Key Nutrients Encourage
Vitality and Zest

Dr. Steven Franks, M.D., Medical Advisor, with Klee Irwin, Researcher,
Author and Natural Product Formulator, and the Health Breakthroughs Staff

Klee Irwin, Nutraceutical Formulator of Green Tea Natural Energy and Dual Action Cleanse asks, "Do you feel your energy fading? Do you find yourself fatigued in the afternoon or falling asleep earlier in the evening? Does it take longer to wake up and embrace the day with an alert body and mind? Perhaps you've started avoiding your favorite activities or social events because you're 'just too tired.'"

If your body's batteries feel like they're losing "juice," you'll try anything to keep you sharp and vital. Dr. Steven Franks finds that unfortunately, many people rely on caffeinated beverages like coffee, tea or soda to get a quick burst of energy. Those caffeine "buzzes" or temporary jolts are not only fleeting, but-because they are initiated by artificial substances or chemicals-can actually do more harm than good. Steven Franks and Klee Irwin agree reliance on caffeine and sugar can lead to dependency and perpetuate a cycle of tiredness.

Per Klee Irwin, "You don't deserve to be a victim of "body energy burnout." If you'd prefer to feel more alive and enjoy the boundless vitality that even the years after 40 can bring, here's some good news." Upon rigorous research Dr. Steven Franks and Klee Irwin find that numerous studies show — in addition to eating a well-balanced diet and performing daily physical activity — specific nutrient supplements can boost your energy to renewed, and lasting, heights.

 

The Caffeine Quandary:

Observations by Klee Irwin and Dr. Steven Franks

Just looking on any street corner tells you all you need to know about America's obsession with caffeine. Drinking coffee has become synonymous with pop culture. Millions engage in the social ritual promoted by corporate coffee houses, while countless others try to get through the day with hip soft drinks and fashionable "buzz beverages" loaded with synthetic chemicals, caffeine and sugar.

Most people don't realize that caffeine has a dark side... Addiction!"But caffeine has an even darker side. As an addictive stimulant, caffeine possesses its own host of negative side effects," asserts Klee Irwin. Too much of it can make you feel jittery and irritable. It can interfere with your body's natural Circadian rhythm and make it difficult to fall asleep normally. The American Heart Association (2005) suggested that caffeine may be linked to an increase in heart disease, although the issue is inconclusive and still under study. And, heaven forbid if you miss a daily "dose" of caffeine: The penalty can include splitting headaches as well as bad moods that can last all day long.

Through their investigation, Klee Irwin and Dr. Steven Franks have established that other studies may be even more discouraging. A group of researchers suggested that caffeine may cause key bone nutrients, such as calcium and magnesium, to pass through the body through increased urination without having had time to be utilized by healthy bone mass (Blonz, 1995).

In addition, a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that coffee drinkers tend to possess higher levels of homocysteine than their non-coffee-drinking counterparts (Verhoef et al, 2002). This harmful amino acid has been associated with cardiovascular system problems such as blood clotting disorders and damaged blood vessels.

 

Mess With the Bull...

Sugary drinks often get stored in the body as fat.Drinking sweet, sugary soft drinks-especially those trendy ones that are often mixed with vodka at your local bar-may be even worse than drinking coffee. A single can of sweetened soda contains about nine teaspoons of sugar, which means that if you consume only one soft drink a day you are putting 34 pounds of sugar into your body every year.

Of course, both Dr. Steven Franks and Klee Irwin confirm that any sugar your body does not use becomes stored as fat. Plus, over-consumption of sugar can cause the body to resist the effects of insulin. As the body loses its ability to react to insulin, your risk of developing blood-sugar problems-including full-blown diabetes-can increase. So, even though many soft drinks are marketed with clever slogans and creative names that evoke images of bulls and wings, please beware. The happy jolt you feel now could one day become the painful jab of sugar's unpleasant "horns," marked by soaring weight and unhealthy blood-sugar levels.

 

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