Cold sores are caused by the Herpes simplex virus which can produce a recurrent viral infection on virtually any area of skin or mucous membrane.

The herpes virus needs the amino acid arginine to reproduce. Because the virus cannot tell the difference between arginine and lysine (another amino acid), it can be tricked into trying to use lysine instead of arginine. Because lysine blocks the steps that require arginine, the result is that the virus will not become reactivated.

One of the key dietary goals in preventing recurrences is to keep lysine levels high and arginine levels low. This means avoiding foods high in arginine such as chocolate, peanuts, almonds and other nuts and seeds. Instead, foods that are high in lysine should be consumed regularly and includes most vegetables, legumes, fish and chicken.

Along with the dietary regime, supplement each meal with 1,000mg of L-Lysine available as Radiance L-Lysine tablets. Several double-blind, placebo controlled studies have shown lysine supplementation, along with avoidance of foods high in arginine, can be very effective. In one study, the group receiving L-lysine rated it to be 74% effective. In contrast the group receiving the placebo noted a success rate of only 28%.

If you would like to find out more about Cold Sores from Leanne James you can visit www.healthy.co.nz

Complete a “detox”.  As 70% of our immune system is situated in our gut lining, it makes sence to complete a bowel detox, to help rid your intestinal tract of any parasites or over growths of yeast.  There are many well-structured programs available at health shops & this is an important 1^st step to stronger immunity.  Once completed, ensure you take an acidophilus supplement to repopulate your bowel with good bacteria.  A lot of people also take colostrum, said to help strengthen the immune system, while also helping maintain a healthy bowel.  A detox should be completed once a year, ideally in summer or autumn, to help keep your immune system strong.  If you have already been unwell and are still recovering, put a detox off for a month or so, until you are 100% again.  Do consider taking a probiotic now though, to help to stabilise your immune system.

Nutrients to boost immunity.  Zinc is one of the most important nutrients for New Zealanders to take, to help have a strong immune system.  This vital mineral is deficient in our soils, so most New Zealanders have very low body stores.  Zinc is involved with the absorption of other nutrients in the body, so if this mineral is low, then the likelihood of being able to effectively absorb some other nutrients from the food or supplements you are having, is reduced.  A lot of health shops offer a free zinc taste test.  This is an easy way to evaluate your existing zinc levels.  It also enables you to ensure you are taking the correct amount for you, as you are able to “retest” in a months time, to see if your level has changed.  Other important nutrients to help support immunity are Vitamin C with bioflavonoids, Selenium & Beta-carotene.  Of cause an assortment of all nutrients is vital for good health; however these ones are essential for immunity.  Research from Harvard Medical School states, “It is essential that all adults take a multivitamin”.  Seek professional advice so you get just what  you need & don’t self prescribe.

A healthy diet.

Different dietary combinations suit different people.  The important things to keep in mind, with relation to supporting your immune system, is eating a variety of highly coloured fresh fruits & vegetables, lean meat, fatty fish, nuts & seeds & whole grains (preferably organic).  These foods provide your body with an assortment of highly absorbable antioxidants, nutrients & essential fatty acids – all vital for a healthy immune system.

Herbs for a stronger immune system.

There are many herbs available that have been shown to help strengthen the immune system.  Astragalus, Cats Claw & Garlic, as well as the deep immune mushrooms Reishi & Shiitake are all good choices.  These help with debilitated immune function, post infection recovery & repetitive colds & flu’s.  They could be taken individually or in a combination.  A lot of people start these in the autumn, to help prevent winter illness & take these throughout the colder months. Combinations like Astraforte, Myco defence and System Well are the ones we recommend and obtain great results with.

Exercise.

Regular exercise is essential for a healthy immune system, as this helps stimulate our lymphatic system to make its specialised cells called lymphocytes, which help fight infection. Walking is one of the best overall exercises for helping your whole body function at its best, however cardiovascular & resistance exercises are also vital.  Rebounding or bouncing on a trampoline is excellent for the lymphatic system too.  Remember that for each 1-hour of exercise you do, you need to sip on at least 750ml of water.  This is on top of your usual 2-litre minimum.  Do remember though, that if you have a cold or flu, don’t push yourself at the gym until you are fully recovered.  “Sweating it out” is not always a good idea, as your body may already be fighting hard to get you well, that any further “output” causes more of an overload.  If you must exercise while recovering from a cold or the flu, go for a walk and get some fresh air, but wait until you have recovered before considering going back to your full on work outs.

Good Hygiene.

Viruses are passed via the transferring of bodily fluids, so having good personal hygiene is vital to help to prevent the spread of these.  Always wash your hands thoroughly after coming into contact with infectious people.  Carrying a bottle of “Hand sanitizer” in your bag or vehicle is a good option, if no fresh water and soap are available.  If you work in an office with sick people, the likelihood of you catching what they have is very high, if they are coughing and sneezing without covering their mouth or washing their hands straight afterwards.  Try and encourage them to stay home, or, if possible, confine them to a different room to other staff members.  Get some disinfectant wipes, to wipe all common areas in the office or home, as well as your own work station.

Leanne James

For more information on winter wellness click here.

Resveratrol is an antioxidant found in the skin of red grapes and new research has recently linked it to a possible extended life. Watch the video below from 60 minutes to find out more about what some scientists believe could be the breakthrough of the century!

Host Morley Safer: 17 years ago 60 minutes researched into the “French paradox” which suggested that the French, despite a high fat diet and high consumption of wine, had remarkably low incidence of heart disease compared with Americans.  Most researchers agree that there was something in the wine that offered protection. A few years later even the cautious federal dietary guidelines say that moderate consumption of red wine can be beneficial. Now scientists across the country have identified a substance in Red Wine called Resveratrol that they believe may do more then just protect the heart but could, in very high concentrations, significantly extend life; by preventing a number of age related illnesses.  If they are right, we may all soon be taking a pill that could give us an extra decade or two of healthy old age.

Dr. Christoph Westphal:  If the promise holds true, I think this has the chance to change health care.

Host Morley Safer:  Dr. Christoph Westphal says that we all may be soon taking a drug that just might beat the clock. A simple pill that could delay the inevitable.

Dr. Christoph Westphal: Our goal is to prevent and stall many of the diseases that strike us at 50, 60 and 70 all with one pill.

Host Morley Safer:  So what your suggesting is that there’s some sort of rejuvenation drug that turns a 70 year old into a 35 year old.

Dr. Christoph Westphal, that might be pretty hard to do but I think that if we are on a train heading one direction we can slow down that train. I think we can slow down these genes that control the aging process.

Host Morley Safer:  That quest to put death on hold began in 2003 when Westphal met David Sinclair, a Bio-Chemist at Harvard who was studying the genetic components of aging.

Dr. Christoph Westphal:  5 years ago I met David and he had shown that you could extend lifespan in Yeast. That’s pretty exciting you know.

Host Morley Safer: Yeah if you’re yeast it’s exciting. Yeast is one thing, Human beings are more complicated, so Sinclair focused on a gene found in almost all life forms.  The gene is normally in-active, but when it is active, Sinclair believes that it triggers a survival mechanism that extends life. Convinced that something in nature could activate that gene, Sinclair randomly tested thousands of compounds and BINGO he got a hit!

Resveratrol!

David Sinclair:  When I Goggled this Resveratrol, I was shocked to find that Red Wine was the top hit.

Host Morley Safer: Red Wine is brimming with Resveratrol.  Its found in high concentration in the skin of the grape. It seems to play a role in protecting it, aiding bacteria and fungi.

Host Morley Safer asks Sinclair: Were you aware of the research into Red Wine and that it offered certain health benefits?

David Sinclair: Well sure,  that’s why I almost fell off my chair when the link was made and I thought that this was a potential explanation for the benefits of Red Wine.

Host Morley Safer: Convinced they were on the verge of a major scientific breakthrough, Sinclair and Dr. Christoph Westphal launched Sirtris, a Cambridge Massachusetts research company. They, along with a number of cutting edge Bio-Tech companies, are now developing Resveratrol based drugs that they believe ” zero in on the longevity gene.”

David Sinclair: The important news here is not that we found something in Red Wine. The important thing is that we have passed a milestone now, where we can now make drugs based on this knowledge AND potentially slow down aging itself.

Host Morley Safer: Everyone from Plastic Surgeons to your friendly snake oil salesman have been promising a ticket to eternal youth for sometime.  So the prospect of a prescription pill, based on Red Wine, that could trigger a longevity gene,  sounds to good to be true and yet scientists have actually known for years one sure fire way of doing that.

Stay Hungry!

David Sinclair: Eating a lot of food turns that off, Dieting and extreme dieting turns it on.

Host Morley Safer:  These reeses monkeys are  on a major diet.  For nearly 2 decades now they’ve been taking in a good 30% fewer calories then their well fed brothers and sisters. They are the center piece in a national health study, at the University of Wisconsin into whether or not CR (Calorie Restriction) makes them healthier and extends there lives.  I dressed up in a coat for this sterile environment and visited them with Vikki Coleman, the project leader.

Viki:  These are two of our Calorie control (CR) animals here.

Host Morley Safer: They are nearing the end of a typical monkey lifespan (about 27 Years) and overall differences in their overall health are becoming clear.

The difference is really obvious. The skinny monkeys actually look younger, their coats are shinier and fewer have arthritis. However those chunky monkeys, many of them have diabetes and a significantly high number of cancer and heart disease.

It’s obvious that the lighter guys do better.  Dr Richard Widebrook, who heads up the study,  believes that calorie restriction turns on these monkeys genetic survival switch.  A hungry life seems to lead to a longer life!

Dr. Christoph Westphal:  There is an emerging survival advantage for the monkeys on calorie restriction.  50% of the normally fed animals have died and only maybe 25% of those on calorie restriction.

Host Morley Safer:  That’s a pretty remarkable number!  Surely these are strong indications that restricting calorie intake among humans would be extremely beneficial?

Dr Richard Widebrook: It appears  to support that Idea.

Host Morley Safer: But our records, as humans of staying on diets, is pretty miserable.

Dr Richard Widebrook: And Worsening!

Host Morley Safer:  So it’s a fat chance that we will all be giving up our passion for greasy junk!  We consume tons more calories then we need.  But believe it or not, there are some Americans that just revel in their hunger. Meet the skinny members of the CRS The “Calorie Restriction Society”.  A group that’s been severely restricting their calories for years now. The are also part of a University of Washington study, to see if humans mimic the monkeys.  Does this kind of self denial make them live longer happier lives? We join them for what they call happy hour. Though you might regard it as an unhappy hour?

So far, the participants have lowered their blood pressure, reduced their body fat and lessened the risk of diabetes, heart failure and even cancer.  And what’s more?  To one husband anyway,  starvation has it’s sexy side.  Their adversaries travel the world, spreading the faith and the word, Hunger turns on the survival gene!

The skinny might not die young BUT, given their diet, they just may die of boredom!  But if the scientists are on the right track,  it could mean forget dieting, Forget the sweaty business of working out, Just pop a pill and you are in “No dieting couch potato paradise.!”

Dr. Christoph Westphal: We have a pill that can mimic many of the effects of calorie control or exercise.

Host Morley Safer: So someone could be very healthy and obese at the same time?

Dr. Christoph Westphal:  Our goal as healthy individuals should ideally be a healthy lifestyle and if that doesn’t work, we believe we have a pill that can mimic that.

Host Morley Safer: A pill that in effect diets for you.  A pill that turns on the survival gene.

David Sinclair: What we are trying to do with our drugs here is to put the body in a defensive state,  to ring the alarm bells and get the body to defend itself, so instead of dieting to set the alarm off,  simply pop a pill.

Host Morley Safer: The pill is a highly concentrated form of Resveratrol, a virtual “vineyard of good living”

Host Morley Safer asks Sinclair: How much wine would you have to drink to get the kind of Resveratrol that your using?

David Sinclair: The sad news is that you would need to drink about 1000 bottles of Red Wine a day of wine, which I don’t recommend.

Host Morley Safer: The pill itself may not extend lifespan but could prevent the diseases of aging – Alzheimer’s, diabetes, heart disease and even cancer.

David Sinclair: What were talking about is activating the body’s natural genetic defences and that’s very powerful if we can harness it.

Host Morley Safer: Resveratrol has been tested on mice and the results have been encouraging. In this test video provided by Sirtris, both of the mice had been fed a high fat diet for 12 weeks.  When placed on a treadmill, the mouse on the right ran twice as far. He was taking high concentrations of Resveratrol. You have fat mice and you have fat mice with Resveratrol and with the ones that are on Resveratrol, they can run twice as far AND they live longer – about 20% longer.

Host Morley Safer:  Other studies showed that among mice fed a high fat diet,  those given Resveratrol, did not gain as much weight as those who were given the drug.  Sinclair believes that Resveratrol actually changes the physiology of the Mice.  The proof he says, is in the post mortem.

David Sinclair: Their organs looked pristine! Youthful, fat free and their physiology was just like they were dieting but they were fat.

Host Morley Safer:  Convinced they were on the right path, they fast tracked the drug into human trials;  on people with untreated Diabetes – And the results were impressive!  Resveratrol significantly lowered glucose and insulin levels without the patients changing their diet or taking any other drug.

Dr. Christoph Westphal: Originally, our hope was that you would be able to prevent signs of aging.  But what we ended up seeing is that you could actually therapeutically intervene with patients who have diseases of aging and that was unexpected.

David Sinclair:  Yes, the diabetic patients have high blood sugar and the molecules bring it down. That’s treatment! That’s not prevention.

Host Morley Safer: Sirtris is now developing what they say is a much more potent synthetic version of Resveratrol that will also soon go into human trials.  This time on Cancer patients.

Dr. Christoph Westphal: I keep on thinking, You know what used to be thought as science fiction, I actually think biology is right and if that’s right this might be the biggest thing we are going to do in our lives.

Host Morley Safer: Possibly but it is important to remember that 9 out of 10 drugs that look good in mice ultimately fail in human trials. Still the speed and results generated by Sirtris Pharmaceuticals and the Resveratrol drugs are unusual. Sinclair believes that these drugs will not only keep people living longer but will keep them healthy longer.

David Sinclair: What we are potentially talking about, is possibly making a 90 year old as healthy as a 60 year old. A 60 year old can play tennis and see their great grandchildren graduate from college. People will live active healthy lives and then die quietly in their sleep and that’s really the aim here with these medicines.

Host Morley Safer: Are we on the edge of maintaining active lives on into our 100s for example?

David Sinclair: Well we’ve certainly passed a corner in terms of the science and someones going to achieve it.  If its not us it is going to be someone else!

Host Morley Safer: But the question that most of us want answered is when do we get this pill?

David Sinclair: I would say 5 years to be conservative, this will happen within our lifetimes and I’m fairly certain about that.

Host Morley Safer: One measure of the potential of this research is Doctor Sinclair and Doctor Westphals little start-up company was recently bought by the pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline for almost 3 quarters of a Billion Dollars!

5 HTP

Are you depressed, anxious; suffer with insomnia, obsessive/compulsive disorders, stress or PMT? Well the answer may be to boost up your serotonin levels. Read on to find out more.

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Serotonin is a neurotransmitter or brain chemical that produces an inhibitory effect on the nervous system, which soothes, calms and creates a feeling of contentment. Serotonin has been known to researchers for nearly half a century and new research continues to demonstrate how it influences mood, addictions and emotion. Depression, insomnia, anxiety, suicide, migraines, PMS, obsessive/compulsive behaviour, stress, obesity and addiction can all be manifestations of low levels of serotonin. Since serotonin is found in the brain and central nervous system, it has many implications on mood, behaviour and sleep patterns. It is also found in the blood platelets and some mucosa cells of the gastrointestinal tract.

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Depression results, in part, from the lack of serotonin. The leading antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. By blocking the reuptake of serotonin, they increase the serotonin available to stimulate serotonin receptors. These include Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, and Effexor. While they may be very effective for the treatment of depression, they are not without side effects, including a loss of sex drive. They are also only available by prescription.

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Nature to the rescue!

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5 HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) is a safe and natural alternative to many antidepressant drugs. Extracted from the seed of griffonia simplicifolia, 5-htp is the immediate metabolite between the amino acid L-tryptophan and the brain chemical serotonin.

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Luckily, clinical studies have been done with 5 HTP, comparing their effectiveness to anti depressant drugs. The results of the studies were astounding. Using the standard depression scale, both the drug and 5-HTP groups displayed identical reduction in depression. Depressed patients, who received 100 mg of 5-HTP three times daily, showed at least a 50% improvement in their symptoms, without any reported side effects. Similar studies with depressed children demonstrated equal benefit. Beta-endorphins, the “feel-good” hormones, were also significantly elevated after consumption of 200 mg of 5-HTP by patients with severe depression.

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Subsequent studies were performed using 5-HTP for anxiety, panic disorder, sleep difficulties and obesity. Professor Dr R.S. Kahn observed an obvious decline in anxiety symptoms when supplementing with 5-HTP, and patients with panic disorder noticed a feeling of relief after receiving 5-htp. Melatonin, which helps regulate our sleep-wake cycle, is a metabolite of serotonin. Early research studies show that supplementing with 5-HTP can have positive effects on sleep patterns in some people. In another clinical study with obese patients, over a 6 week period, those supplemented with 5-HTP were able to reduce their carbohydrate intake and experienced a feeling of early satiety, which contributed to significant weight loss. Low levels of serotonin are also associated with sleep problems, low threshold for pain and anxiety.

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Many weight loss products work by the same serotonin reuptake inhibiting mechanism, increasing serotonin levels. Beta endorphins seem to fool people into feeling fuller, therefore, individuals eat less and lose weight. If you are unhappy with the results or side effects of your current diet program, 5-HTP may be an effective alternative for you! 5-HTP should not be used with MAO inhibitors or other antidepressants. If unsure, seek professional advice before using 5HTP.

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If you want to get a hold of 5 htp the best place that I would recommend is healthyonline and you can go directly to the page here. If you say “Sam sent me” when placing the order they will also give you free shipping and a 5% discount.

I wont muck around because there is not enough Time get over to This Protein Cookie Link Now if you want the new protein cookie a week before anywhere in New Zealand at a 20% discount!!!

Get over there now and check it out. You have till the end of this week!!!

It’s that time again. This week I’m drawing the winners for two Multi-Vite’s from Xcel Health.

Watch The Video Below To Find Out Who Was The Winner!

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]]> http://healthyblog.co.nz/health/?feed=rss2&p=500 0 http://healthyblog.co.nz/health/?p=500 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthyOnline/~3/o1isaiWbyWM/ http://healthyblog.co.nz/health/?p=488#comments Sun, 03 May 2009 10:30:54 +0000 SamBakker http://healthyblog.co.nz/health/?p=488 I don’t know about you, but I love the taste of MILO mixed with milk (as well as eaten off the spoon, directly from the container!) I remember as a child heaping 2 or 3 big tablespoons full of MILO into my cup, stirring in some milk and then adding some extra MILO onto the top, so I could end up with the chocolate moustache, like the boy in the MILO advertisement on TV. Umm, what fond thoughts of this chocolaty goodness!? But is it really as good for us as Nestlé would have us believe? And what about all those added nutrients?

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I’ve seen babies with MILO in their bottle, and what could be wrong with this? Don’t Nestlé tell us that MILO has 6 essential vitamins and minerals? In fact, the “Good to know statement” on a container of MILO tells us that “Every glass provides 50% of a child’s daily needs for calcium, iron and vitamins B1 and C”. Yes MILO may have these nutrients added to it (as part of the special MILO formulation) however the naturally occurring caffeine found in the cocoa beans may interfere with the proper absorption of these added nutrients. If parents think that they can rely on MILO as a source of these nutrients to help with their childrens daily nutritional needs, the child may end up becoming nutrient deficient, let alone all the caffeine they will be receiving in each cup full.

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Nestles website provides all kinds of interesting information, one being an iron chart which lists food sources of iron. It tells me that by having 1 heaped tbls of MILO I am getting 5.32mg of iron. The RDA (recommended daily allowance) of Iron per day for a child aged between 5 months and 10 years of age is 10mg per day. So this means they are saying you can provide ½ of your child’s daily Iron needs by giving them a serve of MILO. I think it is a problem that MILO is listed as a source of Iron. This is because the naturally occurring caffeine in the cocoa beans in MILO can interfere with the proper absorption of nutrients, but particularly Iron and Calcium.

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They talk about how MILO carries the trusted National Heart Foundation Tick. It goes on to note though, that MILO only gets the Tick when made using 15grams or 3 level teaspoons of MILO, in 200ml of trim milk. Now who makes a drink of MILO with only 3 level teaspoons per cup? I know I most certainly do not. Lots of people I talked to told me they use to eat MILO out of the packet or container and when they made a drink of MILO, they had at least 3 heaped dessertspoons full, equating to at least 30grams of MILO. Their statement continues, “MILO is an all-round better choice for you and your family, so now you can feel good about saying YES to MILO!”

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I talked to a lot of people about the amount of MILO they add to a cup. I was surprised to hear from a number of people (adults) that they can only have 1 small teaspoon of MILO per cup, as they feel far too stimulated from it. I asked them what they meant by this and they told me that there was no way they could have this in the late afternoon or evening, as they would have a problem sleeping. Remember this was adults who told me this. So if MILO can affect adults like this, what does it do to our children when they have this as a drink before bed? Yet isn’t this one of the favourite times to drink MILO?

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I had a look on MILO web site to see if they mentioned Caffeine. To their credit, they do. In their questions and answers section it states that MILO contains a small amount of caffeine, as caffeine is a natural component of the cocoa bean. They go on to say that it contains about one fifth the amount found in a cup of coffee. So again they must be basing this on the 3 level teaspoons or 15 grams of MILO powder, as is suggested as the serving size on the label.

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I found a copy of a report called “Coffee and Caffeine”. This is an Evidence Based Nutrition Statement from The National Heart Foundation of New Zealand’s Nutrition Advisory Committee. In this document there is a chart called “Comparison of caffeine content of typically consumed beverages”. It lists the amount of caffeine found in 100ml of different caffeine containing beverages, such as coffee, tea, coca cola, Red Bull, V, etc. As an example of the caffeine content of some of the listed beverages, Instant coffee contains 44mg of caffeine per 100ml, a tea bag brewed for 1 minute contains 20mg of caffeine per 100ml and Red Bull and V contain 32mg of caffeine per 100ml. The same chart tells us that there is 36.7mg of caffeine in 100 ml of MILO powder. Check it out for yourself, on page 9 of this document.

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It’s no wonder they tell us “Mix up a glass of MILO for a great-tasting and nutritious drink that gives you the energy to go and go and go.” We all know now that one of the main contributors to MILO’s ability to help you to go go go is its caffeine content.

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Nestlé and Osteoporosis New Zealand have teamed up to support building strong bones in kids. They tell us “A glass of MILO with trim milk is a good way to help build strong bones and teeth in children.” Remember the naturally occurring caffeine in the milo could interfere with the calcium that is in the milk and that has been added to the MILO powder, so I wouldn’t recommend relying on this as a way to build strong healthy bones in children. A child’s daily calcium needs are absolutely humongous, with most age groups needing around 600-800mg per day and those 10 years and over needing around 12, 00-15,00mg per day.
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We will all continue to love MILO, with its unique chocolaty taste, but hopefully after reading this you are more informed about the caffeine content in MILO, the advertising that is behind MILO and what you can and cannot rely on with relation to its nutritional content.

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Article Written by Naturopath and Health Professional Leanne James. To read more from Leanne James visit healthyonline

Guess what aswel? I get to give you all the first oppertunity in New Zealand to get your hands on these cookies a whole week before anyone else! On the 5th of May I will be posting a link to the cookies to get ahold of these new cookies and what more your going to get them at a 25% discount! There wont be another opportunity to make your friends jelous like this again. Subscribe or place a comment and I will email you as soon as the page goes live. Be quick though because it’s only going to be available for 48 hours!

In this video you are going to find out:

What to look for in a Multi-Vitamin Supplement?

What are the best Multi-Vitamins on the market today?

What is the best Multi-Vitamin for you that you should be taking?

Leanne covers the big brands such as, NFS, Country Life, Go Healthy, Xcel Health, Twin Lab, and Vitalize to lift the lid off the Multi-Vitamin Market.

Watch below as Leanne takes us through from the best to the worst!

Let me know your thoughts below.

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