Smart Nutrition the Kenzen® Way

September at Nikken is about smart nutrition: eating healthy food, choosing nutrient-dense ingredients in cooking, committing to whole foods rather than processed ones and avoiding refined pre-packaged items that contain added sugar and salt. With our hectic multi-generational family lifestyles, dietary or nutritional supplementation can make a big difference.

Here’s a summary of what Kenzen® Nutrition is designed to do:

•          Kenzen® Calcium Complex and Kenzen BDZ® work synergistically to support bone health.* Added minerals in the Calcium Complex enhance absorption, while BDZ acts as the perfect complement with patented vitamin K and its unique marine plant complex to support bone structure and strength.*

•          Kenzen® Joint is formulated with high potency cetyl myristoleate, combined with gluosamine, methylsulfonylmethane and boswelia plant compounds—to support joint movement and connective tissue repair.* A topical version is CM Complex Cream that contains the same naturally lubricating properties.

•          Pink Collagen Complex stands out with its naturally pink color and exceptional formulation. Blood peach, rose apple and beet root combine their rosy tint with antioxidant powers and pleasant flavor, so there’s no fishy taste to the powerful type 1 collagen derived from marine peptides.

•          Kenzen® Omega Green + DHA contains heart-healthy omegas 3, 6, and 9 in one formula! The vegan formula is plant-sourced from cranberry seed oil, flax seed oil and red algae. Supporting digestive, hormonal and nerve health, it also benefits eyes and the brain.* It’s a formula chockful of omega fatty acids that even vegans can enjoy!

•          Kenzen Bergisterol® aims to support cardiovascular health and immune response.* Made with an exclusive strain of the bergamot fruit, it is rich in polyphenols and bioflavonoids.

•          Kenzen Super Ciaga® powder is a delicious way to support heart health, cellular functions and the immune system for overall well-being and natural energy levels.* It’s formulated with highly concentrated superfruits, such as maqui berry, elderberry, blackberry, raspberry and blueberry.

•          Kenzen® Immunity was providing immune support long before mushrooms became a trending topic.* Made with 14 different mushrooms, it is a standout in the market where supplements only contain single species or just a few.

•          Kenzen® Digestion 4-20 contains 20 different enzymes within the 4 categories of macronutrients: fats, proteins, carbs and fiber. This formula helps the digestive process by optimizing absorption of nutrients, allowing the body to convert fuel into energy.*

•          Kenzen® Cleanse & Detox supports the liver, which provides more than 500 functions!* This formula helps rid the body of toxins and other wastes, utilizing natural ingredients, such as organic chicory root, milk thistle and turmeric.

•          Kenzen Lactoferrin® 2.0 supports gut health while binding and transporting iron, so the body can absorb it.* The formula has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties for overall health*.

•          Kenzen Jade Greenzymes® and Jade Greenzymes® Citrus are known as “nature’s perfect food.” That’s because organic barley grass has the full balance of enzymes needed to support healthy bones and tissue, skin elasticity and help maintain natural pH levels.*

•          Kenzen® Clarity supports cognitive function* with a fermented blend of ingredients. The formula is based on the gut-brain connection—fermentation helps absorption and digestibility of nutrients such as organic ashwagandha and organic bacopa leaf, supporting better memory, focus and concentration.*

•          Kenzen® Mega Daily 4 (in two formulas, one specifically for women and one for men) is a formulation of organic vegetables that provide the known types of water-soluble and fat-soluble antioxidants plus nutrients that support celluar function.*It offers gender-specific support for whole body renewal.*

•          Coming in October, new Kenzen Vital Balance® Meal Replacement Mix contains 30% of the recommended daily allowance for protein in vegan form. MCTs support the brain while vitamins and minerals come from natural sources, making them more bioavailable. Prebiotics and probiotics promote effective digestion and absorption.*

Try smart nutrition the Kenzen® way for overall health and well-being—easy, effective and extraordinary.

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

Skin Care From the Inside Out

Healthy skin is often a sign of overall well-being—what you see on the outside can be a good indicator of what is on the inside—from a vigorous circulatory system to an efficient digestive system. In fact, what you eat and drink can affect not only your overall health, but it can also affect the appearance of your skin.

Here’s a sampler of what might prove beneficial not only to your nutritional intake but also to your skin:

• Fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, and herring supply omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to have anti-inflammatory properties and help keep the skin supple. You can obtain a healthy dose of plant-based omega-3 fatty acids from Kenzen® Omega Green + DHA.

• Honey, walnuts, blueberries, nutritional yeast, kale, collard greens, spinach, sweet potatoes, organic root vegetables, and avocados help skin to function properly and may aid in healing wounds.1

• Eat fermented foods—such as sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, olives, sourdough bread—because they contain probiotics, vitamins, minerals and lactic acid in addition to breaking down food into small particles that are more easily absorbed.

• Reduce sugar in your diet. Digested sugar permanently attaches to the collagen in your skin through a process known as glycation. Refined sugars and simple carbohydrates lead to insulin spikes that cause inflammation, and inflammation produces enzymes that break down collagen and elastin, resulting in sagging skin and wrinkles.

• Cut back on alcohol. Excessive amounts of alcohol disrupt gut health, which in turn shows up directly on the face as dull, aging skin. If you choose to drink moderately, wine is made with fermented grapes, so that would be a better choice.

• Cut back on dairy. Dairy products are known to trigger acne. There are so many plant-based replacements for dairy products that it is now much easier to replace them. Try soy, nuts, oats, coconut and other non-dairy products.

• Drink green tea. It contains polyphenols that are plant compounds that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. There have even been studies that show drinking green tea helps the skin retain moisture.2

• Take your vitamins. You can obtain them through food or you can take Kenzen® Mega Daily 4 with specific formulas for Women and for Men. Here are a few specific vitamins that are beneficial to overall health and the skin:

-Vitamin A is known to support skin cell regeneration while suppressing the oil-producing gland. Vitamin A is found in abundance in red and orange colored fruit and vegetables.

-Vitamin C is an antioxidant that supports collagen production and tissue repair and growth. Eat plenty of citrus and leafy greens.

-Vitamin E is another antioxidant that protects skin cells from damage caused by free radicals that can lead to premature aging. It’s easy to get vitamin E from a variety of fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds and plant-based oils.

-Vitamin D plays a role in determining your skin tone, as it helps create healthy cells. Salmon, egg yolks, mushrooms, tuna and mackerel are great sources of vitamin D.

• Collagen supports skin elasticity for a more youthful look. Include Pink Collagen Complex as part of your daily regimen!

Improve your diet, remember to include exercise daily, and get enough beauty sleep! See the difference in your skin within a few months or even earlier!

1 https://www.coloskin.com/dermatologists-in-denver/healing-your-skin-from-the-inside-out/

2 https://www.nutrisense.io/blog/green-tea-benefits-for-skin

Eat Breakfast on Any Food Regimen

Virtually every advice column about starting the day off right includes a section about always eating breakfast. Yet the trend recently is to skip breakfast in order to practice intermittent fasting to lose weight. Many people show compelling weight loss through intermittent fasting, but what are the long-term ramifications of skipping breakfast?

According to study after study on both children and adults, people who eat breakfast do better on cognitive and memory tests than those who skip it.1 The Journal of the American College of Cardiology also notes that “skipping breakfast could be bad for your ticker. The results found that of the nearly 7,000 people it surveyed over a period of roughly 20 years, those who didn’t eat breakfast had an increased risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease.”2

As the name suggests, breakfast breaks the overnight fasting period. It replenishes our supply of glucose to boost energy levels and alertness, while also providing other essential nutrients required for good health. It improves our ability to concentrate in the short term, and can help with better weight management, reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease in the long term.3

The good news for those who practice intermittent fasting is that in fact, you can have your intermittent fasting and eat breakfast, too, and there is substantial evidence you’d be better off that way. The time window we choose to fast matters. Fasting in the evening and overnight, then eating early in the day is the pattern that has the most profound benefits. “The research is clear that people who eat in the morning and afternoon have healthier blood lipid profiles and better blood sugar control and tend to weigh less than those who eat late in the day. And people who eat breakfast tend to have better overall nutrient intakes than those who skip it. Also, eating during the waking hours, when your mental and physical demands are highest, gives you the fuel to perform at your best.”4

Commonly eaten breakfast foods such as whole grains, eggs, yogurt and fruit are rich in key nutrients such as folate, calcium, iron, B vitamins and fiber. Breakfast therefore potentially provides a lot of your day’s total nutrient intake. In fact, people who eat breakfast are more likely to meet their recommended daily intakes of vitamins and minerals than people who don’t.

 However you choose to start your day, Nikken provides nutritional supplements to fill in the gap. Kenzen Vital Balance® Meal Replacement Mix is the perfect breakfast by itself or added to your other foods. Add Kenzen® Mega Daily 4 (formulas for women or for men) veggie-based multivitamins, Kenzen Jade GreenZymes® made with Mother Nature’s perfect food in the form of high-grade barley grass and Kenzen Lactoferrin® 2.0 to absorb iron and maintain a healthy gut for overall health! Eat an Active Wellness breakfast and feel the right start difference!

1, 4 https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/many-intermittent-fasters-skip-breakfast-heres-why-thats-not-a-good-idea/2018/10/23/976aba7e-d311-11e8-83d6-291fcead2ab1_story.htm

2 https://www.wellandgood.com/good-food/intermittent-fasting-breakfast/

3, 5 https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/breakfast

 

Make Sure Good Health is Your Priority

Men, listen up! From infancy to old age, women tend to be healthier than men. Part of it is biological but part of it is due to men’s more cavalier attitude towards health. According to webMD, men tend to avoid the doctor and are less likely to acknowledge any health challenges.

Since June is Men’s Health Awareness Month, here are a half dozen tips to maintain good health:

  1. Routine check–ups are important to monitor heart health. The top cause of death among adult men in the U.S. is cardiovascular disease. According to the American Health Association, an estimated 2.8 million men experience stroke each year and hypertension is common even in young men.1
  2. Don’t smoke. Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke, air pollution and chemicals, as much as possible. According to the American Lung Association, more men are diagnosed with lung cancer each year, with smoking as the leading cause.
  3. Limit alcohol. Imbibe in moderation, which means up to two drinks a day for men 65 and younger and one drink for those older. One drink is 12 fluid ounces of beer, five fluid ounces of wine or 1.5 fluid ounces of 80-proof liquor.2 Men experience higher rates of alcohol-related deaths and hospitalizations than women, according to the Center for Disease Control. Alcohol abuse increases the risk for mouth, throat, esophagus, liver and colon cancers. It also interferes with testicular function and hormone production.3
  4. Eat a healthy diet. Choose vegetables, fruits, whole grains, high-fiber foods and lean sources of protein, such as fish and free-range chicken. Limit foods high in saturated and trans fat, sodium and sugar. The high sugar of diabetes acts like a slow poison on blood vessels and nerves, with heart attacks, strokes, blindness, kidney failure and amputations being the fallout for thousands of men.4
  5. Maintain a healthy weight. Overweight and obesity feed the diabetes epidemic and increase the risk of heart disease and various types of cancer.
  6. Use sunscreen. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, men aged 50 and older are at the highest risk for developing skin cancer, more than twice as likely as women.5 This higher risk is attributed to more frequent sun exposure and fewer visits to the doctor.

Nikken Active Wellness supports the overall health of both men and women. Our nutritional supplements address the maintenance of health from head to toe! For men, you simply can’t get better year round support than with Men’s Kenzen® Mega Daily 4.

1, 3, 5 https://www.clinicaladvisor.com/top-10-mens-health-issues/slideshow/1369/

2 https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/mens-health/in-depth/mens-health/art-20047764

4 https://www.webmd.com/men/features/6-top-health-threats-men#1