Reliv Blog

How to Become a Reliv Champion in 2021

When we look back on 2020, we’ll always remember that it was certainly a wild ride, riddled with unexpected twists and turns. Most of us are optimistically looking to 2021 for a fresh start and setting some new goals!

If you need a little help reaching those fitness goals in 2021, the Fit3 program and Reliv Champions Challenge will give you tools and support to crush your goals and maybe even be crowned a Champion in 2021!

Just to be clear, Fit3 is not about diets or starvation, restrictions, or lots of rules. Fit3 is about helping you make better choices for yourself by cutting through the chaos and confusion of fitness and nutrition and surrounding you with a like-minded community for encouragement and accountability so you can enjoy optimal health with the best nutrition in the world!

The Fit3 Nutrition Guide is full of resources to get you started and keep you going on your personal wellness journey, but if you want to really reach those goals, and you want to know what it takes to be a Reliv Champion yourself in 2021, check out these top tips from our former Reliv and Fit3 Champions.

“Remember you are an individual and Fit3 is not one of those ‘One-size-fits-all’ programs that tells you exactly what to do and what not to do. There will be some trial and error. You have to tweak it to fit you!”—Debbie G., 2018 Me + 3 Champion

“The Fit3 Friendly Foods list and Daily Snapshot wheel is a great tool that teaches portion size and what you actually should be eating. Using a food tracker app like MyFitnessPal kept me on track with my recommended daily intake.”—Cindy B., Q4 2019 RCC Champion and 2018 Fitness Friend Challenge Champion

“If you have an off day… be mad for a minute, but then tell yourself that your next choice will be a good one.”—Dodi M., 2018 Fit for Life Champion

“Make a 90-day commitment to really learn and follow the Fit3 principles and plug into the community for support.”—Richard B., Q1 2020 RCC Finalist

“Get involved, keep track of everything that you put in your mouth, and exercise every day. And it goes without saying, take your Reliv.”—Mike G., Q3 2020 RCC Champion

“A big factor is to be determined, stay determined, and don’t quit. Your body won’t improve by leaps and bounds, but the baby steps add up to big results.”—Angela M., Q4 2019 RCC Champion

“Be consistent with the products and find an exercise that works for you. Enjoy the journey as you watch your body transform. Grab onto the support of the Fit3 community for inspiration and encouragement.”—Laurie E., Q3 2019 RCC Finalist

“Celebrate the good foods that fuel this journey! Do NOT focus on what you cannot, or should not have. I actually find it exciting to be creative with the rainbow of good foods! Experiment with different flavors; they can transform otherwise drab foods!”—Mary M., Q3 2019 RCC Champion

“It may sound simple, but remember to take your Reliv products consistently! Complete all the social media assignments, have fun with it and get motivated from the other posts.”—Jessica R., Q2 2019 RCC Finalist

“Remember your ‘WHY’. The challenge is about more than losing weight or getting buff. You have specific goals for a reason. When things get hard and discouraging, remember why you started and what you want to accomplish. I wanted to feel more like myself again, losing weight and having more energy were just steps to achieving my overall goal.”—Nicole M., Q3 2020 RCC Champion

“Have your Reliv shake consistently, every day. Join the Fit3 community – it’s filled with people who share similar goals. Use the weekly Fit3 tracking sheets and meal plans and do your best at your level. Just keep moving and celebrate all of your little victories. Have a blast! It’s absolutely a life changer!”—Ali C., 2018 Fit for Life Champion

“Mindless snacking was one of my toughest challenges. So I changed my habits to include eating at the table, devices-off limits, not just tasting each bite, but noting the color, the texture, and the smell. Being in the moment and enjoying the present is so much better than fretting over the past or worrying about the future.”—Patricia S., Q2 2020 RCC Champion

“Track your food and water intake. Whether this is done on paper or in an app, it is so important to be accountable for what hits your lips. If you EAT it, you OWN it! Choose wisely and start by eating smaller meals (on smaller plates). This portion control can help you conserve some of your calories for decisions that will most likely come up later in the day. Try keeping yourself ahead of the ballgame by planning and preparing for the unexpected.”—Tami M., Q2 2019 RCC Champion

The first step to becoming a Reliv Champion is to get registered! Registration for the 1 st Quarter 2021 Reliv Champions Challenge closes on January 15, 2021, so don’t wait. Come join the fun in 2021!

Did you miss this window of opportunity? New Champions Challenges start every quarter, so feel free to jump in and join us whenever you are ready!

RLV Hemp Extracts

A Q&A Interview with Hemp Industry Expert & Reliv Partner Steve Reid

By Director of Product Development and Fit3 Trainer Tina Van Horn

Since joining the family of Reliv products, the line of RLV Hemp Extracts has become a go-to source for wellness. With a line that has expanded to include RLV Hemp Balm for topical application and many tinctures, there’s an RLV Hemp Extract for everyone. We recently chatted with Steve Reid, CEO of SS Biotech, hemp industry expert, and Reliv partner to learn more about the benefits of these products and what sets them apart.

Tina: There seem to be a lot of hemp-based products on the market these days, but it makes me wonder — are all hemp products created equal?

Steve: All hemp is definitely not created equal. Like any other plant crop, individual genetic strains determine the strength, potency, and hardiness of the plant. Accessing the optimal hemp strain is critical to the quality of the cannabinoids extracted from the industrial hemp plants. Some of the better naturally evolving genetics strains we utilize carry a $4 cost per seed. At 1,500 to 1,800 plants per acre, a manufacturer can have $5 to $10 million invested just in seed stock for a single harvest season. Because of that sort of high entry cost, some manufacturers opt for a lesser valued seed variety and subsequently grow inferior crops, at least in our opinion.

There are a few companies offering top-quality hemp products, but there are vastly more companies offering inferior hemp products. These cheaper strains have limited efficacy as a consumable, yet they can cost the same. This is why it’s so important to do business with a company you trust. SS Biotech, and therefore Reliv, utilize only superior strains of hemp so that the Reliv hemp products will deliver sound results with each use. Having a high purity and a clean product was the first demand by Ryan Montgomery when we first started developing this special line of RLV products.

We prefer making only the best products for the best companies that have customers and clients who understand that quality, efficacy, and value matter. Reliv is right at the top of that list for us. We love working with Reliv because we share the same vision and values.

Tina: Why is hemp so popular right now?

Steve: In short – because it works! There are currently 120+ naturally occurring compounds found in industrial hemp, and CBD (cannabidiol) is by far the one generating the most interest. People have known about CBD for decades, however, it wasn’t until recently that the health benefits offered by the use of CBD became more apparent and more widely accepted. Folks across North America and other parts of the world have been swept up in the CBD movement because they are realizing great health benefits without the potential side-effects that prescription drugs can inflict on the body.

Some of the other cannabinoid compounds in hemp are also enjoying a great amount of attention and study. CBG, CBN, CBC, and many of the other primary cannabinoids are being researched for their individual health benefits. For example, CBG is known for its ability to influence neural repairs via natural endocannabinoid system (ECS) stimulation. Using a parallel pathway to CBG, CBN is becoming more popular for its sleep applications. Delta-9-THC is the cannabinoid that can cause many responses within the body’s ECS including sleep, deep dreaming, and a calming effect. Of course, our formulas are created to be legally compliant to federal and state codes. With more than 100 cannabinoids now discovered and more being found, the future of hemp cannabinoids is extremely exciting.

Tina: How do I know hemp products are safe?

Steve: That question needs to be answered by the hemp industry as a whole, in my opinion. Since the hemp industry is still in its infancy, many companies are taking full advantage of the disconnection between the US Food and Drug Administration, the US Department of Agriculture, and state health departments. Those companies are all about making fast money rather than focusing on providing lasting, high-impact products manufactured under strict guidelines. Some companies choose to skip basic lab tests necessary to verify and validate their products. Our rigorous testing protocols ensure that our products are of the highest quality every time. Even though we have some of the best in-house analytical research and development labs in the industry, we still spend millions of dollars each and every year just on third-party testing costs. We don’t release a single product lot until we know it has been checked, rechecked, and then checked and validated again by a third-party lab.

To assure product safety for the Reliv family, we have achieved important registrations and affiliations. All of Reliv’s hemp products are manufactured in a world-class FDA-registered and inspected food-grade facility. We are certified cGMP for our adherence to current good manufacturing practices. We are a Halal and Kosher-certified facility. We have other good standards achievements, but the most profound certification and membership we have is likely our NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) certification. Going through the NSF audit is an incredibly detailed, multi-day review process that most applicants do not pass. Formulating and manufacturing under the NSF banner is paramount in our dedication to providing safe and efficacious products to the great Reliv family.

Tina: Are any harmful chemicals used in the extraction process?

Steve: Not at all, at least not in our processes. In fact, we take extra care when extracting to make sure there are no chemical stripping agents involved at any stage in our extraction processes. While others use cheaper, faster-working but very harsh chemicals as a solvent to release the cannabinoids from the hemp plant biomass, we choose to use only pure sustainable sugar ethanol. We pay $39 per gallon in federal taxes to obtain and use pure sustainable sugar ethanol as our extraction solvent, and we even have a near 100% recovery rate when the extraction process is completed (a minuscule amount can evaporate).

We take this so seriously that the owner of our company has a policy that we will not make any product that we cannot put in or on his children. Period. No exceptions. That’s just how seriously we take our product safety.

Tina: What is new in the hemp industry?

Steve: The hemp industry is still exceedingly small when compared to its global potential. New and amazing discoveries come forward almost daily shining lights on a new cannabinoid or a new terpene that can interact in magical ways with the ECS of humans and animals. Our bodies were designed to be self-healing. Part of the aging process causes the ECS receptors to “turn off” and become dormant. Without the body maintaining efficient levels of communications throughout the ECS, we start to slow down, to become sluggish, to start replacing muscle mass with visceral fat storages, and then to become sickly. That is all part of the accepted path to our golden years, but it does not have to be. Hemp has been known and used in religious practices for many thousands of years. Fortunately, our generations are rediscovering ancient hemp plants and we are returning it to our daily lives with amazing results and benefits.

In our labs and in the industry as a whole, we are discovering and working with the lesser cannabinoids, such as CBG, CBC, and CBN. Working with Delta-8-THC is providing us with scientific data proving that Delta-8-THC can deliver all the great benefits associated with its more widely known cousin, Delta-9-THC, but without any of the psychoactive side effects that Delta-9-THC can deliver in medium to high doses. Very soon, we expect to be offering several next-generation consumables that will be in high demand.

The future of the hemp industry is guaranteed to be extremely promising and profitable for those who are forward-thinking visionaries, which is why I love working with Reliv. Having been in business for more than three decades, Reliv is considered an old-timer in the direct sales industry yet the corporate and field leadership teams are still youthful and hungry to continue making a positive mark in the world. Reliv is positioned to be in the stream of new development knowledge and concepts which makes Reliv a ready-made leader in the industry.

Not only are new discoveries underway with the hemp plant, but also advanced next-generation delivery systems are emerging at a fast pace. New more highly functional delivery platforms are moving from concept to reality and will, no doubt, help those representing the products. This sort of presentation ‘wow’ factor can only make for easier, increased retail sales. Everything is coming together nicely for the young hemp industry.

Imagine how many new friendships will be made because a Reliv Distributor cared enough about someone else to share with them the life-changing Reliv products. Imagine the lifestyle changes that can be realized by Reliv’s network of Distributors. It’s a great time to be with Reliv and to be in the hemp industry!

Learn more about RLV Hemp Extracts by accessing our product FAQ or viewing our certificate of analysis.

Business Builder Tips

Shake Things Up with a Virtual Shake Party

By Reliv Senior Director Jessica Rice

A big part of any successful Reliv business is finding opportunities to tell people about Reliv. One easy way to introduce people to the world of Reliv is by hosting a shake party. With a shake party, you can invite friends, family, neighbors, and anyone you know to Reliv! However, what can you do when you are not able to socialize in person? You can host a virtual shake party!

Get the Party Started

Despite social distancing measures and stay-at-home orders, our team has used social media to reach many people to share the hope of Reliv. We shared Reliv, the products and business opportunity, just like a regular shake party, along with some yummy shake recipes. We went live on Facebook and all of our friends and family were able to view and share our broadcast!

In addition, our amazing team leader, Kimberly Burns, put together a video about her own story, the products, and business opportunity that we could easily share on our own Facebook live parties. Kimberly created really fun themes like a luau, Italian night, and cooking class.

Ready to host a party of your own and tell more people about Reliv? Here are some steps to success.

How to Set Up Your Virtual Shake Party on Facebook Live:

Set up your phone on a tripod or some way that it will be secure when filming
Make a shake and get it ready to show your viewer and a shake recipe ready to share
Have your favorite products on-hand to show and highlight
Log onto Facebook live and click “Start Live Video”
Share the hope of Reliv from your heart, and remember to smile
Follow up with anyone who viewed or commented

As an added bonus, it’s super easy to share the videos of anyone on your team on your own Facebook page. Click “share” on the live event, and Facebook will show the live stream as a party on your own Facebook for all your followers to see. These events were a huge success! Many people viewed and commented and we were able to follow up with them, leading to new customers, orders, and Distributors.

Keep the Party Going

Another fun virtual event our team did in May was a wonderful Mother’s Day special! We filmed it on Zoom. Three of us were on at the same time and we selected beautiful backgrounds. We shared our favorite products, and offered a discount to all the lovely ladies in our lives for Mother’s Day! The Zoom was a live web conference that we were able to simultaneously link to Facebook to increase our audience.

Party All the Time

All these live events can be shared after the live event is over, and stay on your Facebook page for more people to view. You can pin favorite videos to the top of your feed so they’re easy for followers to find. It’s a wonderful tool that multiplies your efforts and can help you reach many people. Now that things are opening back up, we can get together again and have in-person parties. However, we plan to continue to host virtual parties because they are fast, easy, and effective. Virtual parties are especially effective for reaching loved ones who live far away.

Party in a Box

Reliv has all the supplies you need to host your own Shake Party (virtual or in-person) with the Shake Party Box! If you’re hosting a party virtually, be sure to wear your apron and pin to look professional, and make use of the product training cards so you’ll know just what to say! So grab a shake, your phone, and let’s go LIVE to share the hope of Reliv with the world!

Fitness, Nutrition

Celebrating National Physical Fitness and Sports Month

A Q&A with Reliv Distributor and Fit3 Champions Challenge Finalist Richard Brandl

By Director of Product Development and Fit3 Trainer Tina Van Horn

In 1983, the President’s Council on Fitness designated May as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. This was done in an effort to promote healthy lifestyles among all Americans and improve our quality of life. The hashtag “#MoveInMay” has been trending, and it’s my hope that people will remember to keep fitness a priority all of the other months of the year as well.

Fitness as a Lifestyle

For some of us, our fitness journey was launched through participation in youth sports. Others turn to fitness later in life for the health benefits, as well as the social connections. Regardless of age or whether you are fueled by competition or more intrinsic incentives, physical activity is a celebration of what our bodies can do.

Meet Richard

Richard Brandl, a self-proclaimed “jock” was a recent runner- up in the men’s division of the Q1 2020 Reliv Champions Challenge. He has been on a journey of physical fitness for more than 40 years. Now at age 60, Richard has no intention of slowing down. A former competitive body builder, Richard is currently training for obstacle course runs and uses Reliv nutrition to give him a competitive edge over his children and the younger competition.

Richard joined the Reliv Champions Challenge to jump start his training for the 2020 race season. He achieved his personal challenge goal to reduce his body fat percentage while maintain lean muscle. He was anticipating breaking some personal records in the upcoming season before his training was derailed by quarantine restrictions.

Modifying the Program

Even though his race plans are currently on hold and he has had to modify his strength training program, Richard is lifting and running and training with the equipment he has at home. Admittedly, he is still driven to be better than the other aging jocks and there is still a smidge of vanity behind his motivation. Ultimately though, he is determined to stay healthy and avoid the chronic health conditions that are in his family’s health history.

Motivation for Decades

Having seen Richard’s pictures from his prime body-building days, I was curious (and maybe a little envious) about how his fitness journey has evolved over the last 40 years and what really keeps pushing him to maintain physical fitness so I threw a few questions his way. His responses certainly resonated with my inner athlete, while validating the principles that the Fit3 program is build upon.

Tina: Fitness has been a part of your life for a very long time. Tell us a little bit about your history and what your fitness routine looks like today?

Richard: I started weightlifting in 1979, and got into bodybuilding in 1980, while I was assigned to my first duty station in the Army. I generally worked out for every day for about two hours, depending on the specific day and routine. I was always trying to progress weight and trained primarily for muscle mass, so cardio was minimal. I was really strict with my diet all of the time to maintain a body fat percentage below 8%. I participated in bodybuilding competitions from 1982 through 1986, but maintained this routine throughout the 80s.

Today my workouts last a maximum of 45 minutes, unless I am specifically training for a rucking event. I focus on circuit type training with minimal rest to be efficient with time. I definitely use more moderate weights and I stay with basic lifts that are multi joint and functional most of the time. Of course, I still like to maintain as much muscle as I can but realize that I’m not 26 anymore. I’m not lifting super heavy weights anymore because that might do more harm than good at my age. For cardio I use high-intensity interval training (HIIT) to get me ready for the obstacle course events

Tina: What are your motivations to keep moving and stay active? How are your motivations different today than 10, 20 or 30 years ago?

Richard: We all have certain level of vanity and I’m no exception. I like to look the part of a fitness professional. I also use the obstacle course runs as a motivator to be more structured and consistent with workouts. I am also motivated to stay healthy and to avoid serious illness. And I still have that competitive fire to be better than the other aging jocks.

Tina: What do you do when you don’t feel motivated?

Richard: When my motivation is low I know that I probably need to take a break from lifting, without feeling guilty. Sometimes I will substitute walks or biking for an active rest or really shorten workouts just to stay in the habit. If all else fails, I try something new, like the Reliv Champions Challenge. I see myself as an ongoing experiment to maintain as much muscle as I can. It’s a game that I play with myself when I have been slacking off.

Tina: Do you every take time off from exercise? How did you get started again?

Richard: Yes, I do take time off. After 40 years, I do experience burnout and to be honest it gets boring. When that happens, I join a class just to do something different and see what the trends are.

To get motivated I look in the mirror and do a “pec check” and decide I look puny and decide to get back to it; vanity again. I start slow, maybe a week of circuits and some cardio to get ready to increase intensity. I also have to get the mind ready as well. I’m also motivated by like class reunions, wedding things that I want to look good for. It’s a mental thing I have about that.

Tina: Tell us a little about your Reliv health story: How did you find Reliv, what have been your results with the products?

Richard: I found Reliv about 7 years ago when I heard about it on a radio ad. I had always used supplements and I was curious as to the results I would get compared to the past. I have certainly seen improvements with sustained energy, sleep, muscle recovery and management of joint discomfort. As I get older and with my profession as a physical therapy assistant, I definitely put more emphasis on joint health and workout recovery.

Supplement technology is so much more advanced today than it was 30 years ago. We have a new understanding of nutrition through the lens of epigenetics. Health issues run in my family and I know that optimal nutrition will benefit me in many ways. I’m committed to doing everything I can to stay healthy and keep my body in top shape.

Tina: What prompted you to join the Fit3 Challenge and what kind of results did you experience?

Richard: Initially my goal was to use the 90-day challenge to jump start my training in January as preparation for obstacle course training in the spring. The first event was supposed be in June, but has been canceled because of the pandemic. I also wanted to see how much body fat I could reduce while maintaining my weight and muscle mass. I also wanted to increase the weight I was lifting without causing joint discomfort. Really, I just to see what I could do at 60 years old.

Throughout the challenge, I lost about 1.8% body fat and my weight was stable. I was lifting heavier weights, too, before the pandemic restrictions took effect. I am happy to report my shoulder and knee discomfort was all but eliminated. I never say eliminated because I just don’t think it’s possible with as much activity I do and my age.

Tina: What advice would you give to someone afraid to take that first step on their fitness journey?

Richard: I suggest finding a trustworthy and practical coach to get you started and keep you accountable. Master the fundamentals that match your goals and commitment level. Ignore all the latest trends that promise rapid results. Instead think long term overall lifestyle habits. Keep it simple and be sensible!

If you are intimidated by a long laundry list of do’s and don’ts, just work on a couple of easier ones. Give yourself a chance to experience success and build your confidence. We live once and I encourage people to enjoy those parties but maintain a level of composure and to be ready to “work” it off. You’ve got to enjoy life and find a balance that works for you.

Healthy Living Tips, Nutrition

Fitness Inspiration for Family Wellness Month

10-Minute Activities for Staying Fit Together

By Director of Product Development and Fit3 Trainer Tina Van Horn

If it hasn’t popped up on your calendar, let me be the first to wish you a Happy Family Wellness Month! May is the official month for celebrating family wellness, but as a mom and the gate-keeper of my family’s health, it’s another one of those tabs that is open in my brain EVERY DAY, not just one month out of the year.

Balancing Act of Family Health

There is a continuous balancing act to make sure that everyone’s physical needs are met and that their bodies are healthy, without losing sight of their social, emotional, and spiritual health! Sheesh! No wonder parents are tired! Meeting all those needs is genuinely overwhelming some days.

Spending Time Together

Family wellness is so much more than putting nutritious meals on the table and setting limits on screen time. It is also about family habits, lifestyles, and relationships! Our hectic lifestyles don’t exactly foster family wellness and certainly interfere with quality family time, which has been shown to improve behavior and academic performance, build self-esteem, encourage communication skills, and reinforce healthy habits. Seems pretty obvious how important family time is, but several recent studies have suggested that the average American family spends only about 30-40 minutes each day truly engaged with each other. When I really think about it, that statistic is probably very representative of our family.

Making Good Health a Family Value

If you are anything like me, you might be feeling a bit of “mom guilt” and anxiety when you think about all of the things we should be doing as a family. Honestly, my head is spinning a little bit just trying to figure out how to start. Just like any other lifestyle change, the trick is to start slow. If you were starting a new fitness routine, I would suggest starting with 10 minutes, so why not apply that same strategy to family wellness?

I’m pretty sure we can all carve out an extra 10 minutes of family time each day to build connections, but if your kids aren’t into just sitting around for 10 minutes of conversation, here are a few activities that will get everybody involved:

Plan and prepare simple meals or snacks together – scrambled eggs, grilled cheese, PB&J
Look through family photo albums together or watch family videos
Volunteer or do a service project together – walk dogs at the animal shelter, help a neighbor with yardwork
Test a new Reliv shake recipe together or make up your own – it’s ok to add a few chocolate chips or some sprinkles!
Plant and grow something together – flowers, vegetables, herbs
Make up “conversation cards” with fun, open-ended questions that everybody can answer – e.g., if you were an animal, what would you be and why? If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Move together – walk, jump rope, play tag, hide and seek, dance, or play follow-the-leader
Plan a scavenger hunt or play “I spy” around your home or neighborhood
Read an article together, taking turns reading out loud and then discuss
Play a board game or active video game
Build a house of cards or line up dominoes
Work on a jigsaw puzzle together while taking turns picking the music you listen to
Send out birthday cards or write letters to family members

The possibilities for finding fun and creative ways to spend time together are endless. In addition to making memories that will last a lifetime, you’re also showing your love for your family. Another way you can show your family you love them is to make sure they’re getting the best of nutrition and immune support with Reliv core nutrition! Whether you’re blending up a shake for your kids, or staying hydrated while playing outdoors, feeding your family with optimal nutrition is a great way to say, “I love you!”

Nutrition, Science & Health

Immunity and Wellness: Q & A with Dr. Alfredo Galvez

With the world focusing more than ever on wellness, many are wondering what we can do to support our immune systems and overall health. Director of Product Development Tina Van Horn recently spoke with Dr. Alfredo Galvez, Reliv’s Chief Scientific Officer and the discoverer of the lunasin peptide, to learn more about the science of immunity, what role nutrition plays and what you can do to take charge of your health.

Tina: What are the effects of nutrition on immunity and what role does epigenetics play in the immune function?

Dr. Galvez: Fortunately our bodies are very smart and have evolved over time to fight against infections through our innate and adaptive immunity. But, we also know there are specific foods and nutrients that have co-evolved with the human body to support a more efficient immune response to environmental threats like viruses. When you combine this knowledge with our current understanding of epigenetics, we can have an even greater impact on wellness as a whole, but the immune system is of particular interest in the field of nutritional epigenetics.

The role of epigenetics is the key science that has been proven to be one of the underlying causes of not only infections and inflammation, but also chronic disease formation. That is the reason why we need to have nutrients available for our bodies to use.

Research in the last decade has revealed the expression of genes associated with immunity response to epigenetic influences. A study that caught my attention ten to twelve years ago, from Purdue and Indiana Universities, demonstrated the ability of lunasin to turn on the genes associated with the immune response, both for innate immunity, our first line of defense against infection, as well as adaptive immunity, which is the ability for the body to produce antibodies that prevent future infections. This is important research in light of novel viruses and infections. Epigenetics provides new research opportunities to find and develop more effective treatments and vaccines, which is important to me from a research perspective. But, there is also a practical application for individuals because with the right nutrients, we can strengthen our immune systems to counter pathogens AND to respond efficiently when vaccines are introduced by teaching our bodies to produce antibodies that can attack novel viruses.

Tina: With the growing body of research surrounding epigenetics and lunasin, in particular, we have gained a solid understanding of the cellular health benefits of lunasin for our long-term health, but it is interesting to hear you talk about how lunasin benefits our short-term immunity in fighting off those viruses and pathogens that are environmentally attacking us in addition to the long-term health benefits. What about other dietary ingredients and nutrients? Do we need them along with lunasin to support immunity?

Dr. Galvez: Scientific evidence supports that metabolism and nutrient absorption are unique to each individual, so it is very important to have a combination of multiple nutrients at optimal levels to support all of our physiological processes, especially metabolism which is directly linked to immunity.

When I started working with Dr. Carl Hastings on adding lunasin to the core nutrition, one of the main objectives was to improve metabolic health. In fact, we did some experiments on the combination of lunasin and Reliv Now® with Soy. The results showed an improvement in metabolic biomarkers and risk factors associated with a number of health conditions. We understand now, more clearly than ever before, how metabolic health directly affects the immune system. So the nutritional composition of the core nutrition (macronutrients and micronutrients) in combination with lunasin, optimizes genetic expression for good health today and improves our long-term health.

Tina: You already stated that what makes Reliv products so unique is that we don’t focus on single ingredients for a specific health benefit. Yet so many people when we talk about immunity they instantly think of taking mega doses of vitamin C or zinc. But those mega doses are not nearly as effective as putting these ingredients together in synergistic formulas. How can we combat that misunderstanding?

Dr. Galvez: The body of research on nutrition and epigenetics is expanding exponentially. At Reliv, we are not only looking at lunasin, but also we are also looking at lunasin in combination with the other ingredients we have in core nutrition and even some of the targeted solutions like FibRestore®, CardioSentials® and GlucAffect®. These formulas contain ingredients also known to have an effect on the epigenome. As I see now with so much new research on bioactive agents and dietary nutrients, we are gaining a greater understanding of how the nutrients work together metabolically not only to support physiological functions, but also epigenetically to have a real impact on health. For example, when dietary fibers are digested in the gut, chemicals are released that send signals to the epigenome.

I am hopeful that the next generation of scientists, researchers, and medical professionals will expand on what we know so far and apply this understanding to develop nutritional solutions that can have a real impact on many of the chronic health conditions that are so prevalent today. So many of our current therapies only treat the symptoms, but with epigenetics, we can more effectively target the underlying causes of these conditions. I believe the best way we can find effective treatments is to understand the epigenome and the effect of natural bioactive agents working together to turn off the bad genes that promote disease and turn on the genes that support wellness.

There are many things that still need to be understood. There is also a learning curve for the medical establishment and consumers as far as epigenetics is concerned. With the foundational work that I have done on nutritional epigenetics, along with other researchers in the space, we are certainly moving in that direction. I anticipate that as the trend continues for patients and consumers to be more proactive with their health, the demand for effective nutritional solutions will keep driving researchers to find effective solutions.

Tina: You have a very unique perspective as a researcher on the current situation. What are some of the challenges that researches are facing that are inhibiting their efforts to finding effective therapies or developing a vaccine for COVID-19?

Dr. Galvez: That is a very good question. Actually, that was a question posed to me when I was taking my Ph.D. oral examination because it was during the height of the HIV infection. Like HIV, this new coronavirus is an RNA virus and it is more difficult to find a cure or even a vaccine because RNA viruses only have a single strand of genetic material (versus DNA viruses which have two strands). This means that it can mutate more easily than other types of viruses. In fact, that is one of the reasons why we have to reduce the infection rates, so we can reduce the chance of mutations.

It is going to be very difficult to develop vaccines. There are a lot of stages of testing that must be done. It will take anywhere from a year or a year and a half. Of course, you also have to take into consideration the mutation rate of this virus. It’s a serious problem, but it’s not something that we haven’t seen before.

I think individually we can each do things to help control this, so all the suggestions that the CDC and epidemiologists have been giving us we should accept it and practice it. This is the only way we can fight against this virus. In the meantime, it becomes vitally important to do what you can personally to keep supporting your immune system with nutrition and lifestyle choices.

Tina: What are a few recommendations that you have for our readers and what are you personally doing to protect yourself and your family?

Dr. Galvez: My family is certainly taking Reliv nutrition and focusing on the basic principles of health and wellness – plenty of vegetables and fruits along with quality protein, emphasizing plant-based protein sources. We exercise at least 30 minutes each day. There are a lot of studies done on exercise and epigenetic changes. In fact, exercising can reduce the epigenetic age to optimize your epigenome and support immunity. Getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep at night can also have an effect on delaying epigenetic aging. There is not a short-term fix that is going to protect everyone. You have to be vigilant and proactive so when you get challenged by these environmental stresses and viral infections your immune system and your body is strong enough to fight it.

Healthy Living Tips, Nutrition

Plant-Based Protein Options to the Rescue

By Reliv Key Director Dawn Tucci

These are times of adaptation and change. Around the world, people have been faced with decisions about how we are going to navigate life, now and into the future. One of the things that we are experiencing is a shift in the availability of the items we took for granted. For the first time for many of us, it has become harder to acquire personal items that we rely on as well as the foods that we eat. Restaurants are closed, so more people are cooking at home. Because of the disruption in business, we may see a shortage of certain types of meats.

Healthier Options

We know that protein is an essential part of a healthy diet. In looking for protein alternatives we may find that we stumble upon better choices out of necessity. Meat is a good source of protein, but alternative sources like plant-based protein have been touted as a healthier solution. There is evidence that many chronic diseases can be reduced by eating a whole-food, plant-based diet. Many also report that eating plant-based protein provides more energy, improved fitness, reduced inflammation, and better weight management. Eating a plant-based diet may even help you live longer, help the environment, and support your immune system.

Apples to Apples

First, let’s talk about how animal and plant proteins compare. When relying on plants for protein it is important to combine different plants to give your body a complete source of all the essential amino acids. Sound complicated? It’s really not.

Animal proteins provide all the essential amino acids your body needs, but individual plant products do not and must be combined. There are exceptions: soy and quinoa contain all essential amino acids. Grains and beans complement each other and together provide all these amino acids, so eating both in a day can provide you the same nutritional quality protein as if you were to eat meat.

In 2016, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics stated, “a vegetarian or vegan diet could provide all the nutritional requirements of adults, children and those who were pregnant or breast-feeding.” The right plant-based foods are an excellent source of protein and nutrients, often with fewer calories.

So what does your plate look like if you are not able to put meat on it and must rely on plant foods for protein? Eating a variety of these foods will give your body all the nutrients it needs to be healthy.

Fruits
Apples, grapes, berries, citrus fruits, bananas, strawberries, etc.

Vegetables
Peppers, avocados, corn, lettuce, peas, spinach, asparagus, broccoli, kale, etc.

Tubers
Root vegetables such as potatoes, parsnips, sweet potatoes, carrots, beets, etc.

Whole grains
Whole grain flours, bread, and cereals, brown rice, millet, oats, barley, etc.

Legumes
Beans of any kind, lentils, tofu, tempeh

Nuts and Seeds
Quinoa, all nuts, all seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, etc.)

Other
Supplements
Plant-based milk

How much protein do you need?

There is a simple formula to help you determine how much protein you need. Divide your current weight by 2.2, multiply this by 0.8. This gives you the number of grams of protein you need to eat in one day. So a 150 lb person would need 54 grams of protein per day. Your protein needs may increase if you are very active and want to gain muscle.

How much protein do plant-based products have?

(For comparison, an ounce of meat averages about 7 grams)

Per ½ cup:

Chickpeas 7 gm
Edamame 8
Lentils 8
Tofu 10
Peanuts 20
Almonds 16
Quinoa 4
Green peas 4
Dry oats 6
Wild rice 3

Vegetables – those with the highest protein (4 to 5 grams per cooked cup) include broccoli, spinach, asparagus, artichokes, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and Brussels sprouts.

Try rice and beans mixed together (7 grams per cup), a stalk of broccoli (4 grams per stalk), or a baked potato (8 grams for large).

Other sources:

Reliv Now with Soy contains 7 grams of heart-healthy, plant-based protein per serving
1 Tbsp chia seeds 2 gm
1 oz nut butter 7 gm
Nutritional yeast – a deactivated strain of yeast that has a cheesy flavor. It can be sprinkled on mashed potatoes, pasta and provides 14 grams of protein and 7 grams of fiber per ounce. Fortified nutritional yeast can also supply Vitamin B12.

Supplemental Solution

When you consume a plant-based diet, there are additional nutrients besides protein that you will need to consume. Nutrients of concern when avoiding animal products are calcium, iron, and Vitamin B12. Some foods are fortified with these nutrients and can also be obtained by using a daily supplement like Reliv Now with Soy. In addition to providing 7 grams of plant-based protein, Reliv Now with Soy tastes great and has higher levels of essential vitamins and minerals for greater health benefits. It also includes LunaRich to support your immune system and promote healthy cholesterol levels and inflammatory response.

The silver lining in this meat crisis may lead to an improvement in our health. Eating more plant-based proteins means that you will get more nutrition and fiber in your diet often with fewer calories. If you’re not willing to avoid meat entirely, you can still benefit from increasing your intake of plant-based foods. An additional benefit to supplementing with Reliv products is that they are shelf-stable. You can blend Reliv products with fruits and vegetables to create a smoothie, but they can also be made simply by mixing them with water or juice. Best of all, Reliv products can be delivered right to your door!

Business Builder Tips

What is ICSAR and How Can It Impact Your Business?

People are looking for new ways to work from home and make money. With an ever-changing world economic situation and current health concerns, being able to make supplemental income is on the minds of many.

Reliv is a fun and simple business that anyone can do, but as with any venture, there is work that must be done. We know from experience that structure is essential to any Reliv business. You’ll see the fruits of your effort when you master these five repeatable steps:

Identify
Connect
Share
Ask
Register

To help remember the steps in order, we use the acronym “ICSAR.” When you master these, you are well on your way to building a successful and sustainable business. Let’s take a look at each of these steps and discuss how to put them to work for you.

Identify

Take the time to think about who you could tell about Reliv. You likely know hundreds, even thousands of people who don’t yet know about Reliv. Start by making a list of people you know. Start with just five people so you don’t get overwhelmed at first. Think about your social contacts, family and friends, etc. Your sponsor can help you build this list as you continue to grow and will encourage you to include everyone, even if you’re not sure they’ll be interested. You never know who might surprise you!

Take this time to work with your sponsor and establish a good working relationship. Reliv Distributors become lifelong friends for a reason, and this exercise will show you that you’re in business for yourself, but not by yourself.

Be sure to use the memory joggers in the online workbook from Reliv. Once you’ve got your list of names, you’re ready to Connect!

Connect

People do business with those that they know, like, and trust. When you connect with someone, make an effort to create enough interest that they will want to hear about Reliv. When you see the names on your list, connecting with each one might feel like a challenge. To give you a place to start, set a goal of how many people per day or week you want to connect with. We like starting with five people in the first few days of starting your new business. That is a very achievable goal and will give you the confidence to keep adding to your list as a start to make these connections.

You can connect with people virtually by using phone calls, text messages, social media or email. This is one of the reasons why Reliv is so perfect for those who want to make money from home; you can connect with potential customers by using technology!

The online workbook mentioned above offers ideas about what to say when you connect by phone or online. Reliv offers Success Training that provides strategies for connecting with people through social media, and explains how you can create your own custom marketing materials to promote your business. It’s all there for you!

Reliv Distributors are taking advantage of video conferences more and more! It’s a great way to stay connected while working from home.

Share

Now that you’ve made a connection, it’s time to share your Reliv story! This is the part where you encourage others by telling them how the products and business opportunity have made an impact for you. Remember to represent Reliv with integrity; if you started out healthy and Reliv is helping you stay that way, share that! There’s no competition for sharing the best story. Share from your heart and you’ll do great!

When you share about your business, no income story is too small to share. Remember that earning an extra $500 per month would be life-changing for many people! Be sure to listen more than you talk, and give the other person a chance to ask questions. Provide just enough information about our company, products and the Reliv opportunity to engage your prospect and get to the next step.

Ask

A very important part of any conversation is the part where you ask how they’d like to get started with Reliv. It’s your prospect’s invitation to get clarification or share their thoughts. This part of the conversation will help you determine a person’s interest. Working with your sponsor/upline leaders, you’ll learn many ways to help a person get started with Reliv.

There are so many wonderful things about Reliv to share as you respond, but we recommend that you keep things simple. Make sure you’re familiar with Reliv’s products: Core Nutrition and Targeted Solutions, and that you can speak with authority about the basics of the Reliv compensation plan. And remember: we have a 100% Reliv Guarantee!

You will get more and more comfortable at doing this and we have tools to help you do this from day one. You’ve asked the questions, you have a decision, now it’s time to conduct business! To share videos, use the Reliv App as you can track whether or not they’ve watched the video and even for how long!

Register

Once a person has made a decision, it’s time to take action. Register your new customer or Distributor with the company. If you have product on hand, get them started immediately! The forms you’ll need are available online or through the Reliv App. Set up your follow-up communications, and check in with them to see if they have any questions or feedback. Finally, begin to repeat this process and provide them with the tools they need to get started with ICSAR as well!

If you get these steps right, your business will move and your team will be in momentum. Remember to share these five steps with new people and help them to understand the importance of repeatable action! We can’t wait to celebrate your success!

Business Builder Tips

3 Ways to Maximize Your Time at Home

By Mandy L. Manley, Professional Organizer and Owner of Skeleton Key Organizing

Because of recent health concerns, people are spending more time at home than ever. We’re doing all the household chores, caring for little ones and getting work done all from the same spaces every day. These are unprecedented times, but we know that they won’t last forever. How can you make the most of all this time at home?

1. Zone Your Home By Activity

One of the best things you can do for your mental health and productivity is to zone your home. Designate certain rooms or nooks for specific activities. Pick a place to conduct business, and make sure that’s all you do in that space. When you go to your home office, work there. Leave when you’re done working for the day and remember to take breaks away from your desk. Pick a spot for doing Fit3 Workouts with Trainer Tina. You should even have a spot for relaxing, reading and watching movies. By setting up these zones, you’re giving your brain a cue that it’s time to work, play, or relax. Plus, you’ll be less tempted to do dishes when you should be working if you stay out of the kitchen!

2. Decide What You Can Accomplish

Even when you’re working from home, there are still only 24 hours in a day. Make a list of what you’d like to achieve, and see how much of it you can fit into your week. Start with the items that will make the biggest impact on your business. Do you need training to get the best use of social media? Need to learn how to use Zoom to host a virtual shake party? Start with these items so you can begin to integrate them into your business immediately. Be sure to set some goals for yourself, so you know what you need to get done. Having structure like this in place will make or break your Reliv business, especially if you’re working toward earning the trip to Hawaii.

3. Block Your Time

Using a calendar, schedule appointments in 30-minute increments for all the goals you have set. Some of these will be appointments you make with other people as you make phone calls to share about Reliv and help your customers. Even if you’re getting work done on your own, go ahead and schedule it like you would an appointment. Include the details of each task in the “notes” section of your calendar invitation, and set a reminder for 10 minutes before you’ll start. This will help you switch tasks and mentally prepare for what’s next. Feel free to get fancy by adding some color-coding for types of tasks, and don’t forget to schedule breaks, meals, and relaxation.

Here’s an example of what your time-blocked calendar might look like:

When you take a thoughtful approach to working from home, you can get so much accomplished! By creating zones, setting goals and blocking off your time, you’re setting yourself up for greater success. Don’t let the day happen to you; be strategic and make your impact on the day! Let’s make the most of these days, and look back on how far we’ve come once this is behind us!

Business Builder Tips

This One Thing Will Make Or Break Your Reliv Business

By Reliv President of Sales & Marketing Tom Pinnock & Director of Marketing Erin Koch

I say this all the time: having structure for your team is critical to your success in your Reliv business. The truth is that your distributors will need a series of events to help them stay on track and build their businesses. Having consistent training, meetings, and special events is essential to your success. We are professional networkers, and thus by nature, we like to get together, intermingle, have fun, and inspire each other.

So what does Reliv structure look like in today’s busy world? Well, I can tell you one thing for sure, it is much different today than it was 30 years ago when I first became a Distributor. And the reason for that is simple – technology. Today we have all kinds of new digital tools that make our lives so much easier and our ability to communicate so much better – and faster. I’m talking about e-commerce, social media, blogs, personal websites, webinars, podcasts, texting, sharing videos, mobile apps, smartphones, and the list goes on and on.

The great news is that these new tools allow us to communicate around the world like never before, and that means that we have a bigger opportunity than ever before. Technology positions a work-from-home business for success no matter the current health climate or restrictions on in-person gatherings. If we’ve learned anything from the current situation, it’s that working from home and online is a wise choice, especially if you take a structured approach.

So when we think about structure, we need to think in terms of both offline and online events that we can plug our people into. Most of us understand the offline events because that’s what we’ve been doing for decades. They would include opportunity meetings, training, conferences, in-home presentations, and special events. So let’s start with these. Take out your calendar and start filling it in.

The first thing to markdown is the next conference that we have this year… in St. Louis on July 31 – August 1. Leaders never miss conferences, and typically, they work from conference to conference. Their goal is to always have more people at the next conference than the last one. Pretty simple. Conferences are educational, inspirational, and fun. Leaders are born at conferences, and it’s where you will make life-long relationships.

The next thing you want to jot down on your calendar are the special events scheduled in your area. This could be a company event, or it might be a top Reliv Distributor coming to your town. If you don’t have any special events, get with your upline, and schedule one. The next thing you need to do is schedule some in-home presentations or shake parties, or find out who in your area is having an in-home event that you can attend. Remember, the more events you go to with new people, the bigger your organization.

Okay, we’ve marked down conferences, special events, local meetings and training, and in-home presentations. Now it’s time to fill up our calendar with weekly presentations. You might do these in your home, in a coffee shop, or in a prospect’s house. At first, you use our upline, but after being coached up, you do these things on your own or with one of your new distributors as you coach them up. These are your offline activities, and they are both productive and fun.

Now, let’s talk about online activities, which has opened up a great big door for all of us. I sat down with Reliv’s Director of Marketing Erin Koch and asked her to share some of the best ways Reliv Distributors can incorporate structure into their online activities.

Get the Reliv App. Here’s the main reason: this is the fastest and easiest way to send out videos daily to your recruits. The app notifies you when someone has watched your video and even tells you how long they watched it for – pretty cool for following up with them! It also notifies you in real time when you have a new order or when someone new signs up. You can instantly email, call or text them right through the app and thank them, making the Reliv App the best customer service tool available in this industry. Click here to learn more about this powerful tool, which you can try free for 30 days as a new distributor.
Start using your social network…smartly. There is an art to this on your personal Facebook & Instagram feeds and we recommend following the 80/20 rule. 80% of your content should be about your lifestyle and 20% about your products. The same etiquette rules apply for social media – never post something online that you wouldn’t say to someone in person! Remember your Reliv business is all about wellness, so your lifestyle should be posts about healthy recipes (hint hint use Reliv products in these!), workouts or activities you’re doing and how great your life is because you get to carve out your own purpose. Now in terms of structure, you should be posting on social media every day or almost every day. You want to stay top of mind within your social network, so plan content ahead if needed and schedule it out using Facebook’s built-in scheduler. That way you never miss a beat. Now as you begin to build your team, think about creating a closed Facebook group. This will be a more personalized experience and it’s a great way to develop relationships with your distributors and customers. It’s great for swapping tips and tricks, setting up appointments or events and just cheering each other on and welcoming in the newbies or those distributors who are advancing. The content in this group should be all about Reliv because this is the mutual interest and connection you all have. When you create your group, your first post should welcome everyone and to also let them know the rules – no politics, religion or other topics that are off subject of Reliv. That’s the whole point of this closed group and it’s by invitation only.
Make online experiences personal. Sorry, but just because you can send out mass communications to people online doesn’t mean you should. There is nothing that will earn you an unfollow faster than sending out mass direct messages or posts that are not tailored to each person. Make notes about the topics that your network is posting about and seem to care about. You can use what you learn from their posts to personalize a message for them. You want to send a direct message that is 100% about that person’s wants and needs and how your product can help them. Don’t write one message and direct message (DM) it to all of your Facebook or Instagram followers! For structure, mark this one down in your calendar as another daily activity – try to get in the habit of responding to questions or comments about your posts or messages as quickly as possible. We live in an Amazon world where people want what they want and they want it now.
Develop relationships online. Since you’re online and not face-to-face with your network, you’re going to have to work a little harder here. But wait, not really because Facebook and Instagram have made it ridiculously easy to make a live video. When people can see and hear you, they feel more connected with you. And when people feel like they know you, they start to trust you. And when they start to trust you, they’ll start to buy from you. In your calendar, map out a live video at least 1-2 times per week.

Tips on Going Live:

Go live 1-2 times a week on consistent days and times. Stay live for at least 15 minutes if possible so the Facebook Algorithm can notify more of your followers.
Pre-promote when you’re going live, what you’ll talk about and why. Stories are powerful!
Use the messaging in the Product Training Cards and never make product or health claims! Email our Compliance Department if you have any questions: compliance@relivinc.com. They are happy to help you!
Find a quiet space, with a clean and uncluttered background. Have the product displayed.
Promote 1-2 products at a time or 1 health benefit, such as the Weight Loss Bundle. It’s easier for the audience to absorb the information.
Have fun, smile and be yourself! People want to see the real you, so if you make a mistake just laugh it off and keep going.
Have your phone on a tripod so the camera is stable. Look at the shot before you go live!
End with a clear call to action “Buy from me now” or “DM me with any questions!” Always include a link to your Personal Website!
Texting is a great option if you are too nervous to call them. Many people don’t like talking on the phone and are introverts, so texting is a perfect option for you! Just keep your text personal and keep it short at one to two sentences. You might reach out to setup a time to grab coffee. The ICSAR Getting Started Guide has some great examples.
Get a Personal Website. When you’re promoting the Reliv products or business online, you must always include a link to your personal website – after all, why send them to reliv.com when you want to get the sale?! It is so easy to setup – you don’t have to design anything. You’ll simply add your photo and a brief story and you’re ready to go. You can even choose which video you want to feature on your homepage as well as products! See how it works here.

So get out your calendar or planner and start mapping out your offline and online activities. You should wake up, open up your calendar and already have all of the activities for your day waiting for you. If you do these things and make structure the backbone of your business, we can guarantee we’ll see you on stage shining under the bright lights of the St. Louis Conference.