Fast Facts

Shari Naman and her family

Steve, Shari, Whitney, and Erin Naman

I’m a University Academic Advisor. My husband, Steve, and I have been married for 36 years. We have two daughters, Dr. Whitney Naman (32) and Erin Naman (29).Erin and her fiancé, Graham, will be getting married in January. The other member of our family is Jordie, a 5-year-old Beagle. In my spare time, I like to exercise by using weights, working my abs and doing yoga at my YMCA. I also enjoy biking, walking, rowing and swimming. My other hobby is reading nonfiction.

My Health Regimen

I have had a weight problem my entire life and have a big commitment to keeping my weight in check in the most healthful way possible. I also am gluten intolerant and have to be very careful about eating dairy foods. Given all of the above, I eat mainly whole foods that I prepare myself from scratch. I use very little artificial ingredients, including sweeteners.

For breakfast, I eat oatmeal, yogurt, tofu and occasionally eggs. For lunch, I eat salads or leftovers from dinner. At dinner, I eat a protein, vegetables and a starch. I generally use powdered whey in my coffee before my 4-5 day a week workout. I also eat a lot of fruit.

At my local YMCA, on two days a week, I do a 30 minute abdominal workout and then an hour long class with weights mixed with aerobics. Another two days a week, I take an hour long yoga class. Luckily, I can ride my bike to the Y for most of the year .I also like to swim. Jordie is my swim coach and keeps me going. He barks when I stop swimming because he likes the wake my laps create.

I start my day with a probiotic. After I workout, I take plant sterols and glucosimine/chondroitin/MSM pills and a digestive enzyme. I take a digestive enzyme with every meal. After breakfast, I take several supplements, including a multivitamin and fish oil. At dinnertime, I take fish oil, plant sterols and a low dose aspirin.

Supplement I Don’t Want to be Without

I would not ever want to be without my digestive enzyme—Digest Gold. It has helped me digest food better and helped me lose weight.

Shari Naman and her Beagle, Jordie

Shari and her five-year-old Beagle, Jordie

Self Taught Vitamin Knowledge

As an adult, I have always read a lot about how the body works in an effort to lose weight. I would have to say that my extra pounds are a blessing in that it led me to learn about what makes people healthy and how to remain so as I age.

I think I started reading health newsletters when I was about 35 just because someone I knew gave me the ones he had already read. I would then start reading different gurus, who led me to other authors. I think Dr. Andrew Weil, the Real Age folks (Dr. Michael Roizen and Dr. Mehmet Oz), Dr. Nicholas Perricone and Dr. Mark Hyman have given me many valuable insights. I have read a lot of different opinions and then research as to the factuality of their claims. I take a lot of supplements based on the opinions I trust.

Friends Turn to Me for Advice

With the knowledge I’ve gained about alternative healthcare, I’ve gotten my husband to be more involved with taking better care of himself. Some friends and family ask for my advice, but I realize if I offer too much, it is not taken seriously since I am not a health professional.

One day, my director at work called me into her office immediately. I was trying to figure out what I had done wrong. Instead, she said that her friend was on the phone and had a bladder infection and asked what she should do.

Make the World Better by Not Dwelling on the Unimportant

I think the world would be a better place if we achieved a peace within ourselves so that we did not dwell on so many things that are unimportant. We live in a very celebrity-driven culture based on poor values. We need to continue to live and learn, to accept those who are different from ourselves and to develop resiliency, so as not to give up when faced with problems.

Delicious Way of Spending Free Time

In my spare time, I love to go to grocery stores and to cook and to eat. I love to eat at restaurants with fresh ingredients with friends and family. I also enjoy reading. I love the wonderful trips my family has taken, like our recent trip to Tanzania in Africa, where we were able to view the wildlife.

Editor’s Note: Shari is a great cook. Her recipe for Granola Crunch won the Swanson Healthy Foods Recipe Contest in May. Her mix of nuts, seeds and cinnamon makes a great breakfast, topping or healthy snack. Get the recipe and try it yourself!

Why I Shop Swanson

I don’t remember how I found out about Swanson Health Products. I guess I was looking for specific products online and compared prices and found Swanson the best deal.

I continue to shop at Swanson because I think there is good variety among products and brands. I like the Swanson brand because I think get the best value for my money. I like the ease of ordering online, but when I talk to employees on the phone, they are always polite and do whatever they can to help me with my selection. I also like that I do not feel badgered by unreasonable amounts of email or catalogs, as some companies do. Also, I made requests about products that were not covered and they have been added to Swanson offerings.

2 of Shari’s Favorite Products

Alpha Lipoic Acid
Milk Thistle
  • Swanson Superior Herbs
  • Milk Thistle
  • SWH051 • 250 mg 120 Caps
  • Overall Rating of out of 5.0  (21)
  • Swanson  $5.49
  • Add To Order

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