Give your performance a boost the all-natural way

Who says you need a prescription to spice up your private life? Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali) is an herb native to the Malaysian jungles used to promote overall energy and increase sexual vitality. Malaysian men have been using this natural aphrodisiac to boost their sexual desire for centuries, and its popularity is growing rapidly in the United States. This special herb helps the body maintain healthy levels of testosterone, thus increasing sexual energy and vigor while improving overall well-being.

Thankfully you don’t have to visit the Malaysian rainforests to get your hands on this natural way to address lackluster libido; it’s available in supplement form. Physta™ is a patented freeze-dried water extract form of Tongkat Ali. It was developed in collaboration with the MIT Research Center, and is the primary active ingredient in Tenaga. Having Physta™ in our formulation helps to ensure (among other things) purity and ingredient consistency.

Besides amplifying your desire in the bedroom, Physta™ may offer many other benefits as well:

• Increases energy and fights fatigue
• Helps burn fat and increases metabolism
• Increases muscle mass and  boosts athletic performance
• Lowers blood pressure and reduces other factors for heart disease

Fitness tips for men over 30

After you’ve blown out 30 candles you may start to notice your energy levels drop, as well as your metabolism and the ability to effortlessly stay trim around your middle. The good news is while staying fit is more of a challenge after your 20s, it’s not impossible! Even small changes add up. Here are a few tips to keep yourself in tip-top shape in your 30s and beyond:

•  Try incorporating small lifestyle changes into your routine, such as taking the stairs, walking to work or even parking at the far end of the parking lot. You should also think about joining a recreational basketball league or softball team: You’ll have fun and meet new buddies while getting a great workout.
• Getting in cardio is especially important for men in their 30s. Try doing your cardio after you lift, when you’re already tired. You efforts will reap even greater benefits!
• A good workout includes weight and resistance training. Did you know these workouts have been shown to decrease the cells’ aging process?
• Remember the “30 after 30” rule: you should be raising your heart rate for at least 30 minutes a day, every day. These 30 minutes don’t have to be consecutive, though: feel free to break them up in 15 minute increments if that better suits your schedule.
• The worst place to carry excess weight on your body is around your middle. Belly fat puts you at risk for a number of health risks, including heart disease, certain cancers and stroke, just to name a few! Prevent this by including core training exercises to your usual cardio routine.

You already know the importance of staying hydrated while working out, but you should be guzzling water even when you’re not! Drinking plenty of water touts a number of benefits, including better-looking skin, keeping appetite in check and even hangover damage control. Drinking a big glass of water after a night out can help a hangover from hitting you full force in the morning.

Could you unknowingly take a prescription male enhancement drug?

Sales of non-drug dietary supplement male performance products have reached an astounding $480 million, according to the Nutrition Business Journal. Demand is expected to grow by at least 25 percent annually. With so many new products hitting the market, it is imperative that you understand which natural products are safe and effective.

Recently, the safety of a number of non-pharmaceutical products was called into question. Lab analyses found that they were either spiked with pharmaceutical ingredients or with the chemical analogs of the active ingredients found in pharmaceutical drugs. Those unwanted ingredients were not listed on the labels.

You can be assured that Tenaga is produced in accordance with rigorous purity standards. It has been researched for safety, purity and efficacy, and contains no undisclosed ingredients.

Tenaga is available online, and at GNC, Vitamin Shoppe and other independent retailers.

Study results support Tenaga’s effectiveness

Reduced sexual potency is a natural part of aging, and affects anywhere from 15 to 30 million men. Results of a new pilot study, conducted by Jay Udani, M.D. are further evidence that Tenaga safely delivers on its promises. Tenaga contains Physta, a patented form of Tongkat Ali.

In the 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 26 older men looking to improve their sexual performance were given either 200 mg/day of Tenaga or an identical placebo.

The men collected data on their sexual performance using a set of validated questionnaires including: Percentage of Successful Sexual Intercourse Attempts, Erection Hardness Scale, Sexual Health Inventory and Aging Male Symptom Score. Safety and tolerability were monitored by blood biochemistry and adverse event observation.

Dr. Udani says that the men who were given Tenaga reported significant improvements in  sexual performance and satisfaction across several clinically important parameters, when compared to the placebo. Tenaga was as well tolerated as the placebo. 

Dr. Udani presented his team’s findings on Tenaga during the January 2011 Scripps Natural Supplements: An Evidence-Based Update conference in San Diego. The conference is attended by physicians, naturopathic doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians and other healthcare professionals.

Tenaga is available online, and at GNC, Vitamin Shoppe and other independent retailers.

A New Healthy You: How to Make (and Not Break) New Year’s Resolutions

So 2011 has just begun and you're already fighting the urge to scrap your New Year’s resolution to eat more vegetables. You’re not alone. While about 75% of people stick to their goals for at least a week, less than half (46%) are still on target six months later, a 2002 study found.

Why is it so hard to keep New Year’s resolutions? Apparently there's a biological reason why our bad habits are so hard to break, according to a new AP story. 

"We all as creatures are hard-wired that way, to give greater value to an immediate reward as opposed to something that's delayed," said Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse and an authority on the brain's pleasure pathway.

It’s all due to a pleasure-sensing chemical called dopamine. “It conditions the brain to want that reward again and again—reinforcing the connection each time—especially when it gets the right cue from your environment,” AP reported.

We may overestimate our ability to resist temptation, but that doesn’t mean we can’t maintain our sense of discipline either. As Tun Hussein Onn, Third Prime Minister of Malaysia, once said: “Discipline is the most important thing in human life and has to be the main priority.” But how do we maintain our sense of restraint, while living in the spirit of now? How do we keep our health goals in check while trying to kick our smoking habit or resisting our sweet tooth? 

By now, our readers know that “Living Ramuan” is about living in balance. We took a look at four of the most popular New Year’s resolutions, and found some tips from Health magazine for keeping them in balance throughout the year.

1. Lose Weight: Don’t expect overnight success…and plan for bumps along the way. Use a food journal to keep track of what you eat, and make sure you have a support system in place. And don’t forget to reward yourself for sticking to your diet. Treat yourself to a new book or a new pair of jeans.

2. Quit Smoking: Since this is one of the most difficult habits to break Health magazine advises people to try out different methods to see what works best. Says Merle Myerson, MD, director of the Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Program at St. Luke’s and Roosevelt Hospitals, in New York City: "I always tell people to think of how much money they will save." If that isn’t an instant motivator in this economy, then what is?

3. Decrease Your Stress: Have you ever noticed that when you’re stressed, the first thing you do is reach for the bag of potato chips? Stress can reactivate bad habits. Plus, if stress is chronic, it can lead to “insomnia, depression, obesity, heart disease and more,” notes Health magazine. That’s why it is so important to cut out the stress in your daily routine. Try relaxation techniques, traditional Malay massage (called urut Melayu), sleeping at least one hour extra a night, socializing with family or friends, eating stress-fighting foods, taking vacations or even having more sex—your body will thank you for it later.  

4. Exercise More: Repeat, repeat, repeat. Hitting the gym at the same time of the morning, rather than fitting it in haphazardly, makes the striatum (in your brain) recognize the habit. Eventually, "if you don't do it, you feel awful," said Volkow.

What habits are you planning to kick in order to become healthier and balanced in 2011? Do you have any tips for keeping your healthy New Year’s resolutions in check from beginning to end? 

Dr. Oz's Top 5 Natural Health Supplements for Women over 50

Source: Dr. Oz


Earlier this week, Dr. Oz revealed his top 5 women’s health supplements for women in their 50s looking to maintain their health and vitality. While there were not any surprises on his list, it does reaffirm what we already know: health supplements are key to a preventative care regimen. On the Dr. Oz blog, readers are encouraged to send the list to all of their friends and family members "so that we can make sure everyone we care about is taking every preventative measure possible to stay healthy." 


Without further delay, here are Dr. Oz’s top 5 health supplements for women in their 50s: 


1. Coenzyme Q10: No matter what age you are, keeping up your natural energy levels is important for overall health and wellness. Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10, is "fundamental for energy." CoQ10 is necessary for "the basic functioning of cells," according to the Mayo Clinic. 


2. Chia Seeds: We all know that metabolism slows down as you age, often making it more difficult to maintain a healthy body weight. "Chia Seeds (the same seeds used in Chia Pets) are full of fiber and omega 3's," says Dr. Oz. Why is that important for healthy weight management? Fiber helps you feel full. 


3. Turmeric: We have written extensively on the health benefits turmeric, which is known to promote a healthy inflammatory response. But this powerful herb (which is native to Southeast Asia) also possesses antioxidant capabilities due to the high concentration of curcuminoids, which many believe help maintain cognitive function as we age. 


4. Women's Multivitamin: For women over 50, taking a multivitamin is one of the most important preventative measures they can do. It's simple: multivitamins help give your body healthy servings of natural nutrition. 


5. Calcium with Vitamin D and Magnesium: Like energy and metabolism, bone strength also tends to decrease as you age. Though maintaining bone health is important at any age, Dr. Oz notes that bone health is critical for longevity. That is why taking calcium with vitamin D and magnesium is so important for women over the age of 50.


Are you surprised by any of the supplements on this list? Are there other health supplements you use for a preventative care regimen? Please feel free to share it with us by leaving a comment. 


Disclaimer: Dr. Oz is not affiliated with nor endorses Biotropics. He also does not promote or endorse our products.

Using Herbs to Boost Your Immune System

Source: Natural News


In many countries throughout the world herbs are used as a primary healthcare tool. Much of the therapeutic aspects of modern medicine were taken from the study of ancient herbal remedies. Unfortunately, medicine has manipulated these natural plant-based properties and synthetically altered them. This process has produced toxic and often lethal side effects. The natural herbs themselves when used correctly are able to synergize with our natural systems to enhance function, coordination, and overall balance within the body.


Herbs are never meant to "treat" or "cure" an ailment. The critical philosophical understanding is that the body's internal defense and ability to heal itself is strong enough to overcome any particular illness. Sickness comes about when the body is out of balance with its environment and unable to successfully adapt. Herbs are intended to clear up any sort of imbalance allowing the body to function optimally.


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