Oh that annual doctors visit; when out comes the blood pressure cuff to be wrapped firmly around your arm, ultimately giving way to a set of numbers. For some folks this routine check spells "normal", as your blood pressure is 120/80. However, for many the opposite is true with higher than "normal" blood pressure.

Blood pressure is measured with two numbers, the higher number or systolic pressure determines the pressure in the artery when the heart beats. The lower number, the diastolic pressure represents the pressure when the heart is at rest.

If you are amongst the lucky with "normal" blood pressure that is wonderful news, if not, let’s talk about the common problems with higher than normal blood pressure, and learn about some possible solutions.

The top number systolic represents how hard your heart has to beat to get blood out to your body. When this number is higher than 120 your arteries could be stiff, inflexible, inflamed or simply too narrow causing your heart to have to work much harder. So what causes this, well the most common cause of a high systolic number is too much adrenaline or other stress type hormones in the bloom stream. Stress induced high blood pressure will show a high systolic number with a normal diastolic number, one example would be 150/80. Normally, a few deep breathes and relaxation will bring the higher systolic number back down to 120. Another way to keep this number in check is with supplements, like Co-Q10, taken at bedtime can relax the heart. Vitamin C taken in the morning and evening, helps relax blood vessels.

If both numbers are high such as 160/110, the problem could be inflammation which can lead to arteriosclerosis. In such cases seek medical attention, as you should be under the care of a licensed physician. It is important to note that daily exercise, change in diet, stress management, and reducing inflammation in the body are important first steps in the fight. One way you can help reduce inflammation is by adding an Omega-3 supplement and Betalains as together they can help reduce inflammation in the blood vessels, draining excess fluid out of the body.

If the diastolic is too high and the systolic is normal it may indicate the body isn’t detoxifying the lungs, kidneys and liver properly. Our bodies detoxify daily, yet sometimes could use a little extra help, so reach for the Vitamin C to detoxify your lungs, kidneys and liver. Then grab those Betalains to drain away the toxins.

Check your blood pressure frequently. Your body is speaking to you when your pressure is unbalanced. If left unchecked it will eventually kill you! Your body is speaking, are you listening?

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnosis, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Resource: TriVita VitaJournal

Our bodies are truly amazing to say the least! One aspect of many, is the inner workings that goes on behind the scenes from the first bite of food, right through the entire digestive process, ultimately allowing each and every one of us life on a daily basis rival even the most intelligent minds.

The key player, our cells are comprised from the food that we eat, as such a good or a bad diet dictates whether or not we have balanced or unbalanced cells. In fact, foods that are absorbed during digestion and carried into the bloodstream are called bioavailable foods. If they are good for us they are called bioactive foods. If they neither improve our health nor detract from it they are called bio-neutral foods and if the foods we eat are toxic for us they are called biocidic foods. This according to a recent article written by Brazo Minshew Chief Science Officer for TriVita.

So you ask, "what are Betalains anyway?" Betalains are bioflavonoids, a plant compound known for their antioxidant activity. Betalains are void in fruits and vegetables, but all 24 known Betalains are found in rich abundance in the Nopal Cactus Fruit better known as the "Prickly Pear Cactus".

So how does the Betalain family fit into this whole body thing? Further information from this same articles goes on to say, research showed that anti-inflammatory Betalains protected fats from being oxidized and turned into “bad” fats. Methyl linoleate (ML) is a common fat used in manufacturing detergent and other products. It can become carcinogenic (cancer-causing) if it oxidizes. Betalains protected ML from oxidizing. This antioxidant activity hindered the formation of inflammatory chemicals. Betalains slowed down the domino effect of toxic, rancid fats from becoming carcinogenic before they ever started!

All of this of course begs the question, can our body take in the goodness and reap the benefits of these wonderful potent anti-inflammatory, anti-toxin action of the Betalain family? According to Professors at the University of Palermo, Italy. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology involved in the study of Betalains, and their activity stated that Betalains are both bioavailable and bioactive!

We can improve the health of our cells, along with helping our bodies reduce inflammation, oxidation and the impact of toxins by taking in the Betalain family!

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnosis, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Resource; VitaJournal Article

Inflammation can be your very best friend in an emergency, it’s your bodies defense against all enemies who’s intent it is to harm. This super hero for all the good that it can do in helping the body to heal, also can harbor a dark side in some cases. Inflammation that causes asthma, allergies, digestive problems, insomnia, autoimmune disorders, just to name a few.

Mankind has been exposed to pollen since day one, but over time increased toxins, emotional distress on a daily basis, nutrient and sleep deficiencies have changed the way our bodies react to pollen, and food allergies. These sources of stress have been shown to release inflammatory histamines in our bodies, and once histamines are released into our system they are extremely inflammatory.

Histamines are released on four different receptors:

The first receptor, better known as H-1 is released in the airways causing allergic rhinitis (hay fever), asthma, itchy watery eyes, scratchy throat, bronchitis. The second H-2 in the digestive system producing symptoms such as acid indigestion, gastric reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis. The third H-3 in the brain, insomnia, anxiety, depression, attention deficit disorder, bipolar disorder, and Alzheimer. The last receptor H-4 in the immune system, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibermyalgia.

Histamines are as stated earlier inflammatory, starting a fire in one or more of these body systems, as a result creating symptoms. The arsonist who started the fire on one or more receptors may be determined by heredity, environment, and/or lifestyle. The weapon of choice used, the match, may be pollen or proteins, toxic poisons, and the list goes on and on. Any one or more could be the ignition ultimately creating the firestorm. The arsonist always has the same method of execution, inflammation is always caused by histamines.

So how can you help put out the fire and protect yourself against histamine formation? It’s time to bring in a powerful team that together help fight the formation of excessive histamines and reduce inflammation. First Vitamin B-12 can block the enzyme THF which is responsible for excess histamine formation. Since histamines create inflammation that feeds on itself in a firestorm of irritation, the nutrient betalain, and the riches source found in the Nopal cactus fruit breaks the cycle of inflammation putting out the firestorm.

Try to stay away from allergens, while your immune system renews itself, and take in this effective team daily!

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnosis, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Reference: TriVita VitaJournal Article

Inflammation appropriately called "The Secret Killer" lurks in many of us, and the sad thing is, we aren’t even aware of it! Inflammation is the body’s immediate first-aid reaction to heal itself from some type of damage caused by a virus, bacteria, fungus, environmental toxin, or an injury. Without the crucial process of inflammation, the body cannot restore itself in the face of damage. The bodies normal reaction. Once the threat is gone, the body is able to go back to a non-emergency state—and the inflammation process turns off.

Unfortunately, sometimes inflammation never gets the message to shut down, thus chronic inflammation becomes a very serious issue within the body. Dishing out some chronic diseases as Type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease and even cancer.

Frustration personified often describes the relationship between doctor and patient as chronic inflammation often is just under radar. As doctors struggle to find the root cause of symptoms, patients try to hang on to hope for a diagnosis and cure. Chronic inflammation silently works within, ultimately over time compromising the immune system eventually resulting in various diseases.

There is a simple blood test available to detect chronic inflammation. C-reactive protein is a solid indicator for disease potential. In fact, research reveals that chronic inflammation increases the level of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the blood. According to a study from Copenhagen, Denmark people with high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP)have a 30 percent greater risk of developing cancer than those with low CRP levels; this study was found in the March 2009 Journal of Clinical Oncology.

The researchers analyzed the CRP levels in 10,408 people who were part of the Copenhagen City Heart Study; high CRP levels were associated with a 30 percent increase in cancer risk. Among participants who developed cancer, those with high CRP levels were 80 percent more likely to die sooner than those with lower levels. Lead author of this study Kristine Allin, M.D. a physician at Copenhagen University Hospital stated this, "While future research will need to confirm our findings, our study suggest that testing patients’ C-reactive protein levels provides a more comprehensive picture of a patient’s health than we previously thought. In addition to predicting heart disease risk, this simple test could help us assess a patient’s future cancer risk and eventual cancer prognosis,”

There are natural pro-active solutions to try and help prevent chronic inflammation, and if you do have this "silent killer" lurking within there is no better time than now to try and stop it! As always consult with your doctor, inquire about this simple blood test to know for sure.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnosis, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Resource: TriVita Journal