Archive for September, 2010

Natural Remedies for Coping with Menopause

* Menopause Defined Menopause is defined as the time in a woman’s life when she has not menstruated for one year, indicating the end of fertility. Menopause typically occurs around the age of 50, but some women menstruate well into their 50s, while others experience menopause sometime in their mid-40s.

Perimenopause refers to the period of hormonal changes leading up to menopause; it can begin as early as the late 30’s. Women in perimenopause may experience such symptoms as irregular periods and hot flashes.

Menopause is not a disease — rather, it is a natural part of the aging process. The hormonal changes which accompany menopause are often responsible for a number of unpleasant physical symptoms, and women may experience some emotional distress as well.

However, it is important to remember that not all women have difficulty coping with the physical changes that occur during this time. Menopause does not signal an end to sexuality or femininity; in fact, many women embrace their new-found freedom from worries about becoming pregnant and the discomforts of menstruation.

For women who do experience uncomfortable symptoms during menopause, there are many options for treatment. While some women opt for hormone replacement therapy, a growing number of women are finding that lifestyle changes and natural remedies are highly effective in easing this mid-life transition.

* Causes of Menopause

As you approach middle age, your ovaries begin producing increasingly lower levels of estrogen and progesterone, two hormones that regulate menstruation and fertility. Fewer eggs are produced, and ovulation becomes less regular during this time.

Throughout this process, your periods may become unpredictable; eventually, your ovaries will shut down completely and menstruation will cease altogether.

Although some women menstruate every month until their final period, it is much more common to experience a gradual cessation of menstrual periods. This process can take several years, and it is not possible to predict which period will be your last.

* Symptoms of Menopause

Menopause symptoms vary from one individual to another; not all women experience the same indicators of the change of life, but the following are the most commonly recognizable signs:

– Irregular periods;
– Vaginal dryness;
– Hot flashes;
– Mood swings;
– Anxiety or depression;
– Sleep disturbances;
– Thinning hair;
– Increased abdominal fat;
– Decreasing fertility.

* Diagnosing Menopause

In the majority of cases, a description of the symptoms should be enough for your doctor to determine that you are going through the process of menopause.

Hormone tests can detect decreasing levels of estrogen and progesterone and confirm the diagnosis; in addition, hormone testing can rule out any other condition, such as impaired thyroid function (which can produce many of the same symptoms as menopause).

* Treating Menopause

In the past, many doctors treated women for menopause using hormone replacement therapy to replenish estrogen levels. However, amid increasing concerns about the dangers of hormone therapy (which include increased risks of heart disease and caner), women are more and more frequently turning to lifestyle adjustments and herbal remedies to treat their menopause symptoms.

– Lifestyle Changes and Home Remedies for Menopausal Women

Some simple adjustments in your day-to-day habits can alleviate many of the unpleasant symptoms and discomforts of menopause:

> Keep hot flashes under control. Dress in layers, so you can remove one or two when hot flashes strike. Exercise regularly, eat right, and try to identify and avoid things that cause them. Common triggers are alcoholic beverages, foods that are spicy, hot coffee or tea, hot rooms, and hot weather.

> Get plenty of sleep. Exercise during the day, but not too close to bedtime; this can increase melatonin levels necessary to help you fall asleep and stay asleep. Avoid caffeinated beverages if you have trouble sleeping.

> Eat right. Good nutrition is more important than ever as you grow (gracefully) older, and getting plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lots of calcium can counteract many diseases associated with aging.

> Exercise regularly. Exercise reduces stress, helps to balance the neurotransmitters that regulate mood, controls hot flashes, and helps to prevent many age-related diseases. These include heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis.

> Don’t smoke. Smoking is never good for you. It increases stress levels, brings on hot flashes, and
contributes to heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis. It is never too late to quit smoking.

> Combat vaginal dryness and discomfort with over-the-counter lubricants.

* Herbal Remedies for Menopause

Herbal treatments and natural supplements can effectively ease menopause symptoms safely, without the health risks associated with conventional medications. Many effective natural menopause treatments contain one or more of these herbal extracts:

– Ginseng increases the production of estrogen and protects against hot flashes;
– Dong quai helps to maintain reproductive system function, boosts heart health, and increases the efficacy of other herbs;
– Damiana increases libido and calms hot flashes;
– Black cohosh is a natural pain reliever;
– Aloe gel relieves vaginal dryness naturally;
– Sarsaparilla improves sexual desire;
– Calendula relieves vaginal dryness
– St. John’s Wort relieves mild depression.

In addition, many women find that soy products are extremely helpful in reducing hot flashes. Phytoestrogens are also helpful for relieving menopause symptoms, and they are often available in supplement form.

With herbal remedies and adjustments to your lifestyle, you can cope with menopause and enter the next phase of your life without undue distress or difficulty.

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How Vital Are Vitamins
The guide to Good Vitamin Health
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Why most health foods are a waste of money! And the real reason you can take vitamins, minerals, and herbs by the handful and still suffer poor health.
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How Vitamin Supplements Can Help You

Vitamin deficiency is almost unavoidable in our busy lifestyle. But in order to avoid or tolerate illness, health problems, signs of old age, and weakness, the need for vitamin supplements becomes necessary. You need all the vitamins in the appropriate amount for maintaining an optimum health. Since our busy day diets cannot provide all of them, vitamin supplements are there to fill in those gaps. Some people need vitamin supplements to meet their nutritional needs. There are many benefits that vitamin supplements can provide you. First of all, the vitamin supplements can help you overcome the vitamin deficiencies. Your body becomes resistant to diseases only if your immune system is strong. Vitamin supplements help to boost and strengthen your immune system. Vitamin supplements are also useful in getting rid of the toxins from your body. The vitamin supplements help you to have the optimum health and minimize the risk of diseases. Many researchers believe these Vitamin supplements can slow the effects of terminal illness such as cancer. A particular vitamin supplement is needed to get relieved from the disease caused by the deficiency of that vitamin. Vitamin A supplement helps you to have healthy skin and hair, and also helps for good vision, growth, and development. It also helps prevent dry, flaky skin and reduces lines and wrinkles keeping skin looking youthful. This vitamin aids in the growth of white blood cells, destroying bacteria and viruses. Vitamin C supplement keeps your gums and teeth healthy, and helps your body absorb iron. It also helps in faster healing of wounds. It also helps in boosting the immune system and preventing the onset of illnesses and viruses. Vitamin D supplement works in conjunction with calcium and helps in building strong bones. Vitamin E supplement can help reduce the symptoms of menopause. It can help reduce the effects of osteoporosis, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. The heart depends on Vitamin E to prevent arteries from being clogged. The vitamin also keeps the blood thin resulting in easier flow through the arteries. Vitamin K supplement helps to clot blood, build protein, and regulate blood calcium levels. It can also help the intestines to function properly. Supplements of Vitamin K are recommended during pregnancy to alleviate fatigue. The supplement of vitamin B1 also called Thiamin keeps the nervous system healthy and is needed for energy metabolism. It also increases energy levels and speed up metabolism. It is necessary for cells, the heart, central nerve system and the brain to function properly. The supplement of vitamin B2 also called Riboflavin gives the body energy and helps normal growth of body tissues, Vitamin B3 or Niacin supplement helps in breaking down food to give you energy. Vitamin B6 supplement helps the brain to function properly. It also helps in grow and development. Folic acid supplement prevents birth defects when taken before and during pregnancy. Vitamin B12 supplement promotes normal growth and development and help make red blood cells. Pantothenic Acid and Biotin supplement are needed for energy metabolism. It is better to get the vitamins that you need by eating fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products, and meats. Vitamin pills cannot replace eating healthy foods. Although vitamin supplements are a must in these days, it is also important that you must take them only under the advice of a doctor because over dosage of some vitamins are also not recommended.

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Be My Friend – www.myspace.com The Truth about Vitamins and Supplements Should you take vitamins and supplements? Vitamins, minerals, amino acids, supplements, Omega fatty acids; protein powders; what’s the truth about taking these. Should you get your nutrients through food and diet or should you take vitamins to supplement your nutrition? Here’s the truth about vitamins. Dr. Vincent Bellonzi BS,DC,CCN, CSCS, ACSM H/FI Dr.Vincent Bellonzi is a chiropractor and a Certified Clinical Nutritionist. He has been in practice for over 12 years. He received his Doctorate from Los Angeles College of Chiropractic in 1991. Since 1998, Dr. Bellonzi has practiced in the Austin area. He works with athletes at every level to provide sports conditioning and rehabilitation. Visit Dr. Bellonzi’s website at www.bewellrx.com http This video was produced by Psychetruth www.myspace.com www.youtube.com © Copyright 2007 Austin Wellness Institute. All Rights Reserved.

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Vitamins & Minerals: Do We Need Them?

In my medical practice, whenever I begin to talk about Vitamins & Minerals, most people ask “What are Vitamins and/or Minerals, do I need them and what is the best way to get them?”

I begin by explaining that the human body requires certain essential vitamins and minerals to be introduced, usually through food, into the body on a daily basis.

The only problem with this is that our modern day farming techniques can and often does remove an amount of those essential vitamins and minerals. A government study done over seventy years ago warned us that our soils were depleted of many of the necessary nutrients (vitamins and minerals), which means if the nutrients aren’t in the soil, how do you expect them to be in your fruits & vegetables? Modern farmers use fertilizers that speed the growing process, but these fertilizers lack many of the nutrients that need to be in the soil. Than there is the processing of the produce that can remove even more of the vital nutrients. So what are we to do?

The answer is very simple. You need to supplement your diet with a Whole Food Supplement. I do not mean an off the counter, at your grocery store, vitamin and/or mineral, I mean a True Whole Food Supplement. There is a very big difference between the two.

By definition (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia), whole food supplements are foods that have been compressed into tablet form, poured into capsules or powdered. The word “whole” indicates that the end product — a supplement — does not contain parts of foods, or synthetic or isolated vitamins. Ideally, the foods comprising these supplements have not been subjected to irradiation, contain no pesticide or herbicide residues, contain no GMO (genetically modified organisms), have not been sterilized, and do not contain animal products that have been subjected to steroids, antibiotics or other drugs. The belief being, the closer to nature, the more benefit foods provide the consumer.

Further, whole food supplements should not contain isolated minerals, amino acids, carotenes or any other substance that is not native to, and still intact within, the original food. Thus, a supplement that contains foods plus a mixture of isolated (also called “fractionated”) vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other substances, does not constitute a whole food supplement. Examples of whole food supplement ingredients may include carrots, broccoli, kale, alfalfa, wheat grass, acerola cherry, cauliflower, kelp, wild pansy, spirulina, bovine liver, bovine kidney, radishes and quinoa.

As for your typical over the counter multi-vitamin/mineral, as Mercola.com puts it, please don’t make the mistake of shopping for supplements at discount stores or large chains like Wal-Mart or Walgreen’s. In my opinion, these are examples of companies that primarily use cheap synthetic ingredients.

Synthetic alternatives to whole foods are known as “isolates”. Your body will absorb only a small percentage of an isolate form of vitamins and minerals and utilize even less. On top of that, there could potentially be side effects, depending on the quality of the isolate.

Many retail outlets and online sellers are primarily interested in your money, not your health. Supplements are not their specialty. Always refer to medical practitioners who specialize in Health & Wellness, for your nutritional questions.

You wouldn’t go to your local Fast Food Restaurant for a nice steak, would you? The same attitude should apply to your health products. You will get what you pay for, so buyers beware.

Consider this when choosing a supplement:

• If the ingredients were all natural, it would say so on their label.

• If the product went through vigorous quality control, you can bet that it would be mentioned.

• If there were no additives or major potential allergens in the product, they would definitely tell you all about it.

Additionally, the ingredients many companies use are not only synthetic, but there is a likelihood they may not have been thoroughly tested for purity and potency.

I am very pleased to tell you that there are products on the market that were designed to meet very high standards. I was asked to help design products, programs and health plans for Health & Wellness. Our core philosophy is that in order to reach True Wellness, you must have proper weight control and proper nutrition. This can only be accomplished by using Whole Food products, exercise and a little determination.

The bottom line is that in order to achieve Your Bodies Optimal Best, you must start with a solid nutritional foundation; we at Ultra International believe we have done just that. Using nothing but the finest ingredients, our Soul Super Food and Mind Super Drink is second to none.

Soul Super Food

• The Natural Visions Soul Super Food is a “Whole Food” Supplement, made from fruits, vegetables, herbs and mushrooms.

• Every Essential Vitamin & Mineral

• Probiotics

• Digestive Enzymes

• Antioxidants

• Glyconutrient Aloe Vera

• Made up of over 100 Essential nutrients that the body requires to perform at its optimal levels.

Mind Super Drink

• The Natural Visions Mind Super Drink is the most complete nutritional drink on the market today.

• The highest antioxidant levels of any drink

• 120 vitamins & minerals

• Glyconutrient enriched Aloe Vera

• 2 oz. serving will deliver about 4500 units based on the ORAC scale

• You will notice a natural increase in energy as well as providing the most packed infusion of antioxidants, minerals and vitamins that your body can utilize for your optimal health.

If you have a True interest in your body and health, which everyone of us should, please take the time to learn more about these revolutionary products and programs at: www.myui.com/lscg. Mind Body & Soul. Think It, Feel It, Live It.

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By Dr. Joel Wallach, You will learn when the human body receives optimal levels of the 90 essential nutrients, debilitating, developmental and degenerative diseases can be prevented and the maximum potential for longevity is within our Grasp!
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