Tag: PiMag® water

Aging Well vs. Anti-Aging

Published on by Nikken

“Aging well” and “anti-aging” are different approaches to aging. Aging well focuses on the positive aspects of aging, such as a healthy diet and a fulfilling social life. Anti-aging focuses on preventative measures to slow down the appearance of aging, which also may involve a healthy diet and fulfilling social life but relies predominantly on external care and less on internal care.

The two perspectives on aging often depend on cultural biases. In many Asian countries such as Japan and China, age and signs of agingrepresent knowledge, wisdom, and respect. On the other hand, in some Western cultures, beauty is intertwined with youth—a factor that contributes to ageism. A report by the World Health organization (WHO) shows prejudice towards older people hinders the process of accepting old age.1

Skin care, personal care and other beauty products have been marketed over the years as ways to cover up the signs of aging. In fact, natural aspects of aging including wrinkles, less elastic skin, discoloration marks and so forth have been called “signs of premature aging.” The question is, when is aging considered “premature” vs. time-appropriate?

British scientist and researcher Aubrey de Grey, who studies aging from a biological standpoint, coined the terms “pro-aging” and “well-aging.” He is the author of The Mitochondrial Free Radical Theory of Aging as well as Ending Aging, showcasing his embrace of aging as natural and positive.

Aging well calls for skin care, personal care and beauty products to serve as tools that celebrate each stage of life rather than attempting to disguise aging.2 Aging gracefully means different things to different people. Whether you’re looking to keep that youthful glow or just to take better care of yourself as you get older, here are some tips for aging well:

•  Help to regulate your nervous system. Nerves are the pathways that carry signals to and from your brain and the rest of your body, including skin cells.3 To help the nervous system operate smoothly, practice deep breathing, be in nature as much as possible, practice grounding, get plenty of restful sleep and maintain a positive state of mindfulness.

• Practice positive thinking. This seems like such a simple thing to do, but how many times do you catch yourself thinking poorly of yourself? Positive thinking begins with the self.

• Eat whole, nutrient-dense, mineral-rich foods focusing on antioxidants, fiber, greens, omega-3 fats and quality protein. Focus on foods that help to balance blood sugar levels, support a healthy and diverse microbiome and enhance efficient digestion. In other words, eat a wide range of colorful fruit and veggies with a healthy dose of lean protein.

• Drink filtered, mineral-rich water for effective hydration.

• Use natural skin care and personal care products as much as possible. This will help to decrease the number of chemicals you are exposed to. Try to incorporate natural alternatives to your cleaning products as well, for example, lemon juice, vinegar, baking soda and mineral salt.

• Your sense of touch helps keep you feeling youthful. This is why petting a dog or cat can help reduce blood pressure. Rocking a baby, hugging a family member or friend—these acts are sensory aids that tend to foster feelings of well-being—similarly to massage.

Nikken products are inspired by nature, so whether you need to supplement your diet through Kenzen® nutrition, stay hydrated with PiMag® water or pamper yourself with True Elements® Marine Organic Skin Care, you can feel confident as you embrace aging well.

1, 2 https://shopsimpleorganic.com/blogs/simple-blog/pro-aging-well-aging-and-anti-aging-what-are-they-why-does-it-matter

3 https://sandythinnesbeautyflow.com

Hydrate Wisely, not Randomly

Published on by Nikken

According to research published in the journal Current Biology, the human body uses 30% to 50% less water per day than our closest animal cousins. In other words, among primates, humans evolved to be the low-flow model. Lead author Herman Pontzer, associate professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University explains, “An ancient shift in our body’s ability to conserve water may have enabled our hunter-gatherer ancestors to venture farther from streams and watering holes in search of food. Even just being able to go a little bit longer without water would have been a big advantage as early humans started making a living in dry, savannah landscapes.”1

To maintain hydration within a healthy range, the human body, like other animal bodies, is likened to a bathtub. Water coming in has to equal water going out. For example, when water is lost through sweating, the body signals us to drink. When we drink more than the body needs, the kidneys get rid of the surplus.

For each individual in the study, the researchers calculated water intake via food and drink on the one hand, and water lost via sweat, urine and the GI tract, on the other hand. When the researchers tallied the inputs and outputs, they found that the average person processes about 12 cups of water each day. Without enough water, our physical and cognitive functions decline. Without any, we die within a matter of days. In this way, humans are more dependent on water than many other mammals are.2

Exactly how much water is healthy differs between populations and even from person to person. Currently there are two different recommendations for water intake, which includes water from food. The first, from the U.S. National Academy of Medicine, recommends 15.6 cups of water a day for men and 8.4 cups for women, while advising pregnant and lactating women to increase their intake by about 1.5 to 3 cups, respectively. The second, from the European Food Safety Authority, recommends 10.5 cups for men and 8.4 cups a day for women, with the same increases for pregnant and lactating women. Men need more water than women do because their bodies are larger and have more muscle on average.3

Regardless of how much water you drink, choose wisely. Depending on where you live, the tap water may or may not be potable. Even potable tap water has tested out to contain minute amounts of contaminants, and nano-plastics are a global issue.

To make it easier and more affordable to drink safely, why not take advantage of the PiMag Waterfall® and the PiMag® Sport Bottle? They not only help filter out contaminants but also emulate the most hydrating type of water: spring water. PiMag® water declusters the water molecules, making them smaller and more easily absorbed. The PiMag Waterfall® also is environmentally-friendly as it’s made of biodegradable materials and the PiMag® Sport Bottle helps reduce single use plastic bottles to decrease landfill waste. You’ll stay hydrated and feel good about doing your part for the environment.

Ditch single use plastic bottles, drink more absorbable and hydrating PiMag® water and share your knowledge of smart hydration with everyone!

1 today.duke.edu/2021/03/humans-evolved-be-water-saving-ape#:~:text=That%20water%20needs%20to%20be,than%20our%20closest%20animal%20cousins.

2, 3  https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/human-evolution-led-to-an-extreme-thirst-for-water/#:~:text=Without%20enough%20water%2C%20our%20physical,adapted%20to%20quench%20that%20thirst

How Will You Honor Dad This Father’s Day?

Published on by Nikken

Father’s Day is observed by 111 plus countries worldwide. The date varies by country. For example, in many European countries, it is celebrated on March 19 as Saint Joseph’s Day. Sikhs celebrate Father’s Day on the birthday of Guru Gobind Singh on December 29.

In the United States, Father’s Day was spearheaded by Sonora Smart Dodd, one of six children raised by her widower father. In 1909, she tried to establish an equivalent to Mother’s Day for male parents in remembrance of hers. She went to local churches, the YMCA, shops and even government officials in the city of Spokane, to gain support for her idea. Her perseverance led to the first statewide Father’s Day on June 19, 1910 in the state of Washington.

It wasn’t until 1972 that Father’s Day became a nationwide holiday in the United States when Richard Nixon signed a proclamation to make it a federal celebration. This occurred 58 years after Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day official. In Canada, Father’s Day has been celebrated since the early 20th century, but it has not been made a public holiday. Father’s Day is on the third Sunday of June in North America and many African nations, such as Nigeria, Morocco, Kenya and South Africa.

Regardless of when and where Father’s Day takes place, the aim is to pay tribute to the paternal figures in people’s lives. Traditionally, families gather around to honor dad, or visit wherever their angel fathers are laid to rest. Children in school are helped with handmade cards and gifts.

How will you honor the dads in your life this June 16?

•          When was the last time you told your dad you love him? Depending on how you were brought up, saying out loud “I love you” to your father could be rare, but it is likely to be appreciated more than you think.

•          Time is the most precious gift. Whether it’s time spent alone with your dad or time with him and family, each occasion grows more special over the years.

•          Is your dad a social fellow? Honoring him in front of his peers is sure to make him feel appreciated—at a party, a friend’s home, with his grandchildren and other occasions.

•          Be a role model for your own children and show them how you care for their grandfather. Before long, you will reap the benefits of these well-learned roles.

•          Take a walk together. Go for a swim. Play a game of chess. The focus is on doing something dad likes.

•          Tell dad something about your own life that is important to you. A heart-to-heart talk can be a precious gift.

And, of course, if you want to get a meaningful gift for dad, Nikken is your one-stop shopping center. Does Dad need to be more grounded with KenkoGround®? Does he need some KenkoTherm® support wraps? How about Kenzen® nutritionals or PiMag® water to keep him properly hydrated?

Happy Father’s Day to our Nikken Dads!

Source: https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/fathers-day

Mother Earth vs. Plastics

Published on by Nikken

Earth Day is April 22. It has grown to become the largest global civic event, activating billions of people from 192 countries with one purpose: to protect Mother Earth so that future generations may have a brighter future. The theme for 2024 is “Planet vs. Plastics” with the commitment to end plastics for the sake of human and planetary health. The goal is to reduce plastic production 60% by 2040.1

Plastics don’t just create tons of waste for landfills and oceans. The health ramifications of ingesting micro- and nano-plastics are jarring. Even though just how detrimental they may be has not been fully understood, evidence is growing that plastics, microplastics and their associated additive chemicals may pose serious health risks to humans and other species, but especially to babies during key developmental stages, such as crawling, teething and tasting of inanimate objects.2

Plastics have invaded our cities, towns, villages, and farmland. We use different types of plastic in every facet of industry and manufacturing: from making utensils to building cars to creating computers. Practically everything we use in the modern world has some component made of plastic. This ranges from fishing nets and furniture to microbeads found in soaps and toiletries, as well as items like tires, single-use water bottles, medical equipment, vitamin capsules, medicines, and beyond.

Perhaps most alarmingly of all, plastics and microplastics have been found bioaccumulating inside many living species, including inside us. The quantity of microplastics detectable in ambient air also depends on where you are in the world. Airborne microplastic concentrations range from 0.01 particles per cubic meter in parts of the Pacific Ocean to several thousand particles per cubic meter in cities like London and Beijing.3

Decreasing the use of plastic water bottles is such a simple way to help Mother Earth, and at least this knowledge is growing globally. Aside from the benefits of drinking PiMag® water for its alkalinity and nature-inspired filtration system, using a PiMag Sport Bottle when on-the-go and a PiMag Waterfall® at home, is an effortless way to ditch plastic water bottles. And, did you know wearing clothes made of natural fabrics, such as cotton or wool, also can help make a difference, because synthetic materials release microplastic fibers into the air?

At Nikken, we’re committed to supporting Mother Earth, so our products are inspired by nature and her timeless solutions. It’s really up to each individual to make small changes so that Mother Earth can be sustained for future generations to live well.

How do you connect to nature—are you listening to Mother Earth and her lessons?

1 https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2024/

2,3 https://www.earthday.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/BVP-Report.pdf

Self-Care is Self-Empowerment

Published on by Nikken

As the old saying goes, “Prevention is worth a pound of cure.” A big part of prevention in the area of Wellness involves taking good care of oneself. Mothers and fathers too often are so busy taking care of their families that they don’t pay enough attention to their own health. The truth is, we can take care of others only if we are in good enough health ourselves.

According to the World Health Organization, self-care not only helps to promote better health, but it can also help people cope better when illness hits. Specific forms of self-care have also been linked to different health and wellness benefits. For example, exercise, having a sense of purpose in life and consistently getting restful sleep are all connected to living a longer life. On a daily level, a wholesome self-care routine is believed to help reduce anxiety and stress, improve energy levels and social interactions, and boost resilience and happiness.

What makes for an effective self-care plan? Since each of us is different, with varying priorities, body types and mental dispositions, an effective self-care plan needs to be customized. Consider what in life is overwhelming to you. At Nikken, we use the 5 Pillars of Wellness as a way to achieve balance. These 5 Pillars serve as a gauge to assess what we need to work on most in our lives. Is it physical (Body), mental (Mind), Family, Finances or social standing (Society)? Which of these areas stress us out and require the most attention? That’s how to devise a self-care strategy.

•          Make a list of the different parts of your life. This can be work, school, family members, non-family relationships, community events you’re involved with, and so on.

•          Evaluate what stresses you out. Then think about what you can do to ease the stressors. Sometimes easing stress requires setting boundaries and saying “no” without feeling guilty. In other words, we need to recognize when our plates are full and when they’re overflowing. Prioritize.

•          Think about the things that make you happy. Consider the activities that produce a relaxing effect. It can be as simple as a daily walk, a swim, a self-massage, grounding and meditating, talking to a friend or favorite relative, playing with a baby or your dog, listening to the birds—so many small and simple things that we sometimes forget to appreciate.

•          Taking care of yourself is just like everything else we learn to do: practice makes perfect. If we haven’t been practicing self-care for a long time, we’re not going to have a great plan we can work with right away. Take small steps, but do take a step. Take a deep breath and tell yourself: “It is ok.” Exhale and get on with it.

•          Every single day, take time to do something for yourself. It doesn’t matter whether it’s making your favorite cup of tea or going in a room and having a good scream. You know yourself best and whatever works for you is what’s best for you! Do not judge yourself!

•          Realize that your self-care strategy can change from day to day, definitely from year to year. Go with the flow. Assess and reassess your personal needs and adjust your plan to fulfill the changes in your life.

The International Self-Care Foundation includes health literacy as a pillar of self-care, meaning that any steps you take toward better understanding health information you need to make appropriate decisions about your health and well-being counts as self-care, too.1   Good self-care can help decrease the number of visits to a health practitioner but it also requires that we know when we need to get checked out by a doctor or hospital.

We can certainly make it a point to be knowledgeable in the six basic areas of Wellness and self-care: Health, Fitness, Nutrition, Appearance, Sleep and Mindfulness. At Nikken, we practice Active Wellness through the 5 Pillars of Wellness and our products reflect our commitment to self-care. Our magnetic, support, energy, PiMag® Water and HEPA air purifier products address Health & Fitness, we have organic Kenzen® Nutrition, True Elements® marine organic skin care addresses Appearance, Kenko Sleep Technology provides solutions for Sleep and Humans Being More training to emphasize Mindfulness.

1 https://www.everydayhealth.com/self-care/

The 5 Pillars of Wellness Relate to Health and Wealth

Published on by Nikken

Do you know about the 5 Pillars of Wellness? These 5 Pillars are the foundation of Nikken and what our founder believed to be the essence of a balanced lifestyle. The pressures of daily living — a busy schedule, the demands of work, inadequate family or personal time, not enough rest, environmental challenges — can lead to a life thrown out of balance, a disturbance of our natural equilibrium. A balanced approach to living strengthens each of the 5 Pillars of Wellness — Healthy Mind, Body, Family, Society and Finances — and results in a more satisfying, healthy and rewarding lifestyle.

Each of the 5 Pillars relates to the others. Healthy Mind and Body go hand in hand. If you have a Family, you cannot be in balance unless each member is somewhat stable in mind and body. As we reach out past the family, we participate in our communities, just as Nikken is proactive in our Global Wellness Community.

Finally, we have the Healthy Finances Pillar. Simplistically put, this particular pillar is about making money. Unless we are born with so much money that we never have to work a day in our lives, our personal finances help determine whether we can be independent or not. When we have a hard time making ends meet, we worry (unhealthy mind) which takes a toll on our overall well-being (unhealthy body). Inevitably this will impact our relationships within the family and our community. Healthy Finances therefore are a critical part of an Active Wellness lifestyle.

Many people join Nikken because of our groundbreaking products that help us maintain or even improve upon a Healthy Mind, Body and Family. But how many are aware that Nikken also provides a way to contribute to the Healthy Society and Healthy Finances Pillars? Let’s take a single product and see how it might impact every pillar. Let’s use the KenkoAir Purifier® as an example.

•          You purchase a KenkoAir Purifier® because you have furry pets that are shedding a lot and there is a lot of pollen with the spring season. There’s more sneezing and itchy eyes than usual in the household. Or, you purchase a KenkoAir Purifier® because your area is affected by summer fires. It can be that you simply don’t feel your home smells fresh.

•          Once you place your KenkoAir Purifier® your home, you notice it is working hard (the sensor is showing you each time it changes color from blue to red and back again as it ramps up or down, depending on air quality).

•          After a few days (or weeks) you notice the sneezing and itchiness have abated somewhat. Or, you don’t notice the smoky outdoor air at all. Your friends come by and comment on how fresh your house smells.

•          You’re socializing a bit more because you feel more energetic now that allergens or whatever else was in your indoor air is negligible, if not entirely gone.

•          You want to share your newfound companion, KenkoAir Purifier®, with your family members who don’t live with you, so they can breathe more freely, too.

•          You also want to share your “breath of fresh air” with friends, because after all, friends share good things with each other.

•          After hearing from you, your extended family and friends may want to try the KenkoAir Purifier® for themselves. You help them with the purchase and introduce other products that may benefit them. You may also introduce the business potential with Nikken as a way to earn some supplemental income.

•          Each “share” you do that ends up in a purchase, results in a check in the mail for you from Nikken. It’s known as a commission, but you didn’t think of it as selling anything. You just wanted to share something really beneficial, because it’s the air you breathe every single day in your home that made the difference!

This actual scenario repeats itself around the world. There are people who discover this sharing of benefits as a way to make money. Many are stay-at-home mothers and ironically, the pandemic transformed many unemployed people into entrepreneurs—no need to leave home when you simply connect digitally.

Imagine how your Society and Finances Pillars would stabilize and expand if you consciously and conscientiously shared your discoveries of the different benefits of KenkoAir filtration, Nikken Sleep Technology, magnetic technologies, alkaline PiMag® water, Kenzen® organic nutrition, True Elements® marine organic skin care, and Kenko massage technology! In other words, what could happen when you share with intention?

Since May is designated as National Asthma & Allergy Awareness month, Nikken is participating by offering you affordable access to top quality HEPA 13 air filtration with 20% off each order of the KenkoAir Purifier®. In addition, each order of the KenkoAir Purifier comes with items that provide an extra line of defense to support an Active Wellness lifestyle—Kenzen® Hand Sanitizer, Kenzen® Surface Cleaner and the Surface Cleaner refill. May is almost over, but you still have almost a week to experiment with sharing the benefits you’ve personally felt, and to see how your intention impacts the size of your commission check!

Flavored Water May Help You Drink More but Be Aware What’s In It

Published on by Nikken

Considering your own health goals and taste preferences can help guide you in making the water choice that works best for you. “Drinking more water, regardless of type, is crucial in improving energy levels, reducing the risk of constipation and bloat, and even improving the look and feel of your skin,” says Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDCES.1

The consensus of health practitioners is that it’s far better to drink flavored water than to not hydrate enough due to a dislike of plain water. Hydration experts caution people to stay away from sugary or artificially sweetened beverages. Sugary beverages can add unwanted calories while the multiple negative effects of many artificial sweeteners is the subject of ongoing research.

Flavored water is simply plain potable water with added ingredients to enhance taste. As people globally become more educated and knowledgeable about the harmful effects of dehydration, the market for flavored waters has exploded. From carbonated waters with artificial flavorings to filtered water with natural fruit extracts, there are flavors to fit every palate.

Erin Palinski-Wade says that “while the amount of flavoring added to water is typically too small to provide significant nutritional value, flavored water can be a benefit in situations where people will consume more water because they prefer the taste with the flavoring added.”2

The ingredients that are added to plain water are what make the difference between a healthy drink versus a less optimal choice. Taste enhancers can be natural or synthetic. “Natural” usually means the ingredient listed is sourced from nature, whereas “synthetic” tends to mean something is made in a lab. Typically, “lab-made” is negatively associated with processed foods and artificial flavorings. Naturally flavored waters will contain ingredients like fruit extract while synthetically flavored waters may contain a human-made ingredient that tastes similar to a fruit.

Flavored water encompasses a wide range of products, including sparkling water, zero- or low-calorie waters, and fortified beverages. Some products contain natural or artificial flavorings, sugar or artificial sweeteners, and added nutrients such as vitamins or caffeine. The science covering the current body of research raises questions as to the long-term effects that consuming non-nutritive sweeteners will have on metabolism and the microbiome of individuals. For instance, researchers are still evaluating the role artificial sweetener consumption has on the development of type 2 diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease.3

Many people who do not enjoy plain water develop a taste for alkaline PiMag® water. No flavor enhancers are added, but the multiple filtration process removes bacteria, chlorine, contaminants and other particles that can cause tap water to taste less than desirable. Kenzen® Super Ciaga™ powder and Kenzen Jade GreenZymes® can easily be added to PiMag® water for delicious and beneficial hydration throughout the day. Not designed as flavor enhancers, these two nutritional supplements actually boost Active Wellness and overall health. Made with organic ingredients, Kenzen Super Ciaga powder and Kenzen Jade GreenZymes not only may help you drink more water but also enrich your diets. Made with superfruits such as blueberries, elderberries and acai berries, Super Ciaga Powder is a convenient way to drink high ORAC antioxidants when mixed with PiMag® water. Jade GreenZymes mixed with PiMag water gives you all the goodness of organic barley grass and our proprietary formula—chockful of vitamins, minerals, chlorophyll and electrolytes. No wonder it’s known as “nature’s perfect food.”

Water is life and PiMag water makes life more refreshing. Now until the end of April, take advantage of our special PiMag® Water Packs and get two items, one at the regular price and one at 50% off. Add Kenzen Super Ciaga and Kenzen Jade GreenZymes to your Wellness Subscription order and take your Active Wellness to a higher level!

1, 2, 3 https://www.verywellfit.com/is-flavored-water-good-for-you-5188087

Invest in Our Planet: Earth Day 2022

Published on by Nikken

In September 1969, United States Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin worked to bring national awareness of environmental issues. He called for Americans to come together the following spring for a day dedicated to environmental education. His idea was met with great enthusiasm. It has been speculated that spring was chosen for the event to coincide with spring break in schools and universities so that students could participate fully.1

On April 22, 1970, Americans marched and demonstrated in the streets for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive rallies across the US. It was estimated 20 million people, from 10,000 elementary and high schools, 2,000 colleges, and over 1,000 communities participated that day.2 Earth Day was born and has taken place every year since.

By 1990, Earth Day was an event celebrated by more than 140 countries around the globe, mobilizing more than 200 million people. This paved the way for the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. After 10 years, Earth Day 2000 focused on climate change and clean energy. Approximately 5,000 environmental groups and 184 countries participated, reaching hundreds of millions of people.3

The theme of Earth Day 2022 is “Invest in Our Planet.” The goal is to “redirect attention to create a 21st century economy that brings back the healing and health of our planet, to protect all of our species, including our own and to provide opportunities for everyone on the planet.” 4

The goal is also “to engage one billion people, including governments, institutions and people, to act individually and together.”5

Devoted to the planning, organizing and coordinating of events annually, earthday.org’s mission is to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide. For Earth Day 2022, they state, “We need to act (boldly), innovate (broadly), and implement (equitably). It’s going to take all of us. All in. Businesses, governments, and citizens — everyone accounted for, and everyone accountable. A partnership for the planet. Everyone fears change but now is the time for the unstoppable courage to preserve and protect our health, our families, our livelihoods—together, we must Invest in Our Planet.”6

We can all invest in our planet by adjusting our lifestyles. Check earthday.org for ways to participate—you can join local cleanup crews that are part of The Great Global Cleanup®, a worldwide campaign to remove billions of pieces of trash from neighborhoods, beaches, rivers, lakes, trails, and parks—or plant a tree through the Canopy Project. Every little bit counts. It can be as simple as brushing your teeth without keeping the faucet running, taking shorter showers, eating less meat, taking up plogging or shopping with reusable bags. In its lifetime, one reusable bag can prevent the use of 600 plastic bags.7

Remember to take advantage of our special PiMag® Water Packs through April 30, 2022. PiMag® products not only help filter out bacteria and alkalize water but also help eliminate the use of plastic water bottles, which produce tons of trash to pollute both land and ocean. The special PiMag® Water Packs give you two items with one at the regular price and the second at 50% off. You will benefit personally as well as be part of the environmental solution that planet Earth needs.

1, 2, 3 https://www.adirondackcouncil.org/page/the-history-of-earth-day-256.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwrqqSBhBbEiwAlQeqGmpoEDcyzFQZjf1y9UZDXg1LIKcrW2Ew0qdEoIJyi4g9hGy1M0oi-BoCMIUQAvD_BwE

4, 5, 6 https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2022/

7 https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/celebrations/article/earth-day_Day

Drink More Water to Improve Health

Published on by Nikken

How much water to drink for optimal well-being is an individual affair, depending on lifestyle, age, gender and overall state of health. The truth of the matter is that the majority of us can enhance our pursuit of Active Wellness by drinking more water. It is simple enough to do, but positive behaviors require intent, especially in our busy lives. Here are some tips for increasing your daily water intake:

•          Be in touch with how your body feels. Sometimes people become dehydrated because they do not recognize the sensation of thirst. If you are someone who rarely feels thirsty and therefore don’t drink water throughout the day, drink some water in hourly intervals even if you don’t feel thirsty. You will feel a difference with increased energy levels.

•          Set a goal of drinking more water. Write it down. The mere fact that you have a goal of drinking more water on a daily basis makes it more likely that you will succeed in creating a new positive behavior.

•          Keep a reusable water bottle with you. When you have a reusable water bottle, you can easily drink water in any setting, whether you’re running errands, traveling or at home, working or at school. Keeping a water bottle handy can also serve as a visual reminder to drink more water. Bonus: A reusable water bottle decreases reliance on single use plastic water bottles and supports the environment. The PiMag® Sport Bottle not only helps decrease our carbon footprint but also filters out contaminants from the tap water you fill it with!

•          Consciously replace other beverages with water. Energy drinks and other caffeinated drinks contain water but are less hydrating than plain water. You don’t need to replace every beverage you usually have with water, but even one or two a day can make a difference in overall well-being. For example, a single 8-ounce (240 ml) cup of soda can exceed the recommended daily limit for sugar.1

•          Have a glass of water before each meal. Creating this habit automatically ensures you have at least three glasses of water a day, if you eat three meals.

•          Drink filtered water instead of bottled water or tap water. Bottled water is known to be tap water put into single-use plastic bottles for convenience and profit. Filtering water removes contaminants and bacteria, which improves the taste of water. Better tasting water helps us drink more of it, even crave it. PiMag® water from a PiMag Waterfall® or PiMag® Sport Bottle not only tastes great but also is more alkaline and hydrating than unfiltered tap water. Bonus: PiMag® water helps us respect the environment by creating less plastic waste.

•          Incorporate foods that are high in water content into your daily regimen. Here are some foods with 90% or higher water content: lettuce (96%), celery (95%), zucchini (95%), cabbage (92%), watermelon (91%), cantaloupe and honeydew melon (90%). Bonus: These fruits and vegetables also contain vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

•          Drink a glass of water when you awaken. It will help you wake up and become alert.

Even as we consciously drink more water to improve our health, being aware of how much water is used and wasted can help each of us contribute to the preservation of our global freshwater resources. In the U.S., each citizen uses about 3,000 liters /792.5 gallons a day, whereas in the U.K, that figure goes up to 3,400 litres /898 gallons!2 Water is a luxury in many countries, so as part of the Global Wellness Community, let’s strive together for awareness and conservation.

For the entire month of March, we are offering four Water Packs. Each pack has two state-of-the-art PiMag® products. You get one at the regular price and the second at 50% off! You have your choice of two PiMag MicroJet® Wall Mount Shower Systems or two PiMag MicroJet® Handheld Shower Systems, both of which help neutralize chemicals, two PiMag® Sport Bottles of 100% recyclable biogreen materials, or two PiMag® Waterfalls that can help reduce bacteria by 99.99%.

1 https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-drink-more-water

2 https://medium.com/@aj_jones/the-worlds-freshwater-crisis-is-worse-than-ever-60bce56206a9

What’s the Big Deal with Berries?

Published on by Nikken

Within our bodies millions of processes occur every day, such as turning the foods we eat into energy. These processes require oxygen. Byproducts of using oxygen are called oxidants, often referred to as “free radicals”. Free radicals can also be introduced to our bodies through external sources such as tobacco smoke, pollution, and exposure to the sun. In the same way that oxidation can cause rust on the surface of some objects, free radicals can cause damage to cell walls, cell structures and even the genetic material of a cell. If the genetic material of a cell is attacked, this can lead to changes in the body’s DNA “genetic blue print” and has been linked to a number of diseases, including cardiovascular disease.1

Antioxidants work to deactivate free radicals by binding to oxidants, which prevents the damage from occurring. Diets high in antioxidant-rich foods, that is, foods containing vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium and carotenoids, such as beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, have been linked to a reduced risk of developing heart disease. As a result, current national guidelines on the prevention of cardiovascular disease recommend choosing foods rich in antioxidants.2

Berries contain a variety of antioxidants, which help keep free radicals under control. Anthocyanins, ellagic acid and resveratrol are types of antioxidants found in an assortment of berries. One study showed that blueberries, blackberries and raspberries have the highest antioxidant activity of commonly consumed fruits, next to pomegranates.3

Studies suggest that the antioxidants in berries may help lower inflammation. Long-term inflammation arising from chronic stress, sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy food choices can lead to diabetes, heart disease and obesity,4 so berries are really a big deal in counteracting those negative effects! But that’s not all that berries can help do.

Test-tube and human studies suggest that berries may protect cells from high blood sugar levels, help increase insulin sensitivity, and reduce blood sugar and insulin response to high-carb meals. Importantly, these effects appear to occur in both healthy people and those with insulin resistance.5

In one study of healthy women, eating 5 ounces (150 grams) of puréed strawberries or mixed berries with bread led to a 24–26% reduction in insulin levels, compared to consuming the bread alone.6 Moreover, in a six-week study, obese people with insulin resistance who drank a blueberry smoothie twice per day experienced greater improvements in insulin sensitivity than those who consumed berry-free smoothies.7

Berries are also an excellent source of soluble fiber, which is known to be important for slowing down the movement of food through the digestive tract. This slower movement helps us feel full for a longer period of time. Ideally, this may help us eat less and make weight management easier. One study found that doubling fiber intake could help absorb up to 130 fewer calories per day.8

Unsurprisingly, berries are considered heart-healthy food that may help lower LDL levels and help protect the bad cholesterol from becoming oxidized, which may reduce the risk of heart disease. In a controlled study of obese people, those eating 1.5 ounces (50 grams) of freeze-dried blueberries for 8 weeks noticed a 28% reduction in their oxidized LDL levels.9

Berries are highly nutritious, may provide a variety of health benefits, and are easy to incorporate into an Active Wellness nutritional plan! Kenzen® Super Ciaga® powder makes it even simpler if you find it hard to access fresh berries. Simply combine it with PiMag® water or blend into smoothies for an energy and antioxidant boost!

To celebrate love, friendship and Valentine’s Day, Nikken has three “Heart of Nikken” packs available through February 28. Each pack contains three extraordinary heart-healthy nutritional supplements—Kenzen® Bergisterol®, Kenzen® Super Ciaga® and Kenzen® Omega Green + DHA — plus one piece of magnetic jewelry, exclusive to Nikken. You have your choice of the pack with a silver Kenko Perfect Link II necklace, a gold tone Kenko Perfect Link II necklace or a Kenko Heart Set.

1, 2 https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/16739-antioxidants–heart-health

3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9  https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-reasons-to-eat-berries#:~:text=Berries%20are%20some%20of%20the,cholesterol%2C%20while%20reducing%20oxidative%20stress