Many researchers associate osteoporosis with age and bad eating habits. Vitamins, minerals and nutrients are essential to ensure the health of the bones which must be supplied daily, through healthy eating habits — the first preventive step. Osteoporosis is, in fact, a kind of degenerative disease, similar to diabetes, osteo-arthritis, cancer, vascular sicknesses or other types of arthritis. This affliction is more common among women than men. On average, 50 % of women between the ages of 45 and 75 show signs of varying levels of osteoporosis.

There are several factors that affect the maintenance of optimal bone mass and that also accelerate the demineralization of the backbone. Here are some of them:

• Women that start their menopause early
• Consumption of alcohol
• Stress (which leads to an imbalance of the glands)
• Lack of exercise (daily exercise keeps the backbone healthy)
• Daily use of prescription drugs such as anti-coagulants, corticoids and others
• Hormone therapy (taking estrogen for example neither slows down bone loss nor increases bone density which will reverse the sickness)
• A diet of refined foods too rich in meat, sugar, and salt (which leads to a loss of calcium)

Many people believe that calcium is the only mineral missing in their diet. They assume that if they take calcium supplements, the problem will be solved. We should understand that calcium is not the only important mineral in our bone structure. There are phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, silicone dioxide, boron, manganese and copper as well as other minerals that work in synergy with vitamins C, D, E and K.

Let’s look at an example. Asians have a much lower level of osteoporosis than North Americans. They take a more holistic approach to medicine that North Americans do and have known about elk velvet antler for over 2000 years. They use it not only as a preventative, but also as a cure. The elk velvet antler in Vie de Velours will help you on several levels including your bones, joints and hormone imbalance. Your health will improve due to its adaptogenic qualities. This product will act where it is needed, and will respond to physiological deficiencies in your body. It will help with the transportation of nutrients like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and several other minerals. It will also improve the circulation of the blood and allow it to penetrate the bones, supplying the cells located in the bone marrow.

There are two types of osteoporosis. One of them is due to the hormonal change caused by the reduction of estrogen in menopausal women. The other is caused by either bad eating habits (a problem of calcium assimilation), or by a lack of vitamin D (necessary for the assimilation of calcium).

Let’s not forget about exercise, which is the first step to good living. Exercising helps to maintain the bone structure adequately and prevents the demineralization of the bones.

On this note, I wish you a Vie de Velours, naturally.

Gout leads to intense, immediate, sharp pains, as well as a swelling of the joints. It starts at the toes, the instep, ankles, heels, knees and wrists. Gout is found more frequently in men. This is due to genetic or hereditary dysfunction leading either to an increase in the production of uric acid or in a decrease in the function of the kidneys which eliminate uric acid. In either case, there is an increase in the level of uric acid in the blood (hyperuricemia). The uric acid is the final product in the metabolism of purine (*) . An excess level of uric acid in the blood can oversaturate the liquids of the body and eventually cause the accumulation of sodium urate crystals in the soft tissues of the body or in the joints.

(*) Purine: A nitrogen substance that is part of the composition of nucleotides such as adenine, guanine, hypoxanthine and xanthine. These last three components can metabolize into uric acid.

When the joints are affected, we are referring to gout arthritis. When sodium urate crystals accumulate in the joints and in the soft tissues that surround them, it leads to inflammation that could eventually affect the cartilage of the joint and the bone located underneath, therefore leading to an intense pain and the immobility of the joint.

If metabolized products (like urea) resulting from the decomposition of proteins are not eliminated normally, they accumulate in the blood, leading to uraemia. This sickness affects the nervous system (convulsions and a coma-like state), the digestive system (vomiting and diarrhoea) and the respiratory system (dyspnoea or heavy breathing).

How does the elk velvet antler in Vie de Velours help against these maladies? Actually, it works in the blood, due to its many active substances. One of these is pantocrin, a substance that increases blood circulation because of its hematopoietic action (transportation of oxygen), thereby reducing the acidity of damaged soft tissues and joints. The erythropoietic activity (synthesis of the red blood cells) that results from it increases the ability of the renal system to expel the acid.

It is with good hygiene and eating habits, and by exercising that we will achieve the desired results and thus increase our quality of life, feel better and reach our personal objectives.

On this note, I hope that you will search for more information, because people who take their life into their own hands are in need of knowledge. Intellectual curiosity begins with knowledge. Knowledge is our power to change. Without it, we only make small steps. As Lucien Israël, a professor of oncology in Paris, said: ”Truth never triumphs but mistakes always end up dying”. It is not sufficient to add years to our life but to add life to our years.

On these healthy thoughts, I wish you a Vie de Velours, lived naturally.

It was also stated that elk velvet antler could be a precious source of non-refined IGF-1, which could improve muscle development. The level of IGF-1 declines progressively from age 25, and has prejudicial effects on muscle tissue and muscle strength. Re-establishing the level of IGF-1 has enormous un-limited anabolic potential, but only through assimilation of amino acids inside the muscle cells. With IGF-1, your body re-establishes other missing hormones such as DHEA, melatonin, testosterone, estrogen and progesterone to normal levels.

Additionally, studies indicate that consuming zinc and magnesium supplements could increase the potential effect of GH, resulting in the recovery of tissues, tissue repair and growth of the muscles. In elk velvet antler, we find the following minerals: calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, phosphorous, sulphur, potassium, sodium, copper, selenium and cobalt.

Considering that there are several ways of increasing the GH hormones, elk velvet antler could be considered a natural “reservoir” agent; meaning that it can supply good nutrients in good proportion, having synergistic and optimal benefits allowing for the release of GH.

The effects of building muscle with testosterone are well known to scientists. In a 1992 study of normal subjects, it was demonstrated that they gained an average of 16.5 pounds of their body size in 12 weeks by simply taking testosterone supplements. It was demonstrated that by taking elk velvet antler supplements, levels of testosterone in the plasma, increased by 5 to 6 times. It was suggested that the increased levels of testosterone are partly the result of the gonadotropia effect of the gonad (sexual) glands.

Pantocrin and other natural substances are found in elk velvet antler. They all accelerate the natural process of returning the body to normal levels after a physical, external or biochemical challenge. Today, it is suggested that the adaptogenic properties of elk velvet antler, combined with its anti-inflammatory benefits bring about a hematopoitical (oxygen transportation) improvement, due to its erythropoietic activity (synthesis of red cells in the blood). This, in turn, leads to increased efficiency in eliminating lactic acid, thus contributing to increased muscle composition, vitality, as well as faster recovery after exercising.

Several clinical studies have proven that elk velvet antler is a complete natural substance that has positive effects on our muscular system. It can be used either to boost the body and/or to improve recovery time.

With these words, I hope you will choose the new supplements that will benefit your future training. I wish you a Vie de Velours, naturally.

Research has shown that elk velvet antler benefits muscle strength, endurance and healing. There are several scientific studies available confirming that elk velvet antler is an excellent nutrient which helps muscle composition, vitality and the length of recovery time following exercise.

For more than 2000 years, Asians have been taking elk velvet antler for its health benefits. We all know now that elk velvet antler is healthy because it contains several substances such as pantocrin, which has the double effect of being a stimulator, tonic and having an effect on gonadotrophia. It increases the entire body’s resistance. Pantocrin increases oxygen levels in the tissues, meaning that if the tissues have more oxygen, they will be able to recuperate faster from exercise and be able to work more effectively. This substance helps with the regeneration process of the tissues, especially the muscles as has been demonstrated with professional athletes.

The active substances of elk velvet antler enjoy several synergistic attributes; meaning that the separate substances, once grouped together, provide effects that are doubled or multiplied. For example, let’s take the minerals necessary for vitamins to provide a therapeutic benefit to the organs. Their objective is to renew degenerated tissues, either at the level of soft tissues such as the muscles, ligaments and tendons or the joint tissues where we find the synovial fluid of the bursa mucosa is located. Substances such as glucosamin, chondroitin and, of course,collagen, are the major basic elements for almost 50% of all natural products sold in this market. These three substances help reduce the inflammation and degeneration of tissues through cell stimulation in bone cartilage.

Elk velvet antler, because of its hormonal action, regulates the amount of hormones which are often unbalanced in people suffering from chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia.

Elk velvet antler is a supplement that helps stabilize those that have suffered from trauma, either on the physical level (accident) or on the psychological level. These traumas often lead to a reduction of vitality. We cannot dissociate the physical from the psychological aspects of our behaviour. In Asia, elk velvet antler has been studied for a long time, and several documents written and based on empirical studies have demonstrated that this substance is of great help.

On this note, I naturally wish you a Vie de Velours.

There are many types of diabetes. These two are the most widely known:

• sweet diabetes ( known as insulin-dependant) and,
• non-sweet diabetes (known as non-insulin-dependant).

Sweet diabetes is a chronic illness related to a difficulty with the absorption of glucose by the cells, which leads to a permanent increase in the amount of glucose in the blood. This bodily mismanagement of glucose leads to an affected pancreas!

According to the World Health Organisation, an increase of 170 % in the number of diabetics around the world is predicted by 2025! Why?

• Our diet is too rich and abundant,
• We are not exercising enough,
• Stress is ever more present.

This sickness is societal just like cancer, arteriosclerosis and infarction.

The insulin secreted by the pancreas is the key to allowing glucose to penetrate the cells. Without insulin, glucose stays in the blood. Consequently, the cells lack glucose which results in a lack of energy.

As for hyperglycaemic individuals, the excess of glucose in the blood goes to the vessel cavities and binds with proteins, thus making them abnormal. This association makes the vessels harder and reduces their viability, preventing an exchange between the blood and the organs. From this, various pathologies result, such as distal arteriosclerosis, the possibility of gangrene in the feet and legs, and many other complications. We have to understand that these complications are the result of bad blood due to an unhealthy pancreas.

How can Vie de Velours help you?

Elk velvet antler can help you by its ability to rebuild red cell levels in the blood that transport oxygen which, in turn, stimulates circulation and the gaseous exchange action.

Because of its mineral content, which includes zinc as a major trace element, it becomes indispensable in several enzymatic reactions. We can find zinc in large quantities in the liver and pancreas. It interacts in the storage and absorption of insulin by the cells of the pancreas.

Let’s not forget the essential fatty acids like Omega 3, which reduce insulin resistance The elk velvet antler in Vie de Velours, and its 40 major nutritive elements, help diabetics daily to fight the sicknesses resulting from a lazy pancreas, by stimulating and energizing it.

On this note, I wish you a Vie de Velours!

Blood is the life element of the human body. Occasionally, it happens that we do not have good blood or that there is a problem with it. It is estimated that in the United States, there are about one million people that have had such an experience.

Anaemia is a reduction in the amount of red cells or, more exactly, a reduction in the quantity of haemoglobin contained in the blood. Whatever the reason, anaemia reduces the blood’s ability to supply oxygen to the tissues. Because the tissues cannot function to their maximum level without a sufficient quantity of oxygen, anaemia is often associated with a lack of energy, lethargy or fatigue.

Erythrocytes or red blood cells have the main function of transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide. The production of haemoglobin requires iron. Normally, the body contains 4 grams of iron, of which 65% is contained in the haemoglobin and about 15% to 30% is contained in the liver, bone marrow and other locations. The iron is assimilated by the primary part of the small intestine. Small quantities of iron are lost daily in our excrement, urine, sweat and dead skin cells.

The production of erythrocytes occurs in the bone marrow, more specifically in the rib, sternum, vertebra and pelvic sections.

A substance called erythropoietin controls the production of erythrocytes. Erythropoietin is a glycoprotein produced mainly by the kidneys. If the production is lacking oxygen in the kidneys, this will lead to an increased production of erythropoietin. In men, testosterone stimulates the production of erythropoietin, whereas, in women, estrogen reduces the production of erythropoietin. This explains why the level of haemoglobin is higher in men than women.

There are many possible causes of anaemia. It could be caused by a deficiency in the production of red cells, from medication, hormonal imbalance, chronic inflammation, infection, gastric ulcers, diverticulum, haemorrhoids, childbirth, an operation or menstrual periods that are too long or too heavy, etc.

Elk velvet antler can both help counter these complaints due to haematopoietic effects demonstrated in numerous experiences and also stimulates the synthesis of red blood cells and increases erythropoietic activity. Such erythropoietic activity could be attributed to the energizing effects of elk velvet antler as has been seen with long distance runners used in a clinical study.

Not only do we have to be aware of the possible causes of anaemia but we also have to be very careful in our personal diagnosis. Iron sold in pharmacies and natural products stores can create health problems in the liver, pancreas or heart and can interfere with the immune system of the cells, potentially causing cancer.

We all know that minerals do not act alone but synergistically; meaning that, for example, the assimilation of iron is accomplished with the help of certain vitamins and minerals together, which complete the action.

On this note, I wish you a healthy life.

Let ’s talk about osteoarthritis, most often described as a “degenerative lesion of the joints”. This degeneration is caused by wear-and-tear of the joints due to a long-term lack of proper nutrition and leads to anatomical modification. It is, actually, a non-inflammatory degeneration of cartilage in the joints.

Most commonly, this sickness affects the joints of bones which support the weight of the body. They are, in particular, the joints of the hips, knees and vertebral column. It also occasionally affects the joints of the hands and fingers.

The main symptom of osteoarthritis is pain, particularly while exercising or moving, as well as a feeling of stiffness when waking-up. Although occasionally, an inflammation could arise following an irritation caused by the rubbing of the cartilage with the bone tissue located in the joint cavity.

Osteoarthritis is the most common complication of the joints. Pain of the mechanical type is relieved with rest but will reappear once activity re-occurs.

The causes of osteoarthritis are not all clearly understood. They probably result from biomechanical or biochemical changes which take place in the joints. It originates with the overworking of the joints (excess at work), excess of repetitive movement or an accidental lesion (like a fracture). Definitely, eating habits can be a turning point or can lead to arthritic pathologies.

In our daily activities, our eating habits must correspond with our physiological needs in order to prevent potential malnutrition in our body. In this instance, malnutrition means a lack of nutrients that our blood must contain in order to nourish, naturally, the different tissues of our body.

Proper physical exercise and massages can relieve the areas of the affected joints. We have to understand here that the pain is simply reduced and there is no regeneration or repair of the damaged tissue. Daily exercise is beneficial for all joints. But, pay attention to excess and bad posture!

The elk velvet antler in Vie de Velours, with its several bio-active components (such as glucosamine, chondroitin, prostaglandins, as well as all the other substances, like hyaluronic acid and collagens) can help tremendously to arrest the degeneration of the joints caused by this pathology. Vie de Velours works to repair the damaged tissues with its complex of nutritive elements and adaptogens. Vie de Velours can reorganize our regeneration capability, which was disabled through years of bad habits, thus maintaining our health.

On this healthy note, I wish you all a very good week and a Vie de Velours.

Did you know that arthritis is the inflammation of a joint that could cause pain , heat , red spots or stiffness ? These four symptoms are the words most often used by people who suffer from arthritis when they are asked to describe their discomfort. If I am speaking about discomfort, it is because more than 100 different types of arthritis exist affecting a lot of people, old and young. There are two common types of arthritis: rheumatoid poly-arthritis (inflammatory) and osteoarthritis (the degenerative form).

Did you know that a joint is the junction of two bones? It is composed of 6 parts. They are:

• Cartilage (tissue that protects the extremity of the bone);
• Synovial membrane (envelope that surrounds and protects the joints and contains the synovial fluid, a lubricating viscous liquid, like the oil which lubricates the motor of a car);
• Bursa (pouch that surrounds the joint);
• Muscles (elastic tissues that contract and expand);
• Tendons (sclerosed cords that attach the muscles to the bone);
• Ligaments (sclerosed cords, much shorter than the tendons, that attach two bones together).

Here are some definitions of chronic pain which we often hear about:

• Bursitis (inflammation of the bursa);
• Tendinitis (inflammation of one or more tendons);
• Rheumatoid arthritis (inflammation of the synovial membrane);.
• Osteoarthritis (degeneration of the cartilage);
• Polymyositis (inflammation of the muscles);
• Fybromyalgia (Syndrome of chronic pain from muscles).

Anomalies within the vertebral column, previous accidents, trauma, excess weight, over exertion in sport, bad posture, inactivity at work, and the lack of vitamins and minerals are all possible, and frequent causes of added acidity in our body. That acidity is, therefore, not well eliminated by our system. For naturopaths, when there is an excess of toxemia (residues in the blood) it means that the system is not able to expel the excess by natural means.

In 1999, it was scientifically proven, in research and clinical studies done in conformity with FDA guidelines (Food & Drug Administration of the United States) that pure elk velvet antler supports joints function and helps keep in good healthy condition. In fact, pure elk velvet antler, used in the treatment of arthritic conditions, has become an increasing point of interest for doctors and pharmacists. Some of the bioactive substances contained in elk velvet antler, like collagen, glucosamine sulphate, chondroitin, prostaglandins and pantocrin, seem to act in a synergistic way in conjunction with other factors that act to repair damaged tissue caused by arthritis. It has been observed that this regenerative function is better than that of any other individual substance. Elk velvet antler, as a whole, is considered a complex that surpasses the function of its individual parts. Elk velvet antler is defined as a cartilage and, as such, its growth rate is greater than any other living tissue. It also contains several hormones necessary for its growth.

Collagen is the main component of velvet antler and is responsible for almost half of its dry weight. There are four types of collagen but most essentially, it is type II collagen that forms the largest part of elk velvet antler, and it is type II collagen which helps reduce inflammation in the joints.

In order to avoid suffering from this unnecessary sickness, we have to employ prevention. We need to adopt a better quality of life, including:

• good eating habits, which give us good nutrients that will support our health.
• limbering and stretching exercises that improve blood circulation that will, in turn, supply our body with the right nutrients provided by our food;
• using food supplements of high quality, like pure elk velvet antler, that help the body produce good blood quality.

There is an adage that guides natural health:

A rich quality of blood = a rich quality of life. And a poor quality of blood = a poor quality of life.

I wish you a good week, and a Vie de Velours !

We have all felt pain at one time or another, perhaps as a result of an accident or from some other cause. We have several muscles that suffer daily from diverse traumas with varying levels of intensity. It all depends on our way of living, and what we have learned over the years. Traumas can cause tendonitis, bursitis or an inflammation of the joints. We all know that this kind of suffering is severe. Let’s try to imagine a person suffering constantly from some of these maladies over many years. This is what we call chronic pain, and it frequently leads to a degenerative state, more or less advanced according to the individual. This pathology can cause a state of distress which is often accompanied by unnecessary pain and suffering.

Chronic pain can lead to certain drawbacks, especially in terms of moods or emotions. The physical body’s condition affects and directly impacts the emotions to the point that it can upset the equilibrium between mind and body.

Chronic pain can be greatly alleviated with pure elk velvet antler. This substance contains several bioactive components, nutritive elements which are necessary for the restoration and the restructuring of muscle, joint and nerve cells. These nutritive elements in elk velvet antler act to rejuvenate tissue that has degenerated because of nutrient deprivation which, in turn, has caused some of the traumas described above. The various components of velvet antler, produced naturally by the elk, work together synergistically to provide its therapeutic effect known for over 2000 years. Indeed, several studies confirm conclusively that regeneration of tissue is possible when the cells are well nourished.

The conventional medical approach used today is called “allopathy“. Allopathy originates from the Greek word “allos”, meaning “other” or “against”; “pathy” means “suffering”. This modern medicinal approach attacks the uniquely affected area of our system by intervening through an enzyme or a message that causes our body to achieve homeostasis or balance. The opposite approach is called “holistic” from the Latin word “holis” meaning the whole”. This view looks at the body as a total entity. It does not try to explain the body as the sum of its parts.

Following this line of thought, I would like to explain the process of inflammation. When we have such a condition, (usually known by the ending – “itis”), such as bursitis, tendonitis, arthritis, etc., we think of inflammation. This condition often leads to acute, or chronic pain and when it is chronic (long-term), the “allopathic” approach is to prescribe an anti-inflammatory drug. However, these anti-inflammatory drugs stop the synthesis of certain prostaglandins effectively by blocking the stimulation of the sensitive pain receptors which are triggers for prostaglandin production. By contrast, pure elk velvet antler, while exercising an anti-inflammatory effect, does not inhibit prostaglandins from restoring damaged tissue. However, type 2 prostaglandins are inhibited by the action of substances such as pantocrin, collagen, chondroitin and glycoaminoglycans. Substances called phospholipids in dry matter (solids) are present in elk velvet antler and, as such, favour the reparation of the cells by increasing the prostaglandins which are vital substances of primary importance that regulate the individual metabolism of each cell.

I hope that I was able to demonstrate that there exist different approaches to consuming natural supplements of high quality that have not been modified or altered in their structure; meaning that no other elements have been added or subtracted.

I wish you a very good week and to live a Vie de Velours as naturally as possible.

It has been proven that stress, a common phenomenon in our modern world, can lead to such sicknesses as insomnia, high blood pressure, anaemia, etc…

Life today is very stressful. Indeed, many circumstances give rise to increased levels of daily stress. We always seem to be surrounded by stress. We pass through different stages of stress, with varying degrees of intensity, and this begins to affect our cardiovascular health. Our nervous system, more specifically our sympathetic nervous system , acts in conjunction with two chemical media: adrenalin and noradrenalin. We all know that adrenalin is a medium that increases blood pressure, creating stress in our body by increasing the heart rate and decreasing the secretions instigated by the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve works directly on the oesophagus and stomach, thus profoundly influencing our digestion. Under stressful conditions, it reduces the assimilation of nutritive elements from the foods we eat.

The properties of elk velvet antler have shown an ability to reduce and even prevent cardiovascular stress. In a Japanese study, 8 patients out of 10 who had received pantocrin from the elk velvet antler showed important and transitory reductions in their blood pressure. Researchers concluded that pantocrin acts directly on the blood vessels and the parasympathetic nervous system (one of the two subsystems of the autonomic nervous system) through acetylcholine, a chemical mediator which reduces blood pressure. In biochemical studies conducted at the Medicine Research Centre of the Kitsato Institute in Tokyo, some polysaccharides identified in elk velvet antler help increase HDL (commonly known as good cholesterol ). This improves blood circulation thus reducing the risk of heart attack as well as cardiovascular illness. By extension, there is an increase in anti-ulcerous effects due to the restoration of the autonomic nervous system.

Understanding the importance of an adequate level of nutrition is essential for our lives. It is imperative to maintain good eating habits and eliminate any kind of food that does not bring nutrients to our body and contribute significantly to our health.

Additionally, it is mandatory to exercise in order to have good blood circulation. In “holistic” therapy, or a naturopathic lifestyle, it is essential to allow for physical activity.