Soy-based products are on the rise for very healthy reasons. Learn how to get your recommended daily dose of this super bean.

It's no secret: the humble soybean boasts some extraordinary health benefits. Many health and dietary professionals recommend an average daily intake of 25 grams of soy protein with soy isoflavones-in addition to a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet-to help reduce the risk of heart disease; they conclude that foods containing soy protein included in a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol might reduce the risk of cardiac-heart disease by lowering blood cholesterol levels.

One way soy seems to promote heart health is its high content of isoflavones:

• Soy protein and soy isoflavones have been shown to promote healthy cholesterol that is already within normal range.
• Soy isoflavones help the body regulate estrogen levels, which might help alleviate many menopause and PMS symptoms.
• Soy protein enhances the body's ability to retain and better absorb calcium into the bones. Soy isoflavones help by slowing bone loss and inhibiting bone breakdown.

Herbalife offers a wide range of great-tasting soy-based products including Formula 1 products, Formula 3, Personalized Protein Powder, Protein Bars, and Soup Mix. These products are only available through Herbalife Independent Distributors, so contact me today to learn more.

Today, supermarket shelves are packed with foods that call to dieters with the words "FAT FREE." But as conscientious weight watchers load their shopping carts with fat-free foods week after week, many discover this alarming fact: Their weight is going up!

Since the fat-free craze began in recent years, statistics show we've actually grown fatter rather than thinner. Although we've been taught to think of fat as the culprit in the weight-loss battle, it isn't the only one. That's because a food that's fat free isn't necessarily calorie free. Many fat-free foods are actually very high in sugar and carbohydrate calories. And these calories, when eaten in excess, convert into the one thing we've been taught to avoid: fat.

Lose the fat from your body, not your diet. Ironically, to burn fat and lose weight, you need a certain amount of "good fat." That's why Herbalife Weight-Management Programs stresses the importance of a well-balanced diet that includes enough good fats-like those found in fish and olive oil-along with Herbalife's highly nutritious meal replacement shakes and snacks.

By avoiding the fat-free craze and giving your body the complete nourishment it needs with Herbalife's Cellular Nutrition supplements and weight-management products, you'll steadily lose weight and feel healthier as you do it.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.'  

Have you heard this before? Most of us have at one time. Do we heed the advice? Many of us don't. It's not an old wives tale; having a good breakfast plays a vital role in leading a healthy life. When you eat the right foods at breakfast, it sets you up for the day by kick-starting your metabolism, providing a steady stream of energy to keep you going in the morning, plus it can help to manage your appetite - great news if you're on a diet plan.

Breakfast and metabolism

Metabolism is the physical and chemical processes that create and use energy in the body. The break down of the food we eat and its transformation to energy is a function of metabolism. While you sleep the body's metabolism slows, as its food supply is deprived and its energy requirement is only for essential bodily functions. So you can imagine, if you don't eat breakfast, your metabolism stays as this slower rate and doesn't get that kick-start it needs for the day and to give you more energy.

Breakfast and energy levels 

If you try to start the day without fueling your body with the right food, you'll likely end up crashing mid-morning and reaching for 'quick fix' snacks to keep your energy levels up. These unhealthy snacks are often high in sugar, high in fat, and lack adequate protein. They cause your blood sugar levels to spike and then dramatically drop, meaning your appetite won't be satisfied for longer than about an hour. Eating a healthy balanced breakfast, particularly one that provides a good source of protein and complex carbohydrates, will help you maintain a steady stream of energy.

Breakfast and weight loss

Skipping breakfast in order to lose weight? Think again. Missing the morning meal actually slows your weight loss efforts because it slows your metabolism, a driving force behind your weight loss. Instead, be sure to eat a healthy breakfast - one that's balanced in key macro-nutrients such as complex carbohydrates and protein. Including adequate protein for breakfast is especially important as it helps you feel fuller longer, so you're less likely to crave unhealthy snacks mid-morning.

Need some healthy breakfast ideas?

Avoid breakfast cereals that are high in sugar, fat, and salt. Instead, choose foods such as wholegrain muesli with nuts, fresh fruit and low fat yogurt; wholegrain toast topped with eggs and sliced tomato; or oats with skim milk, nuts, seeds and fruit. Combine these wholesome foods with healthy breakfast options from your Herbalife Independent Distributor to ensure that your day begins in a healthy fashion.

The Keys to optimum wellness

1 - Balance your diet

You need enough of the righ foods including colorful fruits and vegetables, protein, good carbohydrates and just enough fats for the taste you want. You also need vitamins, minerals and fiber from dietary supplemennts to provide the nutrition missing from your diet that your cells need for good health.

2 - Exercise regularly

Regular exercise can help you feel and look your best. Exercise conditions your heart and relieves stress and makes it easier to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.

3 - Drink lots of water

Your body is about two-thirds water. In an average day, you lose at least hald litre of water even without excessive sweating. To feel your best, you should drink 6 to 8 glasses of water a day.