Category: Health

What are Brown Rice Solids?

Published on by Nikken

Most health enthusiasts know it is more beneficial to eat brown rice than white rice. Brown rice by itself is rich in minerals such as iron, zinc, manganese, calcium, selenium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium. It also contains natural fibers that help digestion. Brown rice fits in perfectly with an Active Wellness lifestyle. But have you heard of brown rice solids?

Brown rice solids are basically functional protein ingredients that are processed from sprouted brown rice following organic methods. When the rich protein content that is distributed between the bran and endosperm layer is concentrated and dried, brown rice solids are generated. They provide a high level of naturally occurring nutrients, such as potassium and magnesium.

But what is the significance of the brown rice solids in the new formulation of our Kenzen Ten4® Energy Drink Mix? When a formula contains only four ingredients, each one plays a vital part in the efficacy of the product. Brown rice solids play an important role in the drink mix, not only for taste but to replace synthetic vitamins.

  • Brown rice solids are hypoallergenic, have a mildly sweet taste and are easily digestible.
  • Brown rice solids contain essential and non-essential amino acids and are a quickly oxidized natural energy source.
  • Brown rice solids provide a sustained supply of energy without experiencing the symptoms of low-blood sugar that can impede performance.
  • Brown rice solids contain a wealth of vitamins, including B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B6 (folate) vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) and vitamin K. Vitamins B and E are known for their energizing properties and vitamin K is important in its support of bone health.

Only four ingredients make up Kenzen Ten4®. As with labeling protocol, ingredients appear in descending order: Organic matcha green tea powder, organic brown rice solids, kiwi powder (fruit), organic stevia extract (leaf).

Even if you’ve never heard of brown rice solids before, Nikken has done the research to ensure you have access to the best in food technology.

Too Many Gastronomic Temptations?

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As the holiday season progresses, we have to be realistic about keeping our digestive systems working properly, knowing that we’ll fall off the wagon a little in the area of food and beverage consumption.

Two of the biggest culprits over the holidays are overeating and over-drinking. Both excesses involve copious amounts of sugar, something that we know we should avoid. Both add empty calories and carbs to the diet, and alcohol also has a dehydrating effect on the body. Then there’s the extra sodium used in meat marinades, brines and gravies, which produces a dehydrating effect as well.

In addition, there are enticing carbs in the form of potatoes and pasta, bread and muffins, to name just a few. Carbs that contain gluten may produce a feeling of bloat—that feeling of an expanding waistline after only a single big meal is not a figment of the imagination.

To maintain a lifestyle of Active Wellness, the digestive system needs to work efficiently to keep us on-the-go. If we’re “going” too much, our bodies aren’t absorbing enough nutrients to provide the natural energy we need. If we’re “going” too infrequently, sluggishness sets in. Eating too much of the wrong food and too few of the right nutrients can produce either effect, depending on our individual digestive tracts.

What’s a body to do? The answer is thankfully simple.

Nikken produces a nutritional supplement that takes the guesswork out of your daily digestive patterns. The name of our nutritional supplement is long, but there’s a reason for that. Kenzen® Digestion Complex 4-20 (link to product in shopping cart) helps the body to process the four major food groups—carbs, proteins, fats and fiber—with a total of 20 enzymes . This is no small feat of formulation. If you take the time to check other nutritional supplements, you’ll find they commonly contain enzymes to process two or three of the food groups at best.

You’ll also find our recurring theme with Nikken Wellness products: there are specific ingredients that are NOT included, because they’re of no benefit in a nutritional supplement. Kenzen® Digestion Complex 4-20 therefore does not contain dairy, preservatives, salt, sucrose, soy, wheat, yeast, corn, nuts, gluten, artificial sweeteners, colors or flavors. Even if you’re a vegan or on a gluten-free diet, you’re good to go with Kenzen Digestion Complex 4 -20.

Take one capsule before each meal and let’s enjoy our feasts and try not to fall off the wagon.

How Much Did You Gain Over Thanksgiving?

Published on by Nikken

Okay, be honest. How much weight did you gain this past week? Popular belief finds that the average American gains around five to 10 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. This starts off with approximately a little over a pound gained over Thanksgiving week. If it doesn’t sound like much to you, you’re probably one of those fortunate people with a fast metabolism that kicks into high gear once you get back on your regular eating regimen.

Unfortunately, many people—especially those who are middle-aged and older—gain a few pounds over the holidays every year and never take the weight off. Not to be an alarmist but multiply two by 10 and that’s 20 pounds in a decade! There’s no better time than right now to jump into Active Wellness!

Here are half a dozen tips for fighting the battle of the holiday bulge:

  • Drink water—lots of it. Water not only helps you feel full but it also helps your digestive system work more efficiently. A bonus of drinking more water than you might be accustomed to is an improvement in your skin, especially if you drink filtered water!
  • Don’t deprive yourself and abruptly cut out everything you think of as fattening. Instead, cut out a third of everything. Portion control is key. Too often, we think of what to eat rather than how much to eat.
  • Increase your consumption of green, leafy vegetables. They’re bulky and therefore filling, and they contain very few calories. In addition, you reap the benefits of their inherent vitamins and minerals, which are sources of natural energy.
  • Decrease your consumption of “white” foods, such as bread, rice, pasta and potato. Replace with organic whole grains.
  • Ditch anything that’s “ready-made” for the microwave. Chances are it contains too much sodium and some kind of preservative. Our bodies absolutely despise preservatives.
  • If you’re generally sedentary, take a brisk 15 to 30 minute walk every day. If you’re already on a good exercise regimen, increase whatever you do by two to five minutes. The trick is to be consistent.

Sugar in Whole Foods vs. Added Sugar

Published on by Nikken

Sugar is like cholesterol: there’s the good and the bad. The good news is that it’s easy to distinguish between edible sugars and those to avoid. Here are two facts to remember:

  • Sugar found in whole foods comes with vitamins, minerals, protein, phytochemicals and fiber. This naturally occurring sugar is a source of nutrition.
  • When any type of sugar is added to foods during processing, cooking or at the table, it contains calories without any nutrients or fiber. Added sugar not only offers no benefits, it actually is a source of potential physical harm.

There are three basic carbohydrates in our diets — simple sugar, starch and fiber — all consist of sugar. Simple sugars, such as sucrose, fructose and lactose, only have one or two molecules of sugar. The “sugar high” and the crash that comes with it can be vividly witnessed in some children who are usually fed healthy foods and suddenly are given so-called “treats” at a party: ice cream, cake and candy, for example. Their bodies react to the simple sugars they are not accustomed to by creating an artificial burst of energy, followed by crankiness and fatigue. This is because simple sugars shoot quickly into the bloodstream and may cause spikes in blood sugar.

Starch and fiber are complex carbohydrates because they’re made from three to hundreds of sugar molecules. During digestion, simple sugars and complex starches break down into single molecules of glucose. Since they contain multiple molecules of sugar, starches take longer to digest, so they enter the bloodstream slowly.

One teaspoon of sugar has 16 calories, a teaspoon of honey has 21 calories and there are 136 calories— including 33 grams or 8 teaspoons of sugar—from a 12-ounce can of generic soda pop. These empty calories quickly add up to potential weight gain and an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Extra sugar also may cause an uptick in triglyceride levels, which contributes to cardiovascular disease.

We should try to eat complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables and beans. Guidelines from the American Heart Association recommend that women should consume no more than six teaspoons of added sugar daily, while men should limit their added sugar to nine teaspoons. Remember that some healthy-sounding sweeteners, such as maple syrup, agave, brown sugar, molasses and honey are also added sugars.

Added sugar is found in virtually every type of processed food, which makes healthy eating challenging. One way to help eliminate added sugars from the diet is to check the ingredient listings of every packaged food item. For example, take a look at the ingredient listings of popular brands of so-called energy drinks and energy bars. Added sugar comes under the guise of maltose corn syrup, cane invert syrup, fructose, dextrose, glucose syrup, corn syrup—the list goes on and on.

Compare those commercial brands of energy drinks to the sugar-free Kenzen Ten4®!  Nikken nutritional products are lifestyle changers.

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Hair Care the Magnetic Way

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True Elements® Hair Care is unique and exclusive to Nikken. It focuses on a long lasting deep cleanse of the scalp. Designed to work with the skin’s pH balance, the Shampoo and Conditioner work together to help promote a healthy youthful appearance.

What goes into a shampoo or conditioner may determine how well it works, but what doesn’t go into hair care products is equally important. True Elements Hair Care products are made with an exclusive combination of natural ingredients and the formulas purposefully omit potentially harmful chemicals that are commonly found in commercial brands.

Natural ingredients are combined exclusively to clean, moisturize, condition and even to help treat the scalp to stimulate hair growth. True Elements Hair Care achieves this in a method exclusive to Nikken—by using natural resources from the earth:

  • Magnetic particles provide mechanical stimulation and movement in the shampoo and conditioner.
  • Germanium, a natural element found in herbs and plants, has a metallic luster, is a natural semiconductor with electrical properties and helps stimulate the body’s immune system to fight free radicals. Imagine it working to keep your scalp squeaky clean.
  • Copper gluconate is known for its antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Dermatologists have found that copper is a cofactor required for healthy skin growth, including the skin cells in hair follicles. Research shows that copper helps condition the scalp and combat hair loss.
  • Bentonite works like a magnet that bonds to contaminants and helps eliminate them from the hair and scalp.

* Peppermint oil acts as a natural fragrance, while Aloe Leaf Extract, Pro-Vitamin B5 and Vitamin E help to nourish and replenish the scalp.

On the other hand, True Elements® Hair Care will not strip the scalp of its natural oils, damage the scalp’s protective barrier, promote the growth of microbes or irritate the skin.

  • It does not contain corrosive cleaning agents, such as sulfates, found in many commercial brands to create lather.
  • It does not contain commonly used preservatives, such as parabens, because of their potentially harmful effects. Parabens can be absorbed through the skin, blood and digestive systems.
  • It does not contain polyethylene (PEGS) that is irritating to broken or damaged skin.

Regardless of hair type—whether you have dry, oily, chemically-treated or color-enhanced hair, True Elements® Hair Care can help maintain a healthy scalp and hair.Hair care the Magnetic Way—only from Nikken.

 

Healthy Hair Starts with a Healthy Scalp

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The hair follicles on our scalps are wide open and ready to absorb whatever we put on our heads. That means a healthy hair care regimen requires us to keep our scalps clean and sufficiently moisturized. We need to consistently rid our scalp and hair from pollutants in the environment as well as chemicals and toxins found in hair care products.

How often we wash our hair and what we use can go a long way toward maintaining smooth, shiny hair. Depending on our personal skin and hair type, here is what dermatologists recommend to maintain healthy hair.

  1. Wash oily hair more frequently. If your scalp is oily, you may need to wash it every day. If you perspire a great deal, you may want to wash often. Straight hair can get oily quickly. Very curly hair or thick hair is not as oily and can be washed less often. If you have chemically treated hair, your hair may be drier, so you may want to wash it less frequently. As you get older, your scalp makes less oil, so you may not need to shampoo as often. If you see flakes in your hair, you may not be washing often enough. This can lead to dandruff and other scalp issues.
  2. Concentrate shampoo on the scalp. Keeping the scalp clean will help eliminate any problems with your hair. Washing only your hair can create flyaway hair that is dull and coarse. After massaging gently into the scalp, be sure to rinse thoroughly.
  3. Use conditioner after every shampoo. Using a conditioner can significantly improve the look of damaged or weathered hair by increasing shine, decreasing static electricity, improving strength and offering some protection from harmful UV rays.
  4. Concentrate conditioner on the hair, not the scalp. Because conditioners can make fine hair look limp, they only should be used on the tips of the hair and not on the scalp or length of the hair. Again, be sure to rinse thoroughly.
  5. Let your hair air dry whenever you can. Hair dryers, curling irons, flat irons anything that produces artificial heat can damage hair and make it break off or get too dry.
  6. Avoid hair products with ingredients known to be potentially harmful when absorbed by the skin on your scalp. These bad ingredients may be found in even some of the most popular brands, so it’s important to read the label: Alcohol-Isopropyl (SD-40), DEA, MEA, TEA, DMDM, Urea, FD&C Color pigments, Synthetic Fragrances, Mineral Oil, PEG, PG, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Triclosan

With the plethora of hair care products on the market, why would Nikken make a shampoo and a conditioner? The answer is simple: there are hundreds of products out there, but there is none like True Elements® Hair Care. Read the ingredient lists of commercial brands and compare them with True Elements® Shampoo and True Elements® Conditioner.

Take Massage into Your Own Hands with Patented DynaFlux® Magnetic Technology

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Can magnetic energy help your well-being? Yes. Magnetic energy is part of the natural environment for all living things. Earth’s magnetic field is also recognized as a protective barrier against dangerous radiation from space.

Clinical studies have indicated that magnets hold promise in the development of new, scientific approaches to many of the challenges of modern life. The body of knowledge continues to increase regarding this basic form of energy, and magnets are already used in various applications to improve the quality of life.

The most recent development in magnetic innovation is represented by Nikken patented DynaFlux® Magnetic Technology (U.S. Patent No. 9,265,966). DynaFlux features a series of individual magnets within an organized structure that places them in polar opposition at several points. Positive or negative poles face each other. Interlocking construction holds these components in place to overcome the repulsion generated by this arrangement.

Placing separate magnetic fields in opposition produces a multiplier effect with two notable results:

  1. One result is that the magnetic field is intensified in each of these areas, providing 100 percent magnetic coverage of a complex field within a flat surface.
  2. The other is a magnetic field that extends farther from the surface and increases the depth of penetration. This equates to increased gauss strength.

Patented DynaFlux® Magnetic Technology is at the foundation of the KenkoTouch™ handheld device that takes magnetic massage to a new level. The KenkoTouch™ delivers pulsating magnetic wave therapy to help relieve soreness and tightness in muscle tissue. The massaging effect leverages the mechanical motion of strategically placed moving nodules that produce a firm, slightly yielding sensation.

The KenkoTouch™ also incorporates specialized reflective fibers to help alleviate tension with gentle, consistent warming. It’s self-regulating, to prevent heat buildup and keep you comfortable. The result is an overall feeling of well being.

A heightened magnetic massage experience with KenkoTouch™—exclusively from Nikken.

 

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Massage is an Accepted Part of Alternative Medicine

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Massage is a general term for pressing, rubbing and manipulating your skin, muscles, tendons and ligaments. Massage may range from light stroking to deep pressure. Some common types include:

  • Swedish— gentle with long strokes and deep circular movements
  • Deep—slow forceful strokes to target deep layers of muscle and connective tissue
  • Sports—similar to Swedish but geared toward athletes to help loosen muscles and to prevent or treat sport injuries
  • Acupressure or trigger point—focuses on areas of tight muscle fibers that also converge with nerves

Offered more and more often as a standard treatment for a wide range of muscular conditions and situations, massage has proven to be effective for reducing and managing stress, for soothing aches and pains and for decreasing muscle tension. Practitioners have also found massage to be helpful in dealing with anxiety, digestive disorders, headaches, insomnia related to stress, soft tissue injuries and aching joints.

As soothing and relaxing a massage can be, another person is generally required. You go to a spa or a massage therapist and have a “hands on” experience. The human touch of another often has a therapeutic result, because it gives a feeling of connectedness and warmth.

But what if you don’t have the time, energy or resources to go to a massage therapist? What if you desire immediate relief?

Nikken has numerous products that provide a massaging effect.
1.    Permanent magnets generally work slowly and gently. They are especially appropriate for long-term self-administration. Fixed magnetic therapy is usually applied for longer periods to be optimally effective. Permanent magnets come in great variety. There are small adhesive magnets, magnetic jewelry, sleeping pads and pillows—Nikken offers all of these rest and relaxation products and more.

2.    Pulsating magnets work by mimicking the kneading sensation produced by human fingers. Nikken produces pulsating magnets with DynaFlux® technology so that you feel the sensations that are similar to a regular massage, while reaping the benefits of magnetic penetration.

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