The Skinny on Diet Soda

Imagine a hot summer day and an ice cold soda… I bet you can almost feel the intense explosion you experience as the fizzy liquid hits your tongue stimulating your mouth and offering instant refreshment, energy and gratification. Millions of Americans would agree that there aren’t many things better, and are hooked on the effects that diet soda provides. These drinks are tasty, inexpensive and available everywhere, so what’s the problem?  Well, the ugly truth is that although diet sodas are typically sugar and calorie free, they are by no means free from health risks including:

• potential cancer risks
• negative effects on the liver, kidneys, and other organs
• weight gain
• stimulating cravings
• gastrointestinal problems
• developmental problems in children and fetuses
• headaches
• and too many more issues to list

Despite the fact that the ingredients in diet sodas have been linked to multiple health issues, as Americans we just cannot stay away. These drinks are heavily loaded with caffeine, and because they are sugar free and have little to no calories they are marketed towards health-conscious people, diabetics, athletes, and other people who want to lose weight, improve physical fitness, or reduce their sugar intake, and we are substituting drinking water for these drinks.

(It has been reported that as many as 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated, mostly due to the fact that they are not drinking enough water daily.)

How About a Healthy Alternative?
At M’lis we spend a lot of time focusing on the importance of drinking ½ your body’s weight in ounces of water daily, but let’s punch it up a notch. When trying to kick the diet soda habit, try something with a cool fresh flavor and much better for you. Plan ahead by adding a few pieces of fruit to a pitcher of ice water; lemon, lime, watermelon, raspberry, strawberry, kiwi, cucumber – the possibilities are virtually unlimited. Allow the pitcher to sit in the refrigerator for a few hours to get the maximum taste from the fruit.

Healthy Fast-Food: Fact or Fiction?

As people begin to gravitate towards a healthier lifestyle, the desire for things that are healthy, natural, whole, and nourishing are gaining popularity. The fast-food industry has stepped up and now offers quick, easy meals for the health conscious consumer.

For example: McDonald’s Fruit and Maple Oatmeal.

How can something as simple fruit and maple oatmeal not be healthy? There is nothing about the name that would lead you to believe you were putting anything harmful into your body. These are all wholesome food choices that can stand alone to offer nourishment and necessary nutrients, right?


Take a look at the list of ingredients:

Whole grain rolled oats,brown sugar,

food starch-modified, natural flavor (plant source),

barley malt extract, caramel color,

apples,calcium ascorbate (a blend of calcium and vitamin C to maintain color),

dried sweetened cranberries (sugar, cranberries),

California raisins, golden raisins,

sunflower oil, sulfur dioxide (preservative),

milk, cream, sodium phosphate,

datem, stearoyl lactylate,

sodium citrate, carrageenan.

Additional ingredients, preservatives, artificial color and flavors are added which quickly deteriorate the nutritional value of the main, wholesome ingredients.

Fast-food companies are only masking what always has been, and will continue to be, low quality, nutrient deficient food. In order for these ingredients to be served quickly and cost as little as possible, quality must be sacrificed.

It’s unfortunate that so many people have taken to the promise of better health by purchasing these “healthier” menu options and are failing to recognize that these new food options still fall short when it comes to actually giving our body what it really needs.

Real foods, the kind that nourish, prevent disease, and energize, are simply not available at the typical drive-thru. These kinds of foods are prepared in our own kitchens.

Real Food Challenge

We invite you to take the Real Food Challenge begining October 1, 2011

The Real Food Challenge was created to educate and motivate you to take control of your health, your diet and to realize what you eat, does matter.

What is real food? It’s simple! Real food is what your ancestors ate. It’s natural, whole, fresh, healthy, and nourishing. Real food does not have added colors, flavors, chemicals or preservatives. Real food has not been processed or refined. Real food is what gives you energy, a healthy vibrant glow and prevents disease, obesity and a myriad of health problems. Real food is what our bodies were designed to use as fuel to sustain a long, happy and full life.


Watch this short video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZegHmOupZo


Commit today to take the Real Food Challenge. Eat real food for 28 days. It’s simple. Do it.

Sign up here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=224160507642850

M’lis Approach To Treating Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia can often be a painful and debilitating syndrome, with symptoms that may vary from hour to hour and day to day.

Symptoms of Fibromyalgia may include:

• Pain
• Fatigue
• Sleep Disorders
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Neurological Symptoms
• Chronic Headaches
• Tempromandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome (TMJ)
• Memory and Concentration Difficulties
• Interstitial Cystitis (IC)
• Joint Pain
• Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
• Parasites

M’lis Approach To Treating Fibromyalgia

The M’lis Fibromyalgia Program was developed over 30 years ago and due to the amazing results the basic program has not changed. M’lis has added to the program now that more is known, and supplemental products have been developed to make the program more efficient and complete. Dr. Linda Nelson (founder of the M’lis Company), suggests that following the below steps will completely eliminate the symptoms of fibromyalgia in as little as *6 months.

• Detoxification
• 100% Nutrition
• Implementing Friendly Bacteria (such as M’lis PROBIOTIC)
• Enzymes
• Water
• Fitness and Exercise
• Juicing

For more information on the M’lis Fibromyalgia Program visit www.mlis.com or contact a M’lis reseller near you.

*Steps and program must be followed in their entirety for symptoms to be eliminated in 6 months

Fibromyalgia: Cause and Progression

Though researchers do not agree on the cause of fibromyalgia, there is a viable theory that is supported by research as well as by the personal experiences of Linda T. Nelson, ND, PhD, M’lis Company founder, as well as many M’lis clients. This belief is that fibromyalgia is not caused by one factor, but by a lifetime of symptom suppression and disease progression.

We believe that the progression of fibromyalgia begins with the chicken pox virus (HHV6) very early in life. The virus becomes dormant in the body, waiting until a depletion of the immune system to reactivate into the next stage. Over the course of many years, a person may experience cold sores or herpes, shingles, mononucleosis, Epstein-Barr, or chronic fatigue. These are the different levels of disease progression, and some or all may be experienced before fibromyalgia develops. If these viruses are not eradicated completely from the body at the time that they manifest, (as is usually the case when chemical drugs that ‘stuff’ symptoms rather than cleansing them from the body are taken as a solution), they are stored in the body until a later time.

When the immune system is compromised through illness, stress, injury, or unhealthy lifestyle choices, the progression of disease finally leads to fibromyalgia. At this point, the symptoms have become debilitating and affect every facet of a person’s life. The only way to put an end to fibromyalgia and the symptoms that accompany it is to assist the body to regain control over the virus that has been in the body for years. This can be accomplished through dedicated lifestyle change that allows the body to rebuild and heal by its own power.

WHAT IS FIBROMYALGIA?

Fibromyalgia is a mysterious debilitating condition characterized by chronic pain in the muscles and surrounding structures. The word fibromyalgia is derived from the Latin words; “fibro”, meaning fibrous tissue such as ligaments, tendons, or fascia; “my”, meaning muscle tissue, and “algia”, meaning pain. The pain emanating from tendons, ligaments and muscle tissue is unusually tender to palpation (pressing with the fingers). Two major complaints of people suffering from fibromyalgia are pain and fatigue. Other symptoms that may accompany this condition include: sleep problems or insomnia, depression, poor memory and concentration, dizziness, headache, tingling of the extremities, irritable bowel syndrome, irritable bladder (urgency and frequency of urination), cold intolerance, and allergic reactions to drugs, chemicals and environmental toxins. You might wonder, “What is left?” The truth is, there isn’t much, because fibromyalgia affects almost every part of the human body.

Fibromyalgia pain is most commonly felt in the lower back, neck, shoulders, the back of the head, upper chest, and thighs, although any area or areas of the body may also be involved. The pain is usually described as throbbing, burning, shooting or stabbing. It may become so severe that a person feels unable to function or cope. Endurance and stamina are very poor, and the sufferer often feels exhausted and unable to concentrate. Pain is often greater in the morning than at other times of day, and depression frequently accompanies the symptoms.

It is estimated that between 7 and 10 million people in the United States alone suffer from fibromyalgia. The condition affects mostly women between the ages of 25 and 50, although men and women of other ages, and even some children, are also affected.

Fibromyalgia is known as a syndrome rather than a disease. A syndrome refers to a fairly consistent pattern of symptoms observed in people with a medical disorder. Fibromyalgia symptoms fluctuate from hour to hour and day to day. This differs from the term disease, which implies that all people with a given disorder have exactly the same problem resulting from the same underlying cause.

Fibromyalgia is frequently misdiagnosed and under recognized, which is why fibromyalgia is often called “The Invisible Disease”. Fibromyalgia sufferers don’t look sick, and as a result, they are often victimized in clinical diagnosis and from family and friends. Many skeptics have debated the existence of fibromyalgia, saying it seems to be rooted more in physiological issues than physical, biological causes. Their reasoning is that there is no clear origin, or effective treatment for patients. This leaves them with self-doubt, guilt and a loss of self-esteem. Many sufferers come into spas and wellness centers having been diagnosed with hypochondria, Alzheimer’s, and psychological problems. These labels invite despair, as the person then feels misunderstood and doubted.

Your Immune System Needs Balance

Scratchy throat, aching muscles, runny nose, fever…  Cold and flu season is right around the corner and most of us will end up making several visits to the cold/flu aisle of the grocery store this year.  Thankfully we can avoid calling in sick to work, missing out on important functions and events and enjoy all the good things winter has to offer.

The most important steps we can take to staying well is to live a preventative lifestyle and if we do find ourselves unwell, we take the proper steps to prevent future immune related problems rising again. Supplementing your diet with these important immune boosting supplements daily will help balance your immune system and provide your body with the proper defense against pathogens.

VITAMIN D – Vitamin D. is quite possibly the most important nutrient for optimal immune function.  Having adequate amounts of Vitamin D in the body will activate immune responses to prevent and/or treat inflammation and autoimmunity.  This vitamin is crucial in activating our immune defenses and without sufficient intake of the vitamin our bodies will not be able to react to and fight off serious infections in the body.

M’lis VITAL – This formula contains Antioxidants with Astaxantin which have the most potent “anti-oxidants” in all of nature and have been proven to work longer and better than other common anti-oxidants in building up the immune system.