1. What action are the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) taking against human chorionic gondatropin (HCG) drug products marketed for weight loss?
FDA and FTC are issuing seven joint warning letters to firms marketing over-the-counter (OTC) HCG drug products that are labeled as homeopathic for weight loss. The firms are receiving these letters because they are violating the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the Federal Trade Commission Act by selling unapproved new drugs and misbranded drugs that make unsubstantiated claims about weight loss.
These unapproved “homeopathic” HCG drug products are marketed OTC on websites and in retail stores, and can be in the form of oral drops, pellets, and sprays. FDA has not evaluated these products for safety or effectiveness.
FDA and FTC will monitor the firms’ responses to the warning letters and take further action as needed. Firms that do not correct the violations may face enforcement action, possible legal penalties, or criminal prosecution.
2. What is HCG?
Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is a hormone produced by the human placenta and found in the urine of pregnant women. HCG is FDA-approved for the treatment of select cases of female infertility and hormone treatment in men. FDA-approved HCG products are only available in injection-form and require a prescription from a licensed medical professional.
There are no FDA-approved HCG products for weight loss.
3. Why is FDA concerned about the use of homeopathic HCG drug products marketed for weight loss?
Currently, there are no FDA-approved HCG drug products for weight loss. HCG has not been demonstrated to be effective therapy in the treatment of obesity. There is no substantial evidence that HCG increases weight loss.
Additionally, the labeling for the “homeopathic” HCG products states that each product should be taken in conjunction with a very low calorie diet (VLCD). Consumers on a VLCD are at increased risk for side effects including gallstone formation, electrolyte imbalance, and heart arrhythmias. A VLCD should only be used under proper medical supervision.
4. Which homeopathic HCG products and manufacturers/distributors are affected?
The following table provides the products and manufacturers/distributors that are the subjects of this action. This is not an all inclusive list of illegal “homeopathic” HCG products currently on the market. At this time, all drug products claiming to include “homeopathic” HCG are illegally marketed.
5. Are prescription HCG products safe and effective for weight loss?
No. FDA-approved uses for prescription HCG products include female fertility and select hormonal treatment in males, and FDA has not approved prescription HCG for any other uses, including weight loss.. Current scientific evidence does not support the claim that HCG is safe and effective for weight loss or for the treatment of obesity. In fact, FDA labeling for the approved HCG drug products requires the following statement about the use of HCG for weight loss:
“HCG has not been demonstrated to be effective adjunctive therapy in the treatment of obesity. There is no substantial evidence that it increases weight loss beyond that resulting from caloric restriction, that it causes a more attractive or ‘normal’ distribution of fat, or that it decreases the hunger and discomfort associated with calorie-restricted diets.”
FDA is aware that healthcare professionals sometimes prescribe prescription injectable HCG for unapproved uses such as weight loss. FDA understands that sometimes approved products are used to treat conditions that the products were not approved for (i.e., “off-label” uses). The “off-label” use of products usually presents greater uncertainty about both the risks and benefits because less information is available on safety and effectiveness. Unexpected adverse events may occur in this context. FDA has received reports of serious adverse events associated with the use of HCG injections for weight loss including cases of pulmonary embolism, depression, cerebrovascular issues, cardiac arrest, and death.
6. What should consumers do?
FDA advises consumers who are using “homeopathic” HCG for weight loss to stop using the product, to stop following any labeled dieting instructions, and to discard the product. Consumers who suspect they have experienced adverse effects as a result of the use of HCG drug products for weight loss should contact a licensed health care professional immediately.
FDA urges both health care professionals and consumers to report harmful effects experienced from using HCG for weight loss to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program by doing one of the following:
Download form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178
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FDA Warning: Questions and Answers on HCG Products for Weight Loss
-Most people know it’s important to be physically fit, but a lot of us aren’t sure how to achieve that goal. Research has shown that regular physical activity can help prevent dementia, heart attacks, strokes, Type 2 diabetes and certain cancers, such as those of the breast and colon.
-The American College of Sports Medicine recently released evidence-based recommendations about the quality and quantity of exercise. Here are some do’s and don’ts based on those guidelines.
-Do lift weights. In fact, if time is limited, shorten your aerobic activity to make time for weightlifting, suggests Carol Ewing Garber, chairwoman of the ACSM committee that wrote the new recommendations. Strength training is critical for older adults to help prevent age-related bone and muscle loss, both of which can lead to falls and serious injuries.
-Don’t be a weekend warrior. Research suggests that it’s less effective for adults with cardiovascular risk factors to do most of their physical activity on Saturday or Sunday. Instead, do shorter bouts of exercise throughout the week.
-Do diversify your exercise. The ACSM recommends “functional fitness” activities such as Pilates, tai chi and yoga. These combine balance, stretching and muscle strengthening, and they can improve your agility and body control.
-Don’t stay sedentary during your downtime. Try to find six or seven more hours a week to spend on your feet, and move around more throughout the day. And try to cut your evening screen time.
-Do stretch after working out, not before. To obtain maximum benefit from flexibility training, your muscles need to be warm.
-Don’t rely solely on step counts. While pedometers can be effective for promoting activity, step counts aren’t an accurate measure of exercise intensity or quality. Better to use a heart-rate monitor to track intensity, and aim for a set number of minutes rather than a certain number of steps.
-Do watch your eating. “While exercise alone can cut your body fat and alter your body’s composition, it has a small impact on actual weight loss over the short term – as little as five pounds a year,” Garber says. And losing pounds if you’re overweight can enhance the health benefits of exercise. -Don’t get discouraged if you’re not that fit. “Even a little exercise is better than nothing,” Garber points out. Slowly build up your duration, then focus on increasing the intensity. Try to add one to five minutes every two to three weeks.
By the Numbers
-Do your best to meet these minimum exercise requirements from the American College of Sports Medicine:
-Aerobic training. 5 days a week of moderate-intensity exercise, 30-60 minutes a day, at least 150 minutes a week, or 3 days a week of vigorous-intensity exercise, 20-60 minutes a day, at least 75 minutes a week.
-Resistance training. 2-3 days a week, 48 hours between sessions, 2-4 sets per exercise, 8-12 reps per set (10-15 for older adults just starting exercise), 2-3 minutes of rest between sets.
-Flexibility training (stretching). 2-3 days a week, hold each stretch for 10-30 seconds, repeat each stretch 2-4 times.
-Functionalfitness (Pilates, tai chi, yoga). 2-3 days a week, 20-30 minutes a day.
Consumer Reports: Experts’ Advice on Exercise Includes Some Do’s and Don’ts.
Childhood obesity means more than just fat kids. It means that about one-third of American kids—despite eating too many calories—are not getting the proper nutrition.
The repercussions are serious: a poor diet affects emotional health, physical fitness levels, bone density levels, diabetes risk and longevity. In a nation of extreme wealth and obesity, we are poised to die like the Romans.
Childhood obesity’s quick gains over the last few decades are the result of many culprits: food company lobbyists, fewer families cooking meals, food standards that haven’t evolved since 1995, stringent school curriculums that have reduced unstructured play, government policy that subsidizes corn and soy to make junk food cheaper than healthy food, the concentration of fast-food restaurants around schools.
Where do we even begin to improve kids’ health?
While we can back the research on childhood obesity with decades of large-scale studies, the impact of the media is more elusive to study, yet omnipresent. Celebrity babies are now news, and despite the obesity epidemic, the actors we see on our screens weigh even less than before. The tools used to convince us that we need something totally useless are quite rudimentary: songs, shock, characters, and ideal people.
Although new television networks, government programs, and private organizations have created positive content, McDonald’s continues to serve over 54 million people per day. McDonald’s is also the number one advertiser of food. Media is so powerful it is able to override people’s common sense.
Our consumer culture— the need to have the next big thing and with little factual information
presented—is one of the major forces behind obesity. Kids consume about 7.5 hours of media per day. Kids expect instant access to information. They expect to be entertained, or they will change the channel.
Even with all this media, we don’t teach kids how to interpret what they see. Preschool children cannot distinguish between commercials and programming, even with separation devices such as “We’ll be right back after this.” Young elementary-age children lack the ability to understand the persuasive intent of television advertising (APA, 2004).
Selling to kids is a $330 billion industry (Schor, Born to Buy). For these flaws, and its high usage, media is often blamed for contributing to the obesity problem.
Utilizing the influence of media to promote healthy habits is our weapon in fighting childhood obesity. Our pacing needs to be fast, our stories need to be compelling, our characters need to be interesting, our songs need to be well-written…all using less money.
I built my company around this idea, using the same tools normally used to sell junk food to get kids excited, engaged and learning about healthy habits. I have three touring productions and two CDs of heart-pumping, Top 40-sounding educational music on the market. My job is to ignite a passion in people to participate in this movement, from kids requesting healthier foods, to parents providing healthier options, to schools taking action on their wellness policies.
I call myself The Rockstar Nutritionist, armed with my credentials as a registered dietitian and my experience as a rock band singer/songwriter. I join the ranks of even more accomplished activists like Jamie Oliver, Robert Kenner, and Morgan Spurlock who have made health media mainstream. We are using our combined voices to create useful, meaningful media that solves a social problem. Join us.
Healthy Tips for Parents to Make Healthy Fun
1. LEAD BY EXAMPLE Help raise a healthy eater by being one yourself. Choose wheat bread over white, eat fruit for dessert, and snack on sliced vegetables instead of chips. Try new healthy foods.
2. COOK YOUR OWN FOOD Fast food and restaurant meals are loaded with hidden salt, sugar and fat. When you cook at home, you control the ingredients that your children put into their bodies.
3. EAT TOGETHER AS A FAMILY Turn off the television and cell phones. Engage your child in conversation. Kids who regularly eat family meals perform better academically and have better overall nutrition.
4. USE THE GROCERY STORE AS A CLASSROOM As you go through the aisles, discuss with your child where foods come from – how they are grown, processed, and packaged. Encourage them to select a new healthy food with only one ingredient, like colorful raw peppers.
5. MAKE HEALTHY EATING FUN Cut healthy foods into kid-friendly shapes like triangles, rectangles, circles and hearts. Give healthy foods fun names! Peanut butter filled celery sticks with raisins on top become “Ants on a Log” and wheat toast cut into strips and dipped in soft-boiled eggs become “Eggs & Soldiers”. Encourage your child to invent new healthy snacks.
6. COOK WITH YOUR KIDS Give your child food preparation responsibilities like peeling potatoes or measuring flour. They are more likely to accept a new food if they have had a hand in creating it.
7. DON’T GIVE UP Disliking new food is normal. It can take 10 tries before a child will accept a new food. Try offering one new food at a time, serving something your child likes along with the new food, and introducing new foods at the beginning of a meal when your child is very hungry. Avoid lecturing or forcing your child to eat. Help your child learn vocabulary for trying new foods by describing the taste, texture, and smell even if they don’t like it.
8. LISTEN TO YOUR GUT Eating the right amount of food is important. Teach your child to recognize a healthy portion and to listen to their internal cues for fullness. The time to stop eating is when you start feeling full, not when all the food is gone.
9. REWARD WITH ATTENTION, NOT FOOD Don’t reward good behavior with food. Show your love with hugs, kisses, conversation, reading books, and taking walks.
10. ONLY OFFER HEALTHY CHOICES Don’t offer a child the choice between the carrot or a cookie; they will always choose the cookie. Provide choices within healthy options, like “Which would you like for dinner: broccoli or cauliflower?” instead of “Do you want broccoli for dinner?”
11. MINIMIZE SCREEN TIME AND ENCOURAGE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY Limit time with TV and video games to two hours per day. Spend at least an hour per day doing something that makes you sweat. Spend time together as a family doing something active like riding bikes, jumping rope, walking the neighborhood, or hosting a living room dance party.
Are you getting enough exercise? What are your fitness goals? Is it to lose weight, get healthy, maintain your weight? Whatever the goal, there are a few guidelines to help you achieve your fitness. Of course a clean and healthy diet is a major part, but working out is the other half of the puzzle. See if you're meeting your exercise needs.
If you want to:
Lose Weight. Creating that caloric deficit is major work. To lose weight, you should workout for one hour per day, at least 5 times a week. You also need to get your heart pumping. This means that light-intensity exercise like walking or household chores doesn't count. Get your heart rate up with high-intensity exercise, like intervals.
Maintain Weight Loss. Studies have shown that people who lost a significant amount of weight, were able to maintain their weight loss with a healthy lifestyle and at least one hour of exercise daily. The FDA recommends to workout at least one hour a day and up to 90 minutes 5 times a week to maintain weight loss.
Stay Healthy. Regular exercise and fitness routine is a vital way to lower your risk for cancer and other diseases. The American Cancer Society recommends you get up to 45-50 minutes of exercise 5 times per week to lower your risk for breast cancer. Interesting! The American College of Sports Medicine suggests that all adults under 65 exercise for 30 minutes a day, 5 times a week (at least moderate-intensity cardio) or intense cardio for 20 minutes daily, 3 times per week. This will lower you risk for heart disease.
Working out for 300 minutes weekly takes commitment. So don't be hard on yourself. Take one day at a time, but do set goals for yourself! Whether it's a daily or weekly goal. It's alright to break up the exercise if you can't get an hour in each day. Just make sure you are doing moderate to high-intensity. You can do it!
Question asked by Ashutosh of Minneapolis
How good is coconut oil for you? Nowadays in gym and in vitamin shops, they mention to have some coconut oil in our diet. Is it supposed to be good for you? If yes, in what ways, and what are some good tips to use it in our diet?
Expert answer
Hi, Ashutosh. This is a great question that I get asked about frequently as it seems as if a lot of personal trainers, nutritionists and alternative health practitioners are recommending coconut oil to their clients, and this popularity has spread to mainstream stores and health clubs.
Coconut oil is high in saturated fat (about 92% compared with 64% in butter), but some of the fat comes from shorter length chains of carbon known as medium-chain triglycerides, or MCTs, which I believe is why it has gained popularity in the weight loss/nutrition field.
MCTs are quickly metabolized by the liver (unlike longer chain fats, which undergo a more prolonged course through the body) so they are less likely to be stored as body fat.
If you eat too many calories, however, the extra (non-MCT) calories will be stored as body fat so you won't necessarily lose weight adding these to your diet.
According to Dr. Barry Sears, who is an expert in lipids (fats), holds a doctorate in biochemistry and does extensive research in the field, coconut oil does have some advantages over other types of saturated fat in that it is rich in tocotrienols (vitamin E, an antioxidant), and because of the high amounts of saturated fat, it is stable for cooking. (Note that the tocotrienols degrade during cooking so this benefit is lost if you use coconut oil for cooking.)
In addition, it is low in omega-6 fatty acids (less than 2%), which reduces the formation of arachidonic acid, a pro-inflammatory compound. Unfortunately, the saturated fats can increase inflammation so this benefit may be offset somewhat.
Research on coconut oil is still limited, but one small study published in the journal Lipids found that in women with too much belly fat (waist size larger than 35 inches), taking coconut oil while following a low-calorie diet and walking almost an hour a day raised good cholesterol, or HDL, and lowered belly fat more than a diet including soybean oil. (The soybean oil diet actually increased bad cholesterol and lowered good cholesterol.)
Another larger study of Filipino women published this year showed an association between coconut oil intake and higher levels of good cholesterol and no significant association with bad cholesterol.
All in all, coconut oil may not be as unhealthy as many animal-derived saturated fats (butter, meat), but until more research is done, especially looking at the impact on heart disease risk, it is better to limit your intake to less than 10% of total calories per day and make sure that it replaces less healthy foods such as refined carbohydrates, sugar and high fat animal proteins instead of adding to them.
And I agree with Sears that for controlling inflammation and obtaining optimal health, extra virgin olive oil is unquestionably your best choice.
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Are you exercising your back enough? Chances are, you're not! Fitting exercise in is a challenge for many of us and when we do, we tend to focus on the muscles that we can see which are on the front of the body—or what I like to call the “mirror muscles”. But this can cause our body to be imbalanced which can lead to poor posture and even musculoskeletal issues, particularly in the back. Coupled with the large amount of time many of us spend sitting at the computer or driving in the car, the likelihood of having back problems increases. As a matter of fact, back pain is quite common in our society. Eight out of ten people will experience back pain at some point in their life.1 It is the second most common neurological aliment in the United States (only headache is more common), costing Americans at least $50 billion each year.2 Exercising this region of the body is not only a way to treat low back pain; it is also a way to prevent it from occurring. And having a stronger back will also allow you to carry out many activities with greater ease. There are many ways to work this part of the body. Described below is one such example. One of the great things about this exercise is that it doesn’t require any equipment and really can be done anywhere—at home, at the gym, even at work!
Alternating Arm and Leg Raise
Starting Position: Kneel on the floor placing your knees shoulder-width apart. Lean forward bending from your waist and place your hands on the floor creating a “table” position so that your legs and arms create a 90 degree angle with your torso. Your arms will come straight down from your shoulders and your fingers will be pointing forward. Your head and torso are in a neutral position.
Action: Pull your belly button toward your spine and raise one arm and the opposite leg until they are parallel to the floor. They will be extended straight out with only a slight bend in your elbow and knee. Hold until your muscles fatigue and you can no longer hold this position.
Finish Position: Lower your arm and leg back to the table position. Repeat with your other arm and leg extended.
Tips: Keep your hips square to the floor. There is a tendency to raise the hip of your leg that is extended. Do not drop your head or arch your lower back. Keep them in a neutral position. You can place extra cushioning such as a towel under your knees for added comfort. Be careful not to raise your leg above parallel. As an easier option, only raise your arm and leg slightly off the floor.
For an interesting twist on this exercise, try out this variation. You will need a BOSU which is a piece of equipment that has a hard flat surface on one side and an air filled, rubberized dome on the other. If a BOSU is not available, a balance disc would have a similar effect. Keep in mind that this variation is a little more challenging so be sure to “master” the floor version first.
Alternating Arm and Leg Raise with BOSU Starting Position: Kneel on the BOSU placing your hands on the floor, shoulder-width apart with a slight bend in your elbows. This will be similar to the position in the previously described exercise except your knee will be on the BOSU versus on the floor.
Action: Pull your belly button toward your spine and raise one leg so that it is parallel to the floor. At the same time, raise the opposite arm until it is parallel to the floor. Hold until your muscles fatigue and you can no longer hold this position.
Finish Position: Lower your arm and leg back to the table position. Repeat with your other arm and leg extended.
Tips: The tips are the same as the floor version of this exercise. Also, the toes of the bottom foot can touch the floor for added support if needed
How is Perfect Empowered Drinking Water different from other bottled waters?
With so many premium bottled waters on the market today, it?s hard to distinguish one from the next. Perfect Empowered Drinking Water makes it easier to do just that. Most drinking waters purify to some small degree and do nothing else to the water. Listed here are a few of the differences:
1) No other bottled water goes through the same proprietary purification 15-step process. We clean the water to approximately 0 TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) in the water, taking out all harmful chemicals and bacteria.
2) In addition we re-mineralize (potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium) putting back into the body some healthful and necessary elements to re-enforce and insure health.
3) Perfect Water is alkaline water. We test every batch and it is between 8.0-9.0 on the pH scale. However, pH is sensitive and can be affected by temperature and agitation. For this reason, we have not put the exact pH number on the bottle. Perfect Water pH should be 7+ in almost all situations while testing with an accurate pH meter.
4) We have microstructured the water, making it easier and more efficient for hydration.
5) We have added MBO™ which is a proprietary blend of added oxygen molecules and a few other elements that make the water unique and very healthful. The body seems to recognize immediately the benefits of drinking Perfect Water and responds in positive ways.
Again, here is the science behind the “Perfect Water” according to the website. Each of these steps combine to make the “PERFECT WATER”
Our participation in the NSF Athletic Banned Substances Certification program is now official. We are now able to promote that Perfect Empowered Drinking Water™has produced satisfactory product test results and facility compliance in regards to the Good Manufacturing Processes for Sport™ requirements. This certification fulfills the necessary requisites for professional and amateur sports teams such as the NFL, MLB, and PGA.
According to NSF International (NSF International is The Public Health and Saftey Company™, providing public health and saftey risk management solutions) "Perfect Water is the only water to be certified and compliant with the NSF Athletic Banned Subtance Program and authorized by NSF to bear the Certified for Sport Mark!"
NSF is preparing a letter/poster of sorts that will be sent to all professional teams, in all leagues, stating by name which products are approved for use and do not have any banned substances. Perfect Empowered Drinking Water will be listed on this poster. It is meant to be hung in the locker rooms.
NSF has also begun contacting leagues notifying them that Perfect Empowered Drinking Water™is approved. We know they have already contacted MLB! Any athlete or team can contact their league for verification of the NSF approval.
"I want to give some of this water to my favorite sports team. Is there anything about Perfect Empowered Drinking Water™ that is likely to cause NCAA or other organizations concern?" There are no steroids, synthetics, performance-enhancing drugs, or harmful substances of any kind in our water. It is water (hydrogen and oxygen molecules) and electrolytes as listed in the ingredients and on the bottle or onwww.drinkperfectwater.com.
Ingredients & Process:
Are there vitamins in Perfect Empowered Drinking Water®?
No, there are no vitamins in Perfect Empowered Drinking Water. We developed Perfect Empowered Drinking Water to be a pure, clean, and natural tasting drinking water. The final product contains trace amounts of several minerals and Electrolytes too – all things that help to make your body stronger and healthier!
What is all of the hype about the source of the bottled water?
Many bottled waters contain names and labels with enticing images of cool mountain streams, peaceful tropical settings, or other inducements to give the appearance of pure water. However, most bottled water and even some of those with the enticing labels start out with whatever source of clean drinking water is available to the particular location of the bottling plant – which is typically from some public water source. Many municipal water sources come from rivers, wells, aquifers, and reservoirs with water that started out as snow from the mountains. The big issue is not so much what the source of the water is, but rather whether or not the bottling company cleans the water whatever the source. Regardless of the source, to ensure a good bottled drinking water all bottled drinking water needs to be cleaned and purified. Even the water from supposedly pristine mountain streams and lakes may contain potential dangerous microbes such as Giardia and E-coli. As a society we cannot escape the harmful chemicals and bacteria that affect our water supplies. As a result, it does not matter where the water comes from … IT MATTERS WHAT YOU DO TO IT! We start with some of the cleanest drinking water available, but that’s still not good enough for us — or for you! To ensure that you get the best water we can produce, Perfect Empowered Drinking Water utilizes a proprietary 15-step purification process as just the beginning in making a water “so perfect that Mother Nature would be jealous!”
Does Perfect Empowered Drinking Water have any calories?
No. We are water, not juice water with food colorings and sugars like some “waters” on the market. No calories here.
Does Perfect Empowered Drinking Water contain any sweeteners?
We do not use any sugars or artificial sweeteners or colors in the water. Our goal is to bring you the cleanest and highest quality water available on the market. We believe we have done that. Perfect Water tastes pure and smooth and once you drink it we’re confident your body will agree.
What is Microstructured water?
“MicroStructured™ Water has unique properties that are rarely found in other types of drinking water. It is believed that water molecules cluster together which make it difficult for the body to utilize until the clusters are broken up. Microstructuring is a proprietary process which is designed to break up these large clusters resulting in a water which is believed to create a smoother “wetter” water where the water is now able to pass into the cells of the body more easily. Taste the water and let your body feel the difference.
Is There Anything Synthetic In Perfect Empowered Drinking Water?
No. The ingredients and nutritional information are both on the label and in the nutritional facts on www.drinkperfectwater.com. There are no synthetic ingredients in the water.
Why is there Sodium in Perfect Empowered Drinking Water?
This is an excellent question. Sodium and other electrolytes are added to Perfect Water to help replenish the electrolytes naturally eliminated by our bodies as we work, exercise, play, or rest. Rest assured that the amount of sodium in each bottle of Perfect Water is negligible when compared with the RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) for adults of 2400 mg. Each bottle of Perfect Water has 18mg. per serving.
Is the bottle recyclable?
We are very proud to say, after searching high and low, we have found what we believe is the best bottle for our water. If you look at the bottom of each bottle, you will see a triangle with a 1 in the center. This means it is a PET1 and recommended by the FDA for water and juices. PET1 is the most common and easily recycled plastic. It also is safe in that it does not contain the harmful BPA chemicals which have been in the news about some other plastics leaching chemicals. Please encourage your customers to recycle! When a better alternative to PET1 comes along, you can rest assured that we’ll be checking it out!
Is There a Concern Over The Bottles Leaching BPA?
Our bottles are PET1 (Polyethylene Terephthalate), not Poly Carbonate, and contain no BPA. Perfect Water bottles are the industry standard for safe bottles for water, soda, and juices.
Does Perfect Empowered Drinking Water contain fluoride?
Perfect Empowered Drinking Water’s purification processes remove all measurable fluoride so that it will remain a pure, clean drinking water.
What is the shelf life of the product?
Two years.
How long does the MBO® last after the bottle has been opened?
Once you open the bottle you should drink it within a reasonable amount of time. To help prevent bacteria from the air entering the bottle, a good habit to get into is to recap your bottle in between drinks.
Product Use: How much of this can I drink a day? Are there any restrictions to the amount of Perfect Empowered Drinking Water an adult can drink?
There are no restrictions on the amount of Perfect Water that can be consumed in a day. Drink only as much as your body tells you it wants and needs.
Can I drink less water if I drink only Perfect Empowered Drinking Water?
How effectively water hydrates does not mean that a person will necessarily need less water. There is no specific ratio. Each person’s body and needs are different. There are so many variables (such as exercise, outside temperature, stress, elimination, etc.) that change day-to-day, so there is no way to accurately measure the perfect hydration for any specific amount of time. Your body is the best judge of how much hydration is appropriate for you. Be careful not to deprive your body of its most important nutrient … water!
What is the pH of the water?
Perfect Water is alkaline water. We test every batch and it is between 8.0-9.0. However, pH is sensitive and can be affected by several external factors including temperature and agitation. For this reason we have not put the exact pH number on the bottle. Perfect Water pH should be 7+ in almost all situations while testing with an accurate pH meter.
We have had many customers testing the pH with Litmus paper or a pool testing kit. Litmus paper is for testing a human’s saliva and urine. Pool kits are for testing completely different elements and will not be accurate for any drinking water. The most accurate test is with a pH meter. We have gone to great lengths to make the best alkaline water we can.
If I have a medical condition can I drink the water?
Yes, unless your medical condition would prevent or limit the drinking of normal drinking water. Check the label or www.drinkperfectwater.com for ingredients and nutritional facts. Consult with your physician if you have specific health questions, issues, or medical needs.
I have a medical sensitivity to potassium. How much potassium is in an 8 ounce serving?
The amount of potassium is 0.85mg.
Can you make hot chocolate and coffee with this water?
Perfect Empowered Drinking Water can be used with hot chocolate, coffee, juices, and any beverage where water is added.
Can I use Perfect Empowered Drinking Water for my pets?
Perfect Empowered Drinking Water is safe and suitable for your cat, dog, horse, pet lizard, or any other pet you may have. If ideal hydration is important for humans, imagine what it can do for your pet.
Are there any adverse reactions to consuming the water?
Perfect Empowered Drinking Water is premium water and is safe to drink. There are no known adverse reactions.
Should I drink this water before or after I exercise?
Perfect Empowered Drinking Water is the perfect companion for your exercise program to keep you hydrated before, during, and after your workout.
Can I let my children drink Perfect Empowered Drinking Water?
Children need hydration too! Perfect Empowered Drinking Water is appropriate for anyone of any age.
Is it safe to drink the water during pregnancy?
There are no known or expected risks to drinking the water during pregnancy. It is a premium drinking water and is acceptable for use as such for all drinking water needs.
What are the recommendations for drinking a partially consumed bottle after it has been left in a hot car?
Generally, it is not recommended that any product, bottle, can, juice, or other food items opened and exposed to the bacteria in your mouth be left to cook in a hot car or other similar environment.
As with any food or beverage product, it is better to store all beverages (i.e. water, sodas, energy drinks, and juices) and food products in a cool environment out of direct sunlight or heat.
What are the benefits of drinking Perfect Empowered Drinking Water?
The first thing is our 15 step proprietary filtration and purification process to take out all harmful bacteria and chemicals. Once we have taken out the bad, we begin the perfection process ! We add some healthy minerals and electrolytes, alkalize the water, microstructure it, and then add our MBO®.
How is Perfect Empowered Drinking Water different from other bottled waters?
With so many premium bottled waters on the market today, it’s hard to distinguish one from the next. Perfect Empowered Drinking Water makes it easier to do just that. Some drinking waters purify to some small degree and do nothing else to the water. Listed here are a few of the differences:
No other bottled water goes through the same proprietary purification 15-step process. We clean the water to approximately 0 TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) in the water, taking out all harmful chemicals and bacteria.
In addition we re-mineralize adding electrolytes along with some trace minerals —all good things the body needs!
Perfect Water is alkaline water. We test every batch and it is between 8.0-9.0 on the pH scale. However, pH is sensitive and can be affected by such things as temperature and agitation. For this reason, we have not put the exact pH number on the bottle. Perfect Water pH should be 7+ in almost all situations while testing with an accurate pH meter.
We have microstructured the water for efficient hydration.
We have added MBO® which is a proprietary blend of added oxygen molecules and a few other elements that make the water unique.
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Obesity has been linked to everything from cancer to mental illness. Now, a prospective ban on junk-food advertising targeting children is the subject of a hot policy debate by our friends down-under.
Many Australians are concerned about the growing childhood obesity epidemic and are looking for the cause – and the solution. Some, such as the Obesity Policy Coalition (a group of health agencies), blame junk-food advertising (and the companies that produce and buy the ads) for the growing problem. They want junk-food ads banned from television programming aimed at those under 16.
Others say parents are to blame. Weight-loss author Michelle Bridges says that she stands by her belief that ultimately parents are responsible for their children (and what their children eat). She asks: “So if we know that parental responsibility for a child’s weight starts even before conception, how can we justify the notion that their responsibility is in any way diminished during a child’s early life?” (Read more at SMH.com).
But the makers of fattening and not-terribly nutritious snacks and treats say, “Hands off.” They know that the millions of dollars spent on advertising empty calories really work!
Michele Obama, our first lady here in the up-over, began the federal Let’s Move campaign a year ago in her effort to bring awareness to the importance of eating right and exercising. Her web site lists tips for parents, kids, and schools.
C.R. and I don’t often weigh in (all right, a pathetic attempt at humor) at this stage of the polling, but here goes: If kids are involved in other activities such as outdoor play/projects, sports, homework, and the arts, rather than watching television or glueing themselves to the computer, they generally stay fit.
If they are engaged in healthy activities and play, they aren’t watching junk-food ads designed to entice them. The bottom line? Families have to decide what their priorities are and how they want their children to grow up. We agree with our first lady’s concerns, but worry that trying to stop a problem like this from the top-down may not be effective. Getting people to change their personal and ethno-cultural behavior by government approaches hasn’t always worked so well.
McDonalds, that bastion of fat-producing junk-food masquerading as meals (sorry, but it’s how we see it), announced today their sales figures for April rose 6 percent! We suppose we should be happy for anyone doing well in this economy, but when low-cost/fast-foods sell well, it most likely indicates that people can’t afford to eat out elsewhere. (Economists say that fast-food sales usually increase during recessions other poor economic times).
So who really is responsible for grabbing the reigns of the growing childhood obesity rates in Australia, the United States, and other countries and putting an end to this serious problem? Parents? Junk-Food Producers/Advertisers? Children’s Television/Web Site Producers? Government/Government-run Public Schools? Some of the above? All of the above?
There’s weakness in numbers; Perfect Pullup recalled
By Consumer Reports
Relax, big guy, you’re not packing on the pounds. You’re suddenly lying on the floor because your Perfect Pullup device is flawed and prone to cracking, so it’s been voluntarily recalled by the manufacturer, Perfect Fitness. About 7,000 units are affected by the recall.
The adjustable-height bar is supposed to be installed in doorways and give you an upper-body workout, but the original handles weren’t up to the task. The company has received some 2,200 reports of the handles cracking and, in 38 cases, leaving users with bruises, strains and sprains. We don't think we've ever seen so many incidents of product failure before a manufacturer issued a recall.
The units were sold at sporting goods stores nationwide, on their websites, and on Amazon.com from January 2008 through present. Only one style of the three handles made is being recalled, so check with the company to see if yours is. Perfect Fitness will exchange the recalled handles for redesigned ones. Call (877) 974-7733 or log on to Perfectonline.com.
So what made your list of resolutions this year? If you're like most Americans, "weigh less and exercise more" is probably somewhere near the top. Setting goals is a good first step; figuring out how to meet them, though, is another story — one that often ends in frustration and procrastination. Here are eight of the most common resolutions and tips to help you get started:
Lose weight
Try this: Go to bed.
Yes, you have to eat right and exercise too, but research shows that unless you get a good night's rest, those extra pounds will stay put. A small study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that overweight adults lost 55% less fat when they got 5 1/2 hours of sleep a night compared with adults who slept 8 1/2 hours. (The sleep-restricted group lost more muscle mass, as well, which slows metabolism.) Too little sleep also messes with your body's appetite controls: It lowers levels of a hormone that makes you feel full and boosts levels of a hunger hormone, which can lead to overeating and obesity. So what's a "good night's rest"? Seven to nine hours a night, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
Exercise more
Try this: Walk 10 minutes in the morning and 10 at night.
That's all you need to live longer, according to a new study from the Cooper Institute. Researchers there found that 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise a week can improve women's fitness levels and lower rates of premature death, regardless of body mass index.
Eventually, add strength training twice a week to your routine — the combination can help you lose weight, sleep better, boost your mood and reduce your risk of chronic disease.
Reduce stress
Try this: Have sex and eat walnuts.
Not necessarily in that order, but two new studies show that both strategies will help. Researchers at the University of Cincinnati conducted a study on rats and found that sex (and tasty food) inhibited the brain's response to anxiety, which reduced stress for up to seven days. And including a daily serving of walnuts in your diet lowers blood pressure during a stressful time by 2 to 3 points, according to a team of scientists at Penn State. They believe the omega-3 fatty acids in the nuts help with reducing blood pressure.
Quit smoking
Try this: Combine strategies instead of going cold turkey. For some people, the kamikaze approach works: They pick a day and toss their packs — no nicotine gum, lozenges or patch, no medicines, no counseling. But research shows you double your chances of success if your quitting plan includes a combination of methods, such as nicotine-replacement therapy, counseling, self-help materials and setting up a support system. For help getting started, call 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669), or visit smokefree.gov.
Drink less
Try this: Pace and space.
You don't necessarily have to give up alcohol altogether — having one drink a day for women, and two for men, may help protect against heart disease, the American Heart Association says. But drinking too much can hurt your heart, as well as raise your risk of cancer, liver and brain disease. And according to an analysis of the drinking habits of more than 85,000 people, alcohol consumption is on the rise in the United States. One way to cut back: Pace yourself to no more than one alcoholic beverage an hour, and space out your cocktails by alternating them with a non-alcoholic drink, such as water, soda or juice. For more tips, and to assess your own drinking habits, visit rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov.
Boost brain power
Try this: Take a walk.
Did you know your brain actually shrinks as you age? That's part of the reason memory fades the older you get. But if you walk 6 miles every week, you can help hold on to that gray matter — the part of the brain associated with cognitive function, according to a study in the journal Neurology. Researchers tested participants over the course of 13 years and found that those who walked the most cut their risk of developing memory problems in half.
Fight wrinkles
Try this: Eat a cup of strawberries.
That cup contains 85 milligrams of vitamin C — more than your recommended daily value. Vitamin C is a highly effective antioxidant that your body needs to produce collagen, which helps keep the skin smooth and firm. Plus, studies in South Korea have found that ellagic acid, another antioxidant found in strawberries, also may help prevent wrinkles. A bonus: Strawberries also can help reduce your risk of developing cancer. Mix them into your morning oatmeal, make a midafternoon shake or toss them over a salad.
Have better sex
Try this: Think about having better sex.
That's it? Pretty much, according to research published in Journal of Sexual Medicine. Scientists looked at an old clinical trial, in which some women were given an erectile-dysfunction drug to try to boost their libido, and others a placebo, or sugar pill. The drug didn't work, but more than one-third of the placebo group said their sex lives significantly improved after taking what they thought was medication. Participants were highly motivated in wanting to improve their sex lives, and as part of the study, they were asked to have sex at least three times a month and then fill out questionnaires. Researchers suspect that simply thinking about sex, wanting to make it better and paying attention to what works can make all the difference.
Surprisingly simple ways to break bad habits and live healthy all year
Ever just feel like flipping out and clicking on a ton of stuff? We hear you loud and clear. Flip Out is a fresh new take on matching games, but don’t run away yet – you’ll be matching far more that just similar images! Flip Out is chock-full of unique twists that will tickle your brain just the right way. With a fun visual style and feel-good gameplay that will keep you coming back for more, Flip Out is a game you have to try today.
If you're in the habit of flopping onto the couch for a few hours of TV after a grueling day at work, consider this: You're increasing your risk of a heart attack or other cardiac event. Those are the findings of a recent study published in The Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
According to the study, spending more than four hours a day sitting in front of a television or computer in their spare time more than doubles a person's risk of dying from heart disease. Even those who exercise can't overcome the negative impact of too much time looking at a screen, said the study.
The researchers studied 4,512 adults. They found that the people who spent more than four hours a day sitting in front of a TV or computer in their spare time were 48 percent more likely to die from any cause, and 125 percent more likely to have heart problems over the study period, than people who spent fewer than two hours of leisure time in front of a screen.
And exercise also didn't seem to neutralize screen time's effects on heart disease, according to the study. There was no difference in heart disease risk between people who reported getting less than two hours a day of exercise and those who reported more than two hours a day of exercise, he said.
Researchers point to two possible causes: One is that the type of person who sits in front of a TV for long periods of time may lead an unhealthy lifestyle in other ways. Or sitting for long periods of time could increase heart problems by causing inflammation.
To add some movement into leisure time, the American Heart Association recommends putting away the remote control and getting up to change the channel on the TV, and keeping snacks far away from the TV. And you can increase physical activity at the office by taking an occasional stroll, or by using the bathroom or drinking faucet on the far side of the building.
Whether you want to drop some pounds or just maintain your weight, here are three fairly simple things you can do to achieve your goals:
1. Drink two glasses of water before every meal. Researchers have found that participants who drank two cups (16 ounces) of water before each meal lost an average of five pounds more than those who followed the same diet but didn’t drink the water. The explanation is very simple: The extra volume in water in your stomach gives you the sensation of being partially full, so you don’t feel the need to eat so much.
2. Walk off your craving. Next time you get the urge to snack, talk a walk! A brisk, 10- to 15-minute walk seems to reduce the cravings. You could also follow the advice in the first paragraph, and drink some water.
3. Don’t eat while you’re distracted. A recent study has shown that people consume more calories when watching TV, reading, or playing computer games than if they eat without engaging in those activities. Why? It seems that distracted eaters are worse at remembering what they eat, and therefore seem to think they need more to eat.
By Nick Katsarelas
Do these three simple things to control your weight
Being a former U.S. ARMY Master Fitness Trainer, Certified Fitness Nutritionist (CFN) and a Health & Wellness Consultant, I have a passion for helping people in the area of wellness. I feel it's important that we understand that even if you pile on the fruits and vegetables, drink plenty of juice and milk, and eat fish a couple of times a week, we may not be getting all the nutrients we need. We need help to fill the gap between what's in the food we eat and the nutrition our body needs for optimum health and to help us avoid chronic conditions and diseases down the road. The problem is that most people don't eat right or exercise. So I decided to provide a blogsite of Health & Wellness related subjects that you should know about, need to know about or the media and big business does not want you to know about. Enjoy!!!
