Category: philosophy

Why is PiMag® Water Better for Hydration?

Published on by Nikken

Water is a basic nutrient of the human body and critical to human life, yet between 65-75% of us are typically dehydrated, because it’s often overlooked and also because the thirst mechanism can be suppressed or misinterpreted.

Dehydration occurs when our body loses more water than is taken in. It can also affect our body’s mineral salt or electrolyte balance. We lose approximately 68 to 101 fluid ounces (two to three liters) of water a day through every day basic functions such as breathing, perspiring and eliminating waste. 

The human body is composed of about 66 percent water. Our bones are composed of 22 percent water, muscles are 76 percent and blood is 83 percent. Lungs are 90 percent, and our brains are actually 95 percent water. Is it any wonder that water and hydration play such a critical role in a total wellness lifestyle?

Smart Hydration is the practice of enhancing the quality of water to improve mineral absorption, while maintaining optimal pH levels and overall well-being. Our bodies function best when properly hydrated. Inspired by the need to hydrate wherever we are and the desire to help decrease single-use plastic waste, PiMag® water is like naturally alkaline spring water.

PiMag water is based on a discovery in the 1970s by Japanese scientists. Water from an isolated hillside was having a remarkable effect on the growth of local plant life. They studied the environment and found magnetite and calcium in the hillside. Also, the water flowed over silicates, which naturally formed crystals. Replicating the Earth’s magnetic field in natural surroundings where spring water is found, PiMag® water not only purifies but also contains neodymium magnets, the strongest in the family of rare earth magnets.

PiMag water products are designed to convert tap water into spring-like naturally-sourced water that is ionized and alkaline. PiMag watertechnology uses a multi-stage filtration system based on natural materials to purify water by helping to reduce bacteria and contaminants without chemicals.

Spring water is rich in magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium and other trace minerals. In the PiMag Waterfall®, the addition of mineral stones imbued with copper ions, replicates what is found in natural spring water. Magnetic technology and ceramic elements help improve hydration and absorption. And, PiMag technology is incorporated into our shower systems to help remove chlorine and other contaminants.

Drinking PiMag® water not only helps us to maintain good hydration and therefore, overall well-being, it also helps planet Earth—when we drink filtered water from a PiMag Waterfall®, we decrease and hopefully can eliminate our reliance on single-use plastic-bottled water.

Now through the end of the month, get select PiMag® replacement filters at 20% off! Drink to your health and the health of our planet!

Source: https://www.sagora.com/making-mental-health-a-priority-hydration/

Make Water Your Drink of Choice and Feel Good Every Day

Published on by Nikken

When it comes to beverages, there are a lot of choices available. Some choices have plenty of sugars, saturated fat, sodium, artificial color and flavorings—none of which is beneficial, and much of it with unwanted calories.

Water, on the other hand, is the perfect drink of choice! It quenches thirst efficiently, has no empty calories and is crucial for maintaining health. Physically, water helps to keep body temperature regulated, to lubricate and cushion the joints, to protect the spinal cord and other sensitive tissues and to process waste through urination, perspiration and bowel movements.1

With the exception of breastmilk for newborns, water is the best drink for children and continues to be the best drink through adulthood and into old age. In fact, keeping the elderly hydrated with water is one of the keys to healthy longevity.

Eating nutritious food and drinking water come naturally to the entire animal kingdom, with the exception of humans, as we have the technology to create “unnatural” foods and beverages. To help get back to healthy roots—such as those of our non-technological ancestors—and to choose water more often, here are a few tips:2

  • Drink water that is hot or cold, depending on your preference.
  • Drink water with meals.
  • Ask for water with your food when eating out.
  • Carry a reusable water bottle when you are out.
  • Try a fruit and herb infused water or carbonated water.
  • Hydrate with water during and after physical activity or playing sports.
  • Keep a pitcher of water in the fridge or on the table for easy access.

When you choose water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages, you are helping with weight management. Substituting water for just one 20-ounce sugar-sweetened soda will save 240 calories.

Drink water and feel good every day, not just physically but in knowing you made the right choice! Role model it for the kids—remember it’s healthier to eat a piece of fruit than to drink juice. Drink water and eat the fruit for a win-win! It’s all part of empowered living. 

1 https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/make_water_your_beverage_of_choice

2 https://food-guide.canada.ca/en/healthy-eating-recommendations/make-water-your-drink-of-choice/

Different Strokes for Different Folks: Exercise and Sports Around the Globe

Published on by Nikken

Throughout history, people have exercised, consciously or unconsciously. As hunters and gatherers, our ancestors walked or ran to search for food. They didn’t need to exercise in the contemporary sense, because survival depended on constant physical activity. As civilizations developed, sports were invented.

The Greeks started the Olympics and focused mostly on wrestling. Enter the Romans who transformed activities of war into sport—throwing spears and javelins, hand-to-hand combat and sword fighting, later also known as fencing.

Navigate to the East, and the Japanese were developing sword play of their own in the form of Kendo with bamboo (shinkai) swords and wrestling in the form of sumo. Perhaps due to the prevalence of Buddhism in China and Shintoism in Japan, martial arts came to be in the forms of karate, Chinese kung fu, tai chi, wing chun and jiu-jitsu. Wing chun is a kung fu style notably founded by a Buddhist nun from the Shaolin Temple, and Manchu warriors learned to ice skate in order to reach their enemies, later transforming it to a sport!

Into the Americas, the Aztecs, Incas and Mayans played ball sports. “Pok-a-Tok” was played by Mayans not only for fun, but as a way to settle conflicts between warring factions, with losers suffering the fate of death. Apparently, Pok-a-Tok is a difficult mix of soccer and basketball! In contrast to playing for life and death, the Native American Tarahumara people were ancient marathoners who could run 200 miles at a time! They would likely best today’s extreme athletes!

North American sports largely came from European influences, and as witnessed by the addition of new events in current Olympics, exercise has truly evolved over time. For example, skateboarding originated in California by surfers who wanted to do something on land that felt like being on the waves. It debuted as an event at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

Whether you choose the slow gracefulness of tai chi or a team sport such as soccer, rugby, volleyball or basketball, the key is to keep moving. Take a look at the special Olympics and the wheelchair athletes from around the world for inspiration—choose a physical activity and do it consistently to feel good every day.

Nikken has many products that support physical activities, whether you’re a weekend warrior or a committed athlete. Right now, there’s still time, through the end of this month, to take advantage of free ground shipping, as long as you are a Registered Customer with Nikken and your single order is at least $185 USD /$259 CAD before tax and shipping costs!

Sources:

http://en.chinaculture.org/library/2013-11/22/content_496741.htm

https://www.amatravel.ca/articles/pok-a-tok-ancient-mayan-sport

A History of Physical Activity

How Does Exercise Enhance Gut Health?

Published on by Nikken

We know that eating a healthy diet contributes to optimal gut health. Now clinical nutritionists and gastroenterologists are finding definitive proof that exercise can support gut health, too. The combination of healthy diet and exercise reigns supreme, but the discovery that exercise plays such a big role in gut physiology may help many couch potatoes to get moving!

“Exercise is one of the most powerful ways you can boost your gut microbiome. Your digestive tract is a muscle, and moving your body is good for all muscles, gut included. When we are physically inactive, the muscles in our gut also become less active. Over time, they lose their natural coordination and strength,” explains gastroenterologist Christine Lee, MD.1

Regular exercise helps the gut find its ideal digestive pace. Each gut has its natural rhythm that keeps things moving. If it’s too fast, you might get the runs. If it’s too slow, you might be constipated, bloated or nauseated. Exercise helps the gut stay “just right” in terms of gut motility, that is, the movement within the gut.

During movement, especially exercise of a cardiovascular nature, the heart pumps harder in order to deliver blood and oxygen to the muscles. Part of that extra blood and oxygen goes straight to the gut. In other words, exercise improves circulation in the whole body, and that includes the gut, which helps the digestive tract work better to maintain the right balance of healthy bacteria.2

Gut muscles react to exercise the same way our visible outer muscles do. Biceps, quadriceps and abdominals visibly get more toned with regular exercise. What you don’t see are the internal gut muscles getting more toned. Even though not visibly more toned, improved regularity is proof that your exercise is paying off by helping waste process out of the body more effectively so your gut simply feels good every day.

Different types of exercise are being researched for their impact on the gut microbiome. There is evidence that low intensity exercise can help reduce the amount of time it takes food to travel through the digestive tract and be successfully pushed out as waste. This is important because this allows the gut microbiome to perform multiple functions effectively, including converting non-digestive parts of food into energy.3

In contrast, higher intensity exercise allows more oxygen to reach the brain and bloodstream. The brain and the gut are connected by the vagus nerve, as well as through molecules secreted into the bloodstream from the gut microbes and immune cells that travel from the gut to the rest of the body.4 The brain and gut are therefore in constant communication and regular periods of high intensity exercise enhance that interaction.

There’s no better time than the summer months to start or add to your exercise regimen. And, regular exercise helps the body crave healthy foods; healthy foods fuel your body for better performance during exercise!

Nikken launched Golden Gut Formula, loaded with both pre- and probiotics, so you not only help increase your beneficial bacteria but you’re nourishing them so they can multiply more rapidly. Adding Golden Gut Formula to a healthy diet and exercising daily may help accelerate your ongoing quest for empowered living! 

1, 2 https://health.clevelandclinic.org/gut-health-workout#:~:text=Your%20metabolism%20is%20your%20body’s,%2C%E2%80%9D%20explains%20Dr.%20Lee.

3 https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/new-microbiome-research-reveals-exercise-may-impact-gut

4 https://med.stanford.edu/news/insights/2025/03/gut-brain-connection-long-covid-anxiety-parkinsons.html#:~:text=Through%20direct%20signals%20from%20the,tracts%20are%20in%20constant%20communication.

Did You Know Fatherhood Transforms Men’s Bodies?

Published on by Nikken

Motherhood transforms women’s bodies in obvious ways, but did you know men’s bodies evolve when they become fathers? Men’s physical changes are not necessarily apparent to the human eye. Instead, they morph internally. The two main changes are hormonally and cerebrally.

The hormonal change is mainly a drop in testosterone, the male sex hormone. The drop is the male body’s way of preparing for the new role of fatherhood. According to scientists, men with lower testosterone are much more sensitive towards children. They are also more empathetic and motivated to take care of their children.1 One example given by researchers is that of different reactions to a baby crying. They found that men with lower testosterone levels, particularly fathers, are anxious when hearing a baby cry; whereas men with high testosterone levels react with irritation. By the same token, fathers exhibit more patience with daily activities, such as waiting for a parking spot.

Cerebral changes that come with fatherhood also enhance parenting abilities. The outer brain of fathers shows increases in areas that impact planning, focusing and problem-solving. Areas of the brain related to nurturing and risk detection are also activated—which is nature’s way of empowering fathers to know when their babies are safe.2 Dads become more sensitive to others’ pain, which equates to being more empathetic, especially when it comes to children.3

Women are often attributed with having naturally maternal instincts. Women are said to know instinctively what to do with babies, having gone through pregnancy, childbirth and when possible, breastfeeding. Men, on the other hand, are said to “learn” how to be a father. The biological changes that fathers undergo prove that they have naturally paternal feelings that parallel mothers’ maternal instincts. In other words, dads are gifted by nature just as moms are. The difference is that because society doesn’t proclaim it, dads need to be aware of their biological transformation, trust in it, and be confident enough to rely on their nature-given instincts.

There is even a male counterpart to post-partum depression, traditionally attributed only to new mothers. Studies show that one in 10 men experience mental health difficulties in the first six months after a baby arrives.4 This is due partly to the new dad’s expectations of himself to know the right things to do at the right times. It’s a form of self-stress. In addition, the new schedule can create chaos—no time to eat, sleep or exercise as both new parents focus on the baby. These changes in lifestyle patterns impact not only the new mom, but also the new dad. So, new fathers need to be aware of their own mental and emotional states as well as their partners’.

Childrearing experts agree that the fastest way to bond with new babies is to start interacting with them right away. Mothers who breastfeed have a distinct advantage but fathers can dive right in by participating in diaper changing, bathing, bottle-feeding and soon, playing. Talking to babies, feeding them, walking them, learning their milestones and cheering them on—it’s all part of both motherhood and fatherhood.

Nikken wishes all dads a very Happy Father’s Day this coming Sunday!

1, 2, 3 https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/articles/zvnhjsg

4 https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/articles/zb7svk7

How Important is Movement for Physical Well-Being?

Published on by Nikken

Most of us acknowledge that staying mobile is a necessary part of an active and empowered lifestyle. But can movement also improve overall physical well-being? In reality, movement can help us feel good every day. And best of all, it doesn’t take a gym membership or strenuous exercise—small daily movements, as long as they’re done consistently, may increase mobility and contribute to overall health.

Here’s how movement can positively impact six crucial parts of the body:

•          Muscles: More than 600 muscles in the body make up 40% of the human body’s weight. Movement helps strengthen those muscles, which help the body to maintain stability, balance and coordination.1

•          Bones: Movement helps build more durable, denser bones. Whether you choose resistance training, jogging, walking, hiking or balance training, such as Pilates and yoga, movement supports bone density.2 Movement and exercise may offer protection against osteoporosis and age-related loss of muscle mass, strength, and function, also known as sarcopenia. Improved physical function can reduce the risk of falls and likelihood of serious injury if there is a fall.3

•          Joints: Flexibility and range-of-motion are important to keep the joints functioning smoothly. Stretching and being mindful of posture and how daily tasks are performed can help increase coordination and balance.

•          Brain: Researchers have made the connection between brain power and movement. As some people age and lose mobility, their cognitive functions deteriorate as well. Daily movement helps rejuvenate the structures within the brain that are linked to cognition. In rehab facilities, even those who are wheelchair bound are provided ways to “cycle” their arms, because movement is not limited to the legs!

•          Heart: Keep the heart pumping at optimal levels by moving every day. It used to be called aerobics and now it’s cardio. Increasing your heartrate through any form of cardiovascular activity done daily can help lower blood pressure, boost levels of good cholesterol and improve blood flow (circulation).4

•          Lungs: To breathe is to live, so keeping the lungs healthy is critical to physical well-being. Movement helps the lungs to improve cardiorespiratory endurance. Walking at a brisk pace is an easy way to help the lungs. And, mindfully inhaling and exhaling deeply is a small but healthy movement in and of itself!

Movement can help you feel better, look better and live better—it’s a natural way to lift your mood and spirits, to sleep better and to connect with nature and the people around you!

1, 2 https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/fitness/blog/blogs-just-move–the-six-benefits-of-everyday-movement

3 https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/exercise-and-physical-activity/health-benefits-exercise-and-physical-activity

4 https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/why-is-physical-activity-so-important-for-health-and-wellbeing

Can Magnets Support Mental Health?

Published on by Nikken

Overall well-being includes mental health, not just physical health. When it comes to physical health, much of the science is black and white; whereas with mental health, there are more gray areas. While medication and psychotherapy are often seen as the end-all-be-all treatments for depression and other mental health conditions, magnets can serve as alternative ways to regulate neural activity: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an advanced method of relieving erratic brain activity that can cause poor mental health.1

Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), TMS usually is used only when other depression treatments haven’t been effective. The FDA also approved TMS for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), migraines and to help people stop smoking when standard treatments haven’t worked well. Research continues into other potential uses for TMS, including epilepsy.2

When used for depression, OCD and to stop smoking, this treatment involves delivering repeated magnetic pulses, so it’s called repetitive TMS or rTMS. During an rTMS session for depression, an electromagnetic coil is placed against the scalp of the head. This coil delivers magnetic pulses that stimulate nerve cells in the region of the brain involved in mood control and depression. It’s thought to activate regions of the brain that have decreased activity during depression.3

The difference between rTMS and deep TMS has to do with the type of coil used. The deep TMS coil stimulates deeper and wider areas of the brain, compared with rTMS. Deep TMS coils have been FDA-approved for OCD and to stop smoking. Although the biology of why TMS works isn’t completely understood, the stimulation appears to affect how the brain is working. It seems to ease depression symptoms and improve mood.4

According to the Cleveland Clinic, the recipient of TMS is fully aware of what’s happening during the entire treatment and can talk, read or nap. The coil delivers stimulation for approximately four seconds, then stops for 15 seconds and then resumes. This is repeated about 75 times per session. During the stimulation, the patient may hear a tapping sound as well as feel the sensation of being tapped on the scalp. Phase one can be time-consuming, with 30 treatments being recommended over a six-week period of time. During the second or maintenance phase, the frequency decreases according to each case, varying from once every other week to once a month or every two months.5

Magnets and magnetic fields are part of nature, and nature continues to be a primary source of solutions for overall well-being. The more we learn, the more we can practice empowered living.

1 https://www.brainsway.com/knowledge-center/the-truth-about-magnet-therapy-aka-tms-therapy/

2, 3, 4 https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/transcranial-magnetic-stimulation/about/pac-20384625 5 https://health.clevelandclinic.org/cant-conquer-depression-how-magnets-can-help

Do You Practice Empowered Living?

Published on by Nikken

At Nikken, our mission is to empower individuals with the means to create a naturally healthy life while reaching financial stability. We believe the key to physical, mental and financial well-being is “empowered living.”

Empowered living entails making good choices and decisions and then taking action. Doing so consistently and mindfully leads to personal growth and prosperity. The next step is to contribute positively to local communities, then to society at large. Empowered living is a pathway for individuals to connect not only to their immediate environments but also to the world.

Achieve a balanced lifestyle that is full of vitality with empowered living. Put in the simplest terms, our ongoing goal is to feel good every day. We believe feeling good every day is attainable with these five key principles:

•          Enhance your mindset.

•          Boost your vitality.

•          Strengthen your relationships.

•          Make a contribution and serve others.

•          Diversify your sources of income.

These principles are akin to living with purpose. In Japanese, “ikigai” actually means living with purpose. To know our purpose in order to be of value to families and communities, we must know what fulfills us and gives us joy, and then to pursue it.

Here are 10 behaviors to put into motion for ikigai or empowered living:

1.         Awaken your consciousness. Increase your level of awareness to improve your lifestyle. Be open to learning new things.

2.         Connect with your purpose: Understand and pursue the meaning and value you bring to your life.

3.         Choose joy: Choose to be happy and savor each moment. Be grateful.

4.         Move your body: Incorporate activities that motivate you to move naturally, every day. Stay active in one way or another. Get in shape and stay in shape.

5.         Recharge your batteries: Increase energy levels by ensuring restful sleep, connecting with nature and breathing consciously. When you increase your vital energy, you naturally decrease stress.

6.         Practice smart hydration: Consume pure, high-quality water.

7.         Practice smart nutrition: Eat natural, organic and nutritious foods. Don’t eat too much, leave a little room for optimal digestion!

8          Nurture your relationships: Foster love, shared goals, mutual support and connection. Surround yourself with friends and positive thinkers.

9.         Transform your environment: Connect with communities, understand their needs and offer help.

10.       Diversify your finances: Explore various income sources and manage your finances wisely.

Empowered living means consciously living your best life, one day at a time, resulting in not just a long life, but a well-lived life of purpose and meaning.

Do You Know About Magnets and Acupressure Points?

Published on by Nikken

Our bodies have naturally-occurring magnetic and electric fields, that is, all of the molecules in our bodies that make up cells have a small amount of magnetic energy in them. Ions such as calcium and potassium help the cells communicate with each other by creating and sending electrical signals. When we feel spasms or muscle contractions, we are experiencing our nerves sending signals! Therefore, when the body’s magnetic and electric fields are out of balance, a host of issues can arise.

Those who study magnetic field therapy believe that these imbalances can be normalized when the body is exposed to a magnetic field. How is this done? In general, different types of magnets may be applied to specific acupuncture/acupressure points.1 These areas are called energy pathways or channels. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) also describes these special acupressure points as “meridians” in the body.

Used for thousands of years in China to promote relaxation and wellness, the goal of acupressure and acupuncture is to restore health and balance to the body’s energy channels by regulating the opposing forces of negative and positive energies. TCM posits that a vital life force known as qi (ch’i) flows through these invisible channels where 12 major meridians connect a specific network of organs that operates a communication system throughout the body. The meridians begin at the fingertips, connect to the brain, and then connect to an organ associated with a certain meridian. According to this theory, when one of these meridians is blocked or out of balance, physical challenges can occur.2

Magnetic field therapy takes TCM’s theory of energy channels and partners it with magnets. When magnets are placed on the acupressure points within the energy channels, the affect is similar to acupuncture, but without needles. The magnets create a magnetic field, which promotes more optimal functioning of the circulatory system, while enhancing the nervous system’s innate abilities to refresh and restore balance.3

Alternative modalities may help you experience Empowered Living the Nikken way! They can help us take control of our lives in order to feel good every day by practicing health and wellness through mindful intention.

1, 2, 3 https://www.webmd.com/balance/acupressure-points-and-massage-treatment

Magnets are Important in Our Daily Lives

Published on by Nikken

Magnets play crucial roles in various industries and in the devices we use every day. From computers and electronics to health and medicine, magnets power our daily lives. We don’t always think of magnets as key components in making our households run smoothly, but the fact is, they do.

From vacuum cleaners to doorbells, washing machines and telephones—they all require magnets. So do credit cards, MRI machines and electric vehicles and computer data storage on hard drives. Magnets help alter the direction of the magnetic material on the hard disk to represent computer data. Additionally, magnets are present in small speakers, USB cables, radios, televisions, and other electronic gadgets we rely on daily.1

Magnets in electric generators turn mechanical energy into electricity, while some motors flip that, turning electricity back into motion. Electromagnets play a vital role in recycling by grabbing large metal pieces. Moreover, magnetic drums are used in mines to separate metallic ores from crushed rock. Food processing units also utilize magnets to remove small metal pieces from grains and other food items.2

There are three main types of magnets:

•          Permanent magnets retain their magnetic properties. Examples of permanent magnets include neodymium, ferrite and alnico. Nikken products most often contain either neodymium or ferrite magnets. Although neodymium magnets are considered the strongest and most expensive, ferrite magnets offer the most corrosion resistance.

•          Temporary magnets are made out of soft metals that become magnetic when close to a magnetic field or electrical current. Examples include common use items such as iron nails, paper clips and refrigerator magnets. These items lose their magnetism when they are removed from the magnetic field.

•          Electromagnets are created by running an electrical current through a coil with a metal core. The energized coil creates a magnetic field. When the current is shut off, the magnetic field disappears.Electromagnets are used for applications that require strength, such as rail road tracks, motor engines, MRI machines and cranes.3 

Magnets are indispensable and make our lives easier and more efficient. At Nikken, magnets are incorporated into many of our products. For example, neodymium magnets are incorporated in the Kenko Precision Set’s sphere and wand. Our Kenko mSteps® and Kenko mStrides® are insoles with patented DynaFlux® magnetic technology. Even our jewelry— necklaces, bracelets and earrings—incorporate magnets. 

Have you seen how dogs turn around in circles before they find the perfect spot to relax in? They instinctively know how to access the natural magnetic energy in their changing environment. Humans are less in tune with planet Earth, but since contemporary lifestyles cannot function smoothly without magnets, learning about them and reaping the most benefits from them can make daily living so much more enjoyable!

1, 2 https://neomagnets.net/6-main-uses-of-magnets-in-our-daily-life/ 3 https://learning-center.homesciencetools.com/article/magnet-types-science-lesson/#:~:text=The%20three%20types%20of%20magnets,by%20their%20source%20of%20magnetism.