| Dear John,
We are finally seeing warmer temperatures here at US Wellness headquarters. Luckily we missed the last batch of snow that rolled through the midsection of the country! The days are slowly staying lighter longer, and we are more than ready for spring!
February is American Heart Month and according to the CDC, heart disease is the #1 cause of death in the United States. There are many steps you can take to help prevent this terrible disease. Diet is one of the biggest risk factors, and something that every one of us can help control. Lower your risk of heart disease by making sure you are getting enough anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. These can be found in wild-caught salmon, grass-fed beef and dairy products, and fish oil. Dr. Al Sears offers invaluable advice regarding heart disease and cholesterol in his column below.
One of our favorite steaks is finally on sale this week - the Sirloin Tip. It is one of our leaner steaks, and one of the most versatile - it can be sliced into sandwich meat, used in stir-fry, as kabobs, stew meat, or marinated. See our recipe section below which features the Sirloin Tip with Mushroom & Peppercorn sauce.
US Wellness Meats is excited to introduce a new Feature Chef: Chef Bernadette Kathryn is a graduate of the French Culinary Institute in New York, and we were honored to have her sit down for a few questions. Read her full interview, then be sure and check out her Meatballs & Sauce Recipe which features beef, veal and pork and is amazing!
Our good friend Kat James is hosting her next Total Transformation program starting March 25 in picturesque Costa Rica. The site of her next program will amaze you - Leaves and Lizards is the Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat that offers breathtaking views and a total escape from everyday life. If you are ready for a health and beauty transformation, Kat is the best person to guide you on the journey. She is a best-selling author of The Truth About Beauty and can put you on the fast track to a healthier self image, diet, and outlook on life.
Stay up-to-date with all of our latest happenings by following us on Twitter or on our blog. Our latest blog recipe was a Greek Beef Tenderloin which was delicious!
   
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Breaking News
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Restocked This Week:
15% Discount Code Available!
Don't forget to look for the special promo code for a one-time-only 15% discount off your next purchase. The 7 letter code word can be found in Catherine's article and will be spelled in order. Code will be active Sunday through Tuesday this week. This code only applies on orders weighing under 40 pounds and excludes all sale items, volume discounts, gift certificates and Flavorwave ovens. Your order receipt will not show a credit, the code simply changes prices of individual products on your receipt page. Compare receipt to retail store prices to see the discount. _______________________________________ Eating Berries May Lower Risk Of Parkinson's New r esearch shows men and women who regularly eat berries may have a lower risk of developing Parkinson's disease, while men may also further lower their risk by regularly eating apples, oranges and other sources rich in dietary components called flavonoids. The study was released today and will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 63rd Annual Meeting in Honolulu April 9 to April 16, 2011. Flavonoids are found in plants and fruits and can also be found in berry fruits, chocolate, and citrus fruits such as grapefruit. The study involved 49,281 men and 80,336 women. Researchers gave participants questionnaires and used a database to calculate intake amount of flavonoids. They then analyzed the association between flavonoid intakes and risk of developing Parkinson's disease. They also analyzed consumption of five major sources of foods rich in flavonoids: tea, berries, apples, red wine and oranges or orange juice. The participants were followed for 20 to 22 years. During that time, 805 people developed Parkinson's disease. In men, the top 20 percent who consumed the most flavonoids were about 40 percent less likely to develop Parkinson's disease than the bottom 20 percent of male participants who consumed the least amount of flavonoids. In women, there was no relationship between overall flavonoid consumption and developing Parkinson's disease. However, when sub-classes of flavonoids were examined, regular consumption of anthocyanins, which are mainly obtained from berries, were found to be associated with a lower risk of Parkinson's disease in both men and women. "This is the first study in humans to examine the association between flavonoids and risk of developing Parkinson's disease," said study author Xiang Gao, MD, PhD, with the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. "Our findings suggest that flavonoids, specifically a group called anthocyanins, may have neuroprotective effects. If confirmed, flavonoids may be a natural and healthy way to reduce your risk of developing Parkinson's disease." Source: American Academy of Neurology (AAN)
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 Catherine's Comment
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By: Catherine Ebeling, RN, BSN
You may not think you have food addictions but you really could. Think - what foods do you eat day in, and day out on a regular basis? Often these may not even be foods you realize you are eating, but exist as ingredients in many packaged foods. Foods and food substances, eaten every day can often cause chronic health problems like weight gain, puffiness, inflammation - and even more serious health conditions like migraine headaches, arthritis, osteoporosis, neuropathy, bladder infections and other illnesses associated with long-term nutrient deficiencies. One of the most overlooked and least understood parts of diet is food allergies and sensitivities. Did you know that a large percentage of the population has food sensitivities and don't know it? Food allergies or sensitivities do not always occur as a big, full-blown allergic reaction with hives, shortness of breath and anaphylactic reactions. Often these food reactions can occur on a 'sub-clinical' level without obvious symptoms. But not always obvious is the inflammation and reaction on the cellular level. As surprising as it sounds, it is possible to be both allergic and addicted to a food or chemical substance, and quite often this is the case. The two things go hand in hand. This sets up cravings with both physiological (physical) and psychological (mental or emotional) discomfort, withdrawal symptoms and cravings when the offending food is not available. While there often is a much longer list, the top offenders are usually foods that contain wheat, dairy, corn or soy. And if you think about it, its pretty hard to avoid these foods as they are the ingredients in many, many processed or packaged foods-and often disguised as ingredients you may not recognize. What happens in a food sensitivity reaction? Foods that are partially digested leak through the cell wall of the intestinal lining. Since 60% or more of the immune system lies in the digestive system, the undigested particles of food are attacked by the immune system as if they are foreign invaders... Read More...
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Dr. Al Sears, M.D. | 
Why You Never Have to Worry About Heart Disease
By: Al Sears, MD
Dear Health-Conscious Reader,
We really shouldn't be spending all of this time worrying about heart disease. In fact, it only takes us in the wrong direction.
Truth is, you need to do the opposite. Get rid of that worry once and for all. I'll show you rock-solid evidence that what you really need to do is easy and just feels right.
But first, let's get one thing straight ... there's no real proof cholesterol causes heart disease. You need cholesterol to avoid heart attacks and heart disease. And I'll show you how easy it is to boost your HDL. You don't need drugs or doctor's prescriptions. And you don't need to follow a crazy diet.
Your cholesterol blood level can tell you useful information about your health and fitness, but it's not the great predictor of heart disease that conventional medicine leads us to believe. In fact, these numbers make very poor crystal balls, as I learned from experience.
Years ago, I began inheriting a group of patients who "dropped out" with other doctors because they refused to lower their cholesterol levels. These cantankerous old men didn't trust doctors and weren't willing to change their lifestyles in ways that seemed to contradict their instincts.
Over the years, I noticed that these rebels with high cholesterol rarely had heart problems. Recently, the University Hospital in Switzerland announced that cholesterol fails to demonstrate an important (statistically significant) connection with coronary artery disease. Clearly, cholesterol isn't the ultimate heart-attack warning it was made out to be.
When you get past the medical beliefs and look directly at the evidence, the literature points out that nearly 75 percent of people who have heart attacks have normal cholesterol levels(1)...
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Editors Note: Dr. Al Sears, M.D. is a board-certified clinical nutrition specialist. His practice, Dr. Sears' Health & Wellness Center in Royal Palm Beach, Fla., specializes in alternative medicine. He is the author of seven books in the fields of alternative medicine, anti-aging, and nutritional supplementation, including The Doctor's Heart Cure. To get his free special report on the proven anti-aging strategies for building a vibrant, disease-free life, go here now. You'll learn how to stop Father Time without giving up the foods you love.
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Shane Ellison, MS
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Cinnamon Supplements Prove Dangerous
By: Shane "The People's Chemist" Ellison
The dietary supplement should be regulated. While the Chicken Little's of "alternative medicine" are warning that regulation would cause the supplement "sky to fall," I say they're wrong.
Regulation, based on scientific findings, would only help the supplement industry, because it has gone awry with wild claims thanks to a circus of hustlers, preachers and wanna-be guru's who study sleazy marketing more than medicine. Promoters of cinnamon supplements laced with chromium picolinate are proof of this.
$15,000 Helps Find Supplement that Defies Diabetes and Obesity
In my book, Over-The-Counter Natural Cures, I showed how modern day chemistry methods discovered the unique ability of cinnamon to control blood sugar, and subsequently defy Type II diabetes and obesity in place of commonly used drugs like Avandia™. Scouring the shelves of Wal-Mart, Rite Aid, GNC and Walgreens, I spent over $15,000 testing various supplements to find "the right" cinnamon product (all readers get free access to this testing). Spring Valley Cinnamon from Wal-Mart proved to among the best choices. But not all Spring Valley Cinnamon is the same; a nasty adulterant has been added.
Nasty Adulterant Added to Cinnamon
In the name of controlling blood sugar, a pharmaceutical lab creation known as chromium picolinate has been stuffed into select cinnamon supplements. The rational is that your body needs it to lower the fat storing hormone insulin. But that hypothesis has failed scientific scrutiny.
Researchers at Harvard University found that supplementing with chromium picolinate failed to elicit any significant weight loss. The big fat failure of chromium picolinate to induce weight loss probably results from the fact that the obese are not deficient in this metal.
Biologically active chromium (vastly different than its pharmaceutical counterpart) is readily available in common foods such as whole grains, processed meats, coffee, nuts, brewer's yeast and even wine and beer. And because it is a "co-factor," the body requires very little of it to use insulin. Thus, every one of these sources can provide the required amount. But if you take synthetic chromium, ineffectiveness is the least of your worries.
The Nutritional Supplement that Slices DNA
Early in my career as a medicinal chemist, I had the honor of working with some of the brightest minds in the field. One of those was professor Diane Stearns who studied chromium picolinate and how it behaved when exposed to the genetic map, DNA. Using state-of-the-art imaging, she looked at chromosomes before and after exposure to the Franken-chemical. I got to see the photography first-hand, and it wasn't pretty.
Looking at the snapshots of exposed DNA, it looked like a grenade went off in a lumber factory. Tiny pieces of DNA floated aimlessly in the Petri-dish. If this happens in the body, cancer can develop and spread like fire on a windy day.
The doses used in her study were similar to what a nutritional supplement would provide. But even so, people who supplement with the pharmaceutical chromium compound may be getting a lot more. Talking to the New York Times, Dr. Stearns said that "Chromium accumulates in the body and you can get much higher levels in the tissues. Once inside a cell, it is very slow to leave."
Others have had similar findings.
Chemistry Professor Stephen Woski published his chromium picolinate research in the chemistry journal Polyhedron. Looking at its ability to slice DNA, he wrote, "The compound [chromium picolinate] was found to significantly increase lipid peroxidation in vivo. Thus, oxidative DNA damage (and lipid damage) from [chromium picolinate] in whole animals has been observed for the first time."
Don't Let Cinnamon Accidentally Poison You
These findings show that cinnamon supplements should not be adulterated with chromium picolinate. If regulations existed, consumers could rest easy knowing that natural, meant "natural," and that their products weren't going to accidently poison them.
About the Author
Shane is an award winning organic chemist with a master's degree in organic chemistry and the author of Over-The-Counter Natural Cures. He has been quoted by USA Today, Shape, Woman's World, as well as Women's Health and has appeared on Fox and NBC as a natural medicine advocate. Learn about the $8 cancer fighter by getting a FREE chapter of his book at www.thepeopleschemist.com.
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Dr. Eric Serrano MD, MS, BC
|  Dr. Serrano,
I am a 46 year old woman with hypothyroidism for 2 years. I am wanting to switch from Levoxyl to Armour Thyroid. I am currently on 75mcg of Levoxyl.
I don't feel well on the dose the doctor likes - I believe I am on too much due to petechia-type rashes, frequent heart palpitations, nausea, joint aches, insomnia, etc. He doesn't like Armour thyroid - he said it is too hard to regulate. I have read much to the contrary. What are your thoughts and recommendations on the type of medication and dosing? (I weigh 125#).
Thanks!
RK ______________________________________________________
Dear RK, A lot of endocrinologists and family practice physicians do not believe in Armour Thyroid because it is made from pig or cow thyroid gland. This is natural and does not have as much research on it as Levoxyl. Armour thyroid works around 70% of the time and the other 30% might need other things including Cytomel or Thyrolar.
If you are not feeling well and you are having all those problems, I agree with you. You may not need a new medication, but a doctor that will listen to you. You are young, and although you did not tell me, weight dosages are very patient-specific that I cannot help you without knowing your labs, symptoms, diet, allergies, history and medications.
Because you have insomnia and palpitations, I would ask your doctor to check your free T4, and free T3 and TSH, but also check your estrogen levels and make sure you don't have food allergies. Thank you,
Dr. Serrano
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This is a friendly reminder to email health and wellness questions to eathealthy@grasslandbeef.com for Dr. Eric Serrano M.D. question and answer series. Please place Dr. Serrano's name in the subject line for quicker processing.
Answers will appear in future issues of the Newsletter and News Alert under your first name only. Dr. Serrano has been so kind to offer his expertise to literally any question related to health and wellness involving grass-fed meats.
Dr. Serrano has advanced degrees in nutrition, kinesiology and wellness and has a wealth of knowledge from both his farm background, 15 years of clinical experience and as an award-winning professor at Ohio State Medical School. Dr. Serrano has an outstanding family practice on the outskirts of Columbus, Ohio and works with a select group of professional athletes.
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Athlete Corner - Scott Mendelson Q&A
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 Controlling Rep Speed
By: Scott Mendelson
Scott,
I started working out with a friend of mine, Lucy out of shear jealousy since she lost 15 lbs and looks great while I have slacked. You design her training programs and I was curious as to why each rep has an assigned timing system for execution. Whatever the reason- it is producing results for Lucy and I felt that the workout was the most productive I have ever tried since starting 2 weeks ago.
Sharron M.
Chicago, IL
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Sharron,
Great question- The rep speed (tempo) ensures that the trainee puts the muscles under tension for a certain length of time. For example lowering the weight for 3 seconds, pausing on the bottom for 1, lifting in 1 second with no rest at completion means each rep will last 5 seconds x 8 reps for example, is 40 seconds. Set durations of 40-60 seconds for women work very well for stimulating the production of fat burning hormones!
Proper Form= Less Injuries
Watch most people in the gym and they throw the weights up and down with no consideration for form or tempo. This is just a way of going through the motions. Controlling the rep speed increases the challenge tremendously and forces the muscles to work much harder by reducing momentum. I am also a strong believer in a controlled tempo helping to improve form which prevents many common training injuries.
Boosting Fat Burning Hormones
Back to the real reason why you asked the question- the tempo is one of many factors that can be manipulated to make the body work harder. This factor in particular is very important for increasing lactic acid which in turn boosts growth hormone which is a potent fat burning hormone. Lucy for example started out with shorter tempos a few months ago as has gradually increased the set durations while other factors such as reps, exercises, rest periods etc have been manipulated. Customizing these aspects to fit the needs and goals of the individual client is very important.
Benefits of Training vs. Just Exercising
Take two people of similar age, goals and body fat percentage, if one uses one of my customized routines and the other just "wings" it, my client will earn progress 2 to 3 times faster than the other person. There is a huge difference between going to the gym to exercise which is just exerting yourself vs. training for a result.
Interval Sprints for Rapid Fat Loss
Lucy also uses an interval sprint routine- join her for one of those sessions, but be careful as she has built a base over time and you may not be able to keep up! Short interval sessions on off-weight training days are excellent for fat loss. Most trainees are shocked when I assign a specific interval routine as they were always led to believe cardio is cardio, just do a certain number of minutes each week and you are set. Nothing could be further from the truth as steady state cardio, when done in excess, actually stimulates fat storage. Intervals on the other hand force the body to use more stored fat as fuel while naturally elevating fat burning hormones.
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Email Scott@infinityfitness.com for a complementary copy of a fat burning weight training routine, the 10 minute Interval Fat Loss workout and the Zero Tolerance Fat Loss Nutrition Plan! _____________________________________________
Infinity Fitness INC provides training, fitness, and nutritional information for educational purposes. It is important that you consult with a health professional to ensure that your dietary and health needs are met. It is necessary for you to carefully monitor your progress and to make changes to your nutritional and fitness program to enjoy success. Infinity Fitness does not employ dietitians or health professionals and assumes no responsibility or liability for your personal health and condition. For more information regarding our Limited Warranty for products and services, please see our disclaimer at InfinityFitness.com. Copyright © Infinity Fitness INC All Rights Reserved 2010This document is provided by Infinity Fitness INC for general guidance only, and does not constitute the provision of health or fitness advice. The information is provided "as is" with no assurance or guarantee of completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the information, and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of performance, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose. Email new questions for Scott Mendelson via: eathealthy@grasslandbeef.com |
| Customer Feedback |
 Just a line to let you know that my order arrived this afternoon. Never in my life have I had such a perfect packaging. Nothing could have happened to this package this side of an atom bomb. Thank you for caring to package my order so perfectly. Janet Hastings, NY
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| Recipe Corner | |
Stockyard Steaks with Mushroom &
Peppercorn Sauce
 Ingredients:
- 2 Sirloin Tip Steaks (8 oz each)
- 8 oz. button mushrooms, sliced
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 1/4 cup whipping cream
- Salt
- Fresh chives (optional)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard
- 2 to 3 tablespoons green peppercorns, coarsely crushed
Seasoning:
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Directions:
- Combine seasoning ingredients in small bowl; press evenly onto beef steaks. Melt desired cooking liquid (coconut oil, ghee, butter, etc) in cast iron skillet. Heat over medium heat until hot. Place steaks in skillet; cook 14 to 15 minutes or until desired doneness, turning occasionally. Do not overcook. Remove to plate; keep warm.
- If necessary, add more coconut oil, ghee or butter. Add mushrooms and 1/4 cup chives to skillet; cook 4 to 5 minutes or until mushrooms are tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from skillet; keep warm.
- Meanwhile combine peppercorns, as desired, and mustard. Add mustard mixture, broth and cream to skillet; bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook and stir 2 to 3 minutes until thickened. Add mushroom mixture; cook until heated through.
- Carve steaks into thin slices. Season with salt, as desired. Spoon sauce over steak. Garnish with chives, if desired.
Yield: 4 servings
Recipe and photo compliments of Beef It's Whats For Dinner.
   
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Coming Soon!
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US Wellness founding farmer John Wood will be honored at Thyme Square Cafe's next Feature Farmer Dinner. Thyme Square is our most local wholesale customer, located just across the river in Quincy, IL. They were recently voted "New Business of the Year" by the Historic Quincy Business Disctrict.
Their menu boasts a seasonal menu that showcases the best Midwest produce in our area, and we are very proud to be on the menu.
If you will be in the Quincy, IL area on Sunday February 27, 2011, be sure to make reservations now! Visit their website, or call them direct at (217) 224-3515 to reserve your table now.
Thyme Square Cafe
500 Hampshire Street
Quincy, IL 62305
www.thymesquarecafe.net
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Farm Photos - Near Monticello, MO |
We've been enjoying warm, sunny days all week. Cattle shown are at the US Wellness farm just outside of Monticello, MO. 
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Purchasing Rules & Discounts
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U.S. Wellness requires a $75 minimum purchase and a 7 lb total order minimum.
The weight minimum is to help ensure everything stays frozen during transit and the price minimum is required since we have built the cost of shipping into the price of the product. You will only see a $7.50 handling fee at checkout.
The South Carolina Chicken Bundles, Flavorwave Ovens and Olive Oil ship from separate locations, so they are not included in the 7 lb weight minimum.
The shopping cart will keep track and remind you if your order is under the 7 lb limit.
Weight Discount
On your next order, receive a $25 discount for every 40 lbs you order. This offer excludes items that ship separate such as the South Carolina Chicken, Flavorwave Ovens and Olive Oil.
This is our way of saying thank-you for purchasing in bulk! This can be any combination of products totaling 40 pounds and does not have to be specific to any category. Each 40 lb interval will yield the discount. For example, 80 lbs of product will yield a $50 discount and a 120 lb purchase will yield a $75 discount.
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| Customer Change Contact Info Link |
Need to change your address information or remove yourself from our customer newsletter? Click here. After opening, enter your email address and store password and you will be able to edit your customer file.
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Confidentiality Guarantee:
U.S. Wellness Meats does not sell, trade or give away any subscriber information. This isn't just an ethical commitment, it's also a legal one.
Copyright © 2009 by U.S. Wellness Meats and Catherine Ebeling. All rights reserved. The content, design and graphical elements of this newsletter are copyrighted.
Please secure written permission of the authors before copying or using this material. Address: caebeling@earthlink.net or eathealthy@grasslandbeef.com
Sincerely,
John Wood
U.S. Wellness Meats
Toll Free: (877) 383-0051
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Volume Discount
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