Nobel Prize Medicine....

I have a disease. If you're reading this blog, you probably do too. It's called the "I worry" disease. I worry about my health. I worry about my husband's health. I worry about my kids' health. I worry about my grandparents' health. I worry about the overweight lady in the next booth over at the restaurant who's eating a huge plate of onion rings while drinking an extra large coke's health.

I worry about heart disease. Heart disease runs in my family. For me, heart disease prevention is a top priority. For this reason, I run. For this reason, I add strange concoctions of garbanzo beans, fruits and veggies to my kids' pancakes. For this reason, I jump for joy every time my dad calls me to report how many calories he's burned for the week (according to his heart rate monitor). Yes--he's even more obsessed than I am. I really want to be healthy, and I really want my family to be healthy. Cardiovascular disease claims over 900,000 lives each year in the United States...it's the number one killer! I don't want it to take me or anyone I know!

A few months ago, my parents started talking about an arginine supplement they'd started taking. I thought it sounded good, but didn't see how it would benefit me. That is, until they started telling me more. My mom, who's been working out regularly for months without seeing results, started losing weight. My dad, who's been on medication for high blood pressure for quite a while, was able to go off his medication!

I wanted to learn more, so I've done some research. ProArgi-9 Plus is based on research that won the Nobel Prize. In his book NO More Heart Disease, Dr. Ignarro states that by restoring normal production and activity of nitric oxide in your body, you can "lower your blood pressure, improve your circulation, delay the onset or progression of atherosclerosis, and reduce your likelihood of (and possibly prevent) a heart attack or a stroke."

Supposedly, no matter your age or physical condition, taking steps to increase your nitric oxide production (which the proargi-9 supplement helps accomplish), you can either prevent or begin to reverse cardiovascular disease!

About a month ago, I decided to give it a try. I would like to think I'm a pretty healthy individual, so I didn't know if I would feel any different. And I can't say it's been life-altering for me. But I definitely have more energy. After a hard workout, I haven't been as sore. I haven't been Monster Mom as often. I'm sleeping better. Several small changes=happier me. I'm sold.

If you're as intrigued as I was, read on. Here are a few more possible benefits that this amino acid may provide (and why I recommend considering adding arginine to your wellness plan)...

1. Arginine may protect against heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes. It may also slow the aging process. Arginine is 1,000 times more powerful than any naturally occurring antioxidant in the body.
2. Arginine increases the production of nitric oxide by the endothelium. This keeps your arteries more elastic, which helps with blood flow and blood pressure.
3. It can improve memory...especially long-term memory!
4. Since many complications associated with diabetes are related to the vascular system, it may help with it's treatment and prevention. It may also help regulate insulin secretion in the pancreas.
5. It improves prostate function.
6. It boosts human growth hormone (HGH) production to normal levels.
7. It helps the immune system.
8. It helps lower LDL and serum cholesterol levels.
9. It can improve male sexual performance!
10. It's anticoagulant abilities can reduce clotting, thus lowering the risk of heart attack and stroke!
11. It reduces pregnancy-related high blood pressure!
12. It helps asthma (and other lung disorders) by opening pulmonary pathways.
13. It helps prevent and heal hemorrhoids by relaxing overly tight sphincter muscles! (Yay!)
14. It promotes lean muscle mass and preserves bone density. USEFUL COMPONENT IN WEIGHT MANAGEMENT AND STRENGTH TRAINING!
15. Helps speed up wound healing and recovery after surgery.
16. Helps improve athletic performance!
17. It may prevent and possibly reverse the effects of osteoporosis by helping increase bone density!
18. It has been used to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Phew...this isn't even a complete list.

I'm not about to stop worrying (it's a disease, remember?). And I don't think any supplement should replace healthy habits. But I'm sleeping a little better (literally) knowing that we actually can have more control over our heart health than I realized!

I'm still learning about this "miracle" drug. If any of you want to come learn with me, let me know. If you're in the Salt Lake area, I'm going to a meeting Wednesday night at 6:30 pm to hear more about the benefits. Come with me...I'd love to have a friend! Let me know in the comments......

6 Health Benefits of Dog Ownership

After writing about fitness in the great outdoors, I've had an itching to get outside. I brushed the dust off the old jogging stroller yesterday, and took the kids for what turned into a 3-hour outing to the park. I ran, we fed the ducks, we went to the park, my 2-year-old insisted on pushing the stroller (and yelling at me for helping him as I steered it back onto the trail every 5 seconds). When you're pushing a massive stroller with 2 kids inside, you get a lot of attention. "Oh wow. You've got quite a load there." "You can do it! You're almost to the end." "Oh look at them in there, Harry." "Moooooom! Go faster!" I'm sure I look a bit ridiculous. You can't exactly sprint while pushing 90 lbs. of stroller and babies. The only people who probably get more attention than me are the ones pushing a stroller AND holding onto a dog leash.

We saw so many people out walking dogs yesterday. And I remembered something. I want one. My kids want one. My husband even wants one. Every well-adjusted family should have a dog. But I'm not sure I can deal with dog poop right now. I'm barely handling the human variety. So in a near-future season of life, we will be proud dog owners. Proud dog owners of the Golden Retriever variety.

I grew up with a Golden Retriever named Duchess. We got her for Christmas when I was 10. I found out she'd been put to sleep in a letter when I was 22 and in Finland. I was devastated. I cried for days. She was a part of the family. And she was good for us, too.

Last month, a study came out showing that cat owners have a lower risk of heart attack and stroke (nearly 1/3 less!) I will never own a cat. Sorry, cat lovers. I'm allergic and terrified. But if you like 'em, get one! (Just don't make me touch it!) They're good for you, apparently.

"Given that people do gain healthwise from having a strong social network, it makes sense that having an animal companion would also do some good," says Alan Beck, a professor and director of the Center for the Human-Animal Bond at the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine. "Do animals cure everything? Of course not," Beck says. But people relate to animals by nurturing, caring for, and talking to them—much as they do with other humans, so "it's not surprising that people who have relationships with animals actually report benefits."

I know that having a dog was good for our family. Here are 6 reasons every family should have one:

• A dog teaches children responsibility. They need to be fed, washed, walked, and loved. Studies have also linked pet ownership with high self-esteem in young children, and greater cognitive development. Children with pets also score significantly higher on empathy and pro-social scales! Forget pre-school, I just need to get me a dog!
• Dogs enhance family life! Dogs reduce tension, increase compassion, and make family walks more fun!
• Dogs are a great anti-depressant. Feeling blue? Cuddle with your dog for a while. Seriously...dogs increase the release of endorphins, and other pleasure-related hormones.
• Dog owners have a higher survival rate after a serious illness! Having regular PET visits in the hospital has shown to be even more effective than regular SPOUSE visits. Interesting.
• Pet owners have lower blood cholesterol levels and blood pressure. (Not to mention fewer doctor visits!) If you've never taken the opportunity to sit and stroke a dog, you're missing out. I need one to pet to lower my mommy-blood-pressure.
• People who walk their dogs are seen as friendly and approachable! (Pushing kids in the jogging stroller has ALMOST the same effect...EVERYONE wants to talk to me!)

Are you convinced? I'm not sure I can wait 10 more years to get a cute little make-me-vaccuum-a-LOT-more-often pup. How about you? Are you a dog lover? Or do you prefer heart-attack-risk-reducing cats? How has pet ownership improved your quality of life?