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Health and Nutrition with Nature's Sunshine

Not yet a Nature's Sunshine Member? Membership is free with a $40 order. Visit my web site www.herbsplus.mynsp.com Become an Herb Specialist! Visit my Blog for information about classes, webinars and Natural Health Education. Herbsplus4health.blogspot.com

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For Health Enthusiasts worldwide wanting to learn about Health and Nutrition. Join us here to learn about High Quality Products, Educational tools and Opportunities. If you would like to be notified when new items are posted to this page, please Email Me or call me at (817)225-8392 so I can add you to the list.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Important NSP Program Enhancements & Webinar

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The Season of Sunshine Shines Brightly!

Are you ready? NSP announces two great new business enhancements that begin April 1st, 2010:

Join us for a special training Webinar April 12, 2010 at 11 am MDT for complete details. Learn how every Member can become a Manager more quickly, earn special bonuses, and develop a solid business organization with these two simple programs.


Share the Health,
Karen Herrmann-Doolan, NSP District Manager
Nature's Sunshine Herb Specialist
Natural Health Educator
H: 704-588-7638
Visit my Nature's Sunshine Online Store:
www.mynsp.com/herbsplus
Learn about the Body Systems
www.herbsplus4health.com
Check out my Health & Nutrition Blog!

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Nature's Field: Practical Tips for Improving Children's Nutrition

 
   

March 30, 2010

Practical Tips for Improving Children's Nutrition
by Steven Horne, RH(AHG)

With childhood obesity and diabetes running rampant, many people have jumped on the nutritional reform bandwagon.  Jamie Oliver, a British TV chef was recently awarded the prestigious TED award for his work to promote healthier school lunches.  He makes a lot of good points in his talk, Jamie Oliver's TED Prize wish.

While I agree with Jamie Oliver's "diagnosis," I disagree with parts of his "cure."  I sincerely doubt that more government funding into school lunches is going to solve the problem.  After all, government is a big part of the problem in the first place as the clip The Case Against Jamie Oliver explains.

I've never placed the responsibility for my health, or the health of my family on government, doctors or anyone else. The interests of government and big business are seldom in alignment with what's in my best interest, or the interest of my family.  The real answer is for all of us to step up to the plate (or better yet, clean up what we put on the plate) and get the job done ourselves.  Believe me, it's worth it!

Good Nutrition Helps Children Behave Better

Good nutrition not only affects good health, it also affects mental and emotional well-being.  Consuming empty calorie foods like refined sugar, white flour, polished white rice and refined vegetable oils leads to empty heads and affects schooling, behavior and social skills.  When my children were young we had none of these foods in our home and babysitters always said we had the best-behaved kids they had ever seen.
 
Instead of drugging  kids with harmful medications, we should be feeding them better quality foods. But kids aren't going to eat these foods at school if they aren't fed these foods at home.  Unfortunately, many parents say, "But my kids won't eat healthy food."  This makes me think, "Who's in charge of the home, the kids or adults?"  If you don't buy it, they won't be able to eat it.

Which, by the way, is part of the reason I'm offering a free parenting webinar on Monday, April 12.  I think many parents today don't know how be a parent.  (See sidebar for more info.)  Click on the following link to register: 
Free Parenting is a Delightful Job Webinar
.

But, returning to the subject of nutrition, if parents knew how much easier it is to be a parent when you're feeding your kids correctly, most parents would immediately take steps to change their family menus.  In fact, when kids are fed right, incidences of hyperactivity and antisocial behavior dramatically decrease.

Improving Your Family's Diet Without Stress

So, take charge of what you feed your family, but not as a dictator.  Do it as a leader, which means start by setting a good example.  With a little parenting skill, your kids will learn to eat what you make available and enjoy it.  So, for starters, here are a few tips.


First, get the junk food out of the home.  When unhealthy food isn't in your home, both you and your children will be less likely to eat it. When you want a treat go out and get it, but don't keep it in the house.

Second, learn how to prepare healthier versions of your family's favorite foods.  Take a cue from Food Network star chef Emeril Lagasse and "kick it up a notch" by learning how to make your family's favorite foods using better ingredients.  This makes improving nutrition less stressful. 

For example, children love sweets, so don't deprive them of all treats.  Instead, gradually substitute raw honey, pure maple syrup, xylitol and other natural sweeteners for refined sugar in their diet.  You can also use whole grains instead of white flour.  Start by mixing whole grains and white flour 50-50 and gradually increase the whole grain content.

Third, when changing children's diets, focus on the positive. Talk more about what's healthy to eat than what's bad for you.  Remember that what you focus on, you tend to magnify.  So give kids healthy food first. Place vegetables like carrot and celery sticks and a healthy dip out for them to eat as you are preparing the meal.  If they are hungry enough, they will eat this wholesome food  while waiting for something else.  Increase portions of vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and whole grains while decreasing portions of meat and dairy foods.

Also, don't try to control everything your children eat. What they eat when they are away from home isn't really in your control and trying to control it engenders rebellion.  A "treat" now and then won't hurt them if their general diet is good.  If you teach them the benefits of eating wholesome foods in a positive manner and set a good example, they will learn to control themselves.  You can't watch them constantly, especially when they become those delightful creatures that we call teenagers!

Fourth, because they aren't going to always eat right, take out a little "nutritional health insurance" and give them some supplements.  All the  supplements we discussed in last weeks issue of Nature's Field can also be used for kids.  Nature's Sunshine's Sunshine Hero's line features  probioticsCalcium plus D, enzymes, vitamins and minerals, antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids available in chewable form.  These products taste good enough you shouldn't have any problem getting kids to take them.

Finally, here are some specific tips for helping kids to eat better.  For starters, I've used licorice root to help stabilize children's blood sugar and take away their cravings for sweets. 

I've also used the approach of asking older kids to refrain from eating certain foods for just one week, after which they get to have a meal where they eat all they want.  They usually feel better at the end of the week, and after they indulge in their sugar, dairy, wheat or whatever, they feel horrible.  This helps reinforce the message that this food is making them sick.

Research has shown that children who have protein for breakfast (eggs, meat, whole milk yogurt, a Love and Peas protein shake, etc.) do much better in school than children who eat sugar-sweetened breakfast cereals.  In fact, children who skipped breakfast entirely did better in school than children who ate sweets and carbohydrates for breakfast.  So, if possible, get your family to eat a good, hearty breakfast with protein and good fats. 

And while you're at it, why not pack them a nutritious lunch instead of having them eat the junk food at school?  That's a smarter option than spending billions more on school lunch programs that may or may not be the foods you want your kids to be eating.  I took my lunch to school, and, in fact I usually packed it myself, something I'm still doing.  Which reminds me, it's time to take a break and enjoy the nice salad I made this morning!

Best of health to you and your family!

Parenting is a Delightful Job (Seriously)!

I was fortunate to take a parenting class and read the book, Children: The Challenge by Rudolf Dreikurs, when my oldest daughter was less than a year old.  As a result of putting what I learned into practice I really enjoyed being a parent.  It was never a stressful or difficult job for me.

To this day, I understand children and have very little trouble winning their co-operation.  In fact, I've had "out of control" kids being co-operative and friendly with me in a short period of time.  So, while diet and nutrition play a role in ADHD and other behavioral problems, so does a lack of effective parenting skills.

This is why I'm offering a free webinar on April 10, entitled Parenting is a Delightful Job.  If you have problems with family discipline, getting your kids to eat healthy, learning disabilities or behavioral problems this webinar could help.  If you know someone who has these kinds of problems, tell them about the webinar.

Click here to register for the free webinar, Parenting is a Delightful Job.

Holistic Solutions to Learning Problems

It's a story I've heard repeated over and over again in schools across the country. A child has some difficulty mastering a particular subject—math, reading, even sports—and, as a result the system labels them: slow, stupid, dumb, etc.

Not only do these labels hurt, the child starts internalizing them and believing them, which cripples the child's ability to master that subject, unless there is serious emotional healing work done. The labels establish a pattern of failure that in some cases lasts a lifetime.

Other times, a child has difficulty focusing, gets bored, or just happens to be a very active kid. They also get labeled: uncooperative, attention-deficit or just plain bad!

And, what's worse, is that the school system often pressures the parents of these children into taking drugs. These drugs have numerous side effects and don't help the children learn at all.  In fact, they can cause extremely violent behavior or increase the risk of suicide.

"You are" and "I am" are the most dangerous phrases in the English language because when you tell a child "you are" stupid, dumb, awkward, bad, etc., they tend to believe it. They start thinking "I am" stupid, dumb, awkward, bad, etc. and this locks them into that pattern of belief, often for the rest of their lives.

It's more than just a sad thing. In fact, it's downright tragic, because I know that no child is dumb, stupid, awkward or bad until you make them believe they are.

And it makes me angry, because I not only love children, I have a "tool bag" full of resources to help children succeed!

That's why I created the DVD set, Holistic Solutions to Learning Problems.  If you know anyone who is struggling with a child who has been labeled with "learning problems," this program can help. 

To learn more, go to www.treelite.com.and read more about Holistic Solutions to Learning Problems.  This unique product is only $77 and comes with a special guarantee: if a person buys the DVD set, tries some of the tools on their children and does not see any improvement in their learning abilities they can return the program anytime within 90 days of purchase for a full refund.

 
 
 

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Nature's Field - Supplements are Nutritional Health Insurance

 
   

March 24, 2010

Supplements Are Effective,
Natural Health Insurance
by Steven Horne, RH(AHG)

Many years ago I was helping out a friend who suffered from severe emotional problems.  I gave her some free herbs and supplements, which were helping to balance her nervous system and regulate her blood sugar.  Unfortunately, when she was admitted to the psychiatric hospital, her doctor confiscated them and threw them away.

According to her, her doctor said, "Don't waste your money on supplements.  You can get all the nutrition you need from a McDonald's hamburger, milk shake and French fries."  I was amazed by this.  If he had said, "You can get all the nutrition you need from a well-balanced diet," I might have given him some credit, but as the movie Super-Size Me proved, no one can be healthy on a diet of fast food.

But it does beg the question.  Are supplements really necessary?  Can you really get all the nutrients you need from a well-balanced diet?  Of course you can.  Dr. Weston Price found that native people living on traditional diets were extremely healthy and rarely got sick.  However, all the animal food they ate were from wild animals and they ate organ meats (brains, heart, liver, glands, etc.) not just muscle meat.  Furthermore, their diets contained plant foods that we think of as medicinal herbs (like dandelion, burdock, chickweed, etc.). 

So, can you really get all the nutrients you need from a modern supermarket diet?  Probably not. Most of the fruits and vegetables are 14-days old and have traveled an average of 1,000 miles to reach the produce section.  That's enough time for huge nutrient losses to occur.  Even the organic meats, eggs and dairy products aren't the nutritional equivalent of their wild-caught counterparts, and the commercial animal proteins are extremely lacking.

And, this is the real food we're talking about. Most people are eating heavily processed foods.  There is no way that this food can provide all the nutrition the body needs to be healthy.  It's a major reason why we have huge problems  with obesity, diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, cancer and the other serious health problems that plague most modern people.  Native people living on traditional diets didn't have these problems!

So, even if you're eating real, whole foods, it doesn't hurt to supplement a little.  Here are the seven basic types of supplements I find most people benefit from. I think investing in some of these supplements will do more good for your health than the new "health insurance" legislation passed in Washington this week.  These supplements are real health insurance, especially when coupled with a good diet and other healthy lifestyle practices.

You don't need to use all seven of these supplements.  Pick the three or four that are most appropriate for you.

SuperFood Supplement

The first thing most people think of when they think supplements is a multi-vitamin and mineral.  If you want to take one, that's great, but I personally don't do well on them. What I do like are whole food supplements like Ultimate GreenZone and the new Love and Peas protein powder (which contains whole foods as well as extracted protein from peas and rice). 

I also like herbal supplements like HSN-W, I-X and other formulas of nutrient-rich herbs (see the sidebar).  I find the body assimilates and utilizes the nutrients from these whole foods better than vitamin and minerals supplements.  I use specific vitamin and mineral supplements more like "natural drugs" to provide temporary support for the body while it heals.

But, whether you choose a multi-vitamin or a superfood supplement, a basic supplement helps make sure you're getting extra nutrients to make up for deficiencies in modern foods.  I like to think of it as taking out "nutritional health insurance."

Minerals

The mineral content of our foods has dropped to less than 10% of what it was 100 years ago.  We simply cannot get the minerals we need from food alone.  That's why I highly recommend that at least periodically, people should take Ionic Minerals with Acai or Mineral Chi Tonic so they get the trace minerals they need.

Enzymes

Most people don't eat enough raw food.  Traditional diets had a lot of fresh, raw food, which is rich in enzymes. Traditional cultures that consumed more cooked food also ate enzyme-rich fermented foods. This gave them the enzymes their diet was missing. Since most of us don't eat fermented foods, but do eat a lot of cooked food, I think a basic enzyme supplement like Proactazyme Plus or Food Enzymes is essential for most people. This is especially important after age 50 when digestive function begins to decline.

Fiber

It's no secret that most Americans don't get enough fiber.  Adequate fiber, taken with plenty of water, lowers cholesterol, protects you against colon and other cancers, helps your body get rid of environmental toxins and keeps you regular. 

My favorite fiber supplement is mixing Psyllium Hulls Combination half and half with freshly ground flax seeds.  I take about 2 heaping teaspoons of this daily.  However, I'd start slowly (1/2 teaspoon) and work up to it if you're not used to taking fiber.  Also make sure to drink plenty of water when you're taking fiber.  If you don't, you not only won't get the benefits of it, it could give you a condition a friend of mine called "stuckie gutsies."

Also, if you have colitis or any inflammatory bowel disorder you're better off using straight slippery elm or Everybody's Fiber.  It's gentler on the bowel.  Gentle Move and Intestinal Soothe and Build will also be helpful in this case.

Probiotics

If you've never taken antibiotics, steroids, birth control pills or chemotherapy and you've never drunk chlorinated water and you eat natural yogurt or other fermented foods every day, you probably don't need to supplement the friendly bacteria in your colon.  Everyone else probably needs Probiotic Eleven or Bifidophilus Flora Force

Antioxidants

If we were eating lots of fresh, locally grown produce we wouldn't need antioxidant supplements.  However, if you don't eat your fresh fruits and vegetables every day (and most people I know don't) or you have any kind of inflammatory condition, you need Antioxidants like Thai-Go or Super ORAC .

Essential Fatty Acids

If you eat grass-fed meat, drink raw milk from grass-fed cows, use eggs from pastured chickens and eat sardines, wild salmon or deep ocean fish several times a week, you are getting your omega-3 fatty acids naturally.  If you don't, you may need to supplement them, as well.  Flax seed oil or Super Omega-3 EPA or better yet, the new Krill Oil will get you what you need.

Sensible Supplementation

I personally don't take everything on the above list every day, except for maybe my enzymes, but I do take most of the supplements on the above list fairly regularly.  And, I eat a fairly healthy diet, as well.  I think it's the combination of the two that has kept me fairly healthy into my mid-50s, and I believe that the extra nutrition (coupled with other good health practices) can keep me vibrantly healthy into my 80s and 90s. 

So, yes, I believe that supplements are important for people living in modern society, even if you eat a fairly healthy diet.  And they are essential if you're going to indulge in those fast food burgers, fries and milk shakes on any kind of regular basis.

You can learn more about healthy eating and supplements in my Get Well Now Webinar Class.  The first session of the paid portion of this class starts this Thursday, March 25.  It's not too late to register.  Click here to learn more. 

Coming next week: Tips on getting kids to eat healthy and supplements for children.

Herbs: Nature's Natural Nutritional Supplements by Steven Horne

My first herb teacher, Edward Milo Millet taught me that herbs are nature's natural nutritional supplements. He believed that the healing properties of herbs didn't just lie in their so-called "active constituents."  He maintained that they also supplied the body with specialized nutrition.

I believe Ed was absolutely right.  Over and over again I see better results with whole herbs than I do with isolated vitamins and minerals and concentrated "active constituents."  It's true that the isolated and concentrated stuff is more medicinal, but it isn't more healing.  There's a difference.

Something that is medicinal will help to balance the body temporarily, but you'll have to keep taking it to get it to work.  Herbs have the ability to shift the body's biochemistry so it returns to normal function and you no longer need the herb to stay well. That's what healing is all about.

Let me give you just one practical example.  Many times I've seen anemic people taking iron supplements and their blood levels of iron are not climbing.  I've put them on herbs such as alfalfa, yellow dock, marshmallow and nettles and watched their blood iron levels normalize in just a few weeks.  Yet, the herbs I'm giving them have a fraction of the iron found in an iron supplement.

This is because the body doesn't assimilate nutrients in isolation.  Even the simplest of foods contains thousands of chemical compounds. Are we smart enough to know what parts we need and what parts we don't? I don't think so.

All the subtle co-factors in a whole plant work together to restore normal function to the body.  When nutrients and compounds are isolated, they appear to lose much of this healing power.

It goes deeper than this.  Native people say that if you harvest an herb without asking permission from the plant to take it's life, it's body will help to heal your body.  But, if you approach the plant and ask for it's help, it will also help to heal your soul.  I've literally found this to be true.

I believe we are too caught up in our "cleverness" at isolating and concentrating stuff we think is important, but over and over again we find that this approach results in unwanted side effects or other problems. 

That's why I like to use HSN-W, BON-C, Herbal CA and PLS II for healing tissues instead of calcium supplements.  I use real lemon juice, rose hips and fresh fruits for Vitamin C.  I use I-X and iron-rich herbs to build iron levels.  I find this approach works better.  Sometimes you have to take a lot of the herbs, but they seem to have a greater healing effect.

So, I encourage you to think of herbs like my teacher Ed Millet did.  Don't look at them as just medicine.  Think of them as natural nutritional supplements, prepared by the master nutritionist and healer, the Creator.

Last Chance to Register for the Get Well Now Webinar

My Get Well Now Webinar starts tomorrow (Thursday, March 25).  The great thing about this class is that it is very practical.  It teaches you all the basic skills of healing that serve as the building blocks that help you understand how the body heals. 

What's even better is that almost everything I'll be teaching you to do isn't expensive.  In fact, most of the techniques I'm covering don't cost anything except a little time and effort.

This doesn't mean they aren't powerful, however, because they are.  I've seen amazingly rapid healing using the information I've compiled in this class. 

To learn more and register for this class (before it's too late) Click here.

Free Parenting Webinar

I've heard people complain that they can't get their kids to eat healthy.  I can understand this if the kid is in their teens, but they're often talking about four- and five-year-olds.  I also see a lot of kids that are labeled ADHD or "problem kids" that I have no trouble getting to co-operate with me.

These are just a few of the signs I see that many parents simply lack good parenting skills.  That's why I'm doing a free webinar called "Parenting is a Delightful Job" in April. It's absolutely free, so if you're a parent or grandparent or just want to acquire better skills in working with children

Click here to register

 
 
 

DISCOUNTS ON CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS THIS WEEK

Sunshine Heroes Children's Products

Now purchasing your Children's Daily Supplements is EASY!

New! Sunshine Heroes "Hero Trio Pack"

Hero Trio Pack w/ FREE carrying case includes 1 bottle each of:

  • Multiple Vitamins and Minerals
  • Whole Food Antioxidants
  • Omega 3 w/DHA.
Sunshine Heroes Sample Pack
Stock No. 3350-3 Direct Cost: $47.35 QV Points: 33.50
Available March 21
Buy now!   
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Purchase a Hero Trio Pack and in addition to a free carrying case, you'll also receive a FREE inflatable Sunshine Heroes logo sign 
If you use the following promotion number March 21-31, 2010: 

Promo No: 14913-2 Direct Cost: $47.35 QV Points: 33.50
Available March 21 - 31, 2010.
Buy now!
   
Sunshine Heroes Inflatable

Save on these popular "For Kids Too!" Products.
Buy 4 get, 1 FREE. Buy 9, get 3 FREE. Or get $2 off.
Available March 21 - 31, 2010

Echinacea/Golden Seal Liquid. Both of these herbs are known for their immune system support. These herbs are in a sweet glycerin base that is safe for use by children.

ALJ® Liquid. One of our top-selling herbal formulas, ALJ nourishes a challenged respiratory system. ALJ supports healthy lung function and encourages the respiratory tract to cleanse itself.

CC-A w/Yerba Santa. Contains 13 herbs known to support the immune and respiratory systems. Fight change-of-season health challenges with this formula.

Focus Attention. Some children need extra help staying on task. Focus Attention contains ginkgo, DMAE and Melissa officinalis to support normal brain function. It encourages restful, balanced activity. Available in powder or capsules.


Find these products on the Weekly Specials page.


Sunshine Heroes Calcium Plus D3. Calcium is vital to help strengthen growing bones and developing teeth. Each serving provides 300 mg calcium, 140 mg phosphorus and 300 IU of vitamin D3.


Sunshine Heroes Whole Foods Papayazyme. Contains pineapple and papaya fruits that naturally aid the digestion process. It may also strengthen immune response and support intestinal health.

Sunshine Heroes Probiotic Power. Friendly bacteria aid digestion and support immunity. Add more good guys (11 strains of friendly intestinal flora!) to the ongoing battle of by supplementing with Probiotic Power!

Echinacea Goldenseal Liquid
Probiotic Power


Find these great products on the Weekly Specials page
starting Sunday, March 21!


Introduce potential customers to Sunshine Heroes
with these helpful sales tools.
Sunshine Heroes Booklet (10)
Stock No.:5284-1 Direct Cost: $5.00
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NEW! Sunshine Heroes Sample Pack
(30 packets Multiple Vitamins & Minerals)

Stock No.:3348-2 Direct Cost: $14.95 QV Points: 10.00
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Also, available while supplies last:

- Sunshine Heroes T-shirts (Various sizes; Member Cost: $5.00)
- Lunch bags (Stock No.: 5277-8; Direct Cost: $4.95)
- Inflatable signs (Stock No.: 5278-2; Direct Cost: $6.50)
- Coloring books
Download coloring book(PDF)

  
ALSO ON SALE MARCH 21-31, 2010 
 
$ 2 OFF, BUY 4 GET 1 FREE AND BUY 9 GET 3 FREE SPECIALS ON THE FOLLOWING: 

Stock #3348-2
Regular Member Cost: $14.95
 

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Regular Member Cost: $14.95

 
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Regular Member Cost: $14.95
 
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Regular Member Cost: $17.75

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Regular Member Cost: $13.50

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Regular Member Cost: $14.95

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Regular Member Cost: $11.75
Sunshine Heroes T-shirt

Visit my NSP Specials page http://www.mynsp.com/herbsplus/Products/Specials.aspx to see sales prices of all these great products. 


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Chocolate Bars Also save on Nature's Sweet Life dark chocolate bars. Cardio Raspberry or Plain Dark (55% Cacao).
Buy 3, get one FREE and $5 OFF each box through March 31!




Find these Chocolate Bars on the Weekly Specials page

EXTRA SPECIAL SALE ON THURSDAY, MARCH 25TH ONLY:
  • CHLOROPHYLL LIQUID (32 OZ) BUY 3 FOR JUST $25. 
  • CANDIDA CLEAR - $25. OFF 
VISIT NSP SPECIALS PAGE ON MARCH 25TH TO RECEIVE THIS  TWO EXTRA SPECIAL OFFERS!
 
 
 

Share the Health,
Karen Herrmann-Doolan, NSP District Manager 
Nature's Sunshine Herb Specialist 
Natural Health Educator
O: 704-966-6645
H: 704-588-7638
 
Visit my Nature's Sunshine Online Store:
www.mynsp.com/herbsplus  
Learn about the Body Systems 
www.herbsplus4health.com
Check out my Health & Nutrition Blog!


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