BōKU International Gets a Visit from our Congresswoman

On April 18, Lois Capps, who represents the 23^rd District of California, toured the BōKU^® office and listened to a presentation about how we built such a successful business with the goal of bringing organic, whole food nutrition to the masses.

She is on a mission to discover how local small businesses have been utilizing their SBA loans. We know that she was very impressed with our growth. BōKU^® International was founded in 2007, and in four short years we are up to seven employees and have had a 30% increase in auto-ship customers in the past year!

Our wonderful customers are health conscious, natural food enthusiasts, who are also Web savvy, information hungry and social network-oriented. We thank each and every one of them for everything that we have been able to accomplish!

Ms. Capps serves on the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, where she is a member of the Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee and the Subcommittee on Health. She was extremely happy not only with how we are promoting nutrition and healthy lifestyles, but with our environmental record as well. We recycle everything possible, use green cleaning products, have a skylight in our warehouse to conserve energy and use a solar powered factory to manufacture our BōKU Bars!

What BoKU Super Food Can Do For You

Many of our customers and potential customers ask us what taking BoKU Super Food is actually supposed to do for them. While everyone's bodies are unique and different we have come up with some short summaries of effects that anyone taking BoKU Super Food on a regular basis should experience.

What You See

What You Get

• Detoxification – Many of the ingredients in BoKU Super Food (spirulina, chlorella, flaxseed) contain powerful detoxification compounds such as chlorophyll and Alpha Linolenic Acid that help everything from expelling heavy metals from your system to treating bad breath!

• Antioxidants – BoKU Super Food contains some of the most potent antioxidants: flavonoids, and vitamins E and C. These help to prevent free radicals from oxidizing and destroying cells. They have also displayed anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial . This antioxidant activity happens throughout your body, but you will mainly notice it in your skin. After taking BoKU Super Food for a few weeks many of our customers notice their skin looking clearer and fresher. A healthy diet is one sure secret of beautiful skin.

• Energy – BoKU Super Food contains a range of B vitamins and trace minerals, like zinc and magnesium, from whole food sources that regulate metabolism and increase energy.

• Digestion – Our BoKU Super Enzyme blend contains seven different enzymes that aid in breaking down food molecules into smaller molecules that can be properly digested so all of the nutrients can be absorbed into your system. The Super Food also contains the only vegan, non-dairy based probiotic, Lactobacillus Sporogenes. L. Sporogenes also aids in digestion, but it may also improve immune function, reduce inflammation, improve mineral absorption. Current studies are researching the possible link between probiotics and brain health.

• Mood – One scoop of our Super Food provides 171% of the Daily Recommended Intake of vitamin B12, this is extraordinary for a vegan product. B12 is often linked with good mood maintenance; it is even being used successfully to help treat people with depression. B vitamins are also essential for the production and proper functioning of neurotransmitters including dopamine, crucial to the experience of pleasure. Super Food also contains raw cacao and blue-green algae, both of which are very high in PEA. PEA (Phenylethylamine) acts as a neuromodulator to enhance one’s mood.

• Immunity – One of the most special ingredients in BoKU Super Food is the Super Tàke mushroom blend. It incorporates fourteen mushrooms used in Traditional Chinese medicine for centuries (Lion’s Mane, Turkey Tail, cordyceps, etc.). Together these fungi have and incredibly high ORAC value as well as vast adaptogenic properties which give your immunity system a massive boost.

BoKU is a Great Source of Natural Iodine

With all of the panic surrounding the current crises in Japan has triggered a lot of panic here in the U.S. Many people are clamoring for potassium iodide tablets and liquids to such an extent that many suppliers are actually running out. Is this a good thing? Probably not. While the body does need iodine to function and it can help to reduce the risk of thyroid cancer after radiation exposure. But getting iodine in supplement form may not be the best way to go.

What is Iodine and What Does it Do?

To put it simply, iodine is a chemical element that the body must have. The body cannot make it or store it; iodine must come from the diet. It is essential for the production of thyroid hormones that regulate growth and metabolism.  Iodine deficiency causes hypothyroidism, which causes symptoms like fatigue, high cholesterol, weight gain, lethargy, mental slowness and goiter. It also causes slowed brain development in children and unborn fetuses.

How does potassium iodide help protect from radiation exposure?

When radioactive iodine (iodine-131) is emitted into the air after some kind of nuclear event, it can be inhaled into the lungs. Once inside the body, the thyroid would absorb it very quickly which would be extremely damaging. Taking potassium iodide immediately before exposure causes the thyroid to absorb the stable iodine and thus have no room left for the radioactive iodine for 24 hours. Keeping the radioactive iodine from reaching the thyroid helps to prevent thyroid cancer and radiation sickness. A single dose is said to protect for 24 hours, higher doses do not offer greater protection. (Center for Disease Control - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/ki.asp)

Can you ingest too much iodine?

Absolutely!
Over consuming iodine is very possible and potentially dangerous. According to The National Institute of Health (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/35.html), “Large amounts or long-term use are POSSIBLY UNSAFE. Adults should avoid prolonged use of doses higher than 1100 mcg per day (the upper tolerable limit, UL) without proper medical supervision.” And consuming slightly lees than that (1000 mcg) can cause nausea, stomachache, vomiting, burning in the mouth and throat, and possible even coma. Overdoses can be fatal.
Certain people should NOT take potassium iodide at all, these include:

• Those allergic to iodine (of course), shellfish allergies may indicate this
• Those with skin disorders such as dermatitis herpetiformis or urticaria vasculitis
• Those with compromised thyroids

Is there a better way to keep iodine levels high while avoiding these risks?

Yes! You can consume iodine the way that you should consume all essential nutrients, from natural food. Foods rich in iodine include baked goods, eggs, dairy, and seafood, but especially sea vegetables like kelp. For those who are vegetarian or vegan, raw or just don’t like sushi you can get plenty of iodine from BoKU® Super Food and BoKU® Bars. One of our chocolaty bars contains 45% RDI of iodine. And one scoop of BoKU® Super Food contains 86 mcg of iodine (57% of the RDI) and two scoops have 171 mcg and 114% of the RDI! All from natural, organic kelp, chlorella and spirulina which are great for you anyway. Not only are these sea vegetables rich in iodine, they and the other greens in BoKU® Super Food are natural chelators. This means that they help detoxify the body by removing heavy metals from the system. The power to keep harmful agents from entering the body and to purge the body of harmful agents already inside is all part of what makes BoKU® Super Food so super.

Come See BoKU at the Fresh Ideas Expo West March 10th!

The BoKU Team will be at Expo West at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel where we will be informing the public about organic nutrition and how our products are the top of the heap in that department. And we'll also be giving away free samples to prove it!

It is a fantastic event to learn about anything and everything organic, not just food. There will be over 90 vendors representing

• Fresh Produce
• Herbs
• Flowers
• Textiles
• Wine & Beer
• Packaged Goods
• Organic Certifiers
• Ingredients

It will be a fun and educational time in beautiful Southern California to celebrate all things natural organic, so come join us!

For more information visit: www.expowest.com

How BoKU Can Help You Avoid (or Get Rid of) Diabetes

Many of you have heard about diabetes, but don’t know what it is.  Many of you have diabetes and may not even know it! 

The most common form of diabetes, type 2, occurs when the sugar in your blood gets very high, and the cells of your body starve because the sugar can’t get into the cells.  Sugar is needed as food to give your body energy.  With diabetes, the sugar stays in the blood and damages important parts of your body, such as your eyes, blood vessels, kidneys, nerves, etc. 

Diabetes can greatly age a person.  It can make macho men old, blind and impotent!  It can turn beautiful, vibrant women into elderly looking matrons with bad memory and a heart condition!

Diabetes is a great example of a disease that can be prevented and maybe corrected through food and lifestyle.  Moving each day, even light exercise, can help the sugar get out of the blood and into your cells.  A diet featuring whole foods can do a lot to balance your blood sugar.  Eating plenty of colorful fruits and vegetables can not only keep your blood sugar optimal, but provide a wide array of “phytonutrients” to keep your body healthy. 

Most people don’t realize that stress can greatly raise your blood sugar. Relaxation, good sleep, and doing enjoyable activities have the “side benefit” of keeping your blood sugar balanced, and your body in top form.

Boku Super Food is a delicious nutritional powder that contains a wide variety of concentrated organic, nutrient dense foods.  Diabetics, and others, can enliven their bodies with super pure nutrition.

A few of the many potent ingredients included in Boku are: Organic Maca Root Juice, from the mountains of Peru, helps to increase libido, strength/endurance, and help buffer the body from stress.  Organic Hawthorn Berry is known as the “Traditional Heart Tonic.” Organic Nopal and Organic Mesquite Pods are traditional Native American foods that once helped to protect them from diabetes.  Now, eating a Standard American Diet (SAD), diabetes is rampant in the Native American Community. 

There are more than 40 potent ingredients, to supplement a healthy lifestyle, in Boku Super Food.  Boku is committed to making diabetes a thing of the past, thereby keeping men macho and women beautiful!

Compare Foods to BoKU Super Protein with 26 Grams per Serving!

One Scoop of Boku Super Protein = 4 eggs!

Beef
• Hamburger patty, 4 oz – 28 grams protein
• Filet Steak (100g or 3.5 oz) – 30 grams
• Most cuts of beef – 7 grams of protein per ounce

Chicken
• Chicken breast, 3.5 oz - 30 grams protein
• Chicken thigh – 10 grams (for average size)
• Drumstick – 11 grams
• Wing – 6 grams
• Chicken meat, cooked, 4 oz – 35 grams

Fish

• Most fish fillets or steaks are about 22 grams of protein for 3 ½ oz (100 grams) of cooked fish, or 6 grams per ounce
• Tuna, 6 oz can - 40 grams of protein

Pork
• Pork chop, average - 22 grams protein
• Pork loin or tenderloin, 4 oz – 29 grams
• Ham, 3 oz serving – 19 grams
• Ground pork, 1 oz raw – 5 grams; 3 oz cooked – 22 grams
• Bacon, 1 slice – 3 grams
• Canadian-style bacon (back bacon), slice – 5 – 6 grams

Eggs and Dairy

• Egg, large - 6 grams protein
• Milk, 1 cup - 8 grams
• Cottage cheese, ½ cup - 15 grams
• Yogurt, 1 cup – usually 8-12 grams, check label
• Soft cheeses (Mozzarella, Brie, Camembert) – 6 grams per oz
• Medium cheeses (Cheddar, Swiss) – 7 or 8 grams per oz
• Hard cheeses (Parmesan) – 10 grams per oz

Beans (including soy)
• Tofu, ½ cup 20 grams protein
• Tofu, 1 oz, 2.3 grams
• Soy milk, 1 cup - 6 -10 grams
• Most beans (black, pinto, lentils, etc) about 7-10 grams protein per half cup of cooked beans
• Soy beans, ½ cup cooked – 14 grams protein
• Split peas, ½ cup cooked – 8 grams

Nuts and Seeds
• Peanut butter, 2 Tablespoons - 8 grams protein
• Almonds, ¼ cup – 8 grams
• Peanuts, ¼ cup – 9 grams
• Cashews, ¼ cup – 5 grams
• Pecans, ¼ cup – 2.5 grams
• Sunflower seeds, ¼ cup – 6 grams
• Pumpkin seeds, ¼ cup – 8 grams
• Flax seeds – ¼ cup – 8 grams

Father’s Day Men’s Health Feature

For dad at his special time of the year, along with the tie or card give him something truly valuable—your love and some good advice that’ll help keep him around as long as possible.

While these tips are good for anyone to follow, they are the key to keeping dad at the peak of health well into his later years:

• Eat a healthy diet low in fat and at least five fruits and vegetables a day to lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and osteoporosis, all common in older men.
• Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 days a week. Moderate physical activity reduces the risk of heart disease, colon cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure. It can also help dads maintain a healthy body weight, joint strength and mobility. Even brisk walking does the trick!
• Some studies have also shown that healthy men, and those who have already suffered a heart attack, can reduce cardiovascular risk by eating nuts regularly. Almonds anyone?
• Prevent disability from arthritis. Weight control and injury prevention (especially sports-related injuries) can lower dads' risk for developing one of the most common types of arthritis: osteoarthritis.
• Get regular physical exams and important health screenings. Dads age 50 and older should be screened for colorectal cancer, the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the country. Regular colorectal cancer screening at age 50 and after can find and remove polyps before they ever become cancerous, or enable early treatment, when it can be most effective. Although effective measures to prevent prostate cancer have not yet been identified, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all men talk to their doctors about the risks and benefits of screening so that they can make informed decisions about whether screening is right for them.

So even if you have to push him to keep him healthy it’ll be worth it for both of you.

Happy Father’s Day!