Optimal Health Institute
June 2009 Newsletter
This month’s articles:
Reality Check
Vitamin D Helps with Chronic Pain and Fatigue
Four Myths About Healthy Sex
Advances Made Against Alzheimer’s Disease
Broccoli that Taste Better
Doctors’ Gender Affects Heart Diagnoses
Sleep Apnea May Predict Depression

The topics for our regular features are:
Sex: Question and Answer 
Just Do It!   Slow Exercise Better For Older Women
Food for Thought:  Points to Ponder (silly but amusing)
Frightening Food Fact:  Pans Down
Recipe of the Month:  Zucchini-Chocolate Chip Snack Cake
Supplement of the Month:  ameal bp
Referral Incentive Program
Happenings

Reality Check:
Looking at real women’s bodies will help you learn to love yours
Geneen Roth
I have a confession to make: A few years ago, when I was getting my picture taken for the cover of one of my books, I had a pimple on my forehead the size of Mount Everest. Chagrined at the prospect of having this unsightly blemish recorded for posterity, I asked the photographer if he could eliminate it from the finished product. In less time than it took to say Botox, the mountain was removed and my complexion was clear.

I then asked if he could remove the crow’s-feet on either side of my eyes. “And while you are at it,” I said, “could you please take away the rolls under my chin? And, oh yeah, might as well take away the creases on the sides of my nose, and the tiny lines underneath my eyes.” I was giddy with power, ecstatic at the possibilities. Amid visions of adding a massive quantity of curls to my stick-straight hair, I caught myself. What kind of message would I be sending to women everywhere if I re-touched my photograph?
So with deep reservations and a slight edge of bitterness at losing my only chance to have a perfect face, I consented to having nothing but Everest removed. It was a tough decision: I was utterly torn between the intense longing to meet the cultural ideal of beauty and the longing to honor myself as I was, with the effects of having lived the only life I could live–my own–etched into my features.

What Do You “Miswant”?
Most women I know have a completely unrealistic picture of what they are supposed to look like: a composite image based on 5-foot-9-inch models (with 5-foot-7-inch legs), movie stars sashaying down the red carpet, criticism from others that they’ve absorbed and now turned on themselves, and an unrelenting blast of insane information from our culture. Think of the Extreme Makeover TV show. Its message: Happiness depends on what you look like, and with enough cuts of the knife, you, too, can be happy.

As if.

Daniel Gilbert, PhD, a Harvard psychologist, says that Americans do a tremendous amount of “miswanting.” We keep wanting things that will never make us happy. Being rich and thin are values that are shared by practically everyone and rarely questioned. Yet, he points out; studies show that having enough money for the basic necessities of life–food, clothing, and shelter, which cost maybe $40,000 a year–is all we really need for happiness. The effect of the next $10 million is negligible. This tells us that although we fervently believe that something we can touch, like piles of cash or cellulite-free thighs, is going to light up our hearts, the truth is that we usually don’t know what will make us happy. Worse, we don’t know that we don’t know, so we ardently pursue the wrong things.

Faulty Comparisons
It’s time to challenge long-held beliefs about what will make us happy. This means questioning the harsh litany of self-criticism–about our thighs, arms, facial features–that plays in our heads all day long. It means catching ourselves every time we compare ourselves to people younger, thinner, or richer. And it means understanding that the image we’re relentlessly pursuing is based on the values of a youth-obsessed, airbrushed, adrenaline-driven culture, and that there is no way we could ever look like that. Even fashion models don’t look like their images. Their sags, blemishes, and cellulite magically disappear with a few clicks of a mouse wielded by a talented photo re-toucher. I once read that the supermodel Cindy Crawford, after hearing that people wanted to look like pictures of her, said, “I wish I looked like Cindy Crawford.”

Normal women have wrinkles, sags, and stretch marks. But because we don’t compare ourselves to normal women, we end up feeling as if our bodies are wrong. As if our imperfect bodies are an indication that we are not working hard enough, don’t care passionately enough, and have let ourselves go. Worse, we assume that our imperfect bodies say something about our souls. We ascribe inherent, fundamental meaning to the size and shape of our bodies, and when they don’t live up to our impossible standards, we feel damaged and doomed and worthless.

Next time you have the chance (at a grocery store, a mall, a health club); take a good look at a real woman’s body. Pick someone who passed through puberty more than 10 minutes ago. Notice the wrinkles, the lumps, the bumps. And repeat after me: This is what living looks like. This is what loving and losing and hoping and caring do to bodies. The goal of life is not to get through to the end and wind up looking like you just began. The goal is to allow yourself to have your life–”your one wild and precious life,” as the poet Mary Oliver says–and in doing so, to discover that you are the prize, the celebration, the only place where happiness can ever be found.

Change Your Attitude
Once you’ve perused real women’s bodies for a while, find a full-length mirror and look at yourself naked for at least 3 minutes. Do this once a week for 6 weeks. (That’s how long it will take to transform your attitude.) Look at all the sags, stretch marks, and wrinkles, and tell yourself, “This is what living looks like. This is what loving looks like”.

Then remind yourself that you’re speaking the absolute truth.
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Vitamin D Helps with Chronic Pain and Fatigue
GLENVIEW, Ill. (UPI) — An analysis of 22 clinical studies of patients with varied chronic pain and fatigue syndromes found almost all patients lacked vitamin D, U.S. researchers said.  Stewart B. Leavitt, editor of Pain Treatment Topics and author of the report, said when sufficient vitamin D supplementation was provided, the aches, pains, weakness and related problems in most of the patients either vanished or were at least helped to a significant extent.
The peer-reviewed report by a panel of eight experts also said:

– A surprising majority of people in many parts of the world do not get adequate vitamin D from sun exposure or foods. Why such deficiencies are associated with pain in some persons but not others is not always known.

– The currently recommended dose of vitamin D — up to 600 IU per day — is outdated and too low. Most children and adults need at least 1000 IU per day, and people with chronic musculoskeletal pain would benefit from 2000 IU or more per day of supplemental vitamin D3, also called cholecalciferol.

– Vitamin D supplements interact with very few drugs or other agents and are usually not harmful unless extremely high doses — such as 50,000 IU or more — are taken daily for an extended period.
Copyright 2008 by United Press International

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Sex: Question and Answer
Note from Sandra:  As part of our focus on Healthy Relationships in 2009, we have decided to have a Question and Answer section in each newsletter.  Now is your chance to – anonymously, of course, – ask any questions you may have about sex.  Just email Sandra and you will get an answer to your question from either Tom or Sandra.  We will answer every question, but will select one to appear in each newsletter.
Q: Sex with my husband is starting to feel like a routine. How can I get him to try new things?
A: First, realize that men have delicate egos and never want to hear that they’re not God’s gift to women in bed. Still, you should talk to your husband—just do it outside the bedroom and in a loving way. Take a look at the role you play, too. Have you tried initiating more surprising sex?
Once you have a dialogue going (and assuming he does not have a medical condition and is not on medication that can affect his sexual desire or response, both of which he should consult a doctor about), think of ways to pique his interest outside the bedroom. For example, next time you take a shower, wear just the towel around for a while. Titillation will spur him to be more spontaneous. You can build up tension during the day with suggestive emails and phone messages, so that he’s raring to go at night. To explore new territory, write down your fantasies and put them in a “fantasy jar.” Then take turns picking out of the jar and act out the fantasies. This can build intimacy, trust—and great sex.  Let me know how it works!
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Four Myths about Healthy Sex
Ever wonder if everyone is having lots of perfect sex…except you and your partner? Most of us question how our sex lives stack up. But the reality is, the two of you don’t have to experience Earth-shattering orgasms to have healthy intimacy. In fact, chances are your sex life is in better shape than you think—even with the occasional off-night or dry spell. Here, four top myths you shouldn’t buy into.
Myth #1: You both need to be in the mood
It’s normal for sex to be a little ho-hum for one or both spouses up to 15% of the time. Any number of factors can throw things a bit off-kilter: timing, your mood or his, the amount of foreplay, life stresses, you name it. Rather than postponing until the planets align, have sex when you can—and don’t interpret an off night as a sign of a failing relationship. If your man seems disengaged, just be affectionate and look forward to next time. To keep things exciting, make a point of venturing out of your comfort zone occasionally with new positions, locations, and sexy videos. However, if one or both of you is never, ever in the mood anymore, consider seeing a therapist or medical doctor to rule out any underlying health problems.
Myth #2: The best sex is spontaneous
It’s a fact of modern life: What we don’t schedule, we don’t do—and sex is no exception. Expecting it to just happen spur-of-the-moment could lead to long dry spells, whereas penciling it in on your calendar is a show of commitment; plus, it gives you both something to anticipate.
I advise my clients to establish a weekly time for intimacy, meaning anything from sex to cuddling. Choose a time you can both commit to easily, without exhaustion or daily responsibilities getting in the way. Devoting that time should take you back to those eagerly anticipated first dates.
Myth #3: You must have sex three times a week
Having sex regularly nourishes a relationship, sure, but don’t get too caught up in the counting. Most happy couples don’t have sex every day or even two or three times a week. What’s important is that you both are satisfied with the frequency. If that’s not the case, start a discussion outside the bedroom by saying something like, “We don’t have sex as often anymore, and it worries me.” And remember: There’s more to a healthy sex life than just sex. Get your RDA of intimacy by cuddling, holding hands, and spontaneously hugging and kissing.
Myth #4: Good sex is long and slow
Few of us can afford the luxury of leisurely sex. (Frankly, most of us secretly think it sounds like more work after an exhausting day.) And holding out for the ideal moment can lead to infrequent or, even worse, vacation-only sex. The solution? Embrace the quickie. Think of it like a sex snack, sure to boost your energy and put you back in the mood. For extra excitement, break out of the bedroom: Five-minute romps are perfect for unusual locations, even if that just means your shower or sofa.
Jennifer Berman, MD, is director of the Berman Women’s Wellness Center and author of For Women Only.
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Advances Made Against Alzheimer’s Disease:
Antihistamines, immune therapy among ideas that could lead to new treatments
By Ed Edelson

 (HealthDay News)– New reports on very different approaches to treating Alzheimer’s disease could one day lead to better therapies for the mind-robbing condition, experts say.
A trio of studies that were presented Wednesday at the Alzheimer’s Association 2008 International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease in Chicago noted progress made on three different treatment fronts.

The first involves a drug called Dimebon, with positive results being reported from tests in Russia. Dimebon is an antihistamine, and data from the Russian trials indicated that Dimebon might have value in treating Alzheimer’s.  This buttressed American research reported earlier this year that showed improvements in Alzheimer’s patients given Dimebon in a controlled study. The drug is believed to prevent the death of brain cells.

Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, studied 183 people who had mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Mental function remained stable in those taking the drug, while it declined in those given a placebo. Mental function also stabilized in people who were first given a placebo after they began taking Dimebon.

Another trial used the body’s immune system to prevent the mental deterioration suffered by people with Alzheimer’s disease. The immune attack is aimed at the deposits of beta-amyloid protein that accumulate in the brains of patients.  

“The idea has been around for almost a decade now,” Nixon. “The initial notion was to use the vaccine approach to prevent amyloid deposition, injecting amyloid so the body would attack the deposits. Now we are into phase two, injecting the antibody itself.”

Researchers at Eli Lilly & Co. reported on 52 people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s. Some were given weekly injections of a monoclonal antibody that binds to beta amyloid, while others were injected with a placebo.   Detailed measurements showed an increased level of beta amyloid in both blood and cerebrospinal fluid after 12 weeks in those getting the antibody, an indication that the beta amyloid in the brain might be starting to dissolve, the researchers said. New studies of the therapy are planned.

Nixon viewed the results with “tempered optimism.” One interesting finding was the response to the therapy was greatest in people who did not have a known genetic marker for Alzheimer’s risk, he said. “What is the significance of this? Why do carriers not respond?” Nixon asked. The answer might help explain Alzheimer’s disease better, he said.

A third study using a broad spectrum of antibodies was reported by a team at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. The treatment, originally developed by Baxter International to treat autoimmune conditions, was given to 24 people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease in a set of trials extending as long as 18 months. Statistically significant increases in mental function were seen in those getting the treatment, the researchers said. A large-scale, 18-month follow-up trial will be done.

Learn more about Alzheimer’s from the Alzheimer’s Association. 
SOURCES: Ralph Nixon, M.D., professor, psychiatry and cell biology, New York University; July 30, 2008, presentations, Alzheimer’s Association 2008 International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease, Chicago
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Broccoli that tastes better
Cruciferous veggies. You know you should eat them. They’re packed with vitamins. They fight cancer. But you have to admit … when it comes to flavor, broccoli just isn’t your fave.

Thank goodness for modern technology. Now you can get the benefits of eating three ounces of broccoli from a cup of Brassica Tea. Each cup has 15 milligrams of sulphoraphane glucosinolate, a long-lasting antioxidant from broccoli that remains active in your body for days, not hours. Plus you get all the usual nutrients found in green and black tea … antioxidants, flavonoids and polyphenols that offer additional protection against cancer, heart disease and stroke.

It’s so easy and tasty—and good for you. How can you resist? Choose from eight varieties of gourmet Chinese Sencha green and black tea, caffeinated or naturally decaffeinated. All are GMO- and chemical-free.

Check out the details at Baltimore Coffee. Your mother would be so proud.
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Food for Thought:
Points to ponder
Note from Sandra:  Okay, I admit.  These are stupid and silly.  I also admit I actually laughed at some – so here’s to sharing!
How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered?
Why do you have to ‘put your two cents in’… But it’s only a ‘penny for your thoughts’? †Where’s that extra penny going to?
Why does a round pizza come in a square box?
What disease did cured ham actually have?
How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?
Why are you IN a movie, but you’re ON TV?
Why do doctors leave the room while you change? They’re going to see you naked anyway.
Why is ‘bra’ singular and ‘panties’ plural?
Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat?
If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a stupid song about him?
Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the carpool lane?
If the professor on Gilligan’s can make a radio out of a coconut, why can’t he fix a hole in a boat?
Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours?
They’re both dogs!
If Wile E. Coyote had enough money to buy all that ACME crap, why didn’t he just buy dinner?
Why do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune?
Why did you just try singing the two songs above?
Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog’s face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him for a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?
†††
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Exercise…JUST DO IT!!!
‘Slow exercise’ better for older women
SALZBURG, Austria — Slow exercise — not fast — may be better for menopausal women, University of Salzburg researchers said.

Study leader Dr. Alexandra Sanger investigated two particular methods of physical training. Hypertrophy resistance training is a traditional approach designed to induce muscle growth, while “SuperSlow” is a more recently devised system which involves much slower movement and fewer repetitions of exercises and was originally introduced especially for beginners and for rehabilitation.

“Our results indicate that both methods increase muscle mass at the expense of connective and fatty tissue, but contrary to expectations, the SuperSlow method appears to have the greatest effect,” Sanger said in a statement. “These findings will be used to design specific exercise programs for everyday use to reduce the risk of injury and thus significantly contribute to a better quality of life in old age.”

The study focused on groups of menopausal women 45 to 55 years old, the age group in which muscle deterioration starts to become apparent. Groups undertook supervised regimes over 12 weeks, based on each of the training methods.

The findings were presented at the Society for Experimental Biology’s annual meeting in Marseilles, France.
Copyright 2008 by United Press International

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DOCTORS’ GENDER AFFECTS HEART DIAGNOSIS
WARWICK, England (UPI) — A disparity exists in the early detection of coronary heart disease between men and women, British researchers found, with women having more “silent” attacks.

Twice as many women as men ages 45 to 64 have undetected or “silent” myocardial infarctions, suggesting a general diagnosis problem; however, Warwick University Medical School researchers say doctor’s gender may hinder early diagnosis of heart disease in women.

Dr. Ann Adams used data from a large United Kingdom/U.S. study to analyze the decision-making processes of 112 primary care doctors — 56 from the United States and 56 from Britain — split equally male/female, who were shown videotapes of actors portraying patients with coronary heart disease.

Despite the fact that all the patients gave case histories that should have resulted in a clear diagnosis of coronary heart disease, the results showed that doctors were significantly less certain about the diagnosis amongst women, particularly those age 55.

Many of the doctors showed a clear bias in favor of male patients when considering age as a diagnostic factor, but this bias was more pronounced amongst female doctors, reported the study published in The Sociology of Health and Illness.
Copyright 2007 by United Press International
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FRIGHTENING FOOD FACT:
PANS DOWN

“Grilled white meat chicken with sun dried tomatoes and spinach in a creamy Asiago cheese sauce on wheat bread.”  That’s how Stouffer’s describes its frozen Corner Bistro Chicken Asiago Panini, which you “grill” in the microwave using the “Revolutionary Grilling Tray” inside the box.

A Panini may sound elegant, but it’s usually just a cheese-and-meat sandwich that’s cooked on a grill, so it’s loaded with added greases.  Just what you need.  Stouffer’s Chicken Asiago, for example, packs 460 calories – more than a Quarter Pounder.  And the creamy Asiago cheese sauce dumps 7 grams of saturated fat into your arteries just as they’re trying to cope with the dish’s 930 milligrams of sodium.

Don’t let the “wheat” bread fool you.  It’s ordinary white with a smidgen of wheat bran and oat fiber.  And if you’re depending on this sandwich for your spinach, don’t bother.  A half-cup serving of frozen spinach has 11,000 IU of vitamin A.  The Panini has none.

Stouffer’s Grilled Chicken Italian, Philly-Style Steak & Cheese, Southwest-Style Chicken, and Smoked Turkey Crab paninis aren’t as bad as the Chicken Asiago.  The Classic Italian Deli is worse.

And the paninis at Panera are really worse.  How do 750 to 900 calories and 7 to 14 grams of sat fat plus 1300 to 2650 mg of sodium grab you?  (We already know where they grab you).  Luckily, many people order only half.  That’s better than whole.  And none is better than half.
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Sleep Apnea May Predict Depression
By JACOB RUSSELL
WASHINGTON (UPI) — People who have a sleep-related breathing disorder may be more at risk for depression that those without a disorder, according to a recent longitudinal study.   “Up until this point, the studies were all clinical and dealt with patients experiencing the most severe of cases. Nobody had ever done a study like ours, looking at predictions in a population,” said co-author Mariana Szklo-Coxe, a scientist at the University of Wisconsin at Madison.   The study appeared Sept. 18 the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Sleep-related breathing disorders, also known as SRBD or sleep apnea, are characterized by pauses in breathing, labored breathing or reduced breathing throughout the night. A number of health problems are associated with sleep apnea: cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, insulin intolerance and diabetes, said Dr. David Rapoport, who is on the board of directors for the American Sleep Apnea Association. An estimated 18 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea.

Depression “is a major cause of poor quality of life,” according to lead author Paul E. Peppard, an epidemiologist at the University of Wisconsin.  “It raises many healthcare problems.” Each year approximately 13 million to 18 million Americans struggle with depression.

The experiment, conducted by Peppard and colleagues, observed a population and the coinciding patterns of depression. Since the study was observational, the researchers as of yet can’t say with certainty whether sleep apnea predicts depression.

It included 1,408 adults, 788 men and 620 women, between the ages of 30 and 60 who spent a night in a facility once every four years, from 1988 to 2005. At each study, the researchers recorded important physical attributes such as body mass index, as well as conducted interviews regarding patient medical history, lifestyle, demographics, and other factors such as difficulty falling asleep at night or perceived sleepiness during the day.

Among the 3,202 recorded cases, 334 showed no signs of sleep apnea, 1,911 were categorized as minimal — experiencing fewer than five instances in an evening — 606 were mild, at five to 14 instances, and 351 were moderate or worse, at more than 15 instances.

A statistical analysis showed that those with minimal cases of sleep apnea were 1.6 times more likely to be depressed; those with mild cases were twice as likely; and those with moderate or worse were 2.6 times more susceptible. There was also evidence that those whose conditions worsened had an 80-percent chance of showing symptoms of depression.

“It is certainly not surprising that depression is associated with a health problem. I am surprised by how strongly and consistently the two were related — particularly if the symptoms got worse,” Peppard said.

The results showed a dose-response effect; that is, the degree of prediction of depression worked exponentially with the severity of apnea. “We saw that even mild sleep apnea in a population could predict depression. … We tested many other factors, such as alcohol intake or amount of exercise, and we found repeatedly that they are not the reason we are seeing this,” Szklo-Coxe added.

For example, researchers found approximately twice as many men had sleep apnea, but, on the same scale, twice as many women experienced depression.

If a man or a woman develops sleep apnea, there is about an 80-percent chance that he or she will develop depression. There are many causes of depression and sleep apnea, so there are probably as many causes for depression in women as there are causes for sleep apnea in men.

This important discovery could guide screening for depressive symptoms in patient populations with sleep-related breathing disorder and suggest strategies for managing sleep-related breathing disorder, the authors wrote.  “In my work treating patients, depression frequently comes up. Sleepiness can look like depression and it is often associated with depression, so the real question is whether there are actually more depressed or seemingly depressed apneacs,” Rapoport said.

The researchers hope to apply their findings in intervention work — treating individuals facing mild sleep apnea before depression or apnea can worsen.   “We want to look at the impacts of treating it or not treating it,” Szklo-Coxe says, “and how, if it is not treated, it may lead to more adverse outcomes such as absenteeism, injuries, performance impairment and other health conditions that may affect quality of life.”
Copyright 2008 by United Press International
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Recipe of the Month

Zucchini-Chocolate Chip Snack Cake
Makes 16 servings
Flavor Tip:  For a spicier cake, replace _ teaspoon of the cinnamon with _ teaspoon ground allspice and/or cloves.  For fewer carbs per serving, replace the brown sugar with 1/3 cup Splenda.

Nutritional Info (per serving):
Calories:  146  Carbs: 18 g  Sodium: 127 mg Fiber: 2 g
Fat: 8 g   Sat Fat: 2 g  Protein: 3 g  Cholesterol: 27 mg 
  
Ingredients
One and three-quarters cup whole grain pastry flour
One and one-half teaspoon baking powder
One-half teaspoon baking soda
One and one-half teaspoon ground cinnamon
One-quarter teaspoon salt
Two eggs
One-third cup packed brown sugar
One-half cup plain yogurt
One-third cup canola oil
Two teaspoons vanilla extract
One and one-half cups shredded zucchini
Three-quarter cups semi-sweet mini-chocolate chips
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Line an 8” x 8” baking pan with aluminum foil, leaving extra foil over 2 opposite edges to use as handles after the cake is baked.  Coat the foil with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
In a medium bowl, with a wire whisk, beat the eggs, brown sugar, yogurt, oil, and vanilla extract until smooth.  Stir in the zucchini and chocolate chips.
Add the zucchini mixture to the flour mixture, and stir until just blended.  Scrape into the prepared pan. Bake 40 minutes, or until the cake is springy to the touch, and a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let the cake cool in the pan on a rack for 30 minutes.  Remove from the pan using the foil handles.  Discard foil, and cool completely on the rack.
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Supplement of the Month
AmealPeptide
Note from Sandra:  After having blood pressure readings in the “pre-hypertension” range (most likely due to chronic pain), Tom recommended that I try “ameal bp”.  It is an over-the-counter product which not only means you do not need a prescription for it – but your insurance company won’t blacklist you as having hypertension and then forever label it as a “pre-existing” condition.  To treat my blood pressure “under the radar”, I decided to shell out the roughly $30 a month to see if it would help (each bottle contains two capsules and you take two a day).  The company that sells ameal bp (Calpis USA) makes it clear that you may not notice results for up to 30 days, and after reading several online reviews that does appear to be the case in most people.  I have now been on the product for approximately 5 weeks and I am seeing results – slowly but surely.  As such, I thought I would share the information with all of you.  If any of you decide to try the product, please let us know if it works for you.
The following information comes from the company’s website:  www.amealbp.com
About ameal bpÆ
ameal bpÆ is a dietary supplement clinically shown to help maintain healthier blood pressure levels in prehypertensive patients. Unlike other natural remedies which usually do not undergo extensive clinical testing, ameal bpÆ has been tested in 14 double-blind and placebo-controlled studies. These studies show that ameal bpÆ is a safe, effective, and well-tolerated way to maintain healthier blood pressure levels.
ameal bpÆ comes in the form of an easy-to-swallow capsule and a citrus-flavored chewable tablet. Studies have shown that patients should start to see results after taking ameal bpÆ daily for 3 to 4 weeks. In addition to diet and exercise, ameal bpÆ can help your patients achieve and maintain healthier blood pressure levels.*
About prehypertension
In 2003, the JNC 7 issued new guidelines for what is considered a healthy blood pressure range based on a review of hundreds of studies and new evidence of greater risk associated with slightly elevated blood pressure. As a result, many patients who were previously considered to have “normal” blood pressure levels now fall into the new category of prehypertension. If not treated, prehypertension is almost guaranteed to develop into hypertension. According to an article published in JAMA (The Journal of the American Medical Association), nearly 70 million Americans are prehypertensive.1  Visit the JNC 7 Guidelines
Current national blood pressure guidelines 2

 
1 Mitka M. Experts ponder treating prehypertension. JAMA 2006 May 10;295(18):2125-2126.
ameal FAQs:
What are the benefits of ameal bpÆ?
Fourteen double-blind and placebo-controlled clinical studies have shown the effect of AmealPeptideÆ, the active ingredient in ameal bpÆ, on blood pressure levels. View our clinical studies.†

How does ameal bpÆ work?
AmealPeptideÆ, the active ingredient in ameal bpÆ helps control biochemical reactions that cause the constriction of blood vessels triggered by angiotensin II. In the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) reaction, angiotensin I is converted to angiotensin II, which causes blood vessels to constrict, or narrow, raising blood pressure. ameal bpÆ acts as a natural inhibitor of this reaction. When the constriction is inhibited, elevation of blood pressure can be prevented and kept at a healthier level.
What is AmealPeptideÆ?
AmealPeptideÆ, the naturally-derived, active ingredient in ameal bpÆ, is derived from the milk protein casein. It is an extract composed of the two tripeptides Valyl-Prolyl-Proline and Isoleucyl-Prolyl-Proline.

How quickly does ameal bpÆ affect blood pressure levels?
Clinical studies have shown that ameal bpÆ starts to affect blood pressure levels in as little as 2 weeks. We recommend continuing for at least a month to gain the full health benefits of ameal bpÆ. Results may vary from patient to patient.

Is there any risk for lactose intolerance or milk protein allergy?
No. The main ingredient in ameal bpÆ is hydrolyzed milk casein (nonfat milk). After fermentation and purification, the remaining amount of lactose is extremely low (below 0.01%). Therefore, there are no milk proteins and virtually no lactose in ameal bpÆ, making it safe for anyone with milk allergies or lactose intolerance. Those interested in ameal bpÆ should confer with their physician.

Is it safe for my patients to take ameal bpÆ ?
Studies have shown that ameal bpÆ has no side effects. Since 1997, Calpis has sold more than 400 million doses of AmealPeptideÆ worldwide, the naturally-derived, active ingredient in ameal bpÆ, and there have not been any reports of side effects.

Can my patients take ameal bpÆ even if their blood pressure is normal?
Studies have shown that ameal bpÆ does not lower blood pressure levels below a normal range and poses no danger of causing patients to become hypotensive.

Can my patients take ameal bpÆ as a supplement to my prescription?
There have not been any reports of ameal bpÆ negatively interacting with prescription medications.

Is ameal bpÆ an FDA approved drug?
ameal bpÆ is not a drug. It is a dietary supplement.

Do my patients have to take ameal bpÆ all at once, or can they spread it throughout the day?
ameal bpÆ has been shown to be just as effective if it is taken all at once or spread throughout the day.

Is AmealPeptideÆ kosher?
AmealPeptideÆ has kosher certification and is manufactured under the supervision of the London Beth Din Kashrut Division (KLBD).

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Referral Incentive Program
As a nontraditional medical practice, we are very dependent on word of mouth advertising. We need your help to get the word out about our philosophy of health care and the services we provide. †We pride ourselves on comprehensive assessments and personal treatment plans. †If you have found working with us beneficial, we would like to offer the following incentives for you to refer your family or friends to us for a similar experience. †

Luncheon referral/tour – For every 5 people you refer to us who attend one of our Thursday luncheons, you can earn:
a microdermabrasion treatment †
††††††††††††††††††††††††or
2 bottles of omega 3 fish oil.
Microdermabrasion Series – For every referral who signs up for a 6-visit microdermabrasion series, you can earn:
microdermabrasion treatment
††††††††††††††††††††or
a 1-hour massage
††††††††††††††††††††or
2 bottles of omega 3 fish oil.
Hormone Evaluation Package – For every referral who completes our hormone evaluation and enters our monitoring/mentoring program, you can earn a combination of any two of the following:
a microdermabrasion treatment
a 1-hour massage
2 bottles of omega 3 fish oil.
Full Evaluation Package – For every referral who completes a full evaluation and enters our monitoring/mentoring program, you can earn all of the following:
a microdermabrasion treatment
a 90-minute massage
2 bottles of omega 3 fish oil
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HAPPENINGS!
GROUP WALK:  the 3rd Wednesday of the month at noon.  The next one will be June  17th.  We will meet at OHI for stretching first – feel free to bring your spouse or a friend (and don’t forget your water bottles!). 
THURSDAY LUNCHEONS:  Every Thursday we offer tours of Optimal Health Institute along with a healthy lunch with Tom and Sandra.  We answer all health-related questions – from hormones to supplements.  If you feel like you’ve benefited from our services, then please invite a friend or family member to join us for lunch. You are welcome to come and bring a friend or two, or give us the contact information and we will call and personally invite them to learn more about what we do.
HEALTHY CHANGE SUPPORT GROUP:  Please join us for a forum to ask questions, provide feedback and get support from your fellow OHI members and Tom, Sandra and Jeff.  The group will meet at 5:30 the 2nd Wednesday of the month (June 10th).  Please RSVP, as the group will be cancelled if we don’t have at least 3 or 4 attendees.

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK
You can submit your questions (anonymously, of course) to Sandra at slk@optimal-health.net Additionally, we still want you to brag about your successes – whether in the area of healthy lifestyle changes or just life in general.  This can be anonymous as well.
As always, we wish you Optimal Health,
Jeff      Sandra     Tom
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