Not everyone is thrilled about hitting the gym.  If you find you are one of those people you are in luck, summer is the perfect time to sneak in exercise.  I have created a list of some fun things to do before the warm weather leaves.

• Walk your dog
• Go for a walk with your kids
• Go hiking
• When on vacation walk when you sight see instead of taking the tour bus
• Spend some time in your flower garden
• Mow the grass yourself the rest of the summer (Ok maybe this one isn’t fun)
• Play tag in the yard with your kids
• Take your kids swimming

Even if you do not have kids call up a friend.  The summer is the perfect time to be active.  Keep moving.

Improved Rheumatoid Arthritis Remission With Combined Therapy

For patients with active, early stage, moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis, a combination treatment with methotrexate and etanercept can improve remission and radiographic non-progression rates within one year in comparison with just methotrexate. Additionally, more patients are also able to remain employed. These conclusions are published in an article released early Online on July 16, 2008 in The Lancet.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the joints, causing arthritic inflammation and damage. It can also extend to other parts of the body. Early in therapy, successful treatments induce remission, usually by reducing or eliminating inflammation. If progression of the disease is caught at an early stage, when it can be most destructive, serious joint damage could be prevented.

To investigate potential treatment methods for rheumatoid arthritis, Paul Emery, Professor of Rheumatology, University of Leeds, UK and Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, UK, performed the COMET study, a randomized trial comparing combination treatment with individual treatment. A total 542 patients with early moderate-to-severe RA for 3-24 months who had not been treated with methotrexate were randomle assigned to one of the following groups: only methotrexate (268 patients), or methotrexate and etanercept (274 patients). Methotrexate was administered with a starting dose of 7.5 mg per week to a maximum 20 mg per week at the end of 8 weeks. The entanercept was administered at 50 mg per week. A disease activity score (DAS28) was evaluated with a radiographic non-progression measure (Sharp score) after one year.

It was found that 50% of patients who were given the combined treatment achieved remission, while 94% of this group had a good to moderate response. In comparison, the methotrexate only group had a 28% remission rate, making the combined group members almost twice as likely to achieve remission. In a comparison of radiographic non-progression, 80% of combined treatment patients achieved the mark, while only 58% achieved this in the only methotrexate group. The serious adverse events were similar in the two groups.

The authors summarize their findings while making a statement about the increased functionality of patients who are able to bring rheumatoid arthritis into remission early. “The COMET trial showed that patients who received combination therapy have a nearly three-fold reduction in work stoppage compared with those who took high- dose methotrexate alone. The ability to remain a productive member of the workforce has implications for patients, employers, and society as a whole. The effect of RA is especially significant for women aged 55-64 years, because they have a high incidence of stopping work early…nearly a quarter of patients who were in employment at baseline in the COMET trial had stopped working at least once by the end of 1 year compared with about a tenth in the combination group.”

According to the authors, this is data is evidence for the combined treatment. “The results of the COMET trial suggest that remission is an achievable goal in patients with early severe RA within the first year of therapy with etanercept plus methotrexate….The positive clinical outcomes in the combination treatment group also seem to determine the ability of patients to remain in employment. Furthermore, these outcomes appear to be achieved without exposing patients to significant additional risk.”

Dr Joel Kremer, Center for Rheumatology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA, contributed an accompanying comment stating that there must be a specific system for ensuring that this kind of therapy is cost effective and efficiently implemented. “Experts in health economics can apply rigorous formulae to quality of life and disability, while factoring in cost of drugs and their toxic effects, to establish whether the promising data in these investigations are sustained, and whether the new biological agents are cost effective.” He says.

Comparison of methotrexate monotherapy with a combination of methotrexate and etanercept in active, early, moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (COMET): a randomised, double-blind, parallel treatment trial
Paul Emery, Ferdinand C Breedveld, Stephen Hall, Patrick Durez, David J Chang, Deborah Robertson, Amitabh Singh, Ronald D Pedersen, Andrew S Koenig, Bruce Freundlich
Published Online The Lancet July 16, 2008
DOI:10.1016/S0140- 6736(08)61000-4
Click Here For Journal

COMET’s path, and the new biologicals in rheumatoid arthritis
Joel M Kremer
Published Online The Lancet July 16, 2008
DOI:10.1016/S0140- 6736(08)61001-6
Click Here For Journal

Written by Anna Sophia McKenney

1. Set a goal of trying one new fruit or vegetable every week
2. Keep a bowl of fruit on your desk at work
3. Switch from ice cream to frozen yogurt
4. Substitute sweet potatoes for regular baked potatoes or fries. You’ll get
                 more Vitamin A.
5. Get more fiber. Add canned beans or a handful of nuts to your salad.
6. Take the stairs, not the elevator.
7. Don’t e-mail your office mate. Walk down the hall and deliver the message
                personally.
8. Get a dog. Commit to walking 10 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes at
                night.
9. Buy a soccer ball. Kick it with your kids or a neighbor.
10. Buy shoes at the end of the day when your feet are more swollen from
                use.
11. Every six months check expiration dates and clean out your medicine
                cabinet.
12. Mark your calendar and change your toothbrush every three months.
13. When the time changes, change the batteries on your smoke alarms.
14. Buy a thermometer for your refrigerator to make sure your food is kept
                at the right temperature.
15. Put sunscreen on your hands as well as your face and neck every single
                day.
16. Play.
17. Read.
18. Be optimistic.
19. Volunteer in your community.
20. Mentor someone.
21. Keep a stock of low calorie snacks on hand: cut up carrots, cucumber,
                pretzels, nonfat popcorn.
22. Don’t eat in front of the TV.
23. Try spices and seasonings instead of salt.
24. Add spinach to your salad, sandwich tacos or burger and get a boost of
                Vitamin C and iron.
25. Choose tuna packed in water, not oil.
26. Grab the cell phone and go for a walk.
27. Park your car on the far side of the lot and get in a little extra exercise.
28. Take your family on regular walks.
29. Dance with your children.
30. Try a yoga class.
31. Put moisturizer on your hands and feet before you go to bed every night.
32. Quit smoking.
33. Fasten your seatbelt.
34. Wear a helmet when biking or rollerskating.
35. When traveling, flex your leg muscles or move your feet every 15 minutes.
36. Adopt a pet from your local humane society.
37. When you’re feeling stressed, smile and take a few deep breaths.
38. Don’t gossip.
39. Practice forgiveness.
40. Learn to say no.
41. Use fat-free yogurt and mustard or horseradish instead of mayo in your tuna salad.
42. Try your baked potato with salsa instead of sour cream.
43. Be wary of white foods– bagels, potatoes, breads, pasta and rice.
44. Watch your portion sizes.
45. Eat fish high in Omega-3 fatty acids like mackerel, salmon, sardines and herring.
46. Do a slow burn workout in strength training and see if less is more.
47. Take a hike.
48. Try interval training- short bursts of intense activity with periods of rest.
49. Get 8 hours of sleep regularly.
50. Wake up at the same time every day.
51. Take a multivitamin.
52. Read nutrition labels.
53. Brush your teeth after every meal.
54. Floss every day.
55. Cook two meals at once. You’ll have one meal ready on those nights you
                just don’t have time.
56. Take a nap.
57. Find a hobby.
58. Call a friend.
59. Take the time to get organized.
60. Eat the skin on your baked potato. Don’t eat the skin on your chicken.
61. Dilute juice with water.
62. For every cup of coffee you drink, drink a glass of water.
63. Add a handful of berries to your morning cereal.
64. Eat produce at every meal.
65. Try plant-based protein such as soy milk, soy yogurt, tempeh, hummus or beans.
66. Join an online diet program. Log on when cravings strike.
67. Keep an exercise journal to track your progress and focus on your goals.
68. Walk on a beach.
69. Schedule a fitness break at the same time each day.
70. Cut your lunch hour in half and use those extra 30-minutes for a walk.
71. Use a meat thermometer every time your prepare a meal.
72. To reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s, keep reading, going to museums and engaging in hobbies.
73. Keep your blood pressure down by losing weight, exercising and limiting sodium and alcohol.
74. Get fluoride supplements for your child if you live in a non-fluoridated area.
75. Wash your hands frequently to avoid germs that cause cold and flu.
76. Carry an emergency medical card that indicates you are taking lifesaving medication.
77. Get a facial.
78. Get a pedicure.
79. Take a relaxing bath rather than a quick shower.
80. Plant flowers.
81. Light candles.
82. Buy organic foods.
83. Don’t eat after 8:00 pm.
84. Make your own healthy lunch to control portion sizes and ingredients.
85. Eat breakfast.
86. Don’t eat unless you are sitting at a table.
87. Eat slowly and savor what you are eating.
88. Have an apple before dinner.
89. Try nonfat milk instead of whole. It has 100 less calories in every 2 cups.
90. Find an exercise buddy.
91. Look for walks, runs, health screenings and other healthy events in your community.
92. Use skin cream with SPF15 on your hands to prevent wrinkles and spots.
93. Keep a six pack of bottled water in the car for yourself and the kids.
94. Get help for chronic pain.
95. Enjoy music.
96. Arrange a regular time together with friends.
97. Plan regular date nights with your significant other.
98. Meditate.
99. Do less.
100. Be a good listener.

Reduced-Fat Milk Recommended for High-Risk Toddlers

Reduced-fat (2%) milk is appropriate for children as young as 1 year who are at increased risk for becoming overweight or obese or who have a family history of dyslipidemia or cardiovascular disease, according to an American Academy of Pediatrics clinical report on cardiovascular health published earlier this month in Pediatrics. 

Article in this months addition of Pediatrics

Jennifer Zaranis, Independent Shaklee Distributor

www.shaklee.net/zaranis

American Journal of Hypertension article

Have a great Shaklee day!

Jennifer Zaranis

www.shaklee.net/zaranis

301.503.4087

I joined Shaklee alittle over 4 months ago, but Shaklee has been a part of my life for over 28 years.  I grew up using Shaklee from Bestwater to Vita-Lea.  My dear cousin Kitty was a distributor, she had everyone in our family and family connection have aleast one product in their household.  Unfortunately, my cousin passed away in 94.  I still purchased Shaklee products from another distributor in the area until I decided to continue my cousins legacy and become a distributor.

Shaklee is such a wonderful company to be a part of.  Everyone is a team player and supportive.  There’s no competitiveness.  Just support for each other.  What ever your vision and goal is in life.  Shaklee can help make thoses dreams a reality.  If you or if you know someone that would be interested in learning more about Shaklee and it’s opportunities.  Feel free to contact me at 301.503.4087 or via email at zaranis@live.com

Have a great Shaklee day !!

Jennifer Zaranis