Have You Had Your Fruits and Vegetables Today?

By now, we are all aware that eating more fruits and vegetables is as central to a healthy nutritional plan or program as drinking more water, consuming more omega 3 essential fatty acids, or eliminating sugars from the diet. While most vegetables are good, some are clearly better than others from a nutritional standpoint. The general rule is - the greener the better - and of course some red, yellow, and orange colored vegetables are healthy too. Remember, to practice having a colorful plate, not just white and brown foods.

Obviously, the Government's Food Pyramid Guide has been less than ideal in educating people about balanced diets. I saw a study recently that showed that less than one-third of Americans eat enough fiber ( fruits and vegetables) in their diet. It is no wonder that the incidence of chronic degenerative conditions continue to climb each year, namely, arthritis, diabetes, heart disease and even cancer. I would have to agree with Hippocrates the "Father of Medicine" who so aptly stated.."Let thy food be thy medicine, and thy medicine be thy food."

Remember, if you choose to be healthier, you must make smarter food choices!!!


Your Parents Were Right – Fruits and Vegetables are Good for You

The importance of fruits and vegetables has been essentially drummed into us since childhood by parents and grandparents alike. While we all know that fruits and vegetables are good for you, many of us are still in the dark when it comes to knowing the reasons behind the importance of consuming them.

Our diet lays the foundation for our overall well-being and health. Like any other living organism on this earth, without correct nutrition, our bodies will simply start to wither and fail us. A balanced diet which is rich in fruits and vegetables provides our bodies with the ideal tools to facilitate optimum organ function, large supplies of vitality and energy to cope with day-to-day life, and the maintenance of a strong immune system to ward off disease.

A diet containing the correct amounts of fruits and vegetables is intricately related to the prevention of America’s top two causes of death, cardiovascular disease and cancer. The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) has predicted that 1.4 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer this year, and over 500,000 will die from it. The role that diet plays is clearly demonstrated by the fact that 32% of these deaths could be related to eating patterns. The CDC has also reported that the consumption of fruits and vegetables has been shown by recent studies to be associated with cardiovascular disease prevention.

In an effort to guide the American population into leading healthier lifestyles, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) outlines dietary recommendations in the MyPyramid food guide which is available to everyone. In the past, the MyPyramid food guide has recommended an average of five servings of fruit and vegetables per day. This is no longer the case. In order to lead a healthy lifestyle and combat serious illness, the USDA now recommends that we consume 2-6 and a half cups of fruits and vegetables per day – an obvious increase.

Now, you may be thinking that not many people will actually commit to including 6 cups of fruits and vegetables in their diet on a daily basis. Sadly, you are probably right. A study conducted by researchers at the USDA and the Cancer Institute found that 60% of the American population failed to keep up with the previous MyPyramid guidelines between 1999 and 2000. This does not bode well for the new, more stringent recommendations.

We live in an age of convenience which has greatly influenced the Standard American Diet. The “24/7 society” has forced many of us into making a choice between convenient food which we can prepare quickly and eat on the go, over foods which take longer to prepare but are rich in the nutrients our bodies require. A few simple adjustments to your dietary regime can easily set you on the right path to a healthy lifestyle:

... Replace potato chips with raw vegetables.
... Add fruit to your breakfast cereal.
... Replace coffee, tea and soda with juice.
... Explore your supermarket’s produce aisle. You will realize that many items such as raisins, grapes, cherry tomatoes and bananas can be used as great “on the go” food.

In addition to making dietary adjustments, Växa’s Daily Nutrition Line will help you make sure that you are supplying your body with all the necessary essential nutrients. For example, one serving of VäxaGreens is the equivalent to consuming 5 whole green salads, Nutritionizer is a balanced meal replacement shake which offers a quick and tasty way to get 100% of the USRDIs of 36 vitamins and minerals, and Daily Essentials will ensure that your body is never lacking in optimum nutrition.

Did You Know ADD/ADHD Has Been Around For About One Hundred Years?

That's right!! Attention Deficit Disorder has been described in medical literature for about one hundred years, when a well-noted Pediatrician, George Still M.D., described a group of children who were hyperactive, impulsive, and inattentive. Fast forward to 2006, and currently ADD/ADHD affects approximately 7 percent of the population.

Since the new school year has begun across the country, I felt this article could be timely, and help you or someone you know or care about to consider all your options. I recently saw a study that stated that approximately 2 million prescriptions were written for children of all ages last month alone for ADD/ADHD. That is a lot of prescriptions for any condition, which tells me that the awareness for ADD/ADHD is at an all-time high.

So as a take home message this week, just remember that a diagnosis from a qualified professional of ADD/ADHD in your child is not a crisis (although I realize it can be challenging for the whole family in certain situations). Many of America's brightest and most successful adults admit to having some form of Attention Deficit disorder as a child, and learned how to turn symptoms that are perceived to be lemons, into "Lemonade."

ADD/ADHD: Back to School Tips

No matter where you live in the United States, school is back in full force by now. We wanted to take this time to talk to you about some ways of working with a child that has ADD/ADHD this school year. The number one fact to keep in mind is that any change, sudden or otherwise, is going to affect that child. So be very cautious when deciding to make a change in the normal routine. Evaluate the change and be sure it is the best decision for the child. Also, be very aware of who their teachers are and what events, tests, etc. are going on at school. This is important because these changes may also cause a disruption for your child. School holidays, socials and sports tryouts may also cause added stress on your child.

It is true that many of these things can cause stress to any child, but it is important to note that the stress induced on a child with ADD/ADHD is greater. Let’s imagine that your child was adjusted to their teacher and was keeping up in class. Then the teacher goes on a maternity leave and now your child has to adjust to another teacher for the next few months that has a totally different teaching style. Your child could fall behind while trying to adjust to the new teaching style, which could affect them for the remaining school year. Another scenario could be that a standardized test is coming up and the pace of the class has increased in order to prepare for the exam. Your child could get left behind and overwhelmed with the stress of keeping up, and maybe even give up all together.

As a parent or guardian of a child with ADD/ADHD it is more than a full time job. You really have to dig in there and be your child’s biggest advocate. For example, it may not be the best idea for your child to be in a classroom where another teacher may have to fill in for two months. Nor will it be easy to convince the school to make the change without hurting someone’s feelings, but it may be the best for your child. Also, it may be a good idea to get the study guide for a standardized test ahead of time from the teacher and begin to have brief study times before the class even starts to prepare, that way your child will be more comfortable and prepared for the faster paced environment.

In a recent article by Healthwise, “Behavior therapy for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),” they give several helpful tips for all aged children. And as you read through each and every one of these tips you see some very distinct commonalities. The overall ideas in their tips are these:


. Know your child’s routines and create for them a structured environment supporting their educational efforts, need for playtime and family chore time.
. Reward positive behavior.
. Be consistent and set clear instructions for tasks.
. Be a good role model, including such behavioral traits as patience, calmness and good listening skills.


Attend is a valuable and helpful tool in addressing your child’s ADD/ADHD needs. For those customers of ours whose child is taking Attend this school year we would like to give you one more additional tip. Once you have gotten your child through the loading dosage of the Attend and have gotten to the results you were looking for, keep in mind that it may be necessary during times of stress to go back to the loading dosage until the child has adjusted to the stress. During important standardized tests and after returning from a school holiday may be a good time to return your child to the loading dosage.

Every child has their quirks and deserves special one on one attention. We hope this school year is one of bonding for both you and your child. Many of Växa products are suitable for your child, so if you have other health needs for them just give us a call (1-800-248-8292) and our customer service representatives will be glad to help.