Natural Approaches to MenopauseWritten by Judy Nolan
This past July,a report raised serious new concerns for six million women taking combination hormone replacement therapy. In lastest and statistically most valid study of this subject ever done,it was found that combination of ESTROGEN AND PROGESTIN taken for MANY YEARS, not only FAIL TO DECREASE THE INCIDENCE OF VASCULAR DISEASE,BUT ALSO INCREASES THE RISK OF HEART ATTACKS,STROKES,BREAST CANCER,AND CLOTTING DISORDERS. In addition,other recent research has found a possible link between ESTROGEN replacement and OVARIAN CANCER.Although theses risks are not considered to be high,they are REAL-REAL ENOUGH FOR THE INVESTIGATORS TO HAVE STOPPED THE STUDIES IN MID-COURSE. The DOWNSIDE of HRT OUTWEIGHTED THE BENEFITS. So what's a Menopausal Woman to do? Read on to learn about HEALTHY and NATURAL ways to approach Menopause. The ancient Greeks referred to Menopause as "Climateric" or "Change of Life",and regarded it as a step in ladder of life.It was considered to be an important step in maturation of a woman. In Traditional Cultures,even those of today,there is little or no evidence of negative symptoms "Modern" people associate with menopause. In large measure, because "Traditional"(or what some people would call Primative) human diet is low in fat and animal proteins. In a healthy person,the body adjusts for ovarian reduction in estrogen by signaling other glands, (especially Adrenal glands),to produce more estrogen,preventing complete loss of female hormone.However,if ADRENAL GLANDS ARE WEAKENED BY A LIFETIME OF POOR DIET AND BAD HEALTH HABITS,THEY PROBABLY CANNOT AND WILL NOT MEET THE NEEDS OF THE BODY WHEN MENOPAUSE BEGANS. Menopause usually occurs between ages of 45 and 55,when ovaries stop producing eggs.The woman also undergoes a number of hormonal changes,including a reduction in estrogen production,an increase in pituitary hormone,and higher levels of male hormones. With reduction in estrogen production,also comes an increase in bone loss,a lowering of HDL,(the Good cholesterol),and an increase in cholesterol.This can result in Atherosclerosis,Coronary Heart Disease,and Stroke. Other changes can occur as well,such as: poor memory,poor concentration,moodiness,anxiety,loss of sex drive,hot flashes,night sweats,and/or vaginal dryness.These changes also increase likelihood of bladder and vaginal infections. Traditionalist believe that one of best approaches to menopause is in diet.Eating foods rich in Phytoestrogens,which are Plant-Produced ,promote bone health and prevent Cancer.A low-fat,high fiber diet will help body to adjust more easily to changing hormonal levels. Such foods are: Whole Grains,Fresh Vegetables,Beans,Seaweed,Miso,Tofu,Seeds and Nuts,(especially Sunflower Seeds). According to Chinese Medicine,the symptoms of menopause imply a deficiency of YIN fluids,particularly those fluids that calm and relax liver.A helpful dietary approach then,is to add foods that build YIN. These foods are: Wheat Germ, Mung Beans and Sprouts,Tofu,String Beans,Black Beans,Kidney Beans, Barley,Black Sesame Seeds,and Royal Jelly(from bees).
| | This Could Be Better Than A Flu Shot!Written by Lawrence Stepanowicz, ND
Do you get flu shots?Have they helped you? The last one I got was in 1970, while in Army. I had no choice. It made me pretty sick. My wife's grandmother did worse than that. She died as a result of one back in early 1960's. So, as a little girl, my wife lost her grandma, who was otherwise healthy, to a flu shot. It's known that people can die from immunizations... including flu shots. They can also be come paralyzed with Guillain Barre Syndrome from taking vaccines. Can a vaccine protect you at all? Even some MD's don't think so. And can a flu vaccine based on last year's virus combat this year's strain? At best, developing a flu vaccine is just playing a guessing game. It's like trying to protect against terrorism without much, if any, specific information as to where attack will come from and what form attack might take. So what can you do to keep from getting flu? First, implement Baseline of Health, as described in 'Lessons From The Miracle Doctors.' This will enable your body to deal with a variety of possible problems including flu. Health is your best defense against illness! Or to paraphrase old TV detective Columbo, if you take care of your body, your body will take care of you! Next, use herbs like garlic and echinacea which have been shown to support body's immune function, or use a product like Immunity Plus. I don't remember last time I had a cold or flu. In 1994 I began experimenting with colloidal silver and found that I could knock out a cold day symptoms began by spraying colloidal silver into each nostril at bedtime and letting it drain through to back of my throat. I would go to bed with stuffiness and wake up next day symptom free.
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