This issue of Making a Difference! is brought to you by…
Barbara Theriault
978.692.5177
Send Us An Email
Go Shopping
In this issue…
♦ A formula for healthy eyes… ♦ Eye stats…
♦ Protect your eyes from macular degeneration…
♦ The AREDS Studies… ♦ Understanding SPF…
♦ What about UVA Rays? ♦ SPF 30 for Body features…
♦ How to use Shaklee SPF 30 for Body
♦ 6 effects of good nutrition…
♦ Rub out joint & muscle pain with… Shaklee!
♦ For extra pain relief…
“We eat vitamin- and mineral-rich Food Supplements in order to enrich our bodies with the values so essential to good health, and we know that the PRESENCE of health means the ABSENCE of disease. We know that any disease a vitamin will cure, that vitamin will also prevent. Let the doctors prescribe vitamins and minerals for the treatment of disease. We who are health-conscious will study the cause of good health, and will continue to provide our bodies with all of the vitamins and minerals supplied by Nature for the building of health.
We need concern ourselves with nothing more. NATURE KNOWS BEST! “
~ Dr. Forrest C. Shaklee, Sr.
A formula for healthy eyes…
Of all five senses, most people say that they would least want to lose their eyesight… their window to the world.
Loss of eyesight is a common concern as we age. Yet age is not an indicator of diminishing eyesight. In fact, there are many people in their 80’s and beyond that have excellent eyesight… while many young children suffer from limited vision.
While genetics play an important role in the your visual acuity, there are many things you can do to protect your eyesight as you age. Some of these are:
♦♦ if you smoke, stop
♦♦ protect your eyes from UV rays
♦♦ get regular, comprehensive eye examinations
♦♦ eat a healthy, balanced diet
♦♦ supplement your diet with nutrients (especially antioxidants) to feed your eyes
Some of the nutrients that benefit healthy vision work by directly supporting eye function, while others enhance blood flow to the eye by supporting the cardiovascular system. Protecting your eyes from the risk of macular degeneration is also partially a function of good nutrition.
Eye stats…
⇒⇒ Cataracts currently affect more than 24.4 million Americans over age 40.
⇒⇒ Cataract surgery is the most common surgical procedure for people over sixty.
⇒⇒ Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in people over sixty.
⇒⇒ In 2019, 9.1 million Americans had AMD.
⇒⇒ One in 10 (10%) Americans will have AMD by the age of 80.
⇒⇒ AMD is more common in women than in men.
Protect your eyes from macular degeneration…
Macular degeneration is a major cause of vision loss in people over the age of 60. More than 11 million seniors in the US have some form of the condition… a number that is expected to double by 2050.
The macula is a small part of your retina that controls your central vision, as well as your perception of colors and fine detail. It can be damaged in two ways. In wet macular degenera-tion, fluid leaks from abnormal blood vessels. In the dry version, light-sensitive cells break down. In both cases, macular degeneration usually doesn’t cause total blindness. However, it can reduce your vision to the point where many activities, like reading and driving, become difficult or impossible.
Preventing Macular Degeneration
While there isn’t much you can do about aging and genetics… two of causes of macular degeneration… there are factors you can control:
____ Quit smoking. Smoking more than doubles your risk for macular degenerati
on and increases your risk of developing cataracts, glaucoma, and other eye conditions.
____ Change your diet. For healthy retinas, eat more leafy greens, like spinach and kale, along with other foods rich in antioxidants and reduce your consumption of red meat and saturated fats.
____ 
Lower your blood pressure. Hypertension can interfere with the flow of oxygen to your eyes. To complicate matters, some blood pressure drugs may compound these effects. Try natural ways to prevent high blood pressure… lose weight, limit salt, exercise regularly and take Shaklee Blood Pressure.
____ Wear sunglasses. Shield your eyes from excessive sun exposure. Use UVA/UVB sun glasses year-round.
Living with Macular Degeneration
While there is no current medical treatment for dry macular degeneration, the most common form of the condition, early detection and intervention activities can help slow down further damage:
____ Recognize common symptoms. Tell your doctor immediately if you experience dark areas in the center of your vision, or if straight lines appear to be wavy. Regular eye exams are important because you may not have any noticeable signs.
____ Get diagnosed. Your doctor will ask about your medical history and examine your eyes. Tests can help your doctor evaluate the blood vessels in your retinas.
____ Take medication. The wet form of macular degeneration is more sudden and severe. It’s usually treated with painless injections of medications called anti-VEGF agents (vascular endothelial growth factor), which can slow or stop the damage.
____ Try supplements. There are special blends of vitamin and mineral supplements known as AREDS, which can help prevent dry macular degeneration from progressing into the wet form. (See article below.) Of course, taking Shaklee supplements daily is also a wise decision.
Take care of your aging eyes. Adopt a healthy lifestyle and talk with your doctor if you notice changes in your vision.
SmartHeart™ Blood Pressure, from Shaklee
The AREDS Studies…
Beginning in 1992, the National Eye Institute (NEI) conducted 2 Age Related Eye Disease Studies (AREDS and AREDS2) to determine whether taking nutritional supplements could prevent or slow Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).
These studies found that taking AREDS or AREDS2 supplements reduces the risk of progression from intermediate to advanced AMD by about 25 percent.
The AREDS2* nutrients tested were:
♦♦ Vitamin C (500 mg)
♦♦ Vitamin E (400 IU)
♦♦ Lutein (10 mg)
♦♦ Zeaxanthin (2 mg)
♦♦ Zinc (80 mg)
♦♦ Copper (2 mg)
Based upon these studies, many opthamologists today recommend AREDS supplementation for their patients with AMD.
While AREDS formulas are sold commercially, these nutrients are available in 
a number of naturally-sourced Shaklee supplements:
____ Vita-Lea / Vitalizer
____ Vita-E / Vita-E Complex
____ Chewable Vita-C / Sustained Release Vita-C
____ OmegaGuard / CarotoMax
*In the first study, beta carotene was also included, but was found to provide no benefit in slowing the progression of AMD, so it was eliminated from the second study which added omega-3 fatty acids Lutein and Zeaxanthin
Shaklee Vitalizer™
Understanding SPF…
Have you noticed the growing array of products with ever-higher sun protection factor (SPF) ratings?
In the past, it was difficult to find a sunscreen claiming an SPF higher than 45. Today, the shelves are filled with products boasting SPF ratings of 70, 80, 90 and even a supposed “SPF 100+” suncreen. But does an “off the charts” sun-screen number really mean that it’s better than one with an SPF of 15?
Florida dermatologist and American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) spokesman James M. Spencer, MD, says, “It is logical for someone to think that an SPF of 30 is twice as good as an SPF of 15, and so on, but that is not how it works.”
According to Spencer, an SPF 15 product blocks about 94% of UVB rays, an SPF 30 product blocks 97%, and an SPF 45 product blocks about 98% of rays. “After that, it just gets silly,” he says.
A big problem with the sun care industry is that in their attempt to provide higher SPF levels, they have had to increase the chemical compounds in sunscreen to allow prolonged safe 
exposure to the suns rays.
By combining safe UVA and UVB sunscreen agents with the patented antioxidant protection of Vital Repair+, Shaklee SPF 30 for Body provides unique, non-irritating and extremely effective sun protection. Designed for all skin types, including the most sensitive skin, this patented, water resistant, oil-free sunscreen smoothes easily into your skin and absorbs quickly, without leaving a sticky residue. Soothing and moisturizing, it does not irritate the skin. Triple-patented Vital-Repair+ Complex contains antioxidant vitamins and botanicals. The formula offers broad spectrum protection and adds an extra defense against premature skin aging.
What about UVA Rays?
Finding a sunscreen that adequately protects against UVA rays is much trickier, but every bit as important. UVA radiation reaches deeper into the skin and contributes to wrinkles and skin cancer risk. Nearly all (95%) of the UV radiation that we are exposed to is UVA radiation.
Shaklee’s unique, patented sunscreen formula… SPF 30 for Body… provides clinically proven broad-spectrum SPF 30 protection against both UVB and UVA radiation.
SPF 30 for Body features…
♦♦ Contains triple patented Vital Repair+ Complex
♦♦ Water resistant (80 minutes)
♦♦ Designed not to clog pores
♦♦ 100% fragrance and paraben free
♦♦ Allergy tested
♦♦ Clinically formulated
♦♦ Dermatologist tested
♦♦ Patented sensitive-skin formula
♦♦ Not tested on animals
How to use Shaklee SPF 30 for Body
Apply 15 minutes prior to sun exposure. Reapply at least every two hours, or after 80 minutes of swimming or sweating, and immediately after towel drying.
6 effects of good nutrition…
Most people today believe that taking supplements will fill nutritional gaps and optimize their health. The first step you should take in the quest to obtain an optimum nutritional level is to include a complete, high-quality multivitamin and multimineral product like Vita-Lea, Vitalizer or Life Strip in your daily regimen. Once you take steps to correct any nutritional shortfalls, you can expects these great results:
1) Improved body function. Your entire system will begin functioning more normally and you’ll feel better.
2) Your weight will start to normalize. Once your organs are functioning better, your metabolism will stabilize, you’ll feel more like exercising, and your weight will even out naturally.
3) Stress will lessen. Good nutrition calms your nerve endings and enables you to handle stress more easily.
4) Your immunity will toughen. Your body will be able to ward off bacteria, virus, parasites and many diseases.
5) You’ll live longer. Especially if you take Vivix, damaged DNA will be repaired, slowing down aging.
6) And of course… you’ll look younger, healthier and better because… your nutrition is showing!
Five Steps to Stay Healthy
Rub out joint & muscle pain with… Shaklee!
Pain is a signal that something is wrong in your body… that you need to pay attention to some area of your health.
While pain can mean the onset of a disease process, most of the time pain… especially joint and muscle pain… means simply that you’ve over-exerted.
When you’re experiencing joint or muscle pain, you’ll welcome the immediate relief from Shaklee Joint & Muscle Pain Cream.
This fast-absorbing, menthol-rich formula targets muscle and joint discomfort to provide quick, long-lasting relief. In addition to natural anesthetic properties of menthol (derived from peppermint oil), Joint & Muscle Pain Cream contains a proprietary blend of clinically proven natural ingredients, including sweet almonds and aloe vera. Joint & Muscle Pain Cream utilizes a unique patented liposome delivery system which ensures that the ingredients penetrate the skin quickly for prolonged release action and optimum dosage.
Joint & Muscle Pain Cream is great if you:
____ have arthritis.
____ experience joint pain in your wrist, ankle, knee, elbow or hip.
____ occasionally experience back, neck, or shoulder pain.
____ are an athlete or exercise regularly.
____ use a rub before or after a workout.
____ have children over 2 years old who experience minor sprains, bruises or cramps.
Fo
r extra pain relief…
When joint pain hits, crippling your ability to continue daily activities, try Shaklee Pain Relief Complex… a natural botanical solution that is effective, fast-acting and works synergistically with Joint & Muscle Pain Cream.
Pain Relief Complex:
♦♦ relieves pain and discomfort in joints caused by overexertion.
♦♦ promotes flexibility and overall comfort-able movement.