If there’s one thing about me that I hope you’ve noticed, it’s that I walk my talk.

I’m not a hypocrite who sits behind my desk writing these articles telling you to eat better, exercise and supplement appropriately while I do exactly the opposite. 

In fact, I like to share my personal stories with you now and then so you can see that I’m on your team and would never tell you to do anything that I wouldn’t do myself.

I recently had a surprisingly pleasant experience in terms of my health and fitness that I feel it’s important to share with you, as you may be able to see yourself in my words.

It started with preparation for a test…

I learned in October of last year that I was coming up on testing for black belt in mixed martial arts (including the disciplines of Jeet Kune Do, Wing Chun, Kali, Savate and Silat) in April of this year. 

That meant that I would be facing a grueling 8-hour test and at age 62, I knew darn well I’d better spend the next six months preparing and ensuring I was in tip-top shape.

I started increasing my running distances and practicing my techniques as much as I could which was fine, but I still had some doubts as to my level of preparedness.

So, I decided to try something that I’ve never done in my life.

Strength training. As in lifting weights.

My daughter and son-in-law work out with weights, and I’ve noticed the positive benefits they have reaped, so they inspired me to give it a try.

And all I can say is: Oh. My. GOODNESS!

Strength and stamina are just the beginning

It didn’t take long for me to notice increased strength and stamina, especially with doing push-ups, sit-ups, calisthenics and sparring (and trust me, I was no slouch beforehand).

But that was just the beginning!

I also noticed I was sleeping more soundly, had less soreness after a tough workout, and my mind seemed clearer and sharper, even though I’ve never had cognition problems.

However, there was one benefit that really shocked me…

Improved thyroid function!

With my history of mercury-loaded amalgam fillings courtesy of my childhood dentist (which I have since had removed), my immune system was triggered, and I ended up with hypothyroidism (low functioning thyroid) back in 2011.

Thank goodness I had a doctor who opted not to suggest synthetic hormone replacement and instead recommended Armour Thyroid (derived from desiccated porcine thyroid). 

Since that time, I have done just fine, having my levels tested regularly and adjusting my dose if necessary.

I also take our Ashwa Blend Gummies to further support my thyroid and proper endocrine function (among other things).

But recently I had a major surprise.

I went to the doctor and learned my thyroid levels were elevated! Huh?

What in the world could have caused that?

Strength training, that’s what!

I have since learned that strength training helps ALL of your body’s systems and processes to work more efficiently, including your metabolism, endocrine function, insulin sensitivity, muscle, bone and joint function, and mental health, to name a few!

So, thanks to my strength training and our Ashwa Blend Gummies, my doctor lowered my Armour Thyroid dose, and I feel great!

There’s more

Here is a more complete list of the benefits of strength training:

• Improved cardiovascular function.

• Sharper memory and cognitive function.

• Improved insulin sensitivity (lowering your risk of Type 2 diabetes).

• Reduced risk of metabolic syndrome (a group of risk factors including a large waist circumference, high triglycerides, high blood pressure and high blood sugar), which makes you a prime candidate for Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

• Lower inflammation. Inflammation is a contributing factor behind most chronic diseases, especially heart disease, cancer and arthritis.

• Lower risk of anxiety and depression.

• Reduced risk of osteoporosis.

• Better mobility and reduced risk of falling.

• Improved metabolism which in turn helps with weight loss and/or maintaining your weight.

• Lessened menopausal symptoms in women. 

See what it can do for you!

With all of the potential benefits of strength training, it’s literally like a fountain of youth and can help improve your health at all ages!

And the awesome thing about it is that even if you have mobility issues or bone/joint/back problems, you can still train effectively while avoiding injuries and pain.

Just remember to get your doctor’s OK first and work with a personal trainer, if possible. Personal trainers are worth their weight in gold and can guide you in training safely and ensure you use proper form to prevent injuries.

Even though my black belt test is done (and yes, I passed with flying colors😊), I continue to do strength training and will never again be without it.

See what it can do for you!

To your health,

Sherry Brescia

PS: In case you missed our recent update to the blue announcement banner, the new Super Shield batch is on track to be complete on or around the first of May. We will update again as things are confirmed and we get an arrival date.