The ABC’s of Self Care, the Letter U

“The unselfish effort to bring cheer to others will be the beginning of a happier life for ourselves. ”

— Helen Keller

This week our ongoing series on the ABC’s of Self Care is concerned with the letter U. It is fortuitous that this week Heather and I received an article from a fellow self care advocate that she recently published in her home town newspaper. Thank you to Laura Frei for an Unselfish addition the Impetus. We welcome all self care advocates to join our cause to empower everyone to be Healthy by Choice.  If you have an article or information that you would like to share, please contact us.

Here is Laura’s article.

Did you hear on the evening news last March about the research on plastic bottles of water? A study was done on 259 bottles and the water in more than 90% of them was found to contain tiny pieces of plastic, so small they were impossible to detect without lab equipment. The news report stated that the plastic was the same as found in the bottles' caps. (editor’s note: to read more on this see, Water Matters, Planet in Peril)

I found the study's results to be quite alarming even though I do have access to a healthy alkaline water system alternative. The Waterfall, a gravity-flow, counter top, pure alkaline unit, with 8.5-9.5 pH, comes from Nikken, a 43-year old research and development company originating from Japan. Nikken develops energy-wellness, self-care technologies which replicate the earth's natural energies. If you are not filtering your water, your kidneys are. Water is such an essential part of our bodies, so we need to make sure it is safe, healthy, alkaline water.

Nikken's Waterfall technology starts with a high-tech, multiple-stage filtration system based on natural minerals to clean the water without chemicals, then important minerals are added back in along with an enriched oxygen content. Structured and alkalinized, mineralized and magnetized, describe ways that promote healthy water. This makes the body's cells have deeper hydration, increased energy, and enhanced immunity.

A good friend of mine said she'd like to try the water so I took a gallon to her. She told me a few days later that she had been married for sixty years and during that entire time, she had experienced stomach aches. But after drinking this water, she said she no longer had them. I was thrilled for her and her wonderful health results. I thought to myself, "This is why I do this."

Dr Antonio A. reported this observation. "After thirty plus years’ experience as a chemist and physician, I had occasion to test the "living water" system. It provides the highest of quality filtration, adds important minerals, corrects the pH balance, organizes the molecules into healthier clusters and enriches the oxygen content. On many occasions I have observed resolution of sleep disorders, remarkable increases in energy and stamina, desired weight loss, reversal of mental confusion, accelerated recovery from surgery and clearing of many disease processes"

I know that having access to healthy, clean, alkaline and mineralized water is extremely vital to everyone's health and well-being. Plants love it, pets choose it if given the choice, and when the mineral stones are replaced after a year, they can keep on benefiting when worked into the soil of our house plants and gardens, enriching those areas with vital minerals, also.

Thank you, Laura, for sending this article for us to include on the Self Care Awakening. Keep up the good work. As we all know Water Matters and that we all need to drink half our body weight in ounces of healthy water every day. It is a vital component of the Nikken Wellness Home and one of the ways we can all Be Healthy by Choice, not by Chance!

The ABC’s of Self Care T

“TEAMWORK divides the task and multiplies the SUCCESS”

The ABC’s of Self Care T

This week we have come to the letter T in our discussion of the ABC’s of Self Care.

The Self Care Awakening is a passion for Heather and me. Our battle cry of Be Healthy by Choice, is better served when we have informed, inspired and empowered others to be Self Care Advocates and in turn they share the message with others. We have created a Team.

Merriam-Webster defines Teamwork as: work done by several associates with each doing a part but all subordinating personal prominence to the efficiency of the whole. Teamwork has been defined differently by different schools of thought and different individuals but all of them zero in on one idea that teamwork involves people working in a group or team to accomplish a given task.

Successful teamwork requires a few basic skills and attributes, among them are:

• Respect for individual contributions
• Putting aside individual glory
• Consensus building
• Clear communication
• Persuasive speech
• Compromise

Teamwork is a powerful concept to bring about change. As Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has”. How true!

Our mission is to Inform, Inspire and Empower Everyone to be Healthy by Choice. We want everyone to recognize that chronic disease is not a normal part of life or “just getting older.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state “Chronic disease is the Leading Causes of Death and Disability in the United States. Chronic diseases and conditions—such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and arthritis—are among the most common, costly, and preventable of all health problems.” We want to focus on “…and preventable of all health problems.” We designed the Self Care Awakening to give you the knowledge and the tools to help prevent chronic disease. Nikken has developed the concept, the products and technologies for a Wellness Home that provides the means for simple healthy choices. Self Care and the Wellness Home provides an integrated approach to being healthy by choice. It is our sincere hope that you appreciate and put into practice self care principles. If you have an interest in being part of our growing Team, get in touch with the person that shared this message with you and find out how through collaboration we can create a healthier, happier world.

Please note, there will be no Impetus next week as we will be traveling to collaborate with many our Team and fellow Self Care Advocates.

BE HEALTHY BY CHOICE, NOT BY CHANCE. 

The ABC’s of Self Care R & S

The ABC’s of Self Care R & S

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“Your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for the answer. ”

— William S Burroughs

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This week we are fortunate to talk about two facets of Self Care and the Nikken Wellness Home that pair perfectly with each other, Rest and Relaxation (R & R) and Sleep.

REST AND RELAXATION

Maintaining good health depends on quality, satisfying rest and easing discomfort in safe and natural ways. Relaxation, comfort and good sleep do more than make us feel good. They're vitally important in helping our body repair itself, resetting mental processes and restoring our energy after each day's challenges. 

Relaxation is the act of relaxing and can be defined as the release of tension and the refreshment of the mind or body. Relaxation differs from rest, in that relaxation is our mind’s way of rejuvenating, and can assist in reducing the arousal we experience from stress and/or anxiety. While rest occurs while we are asleep, relaxation happens while we are awake. Relaxing has been shown to improve mood and cognitive functioning, such as decision making and memory, and lowers the risk for depression, anxiety, and other heart-related issues. When we relax, we boost our immunity and can curb our desire for sugary fatty treats. Relaxation also improves our ability to cope with adversity and helps to improve our quality of sleep.

Rest and relaxation work hand in hand however, one is not mutually exclusive from the other. It is important that we invest time in both rest and relaxation, to optimize our mental and physical health. Make sleep and down-time a priority, particularly when you have had a stressful day both mentally and physically. Listen to your body and take time out for yourself. Remember, to give your best, you must be at your best. If you do not look after yourself, who is going to do that for you, this is the fundamental principle of Self Care, so make R&R part of your daily Self Care Awakening.

The Nikken Wellness Home offers innovative technologies and products that promote relaxation, performance and rejuvenation to combat effects of discomfort, fatigue and stress, while providing support that everyone needs, every day. Nikken products combine advanced technologies and physical principles based on natural energies to enhance rest and relaxation.

Here are just a few of our favorite Wellness Home products that fall in to the Rest and Relaxation category.

Kenko mStrides®

Nikken introduced the original Magsteps® in 1975 — the company’s first product. When your feet hurt, your whole body knows it. But you can be relaxed and comfortable even if you’re on your feet all day, thanks to Nikken insoles. A major step forward in design and engineering, mStrides feature patented DynaFlux® Magnetic Technology and exceptional comfort. Patented DynaFlux provides 100% coverage and intensifies the magnetic field for greater tissue depth. With mStrides in place, walking creates a dynamic energy flow — in effect, a magnetic field generator inside your shoes. The mStrides surface is long-wearing, does not absorb moisture or odor and is ventilated to stay cool. These are the most advanced and durable insoles in the world.

KenkoTouch®

Massage is an effective way to ease aching muscles. A deep-tissue massage can help loosen tight muscles, ease discomfort and relieve stress. A good massage can produce positive results even for those who enjoy excellent health. The KenkoTouch® is a unique, advanced system that gives you a heightened magnetic massage experience. 

Kenko MagDuo®

Compact, portable and a quick, effective means to have a relaxing massage experience. This advanced pair of massaging spheres can help you feel relaxed and reenergized, in minutes! Heather and I both have them in our vehicles and at home. One resides in my golf bag and one in Heathers gym bag too.

Kenko MagFlex®

This lower-back pad has contoured edges, flexibility and cool ventilation for all-day comfort. Plus, it’s the only lower-back support product with patented DynaFlux® Magnetic Technology. This is a very versatile product that can have many uses for relief of discomfort.

Simple, effective and easy to use, these are staples in our Wellness Home for relaxation.

SLEEP

Sleep is the single activity that we spend the most time doing in our lifetimes. We spend one-third of our lives asleep and for good reason. In our fast paced, highly productive lives, we often sacrifice sleep for other activities. This is due in part to this perception of sleep as a non-productive endeavor, when from a physiological and health standpoint it is the most productive time of our day

William C. Dement, M.D., Ph.D., Stanford University, is one of the world's leading authorities on sleep. He is sometimes referred to as the father of sleep medicine. To quote Dr. Dement, “Healthy sleep has been empirically proven to be the most single important determinant on predicting longevity, more important than diet, exercise and heredity.” Matthew Walker, a professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California, Berkeley agrees, "I used to suggest that sleep is the third pillar of good health, along with diet and exercise, but I don't agree with that anymore. Sleep is the single most effective thing you can do to reset your brain and body for health." 

Sleep is not only about how many hours we sleep, but more importantly about quality of sleep that we are receiving. A significant component of sleep quality is dependent on our sleep environment. For that reason, the foundation of the Nikken Wellness Home and our personal choice, is the Nikken Kenko Sleep System. It uses natural materials and simple principles to create Adaptive Sleep Technology. This includes, self-regulating temperature control, advanced magnetic technology and passive massage to provide a natural, relaxing sleep environment to for a deep restful, rejuvenating sleep

Nikken Kenko Sleep products are made in the USA. 

Regular sleep on a Kenko Sleep System can contribute to improved learning ability and decision-making abilities, improved memory, alertness and increased mental acuity. Quality sleep supports physical health including improved immune system function, better ability to resist premature aging, increased ability to resist stress, and better-regulated hormone production that can help prevent weight gain or obesity. 

Sleep Matters and getting enough sleep is one way that we all can be healthier, more productive and happier. Sleep is a vital component of every Wellness Home. Get at least 7.5 to 9 hours of quality sleep per night with the Nikken Kenko Sleep System and take time for relaxation daily to BE HEALTHY BY CHOICE, NOT BY CHANCE. 

The ABC's of Self Care Q

“Our job is improving the quality of life, not just delaying death.”

— Robin Williams

The ABC’s of Self Care Q

For the letter Q let’s talk about Quality of life.

I think it’s safe to say that quality of life is important to everyone. Although the term “quality of life” has meaning for nearly everyone and every academic discipline, individuals and groups can define it differently. What makes it challenging to measure or quantify, is that quality of life is a multidimensional concept that usually includes physical, mental, and social domains. These are usually qualitative or subjective evaluations of both positive and negative aspects of life. Although health is one of the important aspects of overall quality of life, there are other domains such as jobs, housing, schools, the neighborhood and finances. Aspects of culture, values, and spirituality are also key components of overall quality of life that add to the complexity of its measurement and assessment. In the context of self care we all can and should be the guardians of our own quality of life and what that means to us.

The pressures of daily living, busy schedules, demands of work, inadequate family or personal time, not enough rest, health and financial challenges can lead to a life thrown out of balance and can disturb our quality of life.

Balance is the key. Just as our bodies strive for physiological homeostasis, we must balance all the areas of our lives. Over 43 years ago, Nikken’s founder, Isamu Masuda, recognized this imbalance. He felt that total happiness and wellness depended on living a life in balance in five key areas, what he named the 5 Pillars of Health® — Healthy Body, Mind, Family, Society and Finances.  Leading a balanced life strengthens each of these pillars, and results in a more satisfying, healthy and rewarding lifestyle.

Nikken offers the means to attain this balance, through the Nikken Wellness Home and the Nikken business opportunity. We believe the way to fulfill our mission of a life in balance is through duplication of Wellness Homes. The awesome thing about a Wellness Home is that any home can be a Wellness Home, by utilizing Nikken products and technologies to make your home the healthiest environment possible for you and your family. Our motto is “Every home a Wellness Home”. 

Healthy Body

We often say in the Self Care Awakening, we cannot put a price on our health. It is our most precious asset. The concept behind the Nikken Wellness Home is to provide our bodies with the tools it needs to be healthy while making healthy choices easy. Clean air; pure energized alkaline water; organic whole food nutrition; deep, regenerative sleep, and organic personal use and skin care products are all part of the Nikken Wellness Home. Nikken’s leading-edge products and technologies have been the cornerstone for providing thousands of people with great physical health. Think of a seedling being grown in a green house where just the right amount of sunlight, moisture, nutrients and protection from the elements allows it to flourish into a lush, green plant. Creating a Wellness Home provides us with an optimal environment that nourishes, protects and energizes us in much the same way. With any category of Nikken products, you begin the process of assisting people with building their Wellness Homes. The Wellness Home concept is universal: everyone needs to sleep well, drink beneficial water and consume healthy nutrition to live a Life in Balance.

Healthy Mind

Our minds are remarkable! What we think determines our success. Many people suffer ‘lack’ versus ‘prosperity’ due to their thinking. When we are in balance, our mind is open to enjoy all the blessings of abundance. Freedom from health and financial stress is a goal that we all can achieve for a greater quality of life.

Healthy Family

In addition to the benefits that a Wellness Home can have for the physical health of a family and its members is the time freedom that a Nikken business allows for a healthy family. One of the crucial components to the success of a healthy family is creating work/life balance. In today’s fast paced environment, it very difficult to maintain the work/life balance that we all desire. Too often people work well past their office hours or skip lunch in order to meet tight deadlines. People are becoming over stressed, over worked, and over tired, which can lead not only to health problems, but also directly affect your home life.

This was always a challenge for me in my previous career and unfortunately work was usually the priority. My profession involved a tremendous amount of travel. I had developed a thriving business that I loved, but it took an awakening for me to see how it was affecting me and my family. I came to an epiphany one day while on a telephone call my wife was giving me the play by play of my son’s little league game over the phone. I didn’t want to miss ball games, by gosh I wanted to be the coach. Although I loved my business it appeared that it did not love me back. Not until I fully understood the 5 Pillars of Health and the importance of maintaining a balance in all five areas did I put a plan into action that utilized the Nikken business opportunity to create more time freedom for my family. Oh, and by the way, I coached baseball for the next 10 years. You can’t put a price on that.

Healthy Society

Have you ever done something for someone, great or small, and felt even better than the person on the receiving end? Giving back to society is vital for living a meaningful and fulfilling life. When we see ourselves as “more”, we can be “more” to others in society. Nikken’s Humans Being More workshops offer fabulous opportunities to improve yourself, thereby allowing you to give more of yourself to others in need.

Healthy Finances

Finances are a major vital component of the Wellness Home. When the finances are affected, then everything is affected. Many people work around the clock often at the expense their family time and their health. They spend most of their lives working, usually too hard and for too many hours, just to make more money. In today’s world, it is very rare to achieve financial security by working for someone else.

Compare that to Nikken, where you have complete flexibility and unlimited opportunity. Earn extra money part-time or develop a new career or an encore career. Build your business and create a steady source of income. We provide the tools, support, the leadership from experienced professionals.

When you create a Wellness Home and teach others to do the same, you generate a healthy lifestyle that provides you with a source of revenue. Spread the word. Educate your Consultants on how to grow their Nikken businesses by building their Wellness Homes as well as by creating repetitive orders for clients who are similarly learning to build their own Wellness Homes. It’s a continual cycle of health and prosperity. As an Independent Nikken Consultant, you can have the freedom to live as you wish. To earn as much as you deserve and to make a difference in the world, helping others.

Humans Being More

The Nikken mission is both simple and inspirational—to help people discover an Active Wellness Lifestyle. We provide the means with The 5 Pillars of Health®. Since 1975, Nikken has provided the innovative products and income opportunity to live a life in balance and to share the message of every home a Wellness Home. Our action plan and easy-to-understand compensation plan create infinite possibilities of building a better future for everyone. It all begins with you and your commitment to the 5 Pillars of Health®.

Have a very happy and healthy 4th of July. We will see you all the following week for our next installment for the ABC’s of Self Care.

Be Healthy by Choice, not by Chance

The ABC's of Self Care P

This is the core of what we do. 

The ABC’s of Self Care P

There are several choices for the letter P as it applies to Self Care and the Nikken Wellness Home. We could talk about our impactful Active Wellness products. We could discuss the importance of prevention or we could write about the environmental toxicity and the Pollution in People, just to name a few. However, let’s take this opportunity to talk about People, Planet and Profit and how they relate to the Nikken Wellness Home and Self Care.

People are what we are all about. Whether it’s showing them how to be Healthy by Choice or how to truly live a life in balance. We have written before about Nikken’s philosophy of the 5 Pillars of Health®.

• Healthy Body
• Healthy Mind
• Healthy Family
• Healthy Society
• And Heathy Finances

These are interrelated aspects of our lives that can positively or negatively affect each other pillar. Let’s use two examples, if we are experiencing physical health challenges does this affect our mind, our family, our society and our finances? All these areas would be impacted and given the severity of the challenge it could lead to financial ruin. A recent Harvard University study showed that medical expenses account for approximately 62 percent of personal bankruptcies in the United States. The study also reported that over 75 percent of those who filed for bankruptcy due to medical expenses had some type of health insurance, thus discrediting the myth that only the uninsured face financial catastrophes due to medical-related expenses. If our finances are out of balance, what are the resulting effects on the other pillars? We talk to people daily about this problem and the resulting stresses it causes on our physical, emotional health and relationships.  Finances are a major vital element in the Wellness Home. When the finances are affected, then everything is affected. Many people work around the clock only to jeopardize their family time and their health. They spend most of their lives working, usually too hard and for too many hours, just to make more money. 

The Five Pillars are foundation of everything we do and for over 43 years Nikken has provided a means for anyone to live a life in balance. For 20 years, I have advocated for Nikken and this philosophy. When I was first introduced to Nikken the Five Pillar philosophy was foremost in my decision to get involved. We have incredible products, cutting edge technologies and a fun and rewarding marketing plan, but they all are braced on these Five Pillars.  It is our foundation where People come first. Ours is a relationship business and collaboration are key to our success. As any good teacher, the goal is to inform, inspire and empower your partners to be more proficient than yourself. We call this Collaborative Entrepreneurship. Team work is the core of our people focused business, where it truly embodies “Together Everyone Achieves More.”

Our purpose to create healthier lives by making every home a Wellness Home. Imagine the communal, societal and global health ramifications of helping everyone be Healthy by Choice. Chronic diseases are the number one killer in the world. Preventing them or improving their condition is a major focus of Self Care and the Wellness Home. Our health choices are our own responsibility and the Wellness Home provides an easy, affordable and effective way to be healthy by choice for people.

The health of our Planet is another area that should be of concern for everyone. Nikken is committed to reducing pollution and providing solutions to many of our environmental issues. Many of the suppliers Nikken partners with use sustainable energy sources in their manufacturing processes such as wind or solar power. For example, the partner who supplies our vegan certified Kenzen® Omega Green + DHA, (one of the subjects of last week’s Impetus) uses 100% wind power in their manufacturing processes.

Our PiMag Waterfall and Sport Bottle not only provide us with healthy water choices but are made with biodegradable polymers to reduce pollution from plastic water bottles. The effect of plastic bottles on our environment has been documented and although we have an awareness of the problem it is getting worse not better. There are over 100 million plastic bottles used each day globally and nearly 80% of these ends up in our landfills. This means that only 20% are recycled. Approximately 1500 bottles end up in landfills and the ocean every second accounting for 2 million tons of plastic bottles that are landfilled each year.

The PiMag Waterfall and Sport Bottle are environmentally responsible. They reduce the number of discarded, disposable water bottles that become trash in landfills and oceans. This also decreases consumption of fossil fuels used in manufacturing those bottles. PiMag water products are made with recyclable and biodegradable materials, including a polymer that does not leach chemicals into water as most plastics will. The ratio of water filtered for healthy water for the Waterfall and Sport Bottle is one to one. Other filtration methods used in homes or for bottled water can be as five gallons to get one gallon of filtered water.

Nikken’s True Elements skin and hair care products use natural, sustainable sources and are certified organic by EcoCert. The seaweed species in True Elements are harvested off the coast of Brittany in northwest France, and the harvesting method ensures that the seaweed yields are sustainable. 
These skin care preparations are natural, organic, and free from parabens, GMOs, mineral oils, phthalates, phenoxyethanol, PEG, EDTA, synthetic colorings and fragrances. These as well as many of our other products come packaged in recyclable materials.

Nikken Wellness Nutritional support products also use sustainable products in their sourcing and manufacturing.  Nikken believes that the best way to take care of your nutritional needs, is the natural way. So, they created the first complete program based on organic ingredients. These can fill the nutritional gaps in your daily diet, to help you "eat right," even when your meals may fall short of the mark. Organic-Based Nutrition means that all ingredients are carefully chosen, and the organic content is maximized.  Nikken Kenzen® Wellness nutrition was founded on a whole-food philosophy. These organic-based solutions bring your daily diet even closer to nature.

The Self Care Awakening is a global movement to empower people all over our planet to be Healthy by Choice. Imagine solutions to prevent and improve chronic conditions rather than treating and managing them at considerable expense. The Ben Franklin adage that comes to mind, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Although Ben wrote this referring to fire prevention it is often used in the health care arena. In this instance, I would substitute the word cure with treatment. Treating preventable disease is fast becoming our largest expense across the globe.

The Wellness Home creates opportunity for Profit.

Since 1975, Nikken has provided the innovative products and income opportunity to live a life in balance and to share the message of every home a Wellness Home. Our action strategy and easy-to-understand compensation plan creates infinite possibilities of building a better future for everyone. It all begins with you and your commitment to the 5 Pillars of Health®.

The Wellness Home provides us with an opportunity to make simple, easy choices to be healthy, while at the same time providing a steady income source for healthy finances. People love our products and people buy our products. They are priced to sell and priced for Profit. Nikken maintains and prides itself on a strategy of providing the best quality product at a reasonable price competitive in any of the markets of our product line.

The Wellness Home is the cash flow engine of the business. It has a beginning but has no end. Nikken introduces new products or updates Wellness Home products with new technology on a continual basis. It’s transformational Active Wellness products and technologies and the concept of the Wellness Home are natural to share with others. The Wellness Home and Nikken Active Wellness products and technologies provide an integrated approach and one-stop shopping for Self Care.

Self Care needs to replace the existing Health Care System and is the answer to our Health Care Crisis on a global scale. We are a passionate team dedicated to accomplishing this goal by making every home a Wellness Home. We welcome new Self Care Advocates as Independent Nikken Consultants with enthusiasm, support and collaboration. We are dedicated to People, our Planet and Profit. If you are interested in becoming an Independent Nikken Consultant contact the person that referred, you to this blog or click the “let’s work together” link.

Next week we will talk about the letter Q, we need to think a bit about that one?

Be Healthy by Choice, not by Chance

The ABC’s of Self Care O

“Your big opportunity may be right where you are now.”

— Napoleon Hill

The ABC’s of Self Care O

There are a number of choices for the letter O as it applies to Self Care and the Wellness Home and I am having a difficult time in choosing just one. So, let’s talk about Omega 3’s and Opportunity.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

It is vital for everyone to eat foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids on a daily basis. Omega fatty acids support healthy heart, brain, nerve and eye function and are used in the formation of cell membranes and assist in improving circulation and oxygen uptake

One of the most well-known benefits of omega-3s are the way they positively affect risk factors associated with heart disease. The American Heart Association is very clear about encouraging people to get enough in their diets. Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death worldwide, but in many communities that eat diets rich in fish they have remarkably low instances of these diseases, which appears partially due to their high omega-3 consumption.

The three omega-3s found in food are ALA, EPA and DHA.

Alpha-linolenic Acid (ALA): This plant-based omega-3 is found in green, leafy vegetables, flaxseeds, chia seeds and canola, walnut and soybean oils. 

Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA): EPA is a fatty acid found in oily fish, algae oil and krill oil. Your body can synthesize this molecule in its original form. This, along with DHA, are the omega-3s your body needs in high quantities to achieve the benefits they offer.

Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA): This fatty acid is also found in oily fish, krill oil and algae oil.

The human body converts ALA to EPA and DHA. Because the human body can create EPA and DHA in this way, they are not considered essential fatty acids. On the other hand, ALA cannot be produced by the human body and is considered an essential fatty acid that needs to be obtained from the diet. 

There are many omega supplements on the market, but the drawback with typical omega supplements is that they are derived from fish oils. The major precaution when introducing more omega-3s into your diet generally comes from the byproducts found in some seafood. Toxic materials such as mercury and other industrial chemicals are increasingly being reported in various species that are used for omega 3’s. In addition, harvesting fish for their omega-rich oils is not environmentally sound or sustainable. The required processing also results in oxidation, which diminishes the amount of omega acids available and can accelerate the degeneration of the product.

Kenzen® Omega Green + DHA

Our Wellness Home choice for omega 3 is Nikken Kenzen® Omega Green + DHA™. This is a vegetable-derived supplement with none of the drawbacks posed by other products. In contrast, the source material for Kenzen® Omega Green + DHA™, cranberry seed oil, flax seed oil and red algae, is easily sustainable. Obtaining omega fatty acids from these plants does not produce the oxidation that occurs with piscine oils. This enhances stability. *

Cranberry seed oil contains naturally occurring substances called phytosterols that structurally resemble the human body’s cholesterol. Phytosterols reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) but do not affect HDL (good cholesterol). Eating foods with phytosterols may cut the risk for heart disease when consumed as part of a healthy eating plan, according to the Cleveland Clinic. 1 Cranberry seed oil is considered unique among fixed oils because it contains a very high essential fatty acid profile in addition to a high antioxidant load. 2

Flax seed oil contains ALA and has been advocated to combat cardiovascular disease. The use of flax seed oil as a nutritional intervention for the prevention of heart disease has received increasing amounts of research attention. 3

Red algae have been used for thousands of years as a food source. It is high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are easily utilized to help boost the immune system and nourish skin.  The main benefits of red algae are its ability to promote healthy circulation in the body, to help regulate blood sugar levels and to help lower bad cholesterol levels. High in dietary fiber, it is also a rich source of calcium and magnesium, to contribute to bone health.4

Consuming Kenzen® Omega Green+DHA gives all the benefits of an omega supplement and none of the risks. It helps carnivores, vegetarians and vegans to obtain the right balance of omega-3, omega-6 and omega-9 without the risk associated with fish oil toxins.

The Wellness Home creates Opportunity

Since 1975, Nikken has provided the innovative products and income opportunity to live a life in balance and to share the message of every home a Wellness Home. Our action strategy and easy-to-understand compensation plan creates infinite possibilities of building a better future for everyone. It all begins with you and your commitment to the 5 Pillars of Health.

Healthy Body

Healthy Mind

Healthy Family

Healthy Society

And Heathy Finances

The Wellness Home provides us with an opportunity to make simple, easy choices to be healthy, while at the same time providing a steady income source for healthy finances. For over 20 years the Nikken business has provided additional income for me and my family. This initially was a part-time endeavor to provide additional income to create time freedom to spend with my children. Over time, my business has transformed into a rewarding encore career. The terrific part of this business is that my activities are spent informing, inspiring and empowering anyone to be Healthy by Choice and at the same time be Wealthy by Choice.

The Wellness Home is the cash flow engine of the business. It has a beginning but has no end. People love our products and people buy our products. Nikken introduces new products or updates Wellness Home products with new technology on a continual basis. Often, many of my customers inquire about the business after being introduced to Self Care and the Wellness Home. It’s transformational “Active Wellness” products and technologies are natural to share with others.

Financial stress is of concern to many people. The recent boom in part-time work from home businesses has led to what is called the “Gig Economy”. Uber, Lyft, Airbnb, Direct Selling and Network Marketing are arenas where many people are engaging.  It is estimated that an extra $500 a month would positively impact the financial stability of many people and families. If this of interest to you, my advice is to find something that is rewarding, has results and is something that you are passionate about.

Self Care needs to replace the existing Health Care System and is the answer to our Health Care Crisis. We are a passionate team dedicated to accomplishing this goal by making every home a Wellness Home. We welcome new Self Care Advocates as Independent Nikken Consultants with enthusiasm, support and collaboration. We are dedicated to People, our Planet and Profit. If you are interested in becoming an Independent Nikken Consultant contact the person that referred, you to this blog or click the “let’s work together” link.

Next week we will talk about the letter P, maybe I just set the stage?

Be Healthy by Choice, not by Chance.

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

1          http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/benefits-cranberry-seed-oil-10043.html

2         http://www.ingredientstodiefor.com/item/Cranberry_Seed_Oil_Unrefined/1164

3         https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2989356/

4         http://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-health/the-many-benefits-of-red-algae

The ABC's of Self Care: N = Nutrition

N = Nutrition and the Nikken Wellness Home

This week we have reached the letter N in our series on the ABC’s of Self Care. So, we thought that we would talk about Nutrition. Let’s discuss how the Wellness Home provides choices for healthy nutrition.

One of the main principles and advantages of a Nikken Wellness Home is that it makes healthy choices easy on a day to day basis, so we can all Be Healthy by Choice. If you breath, sleep, drink, bathe and eat the Wellness Home and its products and technologies will benefit your health. Get a great night’s sleep on the sleep system, stay hydrated with healthy water, bathe in chemical free water, breath healthy air, use natural products increase energy and performance.

Making healthy food choices is a challenge for many of us. Think about it, one of the most important decisions we make every day is what we eat and drink. It is everyone’s Choice to eat Healthy or not. We have previously discussed the importance of limiting sugar consumption and the Wellness Home products that help us accomplish that goal. Heather and I try to include as much whole foods, while eliminating processed foods in our Wellness Home. Most of our fresh fruits and veggies come from our local farmers market and we do enjoy our home-grown tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, green beans and indoor herb garden. Harvesting will commence shortly, mmm.

One way that we help ourselves and our family to make healthier food choices is by incorporating the Nikken Wellness nutritional products into our every day lives. Heather is very creative and has been using many of our Nikken nutritional products in recipes for healthier choices. To that end here our some of our favorite recipes.

I’ll start with one of my favorite summer beverages.

We call it G$ (Gee Money) Ice Tea.

It is like an Arnold Palmer (ice tea and lemonade) except I use unsweetened sun tea that I make in a glass bottle and add one ounce of Kenzen Super Ciaga® to a large glass of sun tea. Super Ciaga® is an organic mixed superfruit juice concentrate made exclusively with organic fruit content. This advanced formula is made with a select group of superfruits chosen for their nutrient and antioxidant characteristics. Highly concentrated, it has an exceptional ORAC value. This is a refreshing beverage and provides great anti-oxidant health benefits.

G$ Ice Tea

Here are a few of Heather’s recipes for healthy drinks and snacks.

Let's start with another delicious beverage that is going to help you avoid the coffee shop line and the added sugars but will give you a natural, extra kick to avoid that 3pm slump. 

The Matcha Green Tea 10-4 Frappuccino

Kenzen Ten4 (10-4) is made with USDA certified organic ingredients, contains no sugar and is only 8 calories per serving. Matcha green tea is known as “nature’s own energy drink” while New Zealand kiwi is the most nutrient-dense of the superfruits. Combined with brown rice solids and Stevia leaf extract Kenzen Ten4 Helps burn calories, boost metabolism and support mental alertness.

Combine ice and your favorite milk (dairy, almond, coconut, soy) with 1 packet of Kenzen Ten4 in a blender and blend until ice is gone and the milk is frothy. Perfect for relaxing on your back deck or running errands. Ahhhh. 

Non-GMO, gluten-free and vegan.

Now a quick delicious, nutritious snack.

Balance Balls

Kenzen Vital Balance is a crucial component of the Nikken Wellness Home. Our protein shake contains organic moringa and naturally sweet monk fruit in addition to organic pea protein and organic vegetables. It is designed to help burn fat and boost metabolism as well as promote healthy brain function and the elimination of toxins in the body. With pre- and probiotics to assist in digestive and immune system activity, the Kenzen Vital Balance formula is food for action and food for thought—for people of all ages. 
 

• 2 scoops of Kenzen Vital Balance
• 1 cup of your favorite nut butter
• 1/2 cup of rolled oats
• 1/4 cup of honey
• 1 Tbsp chia seeds
• 1/2 cup of Water
• Dried Cherries

Combine ingredients in a large mixing bowl adding enough water until ingredients mix smoothly but are not wet.  Shape the mixture into bite sized balls and place on a plate. Refrigerate until firm. Then enjoy!

Certified Kosher, Non- GMO, Vegan, Low in fat, no added salt, sugar, artificial colorings, artificial flavors or preservatives.

 

The Wellness Home provides easy choices to be Healthy by Choice. Heather and I have discussed a new section for the Impetus the “Wellness Home Cook Book”. We would be happy to feature any of our readers recipes for healthy eating if you would like to submit them to us.

Next week we will talk about the letter O, any guess as to what the topic might be?

Be Healthy by Choice, not by Chance and let’s make every home a Wellness Home.

The ABCs of Self Care: M, Magnetic Energy

““... healing comes from nature, not the physician...””

— Paracelsus

The ABC’s of Self Care M

This week we are concerned with the letter M for our series the ABC’s of Self Care, so let’s talk about Magnetic Energy.

The Earth's natural electromagnetic field is one of the fundamental forces of nature and is essential for life. Heather and I have been enjoying the recent National Geographic series, “One Strange Rock” #OneStrangeRock.  We have been reminded multiple times in the series that it is the earth’s magnetic field that enables our planet to support life as we know it.  The Earth's magnetic field shields us from deadly cosmic radiation. The motion of liquid iron in the planet's outer core, a phenomenon called a "geodynamo," generates the field. But how it was first created and then sustained throughout Earth's history has remained a mystery to scientists.

Basically, we live on a big magnet. Not only does this energy provide protection for our planet but also provides a natural energy and an environment for us to be healthy. In their book “Earthing, the most important health discovery ever?”, authors Clinton Ober, Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D. and Martin Zucker describe how our current living conditions have reduced the vital energy of the earth to our bodies and the resultant chronic issues that ensue from being disconnected from the power and energy of the Earth.

The use of magnets for health can be traced back as far as the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and Chinese. Pliny, a Roman naturalist, used magnets to rectify eye problems, female disorders and wounds. Documentation tells us that Chinese doctors believed in the therapeutic value of magnets at least 2,000 years ago, and perhaps earlier than that. In sixteenth century Europe, Paracelsus, used magnets for many different conditions, claiming that “…the magnet is king of all secrets and that the art of healing comes from nature, not from the physician. Therefore, the physician must start from nature, with an open mind.” Two centuries later, German physician Franz Mesmer became famous for using magnets for various disorders.

In the middle decades of the twentieth century, scientists in various parts of the world began performing studies on the therapeutic use of magnets. From the 1940s on, magnets became increasingly popular in Japan. Yoshio Manaka, one of the influential Japanese acupuncturists of the twentieth century, used magnets in conjunction with acupuncture. Magnet therapy also became a commonly used technique of self-administered medicine in Japan. For example, a type of plaster containing a small magnet became popular for treating a variety of discomforts. Magnetic mattress pads, bracelets, and necklaces also became common. It is estimated that one in seven people in Japan use some form of magnetic products for health.

North American interest in magnetic energy for health was inspired by NASA’s space program. NASA recognized the importance of electromagnetic fields to biological organisms when astronauts in optimal health became ill traveling in outer space. Beyond the outermost layer of the atmosphere (ionosphere), the astronauts’ bodies were no longer immersed in the geomagnetic fields of the planet. Withdrawn from the influence of these fields, their health declined (poor sleep, fatigue, weakness, rapid bone loss, etc.), but was restored when administered artificially generated magnetic fields that emitted the necessary planetary frequencies. Magnetic field generators installed in NASA’s spacecraft alleviated many of these health problems in orbit.

During the 1970s, magnets became popular among athletes in many countries for improving performance, rejuvenation and alleviating sports-related injuries.

In 1975, the Japanese company, Nikken, developed a magnetic insole and ensuing products that has resulted in its prominence in the field of supporting our health. Nikken magnetic products are designed to be natural, easy to use, for more energy, rest, rejuvenation and recovery.

Nikken magnetic technologies have been developed for over 40 years to provide a carefully designed, supportive environment. Nikken’s magnetic products are designed to fit easily into our normal day-to-day lives. This can be in the form of our Sleep System or special magnetic insoles, seats, jewelry and massage products that can be used conveniently throughout the day. This is one technology that we frequently utilize in the Wellness Home. I have personally benefited from these products for over 20 years and have met and know thousands of others that have incorporated them into their daily self care routines. 

It’s generally safe for most people to wear and use low-intensity static magnets. However, if you use an electronic medical device such as a pacemaker, have a magnetically sensitive surgical implant, are in the first trimester of pregnancy or have health problems, consult a physician before using magnetic products.

Magnetic energy is just one of the technologies that are utilized in the Wellness Home to provide simple, easy to use, natural ways of being Heathy by Choice.

Please note, that Heather and I will be taking a break next week from the Impetus in honor of Memorial Day and tribute to the many men and women that have paid the ultimate sacrifice in enabling and preserving our freedom and liberty. We wish you all a good Memorial Day Weekend.

Be Healthy by Choice, not by Chance

ABC’s of Self Care K & L

““Our bodies are our gardens - our wills are our gardeners. ”

— W. Shakespear

 

The ABC’s of Self Care K & L

In our continuing series the ABC’s of Self Care, this week we are concerned with the letters K and L.

K is a very important letter for Nikken and the Wellness Home, so let’s let the letter K represent a few terms that we frequently use in describing our products, business and philosophy, Kenko, Kaizen and Kenzen.

Nikken originated in Japan over 43 years ago. Fittingly, many of our products use the word Kenko in their description as kenko is the Japanese word for health. Meaning a healthy product or choice and very appropriate to our mission of the Self Care Awakening to empower anyone to be Healthy by Choice. It is used in our sleep system products, magnetic products and support wraps. A quick stroll through our Wellness Home will reveal many of these products that enable us to make healthy choices daily.  

Kaizen means improvement. The Japanese word kaizen simply means "change for better", with inherent meaning of either "continuous" or "philosophy". The word "kaizen" in English is typically applied to measures for implementing continuous improvement, especially those with a "Japanese philosophy".

Kaizen is also defined as a “continuous improvement through positive change.” This term in the context of our health can be interpreted to mean a progressive improvement in our state of health. Our bodies are amazing, and we are continually replacing old cells with new cells. The Wellness Home is designed to give our bodies the tools it needs to be healthy. The Wellness Home itself is always under remodeling. New products, technologies and natural solutions for Being Healthy by Choice are continually being added or upgraded for continuous improvement through positive change, Kaizen.

Since 1975, Nikken’s philosophy has been and still is, to be truly healthy one must live a life in balance based on Five Pillars of Health, Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, Healthy Family, Healthy Society and Healthy Finances. Our business is about sharing the benefits of a Wellness Home and our motto of “Every home a Wellness Home” exemplifies the meaning of continuous improvement in all areas of the Five Pillars of Health. 

Kenzen is another Japanese word that describes health, soundness, or wholesome. Many of Nikken’s nutritional supplements in the Wellness Home are described as kenzen, a healthy choice. A good example is Kenzen® Lactoferrin 2.0™.

So, for the letter L, let’s talk about Lactoferrin.

L- Lactoferrin is a protein present in milk and other bodily secretions whose main biological function is to bind and transport iron. Iron is essential for overall health and is considered the number one micronutrient deficiency by the World Health Organization. It’s also one of the most problematic to supplement because in many instances, iron can irritate the intestines. Iron deficiency can result in anemia, fatigue and poor circulation, as well as many other physical discomforts. Thirty-nine (39%) of consumers are adding iron supplements to their daily diets.

The Wellness Home solution is Kenzen® Lactoferrin 2.0™. Lactose-free, gluten-free and GMO-free, our advanced lactoferrin formula provides a delivery system to support better utilization and balance of iron in the body. * Lactoferrin 2.0 is naturally iron-binding, which studies have shown to have a positive effect on iron absorption, blood iron levels and digestive issues. *

Lactoferrin 2.0 also supports gastro-intestinal health. Lactoferrin has a unique affinity to iron, allowing it to bind to the nutrient. Interestingly, numerous strains of pathogens need an iron-rich environment to reproduce. Lactoferrin limits the availability of iron to bacteria in the intestines, allowing only beneficial bacteria to thrive.  Lactoferrin is present in other bodily fluids, including tears, nasal secretions, saliva, bronchial mucus, gastrointestinal juices, vaginal mucus, and semen. At first glance, these secretions may seem unrelated, but they share one important similarity, they are consistently exposed to potentially harmful microbes.

Nikken’s Lactoferrin 2.0 formulation also contains organic Inulin, organic Ginger, organic Turmeric and organic Rhodiola, a combination that works together with Lactoferrin to produce antioxidant effects and anti-inflammatory properties that support overall health. *

Kenzen® Lactoferrin 2.0™ is a gentle way for more than 35% of woman looking for alternative sources to boost their iron, whether to improve their overall health or to supplement for specific health needs like menopause, pregnancy or menstruation. For the 56% of male and female athletes with iron deficiencies, Lactoferrin 2.0 is an excellent iron-balancing solution for increasing endurance and accelerating post-exercise muscle recovery.

We hope you are enjoying the ABC’s of Self Care and the Wellness Home series. Who can guess what the letters M and N will represent next week?

Until then, Be Healthy by Choice, not by Chance.

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

ABCs of Self Care; H-J

The ABC’s of Self Care H,I & J

Pure water is the world's first and foremost medicine. Slovakian Proverb

H- Yep, for most of you that know me, I’m sure it is no surprise that H is for Hydration. We have previously blogged about the importance of staying hydrated and the consequences of dehydration in the Impetus quite a few times.

Life cannot exist without water! We are water-based beings, comprising about 70% of our body. It is the most important nutrient we consume every day of our lives. Humans can live up to 40 days without food but can die in three days without water.

Water is not just a beverage choice. However, many of us choose just about everything else to drink other than water. Researchers estimate that about 75% of people in the US have a mild chronic dehydration. This can lead to many health issues such as fatigue, joint pain, weight gain, headaches, ulcers and high blood pressure. Chronic dehydration may affect your organs and lead to kidney stones, cholesterol problems, constipation, and liver and muscle damage. What if you could reduce or alleviate these symptoms by just drinking healthy water?

Everyone has heard drink eight 8oz glasses of water a day. This is insufficient in my opinion for proper hydration for most us. A good rule of thumb is to drink half your body weight in ounces per day of water. So, if you weigh 160 pounds, 10 glasses or 80 ounces per day is a good rule to follow. 

As part of our Wellness Home our choice for healthy water is Nikken PiMag water from our Nikken Waterfall. The most efficient and cost-effective way of providing yourself and your family is filtering tap water.

The Nikken PiMag Waterfall® converts tap water into fresh spring-like water. Using a multistage process which filters, alkalizes, mineralizes, ionizes, energizes and oxygenates water. The Waterfall provides great tasting water which is easy to use, affordable and a healthy water choice. Water the way nature intended it.

We shot a couple quick 2 minute videos showcasing the PiMag Waterfall. Take a look : ). 

1. Turn Your Tap Water Into Drinking Water
2. Healthy Enhanced Drinking Water

I- For this letter let’s talk about Immunity and ways that through Self Care and the Wellness Home we can have healthy immune systems.

The purpose of the immune system is to keep infectious microorganisms, such as certain bacteria, viruses, and fungi, out of the body, and to destroy any infectious microorganisms that do invade the body.

Natural Ways to Boost Your Immune System

Get a good night’s sleep

"Sleep’s the only medicine that gives ease.”  Sophocles

One night of poor quality sleep or insufficient sleep can drop your immune efficiency as much as 60%. Sleep deficiency and stress overload increase the hormone cortisol, prolonged elevation of which suppresses immune function.

Sleep is not only about how many hours we sleep, but more importantly about quality of sleep that we are receiving. A significant component of sleep quality is dependent on our sleep environment. For that reason, the foundation of the Nikken Wellness Home and our personal choice, is the Nikken Kenko Sleep System.

Eat medicinal mushrooms

Mushrooms have been employed by herbalists for centuries. Some species have been used as far back as 3,000 BC. More recently, studies have been devoted to the relationship between mushrooms and immune response. *

Part of our Wellness Home includes Kenzen® Immunity. This product is a combination of 14 different mushrooms, including rare varieties not available in conventional mushroom products.
Each is carefully chosen for its specific profile of compounds, each structurally different at the molecular level. It would be almost impossible to include all these various types of mushrooms in a regular diet. Kenzen Immunity combines them to provide a wide-spectrum range of natural biochemicals. In addition, each species is grown under laboratory conditions that optimize its beneficial ingredients.*

Eat more fruits and veggies.

Increase your consumption of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds, which will provide your body with the nutrients your immune system needs. A study in older adults showed that boosting fruit and vegetable intake improved antibody response to the Pneumovax vaccine, which protects against Streptococcus pneumonia.

The Wellness Home provides a number of consumable products just for this reason. Jade GreenZymes® and Kenzen Super Ciaga® are ideal for busy people to provide their bodies with healthy vegetable and fruit consumption in a fast, easy, economical way.

Consider probiotics.

Studies indicate probiotic supplements reduce the incidence of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections.

One serving of Kenzen Vital Balance® provides more probiotics than 10 servings of yogurt and is part of our daily regimen. Prebiotics and probiotics support gastrointestinal and immune system health. * In our Wellness Home, we look forward to starting each day with a delicious shake.

J- We will end this week’s discussion with the letter J for Joint Health.

It is estimated that 1/3rd of Americans suffer joint pain. These can be mild to severe depending on the condition. Many times, this relief can be as simple as drinking more water and staying Hydrated. In other cases, anti-inflammatory medication either prescription or over the counter products are used.

The Wellness Home provides natural solutions in the form of Nikken Magnetic Support products and KenkoTherm® Support Wraps. In our home we routinely use them for joint issues. These are supportive and comforting and can be worn while playing sports or other activities.

One other product I personally use daily is Kenzen® Joint. I frequently refer to this product as WD-40 for joints. I have recommended it to many people and they love this supplement. It is provided in easy to swallow soft-gel capsules with superior bioavailablity for rapid absorption.*

Kenzen® Joint is an advanced formulation that nutritionally supports collagen, bone and connective tissue repair. This formula has a high concentration of cetyl myristoleate and combines this with glucosamine, methylsulfonylmethane and compounds from the boswellia plant, which has long been used in Ayurvedic and other complementary practices. * Cetyl myristoleate possesses natural surfactant and lubricant properties, in support of smooth joint movement.* 

Another staple in our Wellness Home is CM Complex Cream. Whether you're a seasoned athlete or just a weekend warrior, Nikken CM Complex Cream can help soothe the discomfort that comes from living an active life. CM Complex and Kenzen® Joint is endorsed by the estate of Dr. H. W. Diehl, the National Institutes of Health researcher who discovered cetyl myristoleate.

I trust that our readers are getting the message that the Nikken Wellness Home is a multi-faceted solution for many of our requirements to be healthy and a simple solution to many health issues. It’s main focal point is that it makes healthy choices easy on a day to day basis so we can all Be Healthy by Choice.

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

Self Care; Bridging the Generational Gap

The ABC’s of Self Care G

A Nikken Wellness Home is designed to address many health concerns, including environmental toxins, contagions, dehydration, poor sleep quality, weight matters and nutrition. In a practical sense, the Wellness Home creates an environment that enables us to make healthier choices every day.

This week our series on the ABC’s of Self Care continues with G. We need a few single letter blogs to accommodate the 26-letter alphabet. Three a week just doesn’t pencil out.

G- Last week we discussed gastrointestinal health in Digestion, so for G let’s take a little different approach and talk about the benefits of Self Care and the Wellness Home for Generational attitudes concerning health. Just as each generation has its own soundtrack and cultural references, every age group has a different view of what it means to be and stay healthy. 

Baby Boomers

About 76 million people were born during the baby boom years, which range from 1946 to 1964. 

Baby boomers want to live longer even as many are managing chronic ailments. For them, staying healthy means avoiding a health scare like getting cancer or having a heart attack and, most important, getting the most from their life.  

Baby Boomers are very likely to seek health information online. A Google/Nielsen Boomer Survey from August 2012 reported that 78 percent of this age group has searched health information online after seeing something on TV. Their searches focus on treatments, medications, side effects, and risks. They are more trusting of the healthcare system than younger generations but are questioning traditional treatment and management protocols more and more. They are actively searching for products and or technologies that can help them feel better, be healthier and more active. As more and more boomers reach retirement age, there's a generational focus on longevity and delaying the physical and visible effects of aging. They might be more skeptical and questioning, but providing logical, fact-based solutions are accepted readily.

Health appears to be greater priority for boomers today than for previous generations. It’s becoming clear that baby boomers are placing a greater importance on healthier lifestyles. This demographic has seen increased activity in pharmacy visits, and the purchase of vitamins, fitness equipment, and health foods. A survey of affluent boomers (household include 250k+) found that over 80% identified health as a top priority.

It’s sounds almost cliché, but baby boomers are more demanding than other generations. A research study by Colloquy found that among all generations, baby boomers were the most likely to write off a company if they received poor customer service. Boomers are also the most confident of all consumers – with only 12% responding that they prefer having the help of others to make a purchase. This is unlike millennials, who reported a much higher percentage.

Recent studies report that Boomers are less stressed than Gen Xers or Millennials, and despite age-related diseases, they report feeling healthier compared with their younger counterparts. Unfortunately, the next generation of seniors may not be as well off. According to a study released in 2016 by the United Health Foundation, compared with the current senior population when they were middle-aged, the next wave of seniors smokes 50 percent less, yet has a 55 percent higher prevalence of diabetes, a 25 percent higher prevalence of obesity, and a 9 percent lower frequency of very good or excellent health status.

As a boomer, I can attest and endorse the Nikken Wellness Home. I can honestly say, I feel healthier at age 66 than I did at 46. I credit this to the simple self care principles outlined in many of our videos, publications and blogs supported by the products and technologies that constitute our Wellness Home.

I have been a consumer of the product line from Nikken for over 20 years. It has made my Choice to be Healthy a simple and rewarding experience. Sharing self care concepts and choices for others has become a passion to empower anyone to be Healthy by Choice.

Gen-X

Generation X (born in the mid-1960s to the early 1980s) represent nearly 62 million Americans. They are called the first generation of true health care consumers. Caught in the middle, Generation Xers are often considered as health influencers. They are looking after the health of their aging parents as well as their young children, not to mention struggling to eat better, exercise more, and get more sleep themselves.

More than half of Gen X’ers say they follow healthy habits most of the time, almost a third say they struggle with weight, making it their number one health issue.

Gen X’ers are willing to spend now to stay healthy later. They are very open to self care and prevention as opposed to treating and managing health problems. Sixty-nine percent of Gen X women and 60% of men express interest in products to improve their health. More than half of these consumers say they take a supplement to address specific nutritional deficiencies, 59% take supplements for general wellness, and 56% eat functional foods.  Although few say they follow health trends, 28% of Gen X women say they buy natural health products. Interestingly, 66% of Gen X’ers say they participate in self care to improve their wellbeing. This can include anything from finding more time to do the things they enjoy and feel passionate about to indulging in a bubble bath (one of Heather’s favorite leisure time activities). Positioning health care as self care may shift the mindset of these consumers and more actively engage them in the process.

Middle-age is often a wake-up call that results in the adoption of a healthier lifestyle. Marketers who help consumers adapt to the changes they’re experiencing and offer solutions for long-term wellbeing, can engage and inspire the Gen X’ers.

Heather here. I remember at a young age being labeled as Generation X, the “ME generation.” Boomers looked down their noses on what was perceived as a thirst for excess and over indulgence. It is true we weren’t happy with the status quo and wanted more but not just for ourselves, for everyone around us and it is this desire that, in my opinion, lead to 80 hour work weeks instead of 40. We didn’t just not trust the system, we honestly couldn’t spare the time. Instead, I maintained an excessive exercise program to avoid check-ups and doctor visits. This worked great when I was younger.

As an aging Gen Xer I now realize this was a mistake and changes to my routines HAVE to be made. Self Care and the Wellness Home help me maintain my “indulgent” lifestyle but in a different way.

 Self Care and the act of making healthy choices everyday keep my mind, body and my family healthy. The Wellness Home encompasses Self Care and creates a haven of health that includes healthy finances (Gen Xers love this part).

I am proud to be a Gen Xer that gave birth to Millenials and a Gen Z that are so much smarter than me. I am also very thankful for being able to nurture my boomer parents and my children in a Wellness Home. Our goal is to make every home a Wellness Home so that we may all live in a healthy society.

Millennials  

Millennials (born in the early 1980s to the early 2000s), also known as Generation Y, include more than 80 million adults. As the largest generation in the United States, and one whose purchasing power continues to grow, Millennials are having a major and increasing influence on just about every industry out there. Healthcare is no exception.

The mindsets, influencers and habits of Millennials don't align with traditional models of healthcare. Millennials’ distrust of large, old institutions is no secret. Millennials continuously find ways to circumvent traditional dogma and come up with innovative ideas as new solutions. To many millennials, the idea of “health” suggests something institutional and, as a result, untrustworthy. As a substitute, many young people gravitate towards the idea of “wellness,” which combines physical health with a more holistic sense of mental and full-body well-being. There is no health-related industry more distrusted by the millennial generation than “Big Pharma.” Seen as dishonest and greedy, the pharmaceutical industry has been ranked as the least-trusted health information resource by people aged 18-34.

The millennial generation resists following traditional health care rules and considers wellness as equally important as health. Almost half of the generation considers maintaining work/life balance and having strong relationships with friends and family as being a significant part of health and wellness.

Highly attuned to personal lifestyle and curated online lives, millennials want to feel good and look good. Being healthy for them doesn’t just mean “not sick”, it’s a daily, active pursuit. Millennials think digitally, rely heavily on social networks for information, and gravitate toward convenient, self-serve options for health. Compared to older generations, Millennials take a broader view of what affects their health and wellness. Whereas older generations are more likely to consider regular exams important to their health, Millennials are more likely to focus on day-to-day health maintenance choices that they believe will pay off long-term. Millennials are very open to alternatives rather than traditional healthcare and pharmaceutical intervention.

Post-Millennials

Generation Z encompasses children and young adults born from 1996. This generation makes up 25.9% of the United States population, the largest percentage. By 2020, they will account for one-third of the U.S. population, certainly worth paying attention to.

Gen Z’s key health concerns are related to their life stage – getting enough sleep, managing stress, maintaining their grades, building self-esteem, and having time to socialize with family and friends. Stress is often top of mind for these notoriously over-scheduled teens – almost half are treating or preventing anxiety and stress, behind only skin problems and colds/flu, and ahead of weight issues. Exercise is a key stress management technique and is central to how teens manage a variety of health conditions, from weight issues to depression to sleep disorders. They know getting enough sleep is also key to stress management, and many teens take an active role in carving out time to get a good night’s rest. They don’t hesitate to look up or ask their social networks for answers to health and wellness questions. Yet as teens, Gen Z’s are guided and strongly influenced by their parents, many of whom are Gen X, as well as their teachers and coaches at school. 

As more children are born in to Gen Z and as teens in this generation mature, marketers need to remember that Gen Z kids are already highly proactive participants in health and wellness.

One of the major benefits of Self Care and a Wellness Home is what it provides to our children. Some 20 years ago one of my mentors asked, “Imagine our children growing up in a Wellness Home, learning and practicing healthy choices daily that continue as they grow. What impact could this have on our health as a society?”  Personally, our children have been exposed to and have adopted the principles of self care and being Healthy by Choice that the Wellness Home provides and continue these practices now as adults. I have no doubt that they will impart these choices on to future generations for healthier individuals and ultimately healthier societies.  That’s why we advocate, “Every home a Wellness Home”.

A recent poll of cross generational participants reported that 95% of Americans link self care with healthy habits. Over 90% want better control of their health, yet only 52% considered themselves to be in good health. Less than half of those polled were pro-active when it came to their health.

Empowering Americans to take greater ownership of their health has never been more important. The rising cost of healthcare, the unprecedented increase in chronic disease, and the cost of treating and managing preventable conditions has launched an Awakening to raise Self Care as an essential component of health care. Regardless of generational differences, informing people about self care is the path to improve individual health, reduce medical costs and empowering anyone to be Healthy by Choice, not by Chance.

Self Care: D-F

"D" for Digestion

This is our second installment for the ABC’s of self care. This week we will concern ourselves with D; E and F.

D- Let’s use the letter D to talk about Digestion. This is a problem that affects many of us. A recent survey reported that nearly three out of four Americans are living with digestive problems. Over 70,000,000 people suffer daily from some form of digestive issues (heartburn, acid reflux, GERD (gastro esophageal reflex disorder), IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and others. To relieve these symptoms many turn to over the counter (OTC) products as Tums®, Rolaids®, Zantac®, Tagamet®, or prescribed medications such as PPIs (Proton Pump Inihibitors) Nexium®, Prevacid®, Prilosec®, Protonics® and others.

I used to travel about 80 to 90% of my time. I drank a lot of bottled water. In my vehicle was always bottled water and the biggest jar of OTC antacid I could find. I suffered from heartburn daily and ate antacids like they were candy. Once I was introduced to the concept of self care and healthy choices I was able to get rid of the giant jar of antacids. I replaced bottled water with water from the Nikken Sports Bottle while traveling and the Nikken Waterfall at home. To this day if I drink bottled water, often a case of heartburn ensues shortly afterward. The simple choice of changing the kind of water I drank made a huge difference for my digestive health. I have seen similar results for others that have started their Wellness Homes with healthy water. Self Care and the Wellness Home have several choices that can aid digestion in a simple, natural ways.

“E” for Enzymes

E- Since we started this week with digestion it seems appropriate that we use the letter “E” for Enzymes. Enzymes are proteins that act as catalysts. When a substance needs to be transformed into another, nature uses enzymes to speed up the process. For example, in our stomach enzymes break down food into tiny particles to be converted into energy. 

Many times, digestive issues are caused by poor enzymatic activity.  Our bodies have a limited supply of enzymes. The general rule of thumb is that we lose over 10% of our enzymatic potential every ten years.

Digestive enzymes exist naturally in the raw foods we eat. Since enzymes are proteins, cooking destroys these enzymes. This places more stress on our bodies to produce digestive enzymes to breakdown our food into the nutrients we need.  Our bodies produce digestive enzymes; however, it cannot produce enough digestive enzymes to keep up with the typical western diet, which is full of enzyme-depleted, cooked, and processed foods. This is one of the reasons, so many people suffer from digestive-related health problems.

The stress of modern life many times necessitates us to supplement our bodies' natural abilities. Many people take enzymes in the form of dietary supplements to replace the enzymes their body is lacking, or to fortify the enzymes found in their food to ensure complete digestion of each meal. 

THE NIKKEN WELLNESS HOME SOLUTION

One product that we have in our Wellness Home to help in digestion is Kenzen® Digestion 4-20.

Kenzen® Digestion 4-20

Recent research has shown that there are four enzyme groups critical to the digestive process. Many digestive products on the market contain only one or two of these notable enzyme groups and lack in providing optimal digestive support. Kenzen® Digestion 4-20 contains all four of these important enzyme groups, making it a superior formulation for digestion, absorption and weight management. *  Digestion 4-20 contains twenty specific digestive enzymes that act on four different types of macronutrients: fats, proteins, carbohydrates and fiber. 

Years of research have led to a growing appreciation that a healthy human body relies on armies of "friendly" bacteria. The good bugs keep bad bugs in check and may perform other functions essential to a healthy gut and immune system. These probiotics play an important role in digestion and in fact, produce certain enzymes to assist with digestion.

Look for more on Probiotics when we get to “P” in our series on the ABC’s of Self Care.

"F" for Family and Finances

F- I wager that most of our readers think this letter will lead to a discussion on folic acid. Nope, what I want to discuss is Family and Finances in the context of the Wellness Home.

When I think of this I am reminded of a statement that one my mentors said to me years ago, “Imagine our children growing up in a Wellness Home”.  The Wellness Home is the healthiest and safest place for you and your family. It utilizes Nikken Active Wellness products and technologies that addresses the specific areas of concern in the Self Care Awakening. The Wellness Home is a haven for our family. Our children have been exposed to and have adopted the principles of self care and being Healthy by Choice that the Wellness Home provides. When growing up, they were very rarely sick and often the colds and flu bugs that were circulating around school, never set foot in our Wellness Home.

“A NATION is only as HEALTHY as its CHILDREN.” Harry Truman (1946)

Personally, I can only remember once or twice in the last 20 years that I have been sick. A healthy family includes not only physical health but many other factors. Among them is healthy Finances.

Prior to my discovery of self care and Nikken, I traveled most of my time. I loved my profession, and it provided a great income for our family. The downside was that it left a lot to be desired in terms of time freedom. I remember missing birthdays, ball games, vacations as well as dinners at home with the fam. I didn’t want to miss these things, but work seemed to come first. I knew this was unhealthy in many ways but couldn’t imagine that I would ever do anything else as an occupation. Fortunately, I discovered a company that had a vision of living a “Life in Balance”.  Their philosophy was and still is to be truly healthy one must live a life in balance based on Five Pillars of Health. Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, Healthy Family, Healthy Society and Healthy Finances. Some 20 years ago, when I first discovered this, I can honestly say, the only pillar that was healthy for me was finances at the expense of the other four.

In this instance, I was very fortunate, but for many others finances are a major concern. When the finances are affected, then everything is affected. Many people work around the clock only to jeopardize their family time and their health. They spend most of their lives working, usually too hard and for too many hours, just to make more money. So, it is with the Five Pillars and the balance in our lives, one area effects the other areas either positively or negatively.

THE NIKKEN WELLNESS HOME SOLUTION

The Wellness Home is the backbone of my 20-year encore career. Through the principles of the Self Care Awakening and the Active Wellness products provided by Nikken to create Wellness Homes we have been able to develop a business that supports all Five Pillars. It is and always has been our mission to inform, inspire and empower as many people as possible to Be Healthy by Choice. The most efficient way to accomplish this is through teaching others to do the same. It starts by asking yourself, where am I out of balance? We truly value our partnerships with others and have fun, purpose and profit in their service. This is a business that truly can improve lives. If you are looking to build a purpose driven business or supplement your income by sharing Nikken Active Wellness products or start building your own wellness home we want to work with you. Fill out the form below and let's talk healthy choices for you, your family and your finances.

The ABCs of Self Care

“No matter how slow you go you are still lapping everyone on the couch. ”

— Anom

 

Self Care ABCs

Heather thought it would be fun to do a series on the ABC’s of self care and how the Wellness Home can provide simple solutions for us all. So, for the next few weeks, we will pick 26 ways we can all be Healthy by Choice. I must admit, it sounds fun to me too.

A. This letter could have lots of choices to talk about but next to Air, everything else is inconsequential. We can only survive approximately three minutes without air (oxygen).

In the framework of self care and the Wellness Home we are talking about indoor air quality. One of the major factors contributing to our body burden is air pollution. Although we have limited control over outdoor air pollution we do have choices for the quality of air in our homes.

Indoor Air Pollution is a concern for many health-conscious individuals and with good reason. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, the air within our homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air even the largest and most industrialized cities. We spend nearly 90% of our time indoors. Those who spend most of their time indoors are the very young, elderly or infirm. Pollutants can be 2 to 10 times higher indoors than outdoors. See Fresh Air... Indoors for more information.

The Nikken Wellness Home Solution

The KenkoAir® Purifier is designed to combat allergy-causing particles and enhance the air we breathe, helping us to enjoy a more natural, pollutant-free air quality in our homes.  When guests first enter our Wellness Home, they often remark that they feel a difference in the air, a calm, fresh feeling as though they were outdoors in a forest or at the beach.

The Nikken KenkoAir® Purifier incorporates multiple-stage filtration including an ultra-low penetration air filter (ULPA). The KenkoAir® Purifier exceeds that, with measured efficiency up to 99.9995%. No other home air filtration system matches this level of performance.

B also presents many possibilities for discussion, however let’s talk about one of our favorites- Barley grass. This is a staple in our Wellness Home and we drink two or three glasses a day. In fact, I am enjoying a glass as I write this blog, my food for thought on the subject.

Called "nature's perfect food," barley grass is said to have more nutrition than an equal serving of any other vegetable. It is one of the earliest grown sweetgrasses in the world and traces its history even before 5000 BC. Barley has long been a traditional part of the Japanese diet. Research pharmacologist from Japan, Dr Yoshihide Hagiwara MD, made the study of barley grass his lifelong mission and passion. Embarking on study more than 150 types of plants, including grasses, herbs, vegetables, and fruits, Dr. Hagiwara concluded, after 40 years of research, that young barley grass was “one of the most nutritionally balanced foods in nature”.

The Nikken Wellness Home Solution

 Jade GreenZymes®

Made with organic barley grass and a Proprietary Blend of organic acacia and organic pearl barley seed extract powder. Kosher and vegan certified, gluten free and USDA cerified organic. A complete ‘salad in a glass’.
This food is instant energy in a glass. Our bodies know when we consume something healthy and this product immediately gives me that sense of well-being. We like it mixed with PiMag Water from our Nikken Waterfall. Jade GreenZymes® is also available in capsules.

C would have to represent Cardiovascular health recognizing that heart health issues are the most common cause of death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 610,000 people die of heart disease in the United States every year–that's 1 in every 4 deaths. Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common type of heart disease, killing over 370,000 people annually. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. Read more in I Heart Self Care for My Heart.

It is interesting to note that CDC and World Health Organization consider cardiovascular disease to be one of the most preventable issues we face. Preventing chronic disease is a common thread in our Self Care Awakening series of Being Healthy by Choice, not by Chance.

The Nikken Wellness Home Solution

Our favorite products for healthy heart choices are Kenzen Super Ciaga® and Kenzen Bergisterol™ Capsules.

Kenzen Super Ciaga® is an organic mixed superfruit juice concentrate made exclusively with organic fruit content. This advanced formula is made with a select group of superfruits chosen for their nutrient and antioxidant characteristics. Super Ciaga® helps to neutralize and eliminate free radicals, which supports healthy cellular functions. It therefore helps support a healthy immune system, healthy heart and blood vessels, natural energy levels and overall well-being. * 

We enjoy this diluted in PiMag Water or in tea. We have lots of fun creating new beverage recipe’s with Ciaga.

Kenzen® Bergisterol™ is a unique formulation made from Citrus Bergamia Risso, an exclusive strain of the bergamot fruit. For help in maintaining levels of triglycerides, blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol that are within normal limits, clinical studies indicate that bergamot extract helps support cardiovascular health and cholesterol levels that are within the normal range. *

I hope you have enjoyed our 1st installment of Self Care ABC’s, I have enjoyed writing it, good idea Heather (as usual). Next week, D, E and F? Let me think about that?

Be Healthy by Choice, not by Chance

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

Good Nutrition the Essentials

Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food

Hippocrates

Wellness Home and Good Nutrition

A major component of the Wellness Home is healthy nutrition. Eating a balanced diet is vital for good health and wellbeing. Food provides our bodies with the energy, protein, essential fats, vitamins and minerals to live, grow and function properly. We need a wide variety of different foods to provide the right amounts of nutrients for good health.

There are six basic nutrients required for good health. 

These include:

Carbohydrates-Carbohydrates are grouped into two categories: simple and complex. Carbohydrates are the main energy source for the brain. Without carbohydrates, the body could not function properly. Sources include fruits, breads and grains and starchy vegetables.

Protein-which is broken down into amino acids by the digestive system. Protein is the major structural component of cells and is responsible for the building and repair of body tissues. Lean protein sources such as low-fat meat, dairy, beans or eggs. There are many other vegetable sources of protein, if that is your personal choice.

Fat-The fat in food includes a mixture of saturated and unsaturated fats.  Fat is an energy source that when consumed, increases the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins including vitamins A, D, E and K. Choose healthy options such as omega-3-rich foods like fish, walnuts and vegetable-based oils. Omega-3s help with development and growth. Limit intake of saturated fats such as high-fat meats and full-fat dairy. Other smart choices include nuts, seeds and avocado.

Vitamins- both water and fat-soluble. There may be slight differences in the amounts of specific vitamins for men versus women, but in general, the essential vitamins that your body needs are:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin K
• B vitamins

The best way to get these vitamins is to eat a healthy and balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. A multivitamin may also be useful to help fill in the gaps if you have a restrictive diet.

Minerals- These essential nutrients, those that your body needs but cannot produce, include the inorganic substances found in foods such as: calcium, potassium, sodium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, chloride and Trace Minerals.

Water- said to be our most essential nutrient, read more in Down the Hatch. Water helps to maintain homeostasis in the body and transports nutrients to cells. Water also assists in removing waste products from the body. We recommend drinking half your body weight in ounces per day.

Whenever possible choose fresh organic produce. We strive to eat as natural as possible and avoid processed foods. Many processed foods, including canned and frozen vegetables contain added sugar. In our Wellness Home we make a conscious effort to keep our sugar consumption at a healthy level, 36 grams or 9 teaspoons a day for me and 25 grams or 6 teaspoons a day for the ladies in the house.

Unfortunately, our busy fast-paced lives often impede with our choices for healthy eating.  I’m sure we have all experienced the trials and tribulations in shopping, food preparation and all that goes in to preparing and consuming healthy meals. One way to counter act this is supplementing our food. Many supplements fall short in what they deliver in terms of natural provided nutrients. 

Nikken’s philosophy (and ours) is that the best way to take care of our nutritional needs, is the natural way. Nikken created the first complete program based on natural, organic ingredients. These fill the nutritional gaps in our daily diet, to help us "eat right," even when our meals may fall short of their nutrtional mark. Organic-Based Nutrition means that all ingredients are carefully chosen, and the organic content is maximized. 
Nikken Kenzen® Wellness nutrition is founded on a whole-food philosophy. These organic-based solutions help bring our daily diet closer to nature and is an integral part of our Wellness Home.

Here are three of our favorite products that are core to our nutritional needs:

Kenzen Vital Balance® Meal Replacement Mix- We kick-start every day with a KVB shake.

KVB’s formula contains organic moringa and naturally sweet monk fruit in addition to organic pea protein and organic vegetables. It is designed to help burn fat and boost metabolism as well as promote healthy brain function and the elimination of toxins in the body. With pre- and probiotics to assist in digestive and immune system activity, the Kenzen Vital Balance formula is food for action and food for thought—for people of all ages. 

Naturally-sourced protein from organic pea, organic rice and organic chlorella to promote the formation of lean muscle mass without the high levels of saturated fat and calories associated with animal protein.
Contains Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), sourced exclusively from palm kernel oil, serve as “brain food” to support cognitive sharpness and for weight loss to assist in burning fat, boosting metabolism and regulating the appetite.*

Jade GreenZymes®- We have glass of JGZ’s twice a day.

Called "nature's perfect food," barley grass is said to have more nutrition than an equal serving of any other vegetable. The barley grass in organic Jade GreenZymes® is beneficial in helping balance pH, supporting a strong immune system, and assisting in maintaining blood glucose levels that are already in the normal range. 

Made with organic barley grass and our Proprietary Blend of organic acacia and organic pearl barley seed extract powder.

Kosher and vegan certified and USDA Organic.

Kenzen Super Ciaga® - We use this once a day and have developed some very delicious drink variations.

An organic mixed superfruit juice concentrate made exclusively with organic fruit content. This advanced formula is made with a select group of superfruits chosen for their nutrient and antioxidant characteristics. Highly concentrated, it has an exceptional ORAC value. 

Excellent flavor enhancer when diluted and mixed in with other beverages or water.
• Great replacement for sodas that may contain artificial sweeteners or lots of sugar. Simply mix with Nikken PiMag® water or seltzer for a naturally sweet beverage.
• Certified Kosher by Earth Kosher.
•USDA certified organic.

• No preservatives, 12 month shelf life.

Super Ciaga bottles are made of an environmentally-friendly polymer that contains no bisphenol-A (BPA) or other potentially harmful chemicals, are easily recycled and compared to glass, require fewer resources to store and transport.

An effective nutritional strategy is more than just what we eat. It requires attention to many self care processes that can affect our well-being. Quality sleep, proper hydration with healthy water, reduction of our body burden of toxic chemicals and stress management are all important for improving and maintaining good health.

One of the most important decisions we make every day is what we eat and drink. It is everyone’s Choice to eat Healthy or not.

Be Healthy by Choice, not by Chance

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

Nutrition in Your Wellness Home

To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art. 

Eating You Alive

“People aren’t living longer, they are dying longer.” This is the first statement in a trailer for an upcoming in theater broadcast event of the movie “Eating You Alive”.  For more details on the film and showings check out their webpage.

EatingYouAlive.org is a non-profit 501(c)(3) committed to promoting the power of a Whole Foods Plant Based lifestyle through films, television and online platforms.  With a fresh and passionate perspective, our mission is to produce content that educates and inspires audiences to implement the changes that have been proven, through science and experience, to reverse disease, create a more sustainable planet and promote a more compassionate global community.

Half of all adults in the U.S. struggle with chronic health conditions including cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, Alzheimer’s and arthritis just to mane a few. Twenty-five percent of us 2 have two or more chronic health issues. Seven out of 10 deaths in the U.S. are a result of chronic diseases, yet it is estimated that over 80% of chronic disease is preventable.

Despite countless dollars spent on medical research, new drugs and innovative technology to improve our health, more Americans are disabled and dying from chronic disease than ever before. Nearly 70% of our population are on some type of prescription medication. We fill over 4.3 billion prescriptions per year. Many chronic and degenerative conditions are becoming epidemic and the United States currently leads the world in almost every disease and chronic condition.  Although the U.S represents 4.4% of the world’s population, we consume 75% of the world’s pharmaceutical drugs.

At some point you must ask, Why? What is causing all of this dis-ease? This is the impetus for the film “Eating You Alive”. From information listed on their web page they are advocates for plant based whole food nutrition. Although, Heather and I are not vegan, we do try and include as much whole foods, while eliminating processed foods in our Wellness Home.  We are very cognitive of our sugar consumption as well as the other aspects of the Self Care Awakening.

Whole Food Nutrition

Whole food nutrition is the basis of our Nikken Active Wellness product line and much of our nutritional support in our Wellness Home is provided by Nikken.  Nikken Wellness Organic-Based Nutrition is designed to bring the daily diet closer to nature. Each ingredient is carefully selected and where possible the organic content is maximized. The Nikken concept of Whole Body Renewal includes a Core System to help meet daily needs, and modules that offer support for specific biological activities: gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neurological, immune, and skeletal support.

A few of our daily favorites are Kenzen Vital Balance®, Jade GreenZymes® and Kenzen Super Ciaga®.

Just think about it, one of the most important decisions we make every day is what we eat and drink. It is everyone’s Choice to eat Healthy or not. It is our biggest aspiration that you will Be Healthy by Choice, not by Chance, and if you have the chance you may want to catch “Eating You Alive” at select theaters on April 5th.

“quick, power-up, healthy Kenzen Vital Balance protein snack recipe”

½ cup rolled oats
1 scoop of vanilla or chocolate Kenzen Vital Balance pea protein powder
(our fav is chocolate)
½ cup peanut or almond butter
¼ cup honey
½ Tbsp Chia seeds
Dried Cherries
Water

• Combine ingredients in a bowl only adding water as needed
• Mix until ingredients start to form a ball
• Form into bite sized balls and chill until firm
Check out Kenzen Vital Balance: https://goo.gl/SiWe42 🤗

Water Matters, Planet in Peril

Water Matters to People and the Planet

Today is World Water Day. On March 22nd every year, is about focusing attention on the importance of water. The theme for World Water Day 2018 is ‘Nature for Water’ – exploring nature-based solutions to the water challenges we face in the 21st century.

On this day we are all asked to “Take action, wherever you are and whatever you do on March 22, make it about nature and water.” For my part, I will take a little break in our current Wellness Home Series and talk about the environmental impact and waste of natural resources that are the result of the bottled water industry.

The effect of plastic bottles on our environment has been documented and although we have an awareness of the problem it is getting worse not better. There are over 100 million plastic bottles used each day globally and nearly 80% of these end up in our landfills. This means that only 20% are recycled. Approximately 1500 bottles end up in landfills and the ocean every second accounting for 2 million tons of plastic bottles that are landfilled each year.  It takes 700 years before plastic bottles start to decompose and can take up to 1000 years to fully decompose. Virtually every piece of plastic that was ever made still exists in some shape or form (except for the small amount that has been incinerated).

Consumption of natural resources related to plastic water bottles is a major concern. Producing the bottles for American consumption required the equivalent of more than 17 million barrels of oil and an additional 18 million barrels are used to transport bottled water. More energy is needed to fill the bottles with water at the factory, move it by truck, cool it in grocery stores or home refrigerators, and recover, recycle, or throw away the empty bottles. The Pacific Institute estimates that the total amount of energy embedded in our use of bottled water can be as high as the equivalent of filling a plastic bottle one quarter full of oil. Bottling water also wastes water, it takes three gallons of water to produce one gallon of bottled water.  Key environmental issues with bottled water, according to environmentalist David Suzuki, are waste and uncertainty over the long-term health effects created by plastic. "Not only does bottled water lead to unbelievable pollution…but plastic has chemicals in it. Plastics are ubiquitous. I don't believe that plastics are not involved in a great deal of the health problems that we face today."

Any way you look at it, bottling water is a tremendous waste as far as resources and a major contributor to the pollution of our planet and wasteful of our most essential nutrient, Water.

Just this week, a new study of 259 water bottles has found tiny pieces of plastic in more than 90 percent of them, prompting a review by the World Health Organization (WHO). As Graham Readfearn reports for the Guardian, the study was conducted by scientists at the State University of New York (SUNY) in Fredonia. Researchers analyzed water bottles from nine countries—the U.S., China, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Lebanon, Kenya and Thailand and found that 93 percent showed at least some sign of contamination from microplastics. Although stated that the consequences of ingesting microplastics are unknown, common sense would tell us they would not be good. Among the brands tested were: Aqua (Danone), Aquafina (PepsiCo), Bisleri (Bisleri International), Dasani (Coca-Cola), Epura (PepsiCo), Evian (Danone), Gerolsteiner (Gerolsteiner Brunnen), Minalba (Grupo Edson Queiroz), Nestlé Pure Life (Nestlé), San Pellegrino (Nestlé) and Wahaha (Hangzhou Wahaha Group).

As I have written before (The Body Burden) it is estimated that each one of us carry an average of over 200 toxic chemicals in our body. Everybody is being exposed to some degree at any given time from gestation through death to toxic chemicals from plastics. Plastic bottles are known to release harmful chemicals such as Bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is an industrial chemical that has been used to make certain plastics and resins since the 1960s. BPA is found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastics are commonly used in containers that store food and beverages, such as water bottles. BPA is one of many man-made chemicals classified as endocrine disruptors, which alter the function of the endocrine system by mimicking the role of the body's natural hormones.

A study of 77 Harvard College students found one week of drinking water from polycarbonate bottles increased the levels of BPA in by two-thirds (1). This suggests that regular consumption of water from such bottles significantly increases exposure to BPA. Bio-monitoring by the Center for Disease Control and other studies have detected levels of bisphenol A in the urine of 95% of the adult population of the United States.  

Health problems associated with BPA’s include, overweight, early puberty, hypertension, ADHD, heart disease, liver failure, breast and prostate cancer to name a few.

One other contaminant that is associated with plastic bottled water is antimony. Antimony is a regulated contaminant that poses both acute and chronic health effects in drinking water. In small doses, antimony can cause nausea, dizziness and depression. In large doses, it can be fatal. The longer water is stored in plastic bottles and the higher the ambient storage temperature, the higher the concentration of a potentially harmful chemicals can be, a recent study states (2).

Given the environmental impact of bottled water, the potential health risks that we know of, and the potential for risks we may not be aware of warrants serious consideration as to your choice for water.

When we consume bottled water, we pay far too much for it in terms of expense, our health and the health of our planet. Skipping the bottle is one step toward Being Healthy by Choice.

Be Healthy by Choice, not by Chance

Quality Sleep and the Wellness Home

"Sleep’s the only medicine that gives ease.” Sophocles

Quality Sleep is a foundational component of the Nikken Wellness Home. 

Coincidentally as I write this blog the National Sleep Foundation in celebrating its annual Sleep Awareness Week, March 11 to 17,2018. This year's theme “Begin with Sleep” highlights the importance of good sleep health for individuals to best achieve their personal, family, and professional goals. Today, March 16th, is World Sleep Day. Its goal is to celebrate the benefits of good and healthy sleep and to draw society's attention to the burden of poor sleep. 

We have previously blogged about sleep and its importance to our health. Sleep is the single activity that we spend the most time doing in our lifetimes. We spend one-third of our lives asleep and for good reason. William C. Dement, M.D., Ph.D., Stanford University, is one of the world's leading authorities on sleep. He is sometimes referred to as the father of sleep medicine. To quote Dr. Dement, “Healthy sleep has been empirically proven to be the most single important determinant on predicting longevity, more important than diet, exercise and heredity.” Matthew Walker, a professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California, Berkeley agrees, "I used to suggest that sleep is the third pillar of good health, along with diet and exercise, but I don't agree with that anymore. Sleep is the single most effective thing you can do to reset your brain and body for health." 

We need sleep to be heathy, happy and productive. Without it we suffer consequences both physically and mentally. Sleep is the most important determinant to being healthy by choice, so, choose to get enough quality sleep. Sleep Matters. 

Sleep is not only about how many hours we sleep, but more importantly about quality of sleep that we are receiving. A significant component of sleep quality is dependent on our sleep environment. For that reason, the foundation of the Nikken Wellness Home and our personal choice, is the Nikken Kenko Sleep System. It uses natural materials and simple principles to create Adaptive Sleep Technology. This includes, self-regulating temperature control, advanced magnetic technology and passive massage to provide a natural, relaxing sleep environment to for a deep restful, rejuvenating sleep. 

Naturest® Mattress Topper

The system includes three main components, the Nikken Naturest® Mattress Topper with a KenkoDream™ Comforter and the Kenko Naturest® Custom Pillow. Each component contains advanced technology and materials to improve sleep quality. The Nikken Naturest® Mattress Topper features a design that has no springs. Its construction forms itself to body contours. This prevents the formation of pressure points (feeling to heavy in one spot that often precipitates tossing and turning) that can interrupt sleep and prevents us from attaining optimal rest. The natural latex foundation is firm yet comfortable, and resists sagging. This support system combines advanced scientific technology and natural materials in a design that promotes healthy and refreshing sleep. An impressive merger of two very different design principles, Naturest features advanced sleep innovations, including a revolutionary new design in magnetic technology, seen nowhere else — and traditional materials that are not only environmentally responsible but help you sleep soundly and wake feeling refreshed and energized. After trying the Kenko Naturest Mattress Topper, you’ll never want to sleep without it. 

Kenko Dream Comforter

A perfect balance of comfort for all climates, the Kenko Dream® Comforter combines revolutionary technology and the finest materials allow better rest. Ceramic-reflecting fibers help regulate temperatures to keep you warm or cool and is designed for all-season use. Chitocotton, another innovation, contains chitosan to help fibers retain a clean, fresh scent. A magnetic layer completes the cocoon effect with ceramic-reflective fibers that help to release heat and maintain a comfortable temperature. The breathable cover provides ventilation and releases excess heat for comfort and is finished in an elegant, satiny weave that dresses up your bed.

Kenko Naturest® Custom Pillow

Inside the Kenko Naturest® Custom Pillow is a special filler of rolled natural latex. It’s designed so that you remove or replace filler to achieve the desired degree of firmness —your personal perfect fit. The latex is especially resilient, so it resists being compressed flat, unlike a down or foam pillow. A head and neck insert helps provide correct spinal alignment. The pillow cover is a natural, breathable cotton blend. Deep within the Custom Pillow is patented DynaFlux® Magnetic Technology, a series of magnets arranged to surround you in a cocoon of magnetism. 

 

Nikken Kenko Sleep products are made in the USA. 

Regular sleep on a Kenko Sleep System can contribute to improved learning ability and decision-making abilities, improved memory, alertness and increased mental acuity. Quality sleep supports physical health including improved immune system function, better ability to resist premature aging, increased ability to resist stress, and better-regulated hormone production that can help prevent weight gain or obesity. 

Sleep Matters and is a vital component of every Wellness Home. Get at least 7.5 to 9 hours of quality sleep per night with the Nikken Kenko Sleep System and BE HEALTHY BY CHOICE, NOT BY CHANCE. 

Save You, Your Family and the Planet

"We forget that the water cycle and life cycle are one"

Water Matters and the Wellness Home

One of the most important aspects of the Wellness Home is to provide ourselves and our families with clean, healthy water.

Water is not just a beverage choice, it is an essential nutrient. We have been saying this for years and the reason why is we tend to choose just about everything else to drink other than water. That is the main reason why over 75% of us walk around dehydrated every day. I advocate drinking half your body weight in ounces of healthy water per day. 

We have choices for different types of drinking water: tap water, filtered water and bottled water. 

The solution to our global water issues and the plastic pollution of our planet is very complex and people often wonder what they can do as individuals to make a positive impact. One thing we all can do is to not to contribute to landfills by filtering tap water rather than purchasing bottled water. In recent blogs we have talked about the pollution problem with bottled water and about how to choose a water filtration system. 

Filtering our tap water is convenient, cost effective and the best way to provide ourselves and our families with healthy water. 

What do we use in our Wellness Home? 

Our personal choice for water filtration is the Nikken PiMag Waterfall. Imagine if we could create fresh spring water in our own home or office? This is the strategy behind the Nikken Waterfall.  The Nikken Waterfall System is an advanced, technically sophisticated, well designed countertop home filtration system that converts tap water into fresh spring-like water. Using a multi-stage filtration process which cleans, alkalizes, mineralizes, ionizes, energizes and oxygenates the water, the Waterfall produces a light, velvety fresh-tasting water which is highly absorbed and healthy. 

PiMag Waterfall

Put simply, the Waterfall produces water the way nature intended water to be. Free of contaminants but maintaining an alkaline pH with minerals that are added back after the filtration process. The water is run through a magnetic field that provides a water structure as it occurs in nature. 

The Waterfall Gravity Water System has a modern, compact profile and fits conveniently into most kitchen environments. All Nikken water products are designed to the highest standards, using non-leaching, and free of BPA and other estrogenic chemicals. With its Gold Seal of Approval from the Water Quality Association, the Waterfall meets rigorous standards for performance, capacity, and integrity, removing a variety of drinking water contaminants.

The Nikken Waterfall meets contaminant-reduction specifications of National Sanitary Foundation (NSF) Standards 42 and 53 and reduces objectionable tastes, odors, colors, aesthetic chlorine, chloramines, VOCs and mercury from municipally treated tap water. This is considerably better performance than you'd get with many conventional faucet or pitcher--type or water filters. The filtration efficiency is equivalent to more complex and expensive water filtration systems costing $1000’s of dollars.

The water tank components are bio-degradable plastics that will not leach potentially harmful chemicals into the contents of the tank. Nor will they release these chemicals into the soil.  The Waterfall is environmentally responsible in several ways. It reduces the number of discarded plastic water bottles that become trash in landfills. This also decreases consumption of fossil fuels used in manufacturing those bottles. The waterfall is made with recyclable and biodegradable materials, including a polymer that does not leach chemicals into water as some plastics will. 

Features and Benefits that we like most about our Waterfall:

• Multiple-stage filtering process, advanced water-contaminant reducing technology

• Certified filtration to reduce contaminants, NSF Certification 42, 53 and 372

• Gold Seal of Approval from the Water Quality Association

• Natural, gravity-fed filtration – no need for electricity or plumbing, can be used is any location

• Minerals added back to adjust pH to create alkaline water

• Fits perfectly onto kitchen counter-top

• Non-leaching and BPA free materials

• Made of bio-degradable plastics for no environmental impact

• Ease of operation and maintenance

• Cost effective solution for healthy water

The Waterfall is good for your family, your pocketbook and our planet! It is an integral component of the Nikken Wellness Home.

Water Matters and is a vital component of every Wellness Home.

Be Healthy by Choice, not by Chance.

Fresh Air... Indoors

Some old-fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat. 

-Laura Ingalls Wilder

Is Your Home Your Haven?

Most of us consider our homes to be a safe, healthy environment, but in reality, our homes are often very toxic places. Given a choice, “Would you prefer to live in “sick” home or a “wellness” home? The answer is obvious, I think we would choose a wellness home. 

Your first question may be, what is a wellness home? The best way to answer this question is to use an analogy. Think of a greenhouse. It creates the optimal environment for plants to grow. It provides optimal light, healthy air, healthy water, a balanced pH and nutrients. If a plant is not provided with the optimal environment it can still survive but given an optimal environment it thrives. Are we any different? 

Imagine a greenhouse for you and your family, an optimal environment that provides the tools for your body to heal and protect itself, that is the concept of a wellness home. I am of the opinion if we give our bodies the right tools it can heal and protect itself. Our bodies are amazing.

A Nikken Wellness Home is designed to address many concerns, including environmental toxins, contagions, dehydration, poor sleep quality, weight matters and nutrition. In a practical sense, the Wellness Home creates an environment that enables us to make healthier choices every day.

In the Self Care Awakening we discuss environmental toxicity and our Body Burden. 

One of the major factors contributing to our body burden is air pollution. Although we have limited control over outdoor air pollution we do have choices for the quality of air in our homes. 

Indoor Air Pollution

Indoor Air Pollution is concern for many health-conscious individuals and with good reason. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, the air within our homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air even the largest and most industrialized cities. We spend nearly 90% of our time indoors. Those who spend most of their time indoors are the very young, elderly or infirm. Pollutants can be 2 to 10 times higher indoors than outdoors. This is especially so during the cold months, when windows and doors are kept tightly shut and homes, schools and office buildings are made as airtight as possible to conserve energy.

The air inside our homes is the same air as outside, but we add to the pollution with cleaning products, chemicals from our carpets, furnishings, paints, glues from furniture (i.e. particleboard), and with the other by-products of our modern lives. Dusts, molds, pollens, pet dander and other particles in our air can directly impact us through hay fever or other allergies. Indoor air pollution can aggravate, irritate, and in some cases cause serious harm. The effects of indoor air pollutants range from short-term effects – eye and throat irritation – to long-term effects – respiratory disease and cancer.

Symptoms of Poor Indoor Air Quality include:

• headache
• eye irritation 
• fatigue
• dry throat 
• sinus congestion
•  dizziness
• nausea

Improving the quality of our air can reduce the air pollution we experience, as well as helping to reduce airborne transmissions in our homes, offices, schools, and other environments.

The Nikken Wellness Home Solution

The KenkoAir® Purifier is designed to combat allergy-causing particles and enhance the air we breathe, helping us to enjoy a more natural, pollutant-free air quality in our homes.  When guests first enter our Wellness Home, they often remark that they feel a difference in the air, a calm, fresh feeling as though they were outdoors in a forest or at the beach. 

KenkoAir Purifier

There are many choices when it comes to home air filtration units. We recommend the KenkoAir Purifier for the following reasons.

·         The KenkoAir Purifier operates without producing ozone. Ozone is classified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as a toxic gas, yet many other air filtration systems produce it as a byproduct. The State of California has banned the sale of ozone-producing air systems, and other states are expected to follow.
 

·         The Nikken KenkoAir Purifier incorporates multiple-stage filtration including an ultra-low penetration air filter (ULPA). The KenkoAir Purifier exceeds that, with measured efficiency up to 99.9995%. No other home air filtration system matches this level of performance.
 

·         This advanced design uses minimal energy. The KenkoAir is Energy Star qualified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The Energy Star is given only to an appliance that is at least 35% more efficient than a standard model and saves its owner a minimum of 215 kilowatt-hours per year.

·         The KenkoAir Purifier costs no more than typical home air systems that do not include ULPA filtration technology and Energy Star qualification. Only Nikken offers all these advantages at a competitive price.

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KenkoAir Purifier

1.  Prefilter that removes larger particles present in air as dust, pollen, animal dander, among others.
2. Deodorizing Filter (replaceable), which neutralizes odors such as cigarette smoke. 
3. ULPA High Effciency Filters provides a 99.9995% removal of particles as small as 0.12 microns. No other home filtration system matches this level of performance. 

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The Wellness Home is by design and application an easy, effective way to be Heathy by Choice. It offers peace of mind, saves money and gives our bodies the tools it needs to repair, rejuvenate and prevent many health concerns. Early in my career as a Self Care advocate, one of my mentors asked me to imagine our children growing up in a Wellness Home, getting quality sleep, drinking healthy water, breathing pure clean air, receiving optimal nutrition, exercising and maintaining a healthy weight. My conclusion was at the time and still is, we would prevent most of our health concerns.

The awesome thing about a Wellness Home is that any home can be a Wellness Home, by utilizing Nikken products and technologies to make your home the healthiest environment possible for you and your family.  That’s why we say, “Every home a Wellness Home”. 

Be Healthy by Choice, not by Chance

Building a Wellness Home

Building a “Wellness Home”

“There is no comfort anywhere for anyone who dreads to go home.” Laura Ingalls Wilder 

This has been a very exciting year! We are rebuilding the Self Care Hub. We are expanding our team. We released our first publication the “Self Care Awakening” magazine and we are finalizing our first book.

Moreover, we are moving into a new Wellness Home townhouse. Moving into a new home is the impetus for this blog post. Every home should be a Wellness Home. We came up with this idea during our move, recognizing and appreciating how much we rely on our Nikken Active Wellness products and technologies for our every day self care program. Nothing is more important in our home than these technologies to create a safe, healthy environment for ourselves and our family. 

What is a Wellness Home?

So what exactly is a “Wellness Home”? Basically, a Wellness Home is the healthiest and safest place for you and your family. It utilizes Nikken Active Wellness products and technologies that addresses the specific areas of concern in the Self Care Awakening. A Wellness Home provide solutions for- deep, rejuvenating Sleep, proper Hydration, reducing Environmental Toxicity (Body Burden) and achieving and maintaining a healthy Weight. 

Before we even slept in our new Wellness Home we brought in a few of the essentials. 

Water: First thing we setup was our countertop Nikken PiMag Waterfall. Filtered water is essential anywhere but especially in a home where the water hasn’t been circulating for a while. You also want to increase your daily water intake when participating in strenuous physical activity such as moving.  The Keurig came in with the Waterfall because a girl must have her tea and it works in tandem with our Waterfall. Always filter the water you use for beverages or cooking.

We installed our Nikken PiMag shower system next. It is very important to filter your shower water.

Sleep: Our Nikken Sleep System went in next. The right amount and quality of sleep are especially important for your body when battling the mental and physical stresses of something like a move.

Air: When you move into to a place that has been closed for several months, especially, after new carpet installation, the quality of air you are breathing can be very toxic. We plugged in our KenkoAir Purifiers to remove any off gassing of toxic chemicals and provide fresh, forest like air.

We are moved in and our future blogs will help you build your Wellness Home. 

There’s no place like Wellness Home.

Be Healthy by Choice, not by Chance,

Gary and Heather

Start building your Wellness Home

Water

Visit our H2O shop

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Sleep

Visit our Kenko Sleep Shop

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Air

KenkoAir Purifier (While Supplies Last)

FEATURES & BENEFITS
• The KenkoAir Purifier operates without producing ozone. Ozone is classified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as a toxic gas, yet other air filtration systems produce it as a byproduct. The State of California has banned the sale of ozone-producing air systems, and other states are expected to follow.
• The Nikken KenkoAir Purifier incorporates multiple-stage filtration including an ultra low penetration air filter. The KenkoAir Purifier exceeds that, with measured efficiency up to 99.9995%. No other home air filtration system matches this level of performance.
• This advanced design uses minimal energy. The KenkoAir is Energy Star qualified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The Energy Star is given only to an appliance that is at least 35% more efficient than a standard model, and saves its owner a minimum of 215 kilowatt-hours per year.
• The KenkoAir Purifier costs no more than typical home air systems that do not include ULPA filtration technology and Energy Star qualification. Only Nikken offers all these advantages at a competitive price.

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