How to Make Sure Your Body is Getting What it Needs

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Are you always on the run? Do you often skip breakfast and turn to fast food for lunch? If so, your body probably isn’t getting the nutrients it needs.
Are you always on the run? Do you often skip breakfast and turn to fast food for lunch? If so, your body probably isn’t getting the nutrients it needs. The USDA just updated its food guidelines to recommend 9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. The food guidelines are designed to help Americans get adequate levels of vitamins, nutrients and minerals. They call for the average adult, with a 2,000 calorie per day diet, to eat 6 ounces of grains, 2-and-a-half cups of vegetables, 2 cups of fruits, 5-and-a-half ounces of meat and beans, 3 cups of milk and 6 tablespoons of oils every day (mypyramid.com). For most people, the advice is hard to follow. It seems in today’s society, people have so much going on, they forget, or don’t have time to eat right. So what can you do? These days, more and more people are adding nutritional supplements to their diet to get the vitamins and minerals their bodies need. In recent years, thousands of supplements have come on the market, so how do you know you’re choosing the nutrient and level that’s right for you? Do your research or turn to the experts that do the research for you. One brand that’s been getting a lot of positive attention lately is Isomers, available through Shop NBC. Isomers Laboratories president and chemist Manuela Marcheggiani and her husband created a full line of skincare products and nutritional supplements that not only nurture the skin, but the body and mind as well. The Science of Total-Beauty. The supplement line starts with the daily multivitamin tablet products, called the Core. Unique to Isomers is a drinkable Effervescent Multivitamin, a refreshing way to get your daily dose of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They come in single serving packets you can take with you on the go. “A lot of people avoid taking vitamins because they don’t like swallowing pills. This supplement comes in powder form that quickly dissolves in water, and has a great tasting fruit punch flavor,” says Marcheggiani. In addition to being rich in vitamins and minerals, the Effervescent Multivitamins also contain antioxidants and standardized phytonutrients (plant-derived components that are intimately involved in helping fight free-radical damage). Isomers also offers a healthy alternative to coffee and soda for people in need of a little pick-me-up during the day. The Berry Blast Energy Drink helps you revitalize your body and mind with B vitamins, amino acids and caffeine. The drink also awakens the senses, revitalizes the body and mind and activates metabolism. “Of course women want to look and feel great, but we’re busy. My goal was to create a line of supplements that combined health and convenience,” say Marcheggiani. “Your face tells the world your story. Whether you have been getting enough sleep and good nutrition is there to see. Good nutrient supplements can help you and your body look and feel your best.” Isomers nutritional supplements are sold exclusively through Shop NBC. To learn more about their health benefits, log on to www.shopnbc.com and click on the link at the top that says “Health and Fitness.” Courtesy of ARA Content
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Friday Front Porch Feature: This Luxury Home Has Plenty of Amenities

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

LENOX, Mass. — Are you looking for a big house to enjoy your days with a big movie theater, a sauna, and more? Then this is the house for you.

Built in 2004, this seven-bedroom, and nine-bathroom home is 7,073 square feet on more than an acre. The home comes with an elevator to the lower level to access a theater, sauna, gym, wine cellar, massage room, and its very own soda fountain. 

The home also has a guest house with a saltwater pool. A multi-car garage greets you with heated floors.

The this home is listed for $4,950,000 and is located in the 125-acre, gated Pinecroft compound.

We spoke to Leslie Chesloff, the listing agent with William Pitt Sotheby's.

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?

Chesloff: This gated Berkshire stone estate truly redefines luxury living in the Berkshires. What sets it apart is the rare combination of resort-style amenities and complete privacy. The property offers Canyon Ranch-level wellness living with a full spa experience at home — including a sauna, massage room, and gym — plus an eight-seat hi-def theater with wine cellar for entertaining. The heated, gunite saltwater pool and spa are complemented by a fully equipped pool house with a guest suite and complete kitchen, perfect for extended family or guests.

What was your first impression when you walked into the home?

The moment you step inside, you're struck by the quality and craftsmanship — those 300-year-old reclaimed timber floors set an immediate tone of authenticity and warmth. The scale is impressive but never overwhelming; this is a home designed for gracious living, not just show. The natural light, cathedral ceilings, and thoughtful flow between spaces create an inviting atmosphere that balances grandeur with genuine comfort.

How would you describe the feel or atmosphere of this home?

This home feels like a private wellness retreat meets sophisticated family estate. There's a serene, spa-like quality throughout — enhanced by features like the sauna, steam shower, and massage room — but it never feels clinical or cold. The Berkshire stone exterior and reclaimed timber floors ground the home in a sense of place and permanence. It's designed for people who appreciate the finer things but want to actually live well — whether that's screening a film in the eight-seat theater with wine from your own cellar, hosting poolside gatherings, or simply unwinding in your own spa sanctuary.

What kind of buyer would this home be ideal for?

This is perfect for the discerning buyer who values wellness, privacy, and culture in equal measure. I envision someone who spends their days hiking or exploring the Berkshires, then comes home to unwind in the sauna or pool. They might entertain guests in the theater wine room, host multi-generational gatherings with family staying in the pool house guest suite (which has a full kitchen), and appreciate being minutes from Tanglewood, world-class dining, and Berkshire arts.

This could be an executive looking for a primary residence with work-from-home flexibility (there's an office/bedroom suite), a wellness-focused family, or empty nesters who want to host adult children and grandchildren in style and comfort.

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?

Picture Saturday morning: you're sipping coffee on the terrace overlooking your heated saltwater pool, planning a day at Tanglewood. Your guests are making breakfast in the pool house kitchen — they have their own private retreat but are steps away when you're ready to gather. Evening arrives, and you screen a favorite film in your eight-seat theater, selecting a perfect bottle from your wine cellar. This isn't just a home; it's a lifestyle that brings resort-level wellness, entertainment, and hospitality to your doorstep — all within a secure, maintenance-free compound where nature meets luxury.

Are there any standout design features or recent renovations?

Absolutely. The home includes an elevator for multilevel accessibility, which is both practical and forward-thinking. The lower level is exceptionally well-conceived — a true entertainment and wellness wing featuring the eight-seat hi-def theater, wine cellar, sauna, gym, massage room, and even a charming soda fountain. The gourmet kitchen has been recently updated, customized wet bar, while outdoor living is elevated with the heated gunite saltwater pool/spa, firepit, and that incredible pool house with guest suite and full kitchen. Also, new HVAC system and heated driveway.

Thoughtful details like cedar closets, steam showers, central vacuum, and backup generator show this home was built to the highest standards.

You can find out more about this house on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

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