin, a supercharged Antioxidant, a proprietary Omega Vitals blend and a patented Anti-Aging & Energy formula, the Vi-PAK gives your body everything it needs to perform at peak levels, at a cellular level, so you have an unprecedented anti-aging system for ultimate health and nutrition.

Why Chelate?

The rate of absorption of the Vi-Pak chelated mineral supplement has been proven to be between 35% – 40%!  All of the minerals used in the Multi Mineral & Vitamin supplement have been chelated with an amino acid to enhance absorption by your body.  Other brands are NOT chelated so your body may absorb roughly only 2% – 4% of the minerals you take! 

Remember the Mighty Mitochondria?

There is extensive scientific support that mitochondrial function declines with age, starting as early as our 20’s.  A leading theory on aging, the mitochondrial clock theory, is based on a gradual decline in mitochondrial function because of DNA damage from free radicals.  This patented product combines two mitochondrial metabolites and two mitochondrial respiratory chain precursors that enhance mitochondrial functions, enhance energy production and counteract some of the biochemical reactions associated with aging! The Anti-Aging & Energy formula in Vi-Pak has been proven in clinical tests to be revolutionary in its ability to enhance mitochondrial function and improve the efficiency of energy production in the body.  This cutting-edge supplement was awarded a Government Patent on its merits and on the results of these tests. 

Battling Free Radicals.

Free radicals are damaging agents found in and created by our won bodies.  Produced in the mitochondria of each cell, we each create seven trillion of these free radicals every second.  While our bodies are also able to create enzymes to combat the damaging attacks these free radical make on our cells, these protective enzymes invariably decline as we age.  There is unprecedented support against devastating free radical attacks.  The Vi-Pak Supercharged Antioxidant is a potent blend of vitamins, antioxidants and minerals specifically designed to battle free radicals throughout your system. 

Essential oils for your body’s finely tuned engine! 

Omega Vitals, or Essential FATTY Acids (EFA), are so-named because they are imperative for optimal health, cognitive function and cardiovascular support.  The EFA’s are identified as omega-3 EFA (or alpha-linolenic acid_ and omega-6 EFA (linoleic acid).  A deficiency in either progressively results in poor health.  Like other essential nutrients, the human body cannot function without EFA’s in the diet.  These EFA’s function as building blocks for the membranes of every cell in the body.  They also produce ‘prostaglandin families,’ which are hormone-like substances necessary for energy metabolism and cardiovascular and immune health. Brain and nerve tissue consist of over 50% EFA’s.  Vi-Pak provides the essential oils your body needs.

Overweight puts you at risk!

Did you know that for the first time ever the number of overweight people in the world has surpassed the number of starving ones? Global obesity is on the rise and the latest figures show that the number of overweight people worldwide will double by 2015.

Think about people you know who have experienced health issues.  The benefits of the Vi-Pak are designed to help: 

1.       Your body’s natural energy and production, endurance and performance

2.       Support healthy immune system

3.       Support healthy range of motion

4.       Suport healthy blood fat and blood sugar levels

5.       Promote focus

6.       Support your body’s natural recovery process

All of the products that are assembled in the Vi-PAK® are manufactured in state-of-the-art, facilities that follow Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).  That is important to you!

I am Alyssa Thomas, an Active ViSalus Distributor, ViPak user, and an active Real Estate Investor, National Educator, and Mortgage Consultant.  I am most passionate about promoting,  Life, Health and Prosperity for everyone I touch, through education; teaching people to lead healthier lives and showing them the way to financial freedom through entrepreneurship.   

ViSalus Sciences is a community of really great people, who all share the common core values of Life, Health, and Prosperity. LIFE is about, fun, family, friends, and new experiences. ViSalus impacts HEALTH by developing and enabling the average person to have access to cutting edge wellness products. And ViSalus promotes PROSPERITY through its simple and lucrative business system.

There is so much more to teach you.  For more information, you are welcome to go to www.BeFreeAndWell.com to continue your education, or simply email me at AlyssaThomas@BeFreeAndWell.com or call (510) 703-2325.  Be Free, Well And HAVE FUN!

Are you ready to feel better & healthier?

MonaVie juice is a functional nutritional beverage that features a delicious and energizing blend of 19 fruits from around the world that work together.  Its crown jewel is the Brazilian acai berry.  The Brazilian acai berry is considered to have the best nutritional value of any fruit on earth.  Dr. Perricone, in his bestseller The Perricone Promise named acai as the #1 super-food in the world.  In fact, based on USDA data, the açai berry’s total ORAC (antioxidant) activity is 200%-750% more than any other fruit or vegetable tested!

Developed with the philosophy of Balance-Variety-Moderation, MonaVie delivers a wide array of phytonutrients and antioxidants to help you maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.  Although MonaVie does not make any medical claims, individuals who regularly consume MonaVie have reported an increase in energy, better health and an overall sense of well being.  Additionally these individuals have also reported a decrease in minor aches and pains associated with stress, overexertion, exercise, and everyday living.

However, the acai berry is one of the most powerful yet delicate fruits in the world.  Much of its nutrient content can be lost within 24 to 48 hours after harvesting if not properly processed.  That is why MonaVie developed a unique and patented freeze-drying process to capture the full complement of acai’s nutritional value.

Great for you…and the kids too!

MonaVie is not just for adults, children enjoy the health benefits too.  Even with our best efforts, most children often don’t get close to the 5 to 9 recommended servings of fruits and vegetables a day, nor the variety and spectrum of what is needed.  A small serving of MonaVie gives adults and children the full spectrum of fruits we all should be eating every day.  In fact, four ounces of MonaVie has the equivalent antioxidant capacity of approximately 12 to 14 servings of fruits and vegetables.  How simple is that!

Additionally, it’s well-known that the body absorbs liquids faster and more effectively than solids.  Absorption is very important to consider when taking dietary supplements.  In fact, Physican’s Desk Reference states that “only 10 to 20% of vitamins and minerals…in pill form are absorbed by the human body.”   Plus, as we all know, it is sometimes challenging to get kids to take them!  So with MonaVie, it couldn’t be easier to get healthier! 

Christina from Willow Glen suggested that interviews with guests could be helpful.  I have asked a few people I know in the health and wellness world if they would be interested in doing an article or introducing their product and will be featuring my first guest in one of the next few issues.  As well as the traditional health and wellness products and services, I thought this may be a particularly useful place to spotlight some of the many health and wellness products that are available through MLM’s and other sources.  There are so many out in the market place and not everyone wants to sit through a business presentation about each one to find the one they like or are interested in.  If anyone has any suggestions of someone or some thing they would like to see highlighted in the guest spot, please let me know and I will try and fill that request.