Category: product

Why Kenzen® Lactoferrin 2.0™

Published on by Nikken

There’s a new lactoferrin in the Nikken neighborhood and we’re super excited about it. Kenzen® Lactoferrin 2.0 addresses the body’s need for iron: iron deficiency can result in anemia, fatigue and poor circulation, as well as many other physical discomforts. Women are most vulnerable to iron deficiency, and people who are very active may also suffer from iron depletion. Kenzen® Lactoferrin 2.0 is a great solution.

Lactoferrin is a protein whose main biological function is to bind and transport iron, an essential mineral that helps hemoglobin carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. No matter how much iron is in your body, if it can’t be retained and utilized, you could end up deficient. For example, you may eat lots of green, leafy vegetables,and/or lean red meat, which are natural sources of iron. But your doctor runs a blood test and announces that you’re anemic. How can this happen? Just because you eat iron-rich foods does not mean your body can absorb or process it.

Lactoferrin 2.0 addresses this dilemma by providing a delivery system to allow the body to better utilize and balance the iron in the body.* Studies show that because Lactoferrin 2.0 is naturally iron-binding, it has a positive effect on iron absorption, which in turn increases blood iron levels.

In addition, Lactoferrin 2.0 is gentle on the digestive system, therefore supporting the gastrointestinal tract and all its functions. Rather than adding elemental iron —the kind you find in virtually every iron supplement on the market—which has been shown to cause intestinal inflammation1, lactoferrin helps the body absorb what is already there—and importantly, without upsetting the stomach. And, Lactoferrin 2.0 has been shown in clinical research to be more bioavailable, allowing for more efficient absorption of iron, compared to other iron sources.2

Just take a look at the graph:

BioferrinImage.png

With Lactoferrin 2.0 you get 200 mg of lactoferrin in each capsule—more than three times as much for the same cost as before. More lactose-free, gluten-free, non-GMO lactoferrin, an efficient delivery system and four organic antioxidant, anti-inflammatory ingredients (see Brain-Gut Connection) equals increased access to Active Wellness and more importantly, your improved health.

 

1 Uchida, T. (2006) Availability of lactoferrin as a natural solubilizer of iron for food products. International Dairy Journal 16. 95-101.

2 (Rezk, Dawood, Abo-Elnasr, Halaby, & Marawan, 2015), (Rezk, Kandil, Dawood, , Shaheen, & Allam, 2015), (Nappi, et al., 2009), (Paesano, et al., 2010), (Paesano, et al., 2014)

Have You Heard of the Brain-Gut Connection?

Published on by Nikken

The brain-gut connection is a big deal. It is revolutionizing the way doctors and scientists approach digestion, mood, health and the way we think. One way to understand it is to picture a “brain in the gut,” which is actually known as the enteric nervous system (ENS). It’s composed of more than 100 million nerve cells that line the G.I. tract running from the esophagus to the rectum.

Internationally renowned ENS specialist Dr. Jay Pasricha says, “The enteric nervous system doesn’t seem capable of thought as we know it, but it communicates back and forth with our big brain with profound results. Its main role is controlling digestion, from swallowing to the release of enzymes that break down food to the control of blood flow that helps with nutrient absorption to elimination. For decades, researchers and doctors thought that anxiety and depression contributed to gut problems, but our studies and others show that it may also be the other way around.”1

In keeping up with the latest scientific developments, Nikken has launched Kenzen® Lactoferrin 2.0™ as an integral component of Active Wellness. The lactoferrin in the formulation addresses the body’s need for iron to help hemoglobin carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. But Lactoferrin 2.0 takes the formulation up to a superior level with four organic ingredients that work to support the G.I. tract and mental health, which addresses the important brain-gut connection. Here’s how:

  • Our Organic Inulin is sourced from Jerusalem Artichoke, known to be high in potassium, iron, essential amino acids and protein.2 Organic Inulin is soluble so it dissolves in the stomach and forms a gelatinous substance that helps slow digestion to allow better nutrient absorption and a slow release of sugar. This slower digestion promotes healthy blood sugar levels. Organic Inulin aids digestion by helping to increase good bacteria in the gut and stimulating the immune system.3
  • Organic Rhodiola rosea has been used in China and Siberia for thousands of years to help soothe, calm and relax people who are stressed, depressed or fatigued. Research shows it to have a positive effect on cognitive health, including boosting memory and concentration.4 Research also shows this adaptogen helps speed up fat-burning cells when combined with exercise. 5
  • Organic Ginger has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, and is effective against nausea and exercise-induced muscle discomforts. It helps empty the stomach more quickly, which benefits people with indigestion and related issues. There is some evidence that organic Ginger enhances working memory and reaction time, helps inhibit the growth of bad oral bacteria and helps reduce LDL cholesterol and blood triglyceride levels.6
  • More than 600 health benefits are attributed to Organic Turmeric, but in Lactoferrin 2.0, it works synergistically as a potent antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties. It helps promote brain health as well as supporting the G.I. system. See “Turmeric: Hot Topic of the Year.”

1 https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/healthy_aging/healthy_body/the-brain-gut-connection

2 http://www.chatelaine.com/health/diet/five-health-benefits-of-jerusalem-artichokes-sunchokes/

3 https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/top-inulin-benefits#overview1

4, 5 https://www.organicfacts.net/rhodiola-rosea.html

6 https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-proven-benefits-of-ginger

 

Keep Your Weight Steady Through the Holiday Season

Published on by Nikken

Is your holiday season full of traps that derail you from healthy eating? Are your days filled with extra calories that seem too tempting to pass up? What’s a body with the best of intentions to do? Here are five simple behaviors that may help keep your weight steady throughout the holiday season with living proof from some of the Nikken Everyday Wellness Challenge winners.

  • Be part of a fitness community. This doesn’t require joining expensive gyms or clubs. Simply find some friends or relatives who are committed to Active Wellness or find online buddies, such as those on the Everyday Wellness Challenge Facebook page. Post your intentions and goals and ask for support.

Bill Cottle says, “I love being healthy by choice and not by chance. I want to thank everyone posting comments and words of encouragement on the Everyday Wellness Challenge Facebook page. It is great to belong to such a supportive community.”

Victoria Jaso Waters adds, “Even when times are tough, I am able to keep positive by reading about everyone’s accomplishments.”

  • Carry the PiMag® Sport Bottle with you everywhere and drink water, drink water, drink water. It helps you feel full and it’s great for all the body’s systems.

John Berkheim says, “I have reduced the amount of food I eat at each meal and am drinking more PiMag water and less coffee, no pop or drinks with added sugar.”

  • Be sure to focus on the protein and the vegetables of any feast, not the dessert. Think of it this way: lean meats or vegetarian proteins and vegetables are real food. Best of all, protein actually helps increase your metabolism and gives you a feeling of fullness. Vegetables are full of healthy fiber and low in calories.

Nancy Clyde says, “I have always loved veggies and made wise choices by avoiding sugars and limiting breads, potatoes and rice. My meals and snacks consist of veggies, protein and a small portion of nuts.”

  • Get enough sleep. Undersleeping may be as tempting as overeating during the holiday season, but sleep deprivation can cause weight gain! The less you sleep, the hungrier you’ll feel, and the higher the risk of eating more calories than your level of activity requires. Too little sleep also slows down the metabolism. So, even when you stay out to party hearty, set aside enough time to catch enough Zs!

Ann Price says, “Over the past three months, my average nightly sleep has increased from about four to five hours to about seven hours nightly! That sure makes a difference in the way I feel when I wake up in the morning.”

  • Choose a form of exercise and participate every day or at least four times a week. Whether you swim laps, take Zumba classes or walk the dog, consistency pays off and you’ll feel more energetic once you get in the habit.

Susan Goodwin says, “The part I like most about Active Wellness is the hour of exercise I do every day. I either walk or bicycle, and the exercise helps me release my stress and sleep better.”

Plan ahead this holiday season and reward yourself (not with an edible) for your positive results!

The Trick to Eating the Right Treat

Published on by Nikken

One of the favorite nights of the year for many North Americans is Halloween. It’s also one of the scariest, not because of the witches and goblins or walking skeletons, but due to the abundance of the evil one, sugar. According to Lona Sandon, Med, RD, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, “All it takes is an additional 100 calories a day or the equivalent of one snack-sized chocolate bar and most adults will experience weight creep before they even know it.”1

What about the effect sugar has on children? Dr. B.J. Hardick, author of Maximized Living Nutrition Plans, which is used in more than 500 health clinics, states, “A study found that preschoolers who consumed ultra-processed foods had higher blood lipid levels, a marker for many health concerns including cardiovascular issues later on. Amassing candy, and keeping it around, isn’t exactly the foundational habit that the health conscious parent wants their kid to develop, knowing that each bite plays a part in their future health.”2

Common sense dictates that any health conscious adult who revels in Halloween would stick to creative costumes and fun activities but cut out the candy. As for the traditional trick-or-treaters that come to your door, they may not care about their health, but do you want it on your conscience that you’re helping children to increase their risk of tooth decay and to develop poor eating habits? Instead of candy loaded with sugar, give a healthy snack instead!

The original trick-or-treaters in the Middle Ages went door to door begging for food or money, not candy, in exchange for songs and prayers. In more recent years, health conscious people are known to give trinkets, coins and sugar-free snacks in lieu of candy.

“Research shows just looking at food triggers the circuitry in our brains that makes us imagine eating it,” says Susan Albers, PsyD, author of Eating Mindfully.3 So the trick to eating the right treat is two-fold.

  1. Don’t buy candy. If it’s out of sight, it’s out of mind.
  2. Grab a healthy treat. Give one to a trick-or-treater and eat one yourself instead of a candy bar!

Eating mindfully helps solidify Active Wellness!

1 https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/10-tricks-avoid-halloween-candy-temptations

2 http://www.drhardick.com/reduce-sugar-halloween

3 https://www.rd.com/health/diet-weight-loss/11-of-the-best-diet-tricks-for-a-skinnier-halloween/

 

Jumpstart Your Nikken Business with Clean Water

Published on by Nikken

Health risks associated with water contaminants are real.  Some of the signs of water quality issues are perceptible—and some are not. Since 1972 when the Natural Resources Defense Council advocated for the Clean Water Act, public awareness has grown regarding the fact that even in first world nations, the tap water we use in our homes for drinking, cooking and bathing may well be contaminated with bacteria and viruses, chlorine and chloramine, nitrates and nitrites, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals and chemicals from personal care products as well as endocrine disrupting chemicals.1

A common fallacy is that bottled water eliminates contaminants. Numerous reputable studies have revealed that up to 40 percent of all bottled water is re-processed tap water. Another good portion of bottled waters are purified by reverse osmosis or distillation, resulting in demineralized water, which is considered unhealthy for long-term use.2 No matter what the bottled water label says, you never really know what you’re getting.

The more reliable and ultimately, more economical solution, is to invest in some type of water filtration system. Not only does filtered water help with digestion and detoxification of the body, but it also keeps the nervous system up and running.3 Filtered water is also quite important for young children, especially babies that don’t have the mature immune system that most adults do.

The PiMag® Water Set composed of one PiMag® Waterfall and one PiMag® Sport Bottle is an ideal way to get started with Nikken Active Wellness. You get a multiple filtration system that does not require electricity or plumbing for any room of your home, plus a portable filtered bottle that can be taken to the gym, on hikes, by poolside and to keep in the car. With the PiMag® Water Set, you have both a stationary and a portable solution for clean drinking water. In addition, neither filter leaches out beneficial minerals and the Waterfall actually adds minerals within a beneficial alkaline pH range.

 

1          http://www.waterbenefitshealth.com/water-contaminants.html

2          http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/nutrientschap12.pdf?ua=1

3          http://www.waterfiltering.com/health/benefits-filtered-water.html

 

Autumn Skincare Tips

Published on by Nikken

As daunting as the onset of colder weather may be, autumn is an ideal time to correct any summer skin damage that has occurred and to prepare for winter. So here are some tips on how to maintain a hydrated healthy complexion during autumn and the coming winter months when skin tends to lose moisture.

  1. To start the process of rebuilding dry, flakey skin resulting from sun, chlorine and saltwater, incorporate exfoliation into your skin regimen. Choose a scrub/exfoliant that sloughs off dead skin but is gentle and helps stimulate natural oil production. Use True Elements® Radiance Scrub once or twice a week to buff the skin. This gentle facial scrub helps remove dead skin cells and allow the seaweed extracts to help boost hydration and energize the skin.
  2. Do not use artificially fragrant soap on your face because they contain sulfates and other chemicals and dyes. Instead, use True Elements® Velvet Cleansing Milk. It doesn’t contain any synthetic fragrances, parabens, mineral oils, phthalates, artificial coloring or preservatives. You get a gentle cleanser that works with your natural pH balance and natural enriching oils that nourish the skin while removing impurities.
  3. Use a soothing mask that deeply nourishes the skin. True Elements® Nutritional Mask helps stimulate the synthesis of collagen that might have broken down with overexposure to the sun. Hyaluronic acid helps plump up the skin while seaweed extracts help re-energize to restore brightness.
  4. As the air becomes drier, be sure to use a cream-based moisturizer to help reduce water loss from the skin. True Elements® Nourishing Face Cream is specifically formulated to moisturize the upper epidermis and to help soften and smooth the skin.
  5. What goes in your body affects the appearance of the skin as well what goes on it. Make sure to drink lots of water. Always bring your PiMag® Sport Bottle  with you. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, lean proteins and healthy oils. Stay on the Active Wellness eating regimen. Remember, healthy eating is a lifestyle for a lifetime. Stay away from sugar as it’s known to be inflammatory and may adversely affect your skin as well.

 

 

 

The Hot and Cold of Working Out

Published on by Nikken

The United States and many other countries are dealing with an increase, or even a prevalence of, obesity. Exercise and diet are the two basic ways to prevent or overcome this epidemic. In the United States, physicians refer to “Physical Activity” (PA) goals as the easy and affordable prescription for maintaining a healthy weight and more often than not, recommend outdoor exercise, which combines fresh air with mobility.

Weather conditions have an effect on whether an individual stays motivated to exercise outdoors. For example, not everyone will want to exercise outdoors during rain, snow or extremely hot or cold conditions. Working out under hot weather conditions can lead to a number of illnesses, including heat cramps, exhaustion and heatstroke. These occur when the body’s cooling system fails to function due to extreme heat and humidity, sweating profusely or not drinking enough fluids. The rule of thumb for outdoor activities during extremely hot weather is to avoid the hours immediately before and after the noon hour, and to stay hydrated throughout your exercise routine.

Exercising in cold weather not only helps keep extra pounds at bay but also can help combat the winter blues. As explained by Dr. Keven Plancher, head of Plancher Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in New York City to Women’s Health magazine, “All exercise can increase your levels of those feel-good hormones, endorphins. But because your body has to work harder in the cold, your endorphin production is boosted even more, leading to a happier state of mind.”1 Women’s Health also points out that a workout outside—even when the air is cold—can give you some much-needed sun exposure in the dark winter months, which will boost your mood as well.2

Cooler weather actually helps motivate people to do cardio workouts, because running, biking, hiking and so forth are all activities that produce heat. Even walking is suited for cooler temperatures. Low temperatures tend to make the heart work harder to keep the body at a stable temperature, so people with heart disease are advised to take caution when participating in strenuous activities during extremely cold conditions.3 Again, always stay hydrated.

To help stay motivated and consistent on an Active Wellness lifestyle, here are some tips:

  1. Eat healthy carbs a couple of hours before strenuous activities to keep your body warm and energetic. This also helps prevent fatigue.
  2. Do not drink caffeinated beverages before working out, because they can cause dehydration.
  3. Keep an energy bar on hand, especially when you know you will be exercising intensely or for a long period of time.
  4. Drink water or beverages with electrolytes before, during and after your workout to avoid cramping and dizziness. The PiMag® Sport Bottle is ideal with its built-in water filter.
  5. Set exercise/weight goals and write them down.
  6. Reward yourself periodically as you achieve your goals, but not with food, so you don’t associate pleasure only with edible treats.
  7. Wear KenkoTherm® Support Wraps and KenkoTherm DUK® Tape to help your muscles and joints stay warm and stable.

 

  1. https://www.bustle.com/articles/174136-8-weird-ways-weather-affects-your-workout
  2. https://www.bustle.com/articles/174136-8-weird-ways-weather-affects-your-workout
  3. http://www.livestrong.com/article/367353-how-does-the-temperature-affect-cardio-workouts/

How to Succeed at Nikken is No Secret

Published on by Nikken

As with any new endeavor, getting started as a business builder may be challenging. For example, once she is in the flow of things, daily responsibilities fall into place. She will prioritize tasks and work to complete them. If part of a team, she learns each team member’s quirks and adapts to working with or around them. Over time, she will be given increased responsibilities such as mentoring other people. Before long, she will rank advance. With each advancement, she will make more money.

This scenario is similar to how a Nikken Consultant rank advances with one major difference. A Nikken Consultant has a sponsor/enroller, but that is not the same as having a boss. In network marketing, you are your own boss. With that said, you also have the freedom to decide how much to work, choose the people to work with and determine how much money to make. Your income largely depends on the amount of effort you put forth, which leads to the core of success as a Nikken Consultant.

Simply put, success may come quickly or slowly, but as long as a Nikken Consultant stays consistent and performs two major actions repeatedly, success is within reach.

  • The first is to be a role model for others by consistently being a product advocate. You act as a walking advertisement for Nikken products and are able to recount the benefits you have personally experienced, both physically, mentally and financially. To gauge whether you are being proactive enough in sharing the company, the opportunity and the products, simply make sure you personally retail at least 500 points every month.
  • The second is to develop team members whose goals align with yours. This means signing up new team members consistently. Begin by signing up at least three people who are each committed to retailing 500 points a month and sponsoring their own three team members. This proven business building method is called signing up “Quality Enrollments.” In other words, rather than only sponsoring Customers who want to buy the products, sign up people as well who want to create an income stream.

You have two weeks left to take advantage of a sponsoring incentive offered by two of the highest ranking Nikken Consultants, Royal Ambassadors Dave and Valerie Johnson. As dedicated leaders, they are offering their “Each One Bring One” incentive for the entire month of September to help newcomers and existing Nikken Consultants jumpstart their businesses. Their incentive has 3 winners. All three winners will have the opportunity to earn an additional $500 from Nikken provided they each complete at least one Quality Enrollment (someone who retails at least 500 points) during September. Double win!

 

Adaptogens Help You Adapt to Stress

Published on by Nikken

Adaptogens are a class of herbs that help bodies adapt to physical and environmental stress. They help ease the stress response by helping to regulate important hormones that cope with fatigue, a common condition of chronic stress. Adaptogens offer numerous health benefits, and the better known ones include:

  • A boost for the immune system1
  • Support for managing a healthy weight2
  • Increased physical endurance and mental focus
  • Reduction in discomfort caused by poor health3
  • Encouraging a balanced mood4

To qualify as an adaptogen, an herb must be completely safe, non-toxic, have broad uses for health and specifically must help reduce stress, both mental and physical.5

Stress actually is supposed to exist only in short bursts, which our bodies are geared to deal with well. However, the ongoing stress that exists as a part of modern living causes our adrenal systems to work constantly and suffer from overload. This in turn causes our bodies to get knocked out of balance. We most commonly experience this imbalance in our digestive systems and low energy levels. Adaptogens work by helping the hormones of the adrenal system to balance out and counter adrenal fatigue. In the same way, some adaptogens help shorten recovery times after exercise or intense physical activities.

One of the adaptogens that is well known even in the western world comes from the tradition of Ayurveda: Ashwagandha is so valued that it is referred to by some as “Indian ginseng.” Studies show that those who consume ashwagandha “enjoy dramatic improvements in how they handle and feel stress. It is also taken to keep the mind sharp, and for energy.”6

Another adaptogen is one of the hottest herbal commodities on the market today: turmeric . Just about every benefit has been attributed to consuming turmeric in one form or another. Used generously throughout Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, turmeric has been shown to promote circulation, relieve joint and muscular discomforts, and enhance the functions of the liver.7

Adaptogens have been part of the Eastern vernacular for centuries. In more recent years, the West has adopted them for a natural approach to Active Wellness and longevity. Nikken continues to combine the best of eastern traditions with western technology: Ashwagandha and turmeric are both contained in the Kenzen® Clarity and Kenzen® Cleanse & Detox formulations.

 

  1. Seely D, Singh R. Adaptogenic Potential of a Polyherbal Natural Health Product: Report on a Longitudinal Clinical Trial. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine: eCAM. 2007;4(3):375-380. doi:10.1093/ecam/nel101.
  2. Panossian A1, Wikman G, Kaur P, Asea A. Adaptogens exert a stress-protective effect by modulation of expression of molecular chaperones. Phytomedicine. 2009 Jun;16(6-7):617-22. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2008.12.003. Epub 2009 Feb 1.
  3. Vyas P, Thakar AB, Baghel MS, Sisodia A, Deole Y. Efficacy of Rasayana Avaleha as adjuvant to radiotherapy and chemotherapy in reducing adverse effects. Ayu. 2010;31(4):417-423. doi:10.4103/0974-8520.82029.
  4. Smirnova MD, Svirida ON, Ageev FT, Forfanova TV, Vitsenia MV, Mikhalov GV. [The ability to use meldonium as adaptogen in winter in patients with cardiovascular disease]. Kardiologiia. 2014;54(10):51-6.
  1. http://www.medicinehunter.com/adaptogens
  2. https://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/what-are-adaptogens/
  3. https://www.yinovacenter.com/blog/live-longer-live-stronger-10-of-the-best-herbal-adaptogens-for-anti-aging/

Are You Coachable?

Published on by Nikken

There are many ways to earn income with Nikken. One way is by retailing Nikken products. Another way is by sponsoring fellow business-builders.

  • When you become a Nikken Consultant, you sign up retail customers who purchase Nikken products at retail price. You earn retail profit based on the difference between the wholesale and retail prices.
  • When you sponsor new Consultants, you teach them how to retail and enroll their own team members in order to build their Nikken businesses. The more people you have on your team who duplicate your efforts of retailing and sponsoring, the more money you earn. How do you make this happen?

Successful network marketers make this happen by being “coachable” and then becoming coaches once they’ve mastered the methods, strategies and techniques of the Company’s system of duplication. The goal is to help team members with the most perceived potential to reach the next level as quickly and efficiently as possible. At Nikken, we call those with the most perceived potential “quality enrollments”— people who sign up to be Nikken Consultants and commit to retailing a minimum of 500 points each month. Every Nikken product is assigned a specific number referred to as “qualifying point volume”.

Making your 500 monthly qualification points is pretty straightforward, and your coach can give you multiple options. Here are four examples of retail orders to registered customers:

  • Get 10 customers to purchase Kenzen Vital Balance® via Autoship.
  • Sell 10 PiMag® Sport Bottles.
  • Sell 9 pairs of Kenko mSteps® or Kenko mStrides®.
  • Sell seven each of True Elements® Shampoo and Conditioner.

Be open-minded and understand that your sponsor or coach is there to help you succeed. Sometimes your coach might ask you to change your behavior. For example, maybe your coach will ask you to try products you haven’t experienced yet. Instead of resisting change, just try it out. If it doesn’t feel right, at least you tried and your coach will see your effort and come up with something else that suits you better. If you aren’t coachable and don’t try, you will in all probability not succeed.

Being coachable can translate into increased sales volume and bigger commission checks, rank advancements, participation in Team Kaizen and global incentive trips. Being coachable means being honest about your strengths and weaknesses and being willing to seek out team members who have complementary skill sets, so you can learn from each other. Once you reach the rank of Silver, you become a team leader and should be ready to coach others to success!