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Diet Pillfor Menopause

2006-12-18T10:39:00.000-08:00

Menopause: Signs You Should Watch Out For

by Michael Russell

Menopause is a stage of every woman's life that comes with unprecedented worries and uncertainties. When we talk about this stage of life, the only certain and general fact is that every woman, at one time or the other, will definitely experience her share of this 'headache'. Perhaps, that's about how far the certainty goes. Every other aspect of this all-important stage of life is almost completely shrouded in mystery and uncertainties.

Obviously, it would not be an over-statement to assert that no single woman can be sure of when and what her menopausal experience will be like. For every woman the experience varies. It could be a smooth or harrowing experience. It could set in as early as 45yrs or as late as 55yrs. The period could be a long painful experience or just a short 'bumpy ride', you never can tell. The best bet is always to be as prepared as you can, and not be caught napping when it sets in. The best part of every preparation, however, is knowledge. The more you know about this important stage of life, the better prepared for the uncertainties to come, you are. In this regard, a clear understanding of the tell-tale signs that predict and characterize the onset of menopause, will be quite handy.

However, to clearly understand the signs of menopause, it is paramount to have a grasp of the basic biological process underlying menstruation and eventually, menopause. At birth, each female possesses approximately one-half million 'eggs' in the reproductive system. With each menstruation, from puberty, an egg is lost. With increasing age and menstruation, the 'eggs' in stock for further menstruation dwindle. This probably explains why early onset of puberty (and thus menstruation) predisposes to early menopause. The pre-menopausal stage, when you start experiencing scanty menstruation or menstruation without ovulation (annovulatory cycles) occurs when the egg left in the reproductive system have become scarce and insufficient for regular menstruation.

The female hormones too play important roles in this menstrual chemistry. In a healthy woman's menstrual cycle, estrogen is the dominant hormone produced for the first ten to twelve days of the menstrual cycle. Ovulation, at mid cycle stimulates the production of progesterone, which becomes dominant for the other half of the menstrual cycle and also sustains pregnancy for the first three months, if it does occur. However, if there is no fertilization, hence pregnancy, progesterone and estrogen levels fall around the 28th day, depending on the woman's cycle, and allow menstruation to occur. Anything that affects this complex inter-play of hormones could cause problems with menstruation that sometimes mimic menopause.

Now that we have a basic understanding of the menstrual process, let's take a look at the signs that warn of impending menopause or that characterizes this stage of life. As explained in the previous paragraph, estrogen dominates before ovulation, while progesterone takes over after ovulation. But with approaching menopause, annovulatory cycles become common. Without ovulation, progesterone is not produced in the body for that month, allowing estrogen a free ride. With continuous annovulatory cycles, the hormonal difference between these two hormones widens. The increasing dominance of estrogen and the hormonal imbalance created is largely responsible for the first signs of menopause. This condition is referred to as estrogen 'dominance' and the signs to watch out for, includes:

- Low sex drive
 - Mood swings 
 - Excessive menstrual buildup 
 - Headache before menstrual period 
 - Bloating and weight gain.

Some of these signs, however, could be as a result of stress and tension build up in the body, especially when they occur in women still in their 30s or early 40s.  However, several other signs that could definitely warn of approaching menopause include:

- Foggy brain or thinking with memory lapses
 - Insomnia (problems with sleeping) 
 - Light or heavy menstrual flow when menstruation does occur 
 - Hot flashes which can last as long as 5mins, occurring several times a day 
 - Vaginal dryness 
 - Lumpy or tender breast 
 - Water retention / bloating 
 - Weight gain 
 - Endometriosis 
 - Abnormal hair growth 
 - Anxiety and depression

This list cannot be said to be exhaustive, but at least it gives you a feel of what to look out for. There are so many myths and worries about menopause. It, sure, would help to clear your mind, know what to look out for and approach it with a positive and prepared mind. That's about the best you do.

-------------------------------------------------------

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Menopause

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

Free Post Menopause Low Carb Diet

2006-12-18T08:22:00.000-08:00

Increased Cramping During Menopause?

by Kathryn Whittaker

During your late forties or early fifties, you will begin a new stage of life, common to all women�menopause. Some rejoice at the thought to no longer having to buy tampons. Others cry, realizing their childbearing days are over. However, all experience new (and usually unpleasant) changes in their monthly hormonal cycle, one of which is cramping. Increased cramping, unfortunately, is not unusual for women later in life, but there are a number of treatment options. You don�t have to live with the pain of menopausal cramps.

If you experienced cramping during your menstrual cycle, you will most likely experience it after you stop menstruating as well. This begins to occur during the first stage of menopause, called perimenopause. You may continue to experience menstruation irregularly during this time, but it is common to get cramps even without bleeding. You have officially entered the menopause stage of life after you have not experienced a period for one year. At this time, cramping may still occur monthly�just because your ovaries no longer produce eggs does not mean you do not still experience some kind of monthly hormonal cycle�but it is rare, so talk to your doctor to be sure that you are otherwise healthy. Cramps after you have not experienced bleeding for over a year may indicate other more serious health problems. Also talk to your doctor if you have never experienced cramping before, but begin to suffer from cramps regularly.

You have a number of treatment options to relieve the pain you may experience from cramping, and your doctor can help you choose the best course of action for your body. While some women may find relief in simple over-the-counter medicines (the same ones used in earlier years for relief with menstruation cramping), others seek prescription strength drugs. In recent years, the idea of hormone replacement therapy has become a less popular option due to its association with cancer, but some doctors still recommend this course of action.

Natural remedies, such as herbs, are receiving thumbs ups from women across the country, and are now one of the most common treatments for menopausal women, as they help with not only cramping, but with other symptoms as well. This is a type of alternative medicine that is still being studied, but many women swear by the use of herbal remedies. Other alternative medicine treatment options include acupuncture, acupressure, and meditation.

There are also things you can do to relieve cramps at home, without medicine or medical procedures. These are often the same remedies used by menstruating women to relieve cramps during their periods. Try a warm bath to help with the tension and pain. Also remember that regular sexual activity is healthy and a great way to stop cramping. Massage can also be used at home as a temporary fix to cramps.

Overall, it is simply important to keep an open dialogue with your doctor about the numerous changes that are taking place in your body. Cramps are a common problem for the majority of women going through menopause, so you are not alone in your struggle to stop the painful cramping in the perimenopause stage of life.

Kathryn Whittaker has an interest in Menopause. For further information on Menopause please visit Menopause or Menopause Symptoms.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathryn_Whittaker

Diet To Follow To Lose Weight During Menopause

2006-12-18T05:20:00.000-08:00

Breast Cancer: Hormonal Risk Factors

by Michael Russell

It is not yet fully understood what the hormonal risk factors are, but there have been some interesting clues. It is known that it has something to do with age and the menstrual cycle: the younger the woman is at her first period and the older she is when she goes to menopause, the more likely she is to get breast cancer. It seems that the longer a woman has reproductive levels of hormones, the more susceptible she is to breast cancer. If she menstruates at more than 40 years of age, she seems to have a particularly high risk. If the ovaries are removed early and no hormone replacement is given, the risk of getting breast cancer is greatly reduced. It is not exactly an all-cure, sadly, since it would also heighten the danger of osteoporosis. If a woman has had a hysterectomy (removal of the ovaries), it may or may not influence her vulnerability to breast cancer, depending upon whether the ovaries, as well as the uterus, are removed. If a woman still has her ovaries, her body is still going through hormonal cycles, even though there aren't any more periods.

Pregnancy also seems to affects breast cancer risk. Women who have never been pregnant appear to be more at risk than women who have had children before the age of 30 and women who have their first pregnancies after 30 have a greater risk than women who have never been pregnant at all. The hormones of pregnancy carried to term will mature the breast tissue in a young woman. The same hormones after 30 may actually stimulate breast tissue that has already been mutated. Several studies indicate that a pregnancy that ends in miscarriage or abortion slightly increases breast cancer risk.

The key seems to be the amount of time between the first period and the first pregnancy. There is a lot of speculation as to why this is so. One possible explanation is that between menarche and the first pregnancy the breast tissue is especially sensitive to carcinogens (cancer promoting agents). This seems to be true. Several factors such as diet, alcohol consumption and radiation exposure all seem to have a greater effect on a woman's breasts between her first period and her first pregnancy than they do later. Thus, the developing breast is more susceptible to carcinogens than the breast that has gone through its complete hormonal development. The increased vulnerability may relate to the cells' capability of mutating up until the first pregnancy. There seems to be something about the first pregnancy of a woman that halts the cells from being able to sustain a mutation, the greater the chance that they'll mutate in response to a carcinogen and in a way that develops into breast cancer.

A factor relating to the number of menstrual cycles is breast-feeding. Recent findings have shown that women who breast-feed for a long period of time, more than 6 consecutive years, have a decreased risk of breast cancer. In addition, women who have had early pregnancies and have breast-fed have a diminished risk of subsequent breast cancer. This is most likely related to fewer ovulatory cycles at a crucial moment in the reproductive life.

It is now obvious that most studies on hormonal risk factors of breast cancer are still very much at the theorizing stage: as yet, it is not known why there is this vulnerable time in a woman's life and why or how internal hormones affect breast cancer.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Breast Cancer

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

Diet For Menopause Symtoms

2006-12-18T02:21:00.000-08:00

The Choice of The Ailment or The Cure

by Patricia Little

The discovery and use of a multitude of drugs for every conceivable symptom attached to menopause does have a few good points. What must be remembered though is that the body is a natural creation and responds in a superior way to the natural tonic, originally designed for its purpose.

We need to know both sides of the story, however.

Just a few molecules out and the creation of a new product from a natural substance allows the chemical company to patent the product. This then become the �wonderful new discovery� and can be sold for an assigned price to an unsuspecting and desperate market.

The new chemical is suddenly the cure for the ailment rather than the ailment for the cure.

It does require some effort and a level of research in approved areas but Nature has a vast array of products intended for every basic ailment. Even health food shops have been guilty of stocking expensive, complex substances similar to the original possibly only in taste.

The content of natural products chosen by the user should be based on knowledge and need rather than clever marketing techniques and sale prices.

Menopause has been around a lot longer than the chemical company and the Lord�s product has been created with a far greater mind than anyone from the company.

Copyright 2006 Patricia Little

Patricia Little is a writer and the editor of a re-released classic ebook- it will show you how to get the best of health and wealth out of all your future years. For more go to ==> http://www.Young-at-Sixty.com.

Remarkable "How I Became Young at Sixty" brings renewed vigor to your body, and hope to your mind. You Can Get your Free ebook "How I Became Young at Sixty" by going to http://www.Young-at-Sixty.com/get-your-f-r-e-e-ebook.htm.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patricia_Little

Diet Supplement For Pre Menopause

2006-12-17T11:21:00.001-08:00

Menopause and Depression

by Jeanette Pollock

There are many myths when it comes to menopause. One of these is depression. While you will get depressed during menopause, chances are it will be because of something unrelated. Studies have been conducted that confirm that women who are going through menopause are no more depressed than those who have not gone through menopause and those who have already gone through menopause.

You may have mixed feelings when menopause begins. But many times this is because you are entering a new phase in your life and are unsure how it will play into your current lifestyle. You will have mood swings, you will have hot flashes and night sweats, all of which might cause you to become depressed. But once you learn how to handle these things, your depression will disappear.

There are a few ways that can help when adjusting to menopause. Diet and exercise will help keep the body healthy which will promote the production of mood lifting hormones. Taking walks or starting a new hobby will also help curb depression. Talking with friends and others who are going through menopause may put some of your reservations to rest.

If the depression persists, then contact your doctor to see if there are other problems. If you are going through a divorce or other event that might be painful, talking with a therapist may be the answer. Many times the depression felt during menopause is something else that is happening in your life. Taking care of yourself means staying informed and making changes in your life where you can.

Jeanette Pollock is a freelance author and website owner of menopausedomain.com. Visit Jeanette's site to learn more about menopause and depression.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeanette_Pollock

Menopause Diet Hot Flash

2006-12-17T11:21:00.000-08:00

Menopause As a Transition

by Jackson Neshah

It is gratifying to tell that research has proof now that menopause is not a disease, rather it is a transition from fertility to natural infertility especially for women, since men also pass through menopausal transition. However, this article shall be bent towards feminine menopause, and the good news that the stage brings with it challenges and some freedom, too. Even though getting there entails bearing some symptoms that can be unfavourable.

Menopause as a function of aging will be experienced by most women at a point in life, with the unbearable symptoms of hot flash, tiredness, bone loss, imploratory pains in the joints, night sweats, dry vaginal canal (which ultimately inhibits sexual enjoyment) irritability, mood swings and depression; just as men also suffer benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which symptoms include urinary tract problems and some of the above menopausal symptoms, especially mood swings, irritability, loss of libido and depression.

The supposed answer to the above problems was hormonal replacement therapy, which is now not very much favoured since research suggested that HRT could really predispose breast cancer and even stroke even though some experts continue to maintain that hormonal replacement therapy does not predispose cancer in all women.

However, a natural health and menopause expert Dr Marilyn Glenville says. 'The menopause isn't a disease and we shouldn't medicalise it, diet, exercise and supplements are key to enjoying what should be an enriching phase in a woman's life. And Nick Panay consultant gynaecologist, a member of the British Menopause Society, concurs, even though cautious of the benefits of complementary therapy. 'Some herbal preparations aren't as effective as HRT and are often expensive. However, there's evidence that well-researched preparations such as soy and red clover may have real benefits,' he says.

I am in agreement with both experts: first that diet, exercise and supplement is the key to sound health all through life, and especially at old age. Secondly, that not all supplements are beneficial. But I must say that diet being the obvious source of sound health, the most important thing to note is that you are what you eat. In fact you can just do nothing more than improve your intake of the right sort of foods.

The change in diet should not be expected to happen overnight. But that health benefits will follow is sure given due consideration to the following:

Vegetables, essential fats from oily fish, nuts, seeds and lots of fruit will do you a world of good health wise.

Tofu, chickpeas, kidney beans linseeds, lentils, tofu and lots of soya milk will do for you same health good expected for hormone replacement therapy. There is proof from research that two cups of soy milk a day brings hot flashes down by 50%

Reduction of ingesting of hot curries, caffeine intake from coffee and cola, and alcohol consumption will also bring hot flashes down by 50%

Cigarettes aggravates hot flashes, avoid it.

Activity they say is the secret of good health, increase exercise; walking is highly recommended. Dancing too is quite an activity, do you bit of it even in you own home, it will help in strengthen your bone and thus check osteoporosis, hot flashes and pains. There must be some activity you like, do it.

There are very beneficial supplements out there that can help you depending on your body�'s constitution. Everyone one does not react the same to all supplements. It is not always that what works for one works for the other. Consult a trained nutritional expert to guide you.

Menopause as said earlier is not a disease, it is a transition which you can methodically control using the methods and knowledge discussed in this article, which are guaranteed to see you through menopause without suffering.

Neshah is the CEO of http://pre-menopause.fateback.com; a visit will open your eyes to lots of remedies for symptoms and health conditions associated with menopause.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jackson_Neshah

Low Calorie And Fat Diet During Menopause

2006-12-17T08:23:00.000-08:00

Help, I Need Information About General Menopause

by Patsy Hamilton

In every woman�s life, there comes a time when she says, �I need information about general menopause.� We wonder how long does menopause last, how long do hot flashes last and how what should we expect in the years following menopause. The simple, but true answers to all of these questions is that it varies from woman to woman, but, over the years, researchers have attempted to come up with some averages.

When a woman�s periods become irregular, she is between the ages of 45 and 55 and the irregularities are not due to any other medical problems, she is said to be going through menopause. When a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months, there are no more eggs in the ovaries, she can no longer become pregnant and she is said to be postmenopausal. The average age for the onset of menopause is 51.

About 50% of all women experience hot flashes at some point. About 10% experience them in the years preceding menopause and the percentage increases as menopause approaches. More than 50% of all women experience hot flashes in the three years following menopause. Technically the answer to �how long does menopause last� is one year. During that year a woman can still become pregnant, if she is sexually active. But, symptoms related to menopause may be experienced for five, six, seven years or more.

Surveys of women who chose not to use hormone replacement therapy or other treatment options indicate that as many as 56% of all women experience five or more different symptoms during the years preceding and following menopause. When a woman becomes postmenopausal and during the year that her periods have stopped, surveys indicate that all women experience at least one symptom. The most common symptoms, other than menstrual changes, are hot flashes, vaginal dryness, night sweats, trouble sleeping, headaches and lack of energy. Not all women experience all of these symptoms and some women experience others. Some symptoms may not be directly related to menopause, but the most common ones probably are.

The first place to go for information about menopause is your doctor. Hopefully, you have a good relationship with him or her and you can discuss any concerns that you may have. The North American Menopause Society publishes a helpful booklet for women concerning symptoms and treatment options. It is available on-line and can be found in many women�s clinics. It has many answers for women saying, �I need information about general menopause.� To learn about dietary supplements that can relieve most menopausal symptoms, please visit the Menopause and PMS Guide.

Patsy Hamilton was a health care professional for over twenty years before becoming a freelance writer. Currently she writes informational articles for the Menopause and PMS Guide. Visit us at http://www.menopause-and-pms-guide.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patsy_Hamilton

Menopause Hysterectomy Diet And Exercise

2006-12-17T08:21:00.000-08:00

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Estrogen and Menopause

by Michael Russell

The long term effects of estrogen deficiency that accompanies menopause vary among different women, owing to genetic, psychological and environmental factors. This means that some women will suffer from the effects of estrogen deprivation, while others will not and this individuality will seem very obvious to a physician specializing in this area. Generally, the loss of estrogen results in a higher risk of osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and sexual dysfunction in post menopausal women.

Five years after menopause, the majority of women will have some thinning, dryness and shrinkage of the vagina, unless they take estrogen replacement therapy. There are women in their sixties and seventies who continue to have active and fulfilling sex lives in response to hormone replacement. For the increasing number of women in their seventies and eighties who want to be sexually active, vaginal atrophy (shrinkage) is a real concern. However, for many women, the problem is not deciding whether to be sexually active, but finding a partner, as on average, men don't live as long as women do.

Forty percent of American women will suffer from heart disease or a stroke as they go through menopause. Up to the time of menopause, women enjoy a certain amount of protection against cardiovascular disease compared with their male counterparts. Indeed, the incidence of heart attacks in women is only one third as great as the incidence in men. Unfortunately, after menopause, women begin to lose this relative protection from heart attacks and strokes, so that by the age of seventy-five, a woman's risk of developing these diseases is similar to that of a man.

So why do women become prone to cardiovascular disease after menopause? The most important factor appears to be the loss of estrogen in the body, which results in unfavorable changes in the blood cholesterol levels. Not only do overall cholesterol levels increase, but the level of low density lipoprotein cholesterols, the so-called "bad cholesterol" goes up, while that if high density lipoprotein cholesterols ("good cholesterol") go down. After menopause, this imbalance in cholesterol results in an increase in atherosclerosis (a condition characterized by blockage and hardening of the arteries), especially in women who smoke, who are obese and have sedentary lifestyles.

Early menopause is bad news for your cardiovascular system. Women who lose the function of their ovaries before the age of forty have a greater risk of heart disease than women who go through menopause when they are ten years older. The good news is that large-scale population studies have proven that estrogen replacement can restore a favorable balance in blood cholesterol levels. The risk of cardiovascular disease can be reduced by approximately fifty percent by taking estrogen at or soon after menopause. A study on hormone replacement therapy found breakthrough results for heart disease. The study showed that there were half as many cardiovascular deaths and heart attacks among women who took estrogen after menopause as there were among women who never used estrogen. This is because estrogen reduces total cholesterol levels, increases the proportion of the so-called "good cholesterol" and prevents cholesterol from being deposited in the walls of the arteries, thus preventing atherosclerosis.

The reduction of the incidence of stroke by hormone replacement therapy appears to be more modest, but it is still significant. A recent study of 23,088 Swedish women showed that post menopausal estrogen replacement therapy can reduce the overall risk of stroke by thirty percent.

We know now for sure that estrogen alone is good for your blood vessels and heart, but we are not sure if taking synthetic progesterone in addition to estrogen (as is now commonly done) reduces the benefits of estrogen on your cardiovascular system, particularly if you take estrogen and progesterone for many years. The ideal progesterone is yet to be found.

Your risk of cardiovascular disease is not determined only by the loss of estrogen. Other risk factors are equally important - and sometimes more important - as determinants of cardiovascular disease. These include smoking, high cholesterol levels, a family history of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, obesity, lack of exercise, a high fat diet and a diet that is deficient in raw foods, fish and liquids such as water and fresh juices.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Menopause

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

What Is The Best Diet For Menopause Women

2006-12-17T05:23:00.000-08:00

A PMS Supplement May Relieve Some or All Symptoms

by Patsy Hamilton

A PMS supplement should include the B-complex vitamins, calcium, magnesium, manganese, vitamins A, C, D, E, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, pantothenic acid, iron, copper, folic acid, biotin and zinc. Herbs that may be helpful include chasteberry (vitex agnus castus), black cohosh, valerian, dandelion, sarsaparilla and red clover. Other natural remedies for treatment of PMS symptoms include regular exercise, dietary changes and 5-HTP for mood swings, depression, anxiety and sleeping problems. St. John�s wort and/or SAM-E are sometimes recommended, but results vary. Most of these are discussed in greater detail below.

Before choosing a PMS supplement, several things should be considered. Do you take a daily multi-vitamin? Do you know what the recommended daily allowances are for each of the vitamins and minerals included in your daily multi-vitamin and will adding a PMS supplement put you over the RDA? What are the symptoms that you typically experience and which PMS supplement addresses your symptoms? Have you tried other natural remedies for treatment of PMS symptoms?

If you take a daily multi-vitamin and you add a PMS supplement, you could exceed the RDA for any number of vitamins and minerals. While the RDA is only a guideline and nutritionists do not always agree with this government standard, some vitamins and minerals can be toxic in excess amounts. For example, too much vitamin C in the diet can cause diarrhea. Excessive copper can cause abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Too much iron can make you constipated. Toxic amounts of potassium can actually cause heart problems and muscle paralysis. The best guidelines we have are government standards and the supplement manufacturer�s directions.

Some researchers believe that many of a woman�s premenstrual symptoms may be related to lack of adequate vitamins and minerals in the diet. Most good daily multi-vitamins contain all that is necessary to insure that you get the right amounts every day. Selenium is not included in all daily multi-vitamins and you may have to look for it. Certain vitamins and minerals allow other vitamins and minerals to be absorbed by the body more efficiently. The ones listed in the first paragraph work together and all should be included in the correct amounts to insure good nutrition.

A PMS supplement may contain herbs. Herbs are plants that are known to have medicinal value, because they were used historically by native healers practicing traditional medicine or because scientists have evaluated their chemical components or both. Because herbs have medicinal effects on the body, they can interact with some prescription drugs. An herbalist, a pharmacist or your medical doctor should be able to advise you about possible interactions between herbal remedies and prescription medications that you are currently taking.

Herbs are usually considered natural remedies for treatment of PMS symptoms because the side effects associated with prescription drugs do not general accompany herbal remedies. But, it is important to follow the manufacturers� instructions. Even herbal teas can cause unwanted and sometimes dangerous side effects when used excessively.

The herbal PMS supplement that addresses the symptoms of breast pain and tenderness, headaches and body aches is chasteberry or vitex agnus castus. This herb was used in traditional medicine to relieve pains of all types. Scientific evaluation has shown that it contains a natural anti-inflammatory. Clinical research has shown that it is effective for women suffering from painful PMS symptoms.

The herbal PMS supplement black cohosh was used traditionally by Native American healers to correct hormonal imbalances, as were sarsaparilla and red clover. Clinical research has shown that black cohosh relieves symptoms associated with menopause as effectively as hormone replacement therapy. These plants probably contain phytoestrogens, which are plant components that have an estrogen-like effect on the body. Any PMS symptoms that are caused by low levels of estrogen could be relieved by using these herbs.

Valerian is a mild sedative, but the suggested dosage should be closely followed and reduced if unwanted drowsiness occurs. Dandelion is a natural diuretic. You may find that other herbs are recommended by some manufacturers as natural remedies for treatment of PMS symptoms. You may need to do some research to verify that these are safe and effective.

Other natural remedies for treatment of PMS symptoms include the natural antidepressants SAM-E, St. John�s wort and 5-HTP. These may effectively relieve mood swings, depression and anxiety associated with PMS. The most promising research has been reported with the use of 5-HTP. This compound can be derived from several natural sources; the safest source for manufacturing appears to be the seeds of an African plant. It helps the body to increase production of a brain chemical called serotonin, which is important in regulating mood, appetite and sleep cycles. Most experts do not recommend using 5-HTP in conjunction with prescription antidepressants known as Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors, because the method of action is similar and a dangerous condition called serotonin syndrome could develop. SAM-E and St. John�s wort are not believed to be safe for use with prescription antidepressants, either.

Patsy Hamilton was a health care professional for over twenty years before becoming a freelance writer. Currently she writes informational articles about women�s health for the Menopause and PMS Guide, which provides information for women with problems associated with PMS, menopause and perimenopause including treatment options from conventional medicine to herbal remedies, dietary guidelines and helpful lifestyle changes. Click here to visit our site.

Dietary and lifestyle changes may also be beneficial. To learn more about an effective PMS supplement, dietary and lifestyle changes that can help and for more research relating to natural remedies for treatment of PMS symptoms, please visit the Menopause and PMS website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patsy_Hamilton

Menopause Diet Review

2006-12-17T05:21:00.000-08:00

When Menopause Hormone Levels Stabilize, Symptoms May Abate

by Patsy Hamilton

Menopause hormone levels may be the cause of symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness. Menopause hormone replacement therapy attitudes among doctors, researchers and experts vary. Most agree that if a woman chooses this type of therapy, she should use the lowest dosage possible for the shortest period of time. Long-term use of hormone replacement is believed to carry more health risks than benefits.

As menopause hormone levels stabilize, most women find that many symptoms abate on their own. Vaginal dryness is still a problem for many women, but estrogen creams and other preparations can this symptom. Red clover and soy isoflavones have shown promising results in laboratory research, both for vaginal dryness and symptoms relating to the skin. These plant components have an estrogen-like effect on a woman�s body and may help increase the levels of estrogen in the blood stream. Once the ovaries shut down, estrogen is produced in small amounts by the adrenals and the body can convert cholesterol and some hormones to estrogen. Low levels of estrogen are also believed to cause hot flashes and night sweats, but no one is sure.

Menopause hormone replacement therapy attitudes have changed since the release of data from the Women�s Health Initiative which indicates that this type of therapy increases a woman�s risk of developing blood clots and stroke. For many years it was the treatment of choice for all menopausal symptoms, but mild symptoms are now often treated with lifestyle changes, dietary changes or herbal supplements.

Using bio-identical hormones to stabilize menopause hormone levels is believed to be safer by some, but no long-term research has been conducted concerning their use. Bio-identical hormones are designed to be molecularly identical to a woman�s own hormones. The hope is that the body will not react adversely to this type of therapy. It is more expensive than traditional hormone replacement and is not available from all doctors.

Many studies have shown that black cohosh effectively relieves hot flashes and night sweats. Laboratory research indicates that this plant poses no health risks to women. Long-term studies have not been conducted among women who use this herb, but it has a long history of use in traditional medicine. Native American healers used it for many purposes, including correcting hormonal imbalances.

Until recently, menopause hormone replacement therapy attitudes among doctors, researchers and other experts were positive. It was believed that estrogen replacement could lower a woman�s risk of developing osteoporosis and heart disease. Other drugs have now been approved for women with bone density issues and it is suggested that women should increase their intake of calcium, vitamin D and magnesium.

Many other symptoms may be associated with fluctuating menopause hormone levels. Mood swings and trouble sleeping can be relieved by learning stress management techniques and, of course, there is no health risk associated with this type of treatment plan.

To learn more about natural products that can relieve menopausal symptoms, please visit the Menopause and PMS Guide.

Patsy Hamilton was a health care professional for over twenty years before becoming a freelance writer. Currently she writes informational articles for the Menopause and PMS Guide. Visit us at http://www.menopause-and-pms-guide.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patsy_Hamilton

Menopause Diet Pills Consumer Report

2006-12-17T02:21:00.001-08:00

Severe Menopause Symptoms Affect Some Women's Relationships

by Patsy Hamilton

Most women experience hot flashes and other relatively minor symptoms. Some women suffer from severe menopause symptoms that affect their quality of life, their relationships, their jobs and their overall health. Bleeding during menopause or the time leading up to it may be irregular.

Women may skip periods for months in a row, only to be surprised by one at the most inconvenient time. Some women experience very heavy menstrual bleeding during the years leading up to menopause, which is technically when a woman has not menstruated for 12 consecutive months.

Sometimes, when a woman is experiencing severe menopause symptoms like irritability, depression or mood swings that are affecting her relationship with her family or her co-workers, her doctor will recommend hormone replacement therapy. Hormone replacement therapy may also be recommended for women who are experiencing signs of osteoporosis, vaginal dryness causing painful intercourse and night sweats that are interrupting normal sleep cycles.

As menopause approaches, the ovaries begin to produce less of the hormone estrogen. Needed during a woman�s reproductive years to thicken the lining of the uterus, estrogen also influences the body�s ability to absorb calcium and use it for rebuilding bones and keeping them strong. It has an influence on cholesterol levels, keeping them normal. And, it is responsible for maintaining the vagina. Without estrogen the walls of the vagina become thin and dry. This can lead to painful intercourse, vaginal tearing and bleeding during menopause after or during sex.

Estrogen taken alone increases a woman�s risk for cancer of the endometrium, which is the lining of the uterus. Taking progesterone decreases that risk by causing the endometrium to be shed each month or monthly bleeding during menopause. After taking estrogen and progesterone continuously for several months or more depending on the woman, monthly bleeding during menopause may be lessened or stop completely.

Although hormone replacement therapy was the treatment of choice for moderate to severe menopause symptoms for many years, the Women�s Health Initiative study indicates that the risks may outweigh the benefits. The benefits, other than relieving severe menopause symptoms, are believed to be a reduced risk of osteoporosis, colon cancer and heart disease. But, the study concluded that long-term hormone replacement therapy actually increased the risk of heart disease, breast cancer, blood clots and stroke.

In estrogen only therapy, which does not cause bleeding during menopause, there is an increased risk of endometrial cancer, blood clots and stroke, but there appears to be no increased risk of breast cancer or heart disease. Because of the risks, hormone replacement therapy is not recommended as often, nor recommended for long term use. Women who have a family history of certain types of cancer may be discouraged from using it at all. Women who have had breast cancer are generally discouraged, as well.

Since many women can not take hormone replacement therapy or choose not to, researchers have evaluated some of the herbs and plants that were used historically to relieve hot flashes and other more severe menopause symptoms. Black cohosh, among others was found to be effective. To learn more about black cohosh and other alternatives to hormone replacement therapy, please visit the Menopause and PMS Guide.

Patsy Hamilton was a health care professional for over twenty years before becoming a freelance writer. Currently she writes informational articles focused on women�s health for the Menopause and PMS Guide. Visit us at http://www.menopause-and-pms-guide.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patsy_Hamilton

Diet At Menopause

2006-12-17T02:21:00.000-08:00

Natural Progesterone and Osteoporosis Treatment Success

by David Buster

Using natural progesterone and osteoporosis was successfully treated? Is it possible? After all, natural progesterone is safe to use with virtually no side effects when used correctly. It is one of the two primary hormones produced in a healthy woman during the menstrual cycle, the other hormone being estrogen. In perhaps the only study of natural progesterone and osteoporosis treatment of its kind, the success obtained by a leading Harvard-trained physician for reversing osteoporosis in women is explained.

What is osteoporosis? Osteoporosis is a progressive disease where the bones become more porous and weaker over time. Untreated, osteoporosis will weaken, disable and kill both women and men. Almost half of the women in the United States will fracture a hip, forearm or spine sometime in their lifetime. 20% of women who fracture their hip will die within one year. And it is not just a disease of the elderly. Osteoporosis regularly begins its destructive process for women in their 30's. Becoming slightly shorter in height is the most noticable of the osteoporosis symptoms. Osteoporosis causes postural changes, and it makes one more likely to have a bone fracture as one ages.

There are two kinds of bone cells that one should understand. Osteoclasts are the cells that travel through bone tissue, finding bone tissue that needs replacing, removing old bone by dissolving it and leaving small cavities or pores where there once was bone. Osteoblasts are the cells that form new bone cells in the cavities left by the dissolving tissue. This continous process of bone resorption and new bone formation is how bones are kept strong in the healthy body. Bone strength is the result of the balance of these two processes. Osteoporosis happens when more bone tissue is being dissolved than is being rebuilt.

When are the bones the strongest in women? Bone strength is greatest at around age 30 for women. Bone loss typically begins in women 5-20 years before menopause. Osteoporosis occurs regularly in both women and men. Even though a man begins to lose bone mass considerably later in life than a woman, bone loss happens in men. Women often begin losing bone mass as early as in their 30's, whereas bone loss begins in the 50's for a man. By the time men reach their 70's, their bone weakness equals that of women.

Harvard-trained Dr. John R. Lee is the author of the best-selling womens health book What Your Doctor May NOT Tell You About Menopause. Dr. Lee studied 100 of his women patients that were in various stages of osteoporosis. The women in his study ranged in ages from 38 to 83 with 62.5 being the average age. By adding supplementation with natural progesterone to an existing natural osteoporosis treatment program, Dr. Lee found that bone density was increased every year by 3-5% until it stabilized at the bone density levels expected for a 35-year old woman! All 100 women using the natural progesterone and osteoporosis treatment reversed their bone loss and grew new bone cells. These results are astounding!

Dr. Lee also observed that the women who had experienced the most bone loss were the ones that increased bone density the fastest when using this natural progesterone and osteoporosis reversal treatment! Dr. Lee makes it very clear that natural progesterone and osteoporosis treatment must include the osteoporosis treatment elements of proper diet, nutrients and exercise. And for women approaching the age of menopause (late 40's to early 50's) and older, he felt that natural progesterone supplementation would greatly benefit women that had already experienced considerable bone loss, and that natural progesterone would rebuild new bone cells.

Anyone can easily make lifestyle changes that will include weight-bearing exercise, proper diet, nutritional supplements and natural progesterone and osteoporosis treatment. Stopping bone loss, rebuilding and strengthening your bones is entirely possible, according to Dr. Lee. If you or someone you know is at risk for osteoporosis, learn more and benefit from the successes of Dr. Lee and other physicians in safely and effectively treating osteoporosis, a debilitating disease.

David Buster is VP of InfoSearch Publishing and is one of the webmasters of http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com - a website of physician-recommended natural treatments for health problems. Visit the website and learn more about natural ways for improving your health.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Buster

Super Diet Menopause

2006-12-16T11:21:00.001-08:00

Low Testosterone Women and Low Testosterone in Women Symptoms

by Olinda Rola

Low testosterone women and low testosterone in women symptoms are related to hormone levels in the woman's body. Testosterone production in a woman is about 10% of the amount typically made by a man. Testosterone is produced primarily in a woman's ovaries and adrenal glands.

Along with the two other vital hormones -- progesterone and estrogen -- testosterone production declines as a woman ages. Low testosterone women may experience certain symptoms, the most notable symptom being low libido. However, low testosterone in women can also contribute to depression and osteoporosis.

Harvard-trained family physician Dr. John R. Lee describes his experience with low testosterone women in the book What Your Doctor May NOT Tell You About Premenopause. He reports that several clinical studies have shown that using a small amount of natural testosterone supplementation may enhance the good effects of the other hormones.

However, Dr. Lee observes that testosterone production depends on sufficient progesterone levels in the body. In the healthy human body, progesterone converts into another form of progesterone, which converts into androstenedione from which testosterone is made. If progesterone levels are too low -- common today with women in their 30's and older -- low testosterone in women may be the result. For low testosterone women, Dr. Lee recommends first using natural progesterone cream supplementation for at least six months, using dosages in the same amounts as what the body would normally produce. Dr. Lee found that natural progesterone supplementation often solved the problem of low testosterone women and low libido.

While low testosterone in women is one problem, excessive testosterone can also cause problems. Dr. Lee describes what often happens as women approach menopause and ovarian function slows. Women often show symptoms of becoming androgen dominant, and testosterone supplementation may only make this condition worse. Symptoms of androgen dominance in women include male pattern baldness and facial hair growth.

In addition, an excess of estrogen in the woman's body can result in the occurance of these same two symptoms. Clearance of testosterone from the body is related to the healthy balance of estrogen and progesterone levels. Too much estrogen slows down the clearance of testosterone, while progesterone enhances testosterone clearance. By staying in the body longer than necessary, testosterone may produce the androgenic characteristics described above. Dr. Lee found that supplementation with natural progesterone cream tended to reverse the androgen dominant characteristics.

Dr. Lee recommends that low testosterone women first use natural progesterone cream supplementation for at least six months. His experience was that frequently no testosterone supplementation was required as natural progesterone corrected the symptoms. He suggests that if low libido is still being experienced after doing progesterone supplementation for at least six months, then consider trying a small amount of natural testosterone supplementation -- approximately 0.5 - 2 mg in the mornings. If testosterone supplementation begins to produce facial hair growth and/or male pattern baldness, reduce or discontinue testosterone supplementation.

He recommends using only natural testosterone, not one of the synthetic testosterone drugs that can have undesirable side effects. You will need to consult with your physician to obtain natural testosterone which is easily available from compounding pharmacies.

Learn as much as you can about when to use natural hormone supplemention to help stay healthy and free from the symptoms associated with low testosterone in women, and understand the vital role that natural progesterone plays in women's health.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

Read more about natural progesterone supplementation and natural hormone therapy. Olinda Rola is President of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com - a website of natural health articles and resources.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Olinda_Rola

Thr Menopause Diet

2006-12-16T11:21:00.000-08:00

Hot Flashes and You-What You Need to Know

by John Mancini

Many women have hot flashes during menopause. Most women experience this particular symptom of menopause for about five years (80%), while some continue to have them longer, around ten years (10%). While great majorities of women live through hot flashes during their change of life, not a lot is known about what causes the hot flashes. However, there are some measures that can be taken to alleviate hot flashes.

Some of these treatments include using plant and vitamin supplements to help alleviate the symptoms of hot flashes. If a women wanted to try an alternative method, there is not a shortage available, everything from soy to new breathing techniques have been touted as the cure for hot flashes.

The most important thing that you can do for yourself when experiencing hot flashes before or during menopause is to speak with your health care provider. They will be able to walk you through the process of choosing a treatment regimen. Discuss with your doctor if you have any concerns regarding hormone replacement surgery, together you can find the right form of relief for you.

Hormone replacement therapy is by far the most affective means to treat hot flashes and is prescribed to more than 40 million women every year. However, this program has been under intense scrutiny recently, as new research as indicated that the hormone replacement may be a leading cause in heart disease among women. For that reason, more and more women are turning away from this traditional treatment in favor of more natural methods of controlling the hot flashes.

Even though not a whole lot is known about hot flashes, it is believed that they occur not because of low hormones, but are due rather to a fluctuation in those hormones. Traditionally, hot flashes are treated with a prescription of estrogen via an oral or transdermal medications; this treatment is called hormone replacement therapy (HRT). These medications are a way of evening out the hormones with in the body and are proven to slow the occurrences of hot flash by 80-90% in most women.

John Mancini has been writing about Menopause online and offline for a long time. Visit http://menopause-central.com or http://my-menopause.com to read more about matters like early menopause symptoms and herbs for menopause.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Mancini

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2006-12-16T08:21:00.001-08:00

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Dealing with Fibromyalgia - The Wise Woman Way

by Susun Weed

"Dear woman," Grandmother Growth's voice seems to float in the deepening twilight, echoing, reverberating, ringing in your ears. "Bring me your soreness. Bring me your pain. Bring your aches to me. Bring your burdens. Bring all you can no longer stand, can no longer bear, can no longer carry, can no longer shoulder, can no longer be responsible for. Give it to me. Put it down. Let us sit in council together and listen to the stories your pain tells. Menopause is a journey which requires you to pack light. Heavy things - bitterness, regret, vengeance, clinging to pain - will make your travels wearisome and bring you down. Take only the stories. Leave the rest behind. Burn the soreness in your hot flashes. Let it leave you. This is the Change. Let it change you, dear woman; let it change you."

Step 0: Do Nothing

Women dealing with fibromyalgia have less pain if they sleep in a completely dark room. If that's impossible, wear a sleep mask.

Step 1: Collect Information

The chronic pain disorder I called "sore all over" when I wrote this section ten years ago is now big news. Ninety percent of the 4 million Americans dealing with this debilitating, frustrating condition - known as fibromyalgia - are white women, and many of them are menopausal.

Neither cause nor cure for fibromyalgia is known. It is not a disease but a range of symptoms characterized by chronic, widespread pain on both sides of the body, above and below the waist. (As one of my apprentices put it: "But I don't hurt in all those places at once. The pain moves around. I never know where it will be next.") Some women have a low fever in addition to pain. More than half of those with fibromyalgia also suffer from headaches, endometriosis, and/or irritable bowel syndrome.
The symptoms of fibromyalgia are quite variable, making diagnosis difficult. (Orthodox diagnosis is predicated on finding soreness at specific trigger points.) Fibromyalgia mimics aspects of multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, arthritis, hepatitis C, hypothyroidism, lupus, polymyalgia rheumatica, and early dementia. Many women with fibromyalgia are told their distress is "all in your mind."

It isn't in your mind (alone). Menopause can leave you feeling like you've been beaten on. Muscles respond to hormonal changes by feeling sore and cranky. Sleep loss can make you ache. (Non-restorative sleep is a hallmark of fibromyalgia.) Lack of calcium (and other minerals) can make your bones ache. Whether you are dealing with these challenges, or the greater problem of fibromyalgia, why not give Wise Woman Ways a try? The remedies listed here have been remarkably successful in helping many women.

"People with fibromyalgia aren't just sensitive to pain; they also find loud noises, strong odors, and bright lights aversive." - Daniel Clauw, MD, Director: Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center, Georgetown University

Step 2: Engage the Energy

Having a support group is one of the strongest factors in keeping fibromyalgia under control.
Homeopathic Arnica is an amazing remedy for sore and aching muscles. Daily use of homeopathic Rhus toxicodendron reduced pain by 25 percent in those with fibromyalgia.
Make a list of things you are sore (upset, angry) about. Where do these things live in your body? With the help of an experienced bodyworker, loosen those places. Women with fibromyalgia are very likely to be survivors of trauma (sexual or domestic violence, alcoholism).
Go back to your Mother. Float in the ocean. Lie belly down on the earth. Naked. Let her ease you. Let her heal you.
Listen to a relaxation tape. Have someone show you how to do the yoga position called the "Corpse Pose". Learn how to bring yourself to a deep state of inner quiet and peaceful mind.
Hypnotherapy can help you gain some degree of mental control over their symptoms. Cognitive behavior therapy is also helpful.

Step 3: Nourish and Tonify

Consistent use of nourishing herbal infusions, especially comfrey leaf and stinging nettle, in place of coffee, tea, and sodas is the single most effective thing I know for mitigating and overcoming fibromyalgia.
Gentle exercise - walks, yoga or tai chi practices - keeps muscles from weakening and becoming more painful. Experts suggest starting with as little as three minutes a day, and gradually building to at least four sessions of five minutes each per day. Persist; the reward is worth it.
Regular consumption of yogurt also proves very helpful for those with fibromyalgia. Perhaps it is due to yogurt's ability to strengthen and nourish immunity; some suspect fibromyalgia is a result of immune system malfunction.
Magnesium is a critical nutrient for preventing pain in muscles and connective tissues. Legumes, whole grains, leafy greens and nourishing herbal infusions - like nettle and oatstraw - are the best sources.
Moxibustion is also known as needleless acupuncture. Safe and easy to do at home by yourself, moxibustion gives fast relief from sore joints and aching muscles. It not only relieves pain but tonifies, decreasing future pain and gradually effecting a "cure." You can buy a moxa "cigar" at an Oriental pharmacy or health food store. Bring the glowing end of the moxa (after lighting it) near the painful area and move it around in small slow spirals until the heat becomes too intense. (This may take a few minutes or many.) Pain relief is usually immediate and often lasts for twelve or more hours.

Step 4: Stimulate/Sedate

Tinctures of willow bark or spirea (1-2 dropperfuls/1-2 ml is a dose) are highly recommended as important green allies by women dealing with fibromyalgia.
St. Joan's wort tincture - not capsules, not the tea - is a powerful ally for women with fibromyalgia. It is one of the best muscle relaxants I have ever used. A 25-30 drop dose not only stops but also prevents muscle aches. I have used it as frequently as every twenty minutes (for ten doses) when the occasion has necessitated it. St. Joan's wort prevents soreness when taken after exercise; and even better if taken before. I take a dose every hour while on an airplane to prevent muscle aches and jetlag.
Regular massage from an experienced therapist stimulates the circulation of blood and energy, relieves pain, reduces fatigue, and eases stiffness. Avoid deep tissue massage; it increases pain. Light strokes and gentle myofascial releases are more helpful. Chiropractic manipulations are of little benefit.
Massage with heated stones and other heat treatments works wonders for some women. For others, cold treatments work better (but not too cold, and not for too long either, please).
Ginger compresses, hot or cold, stir up circulation and mobilize the body's own healing agents to take action and ease your pain. I grate several ounces of fresh ginger into simmering water, cook it gently for ten minutes, then soak a cloth in the liquid and use that as an application to the sore area.
The National Institute of Health lists fibromyalgia as one of the few conditions that acupuncture can relieve.
If lying down sleep makes the pain worse, slip into something relaxing: valerian, skullcap, or St. Joan's wort tinctures, up to a dropperful/1 ml of any one, repeated twice if needed.

Step 5a: Use Supplements

A study found little benefit from those with fibromyalgia taking either SAM-e or 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan - a precursor to serotonin). Do not use 5-HTP if you are taking St. Joan's/John's wort.
Lack of sleep can quickly aggravate symptoms of fibromyalgia. (See Step 0.) If sleep confounds you, melatonin at bedtime, the lowest dose you can get, may help.

Step 5b: Use Drugs

Essential oil of lavender was recommended by several women who have dealt with fibromyalgia for many years. Dilute with jojoba or olive oil and use as a rub.
Orthodox treatment of fibromyalgia relies heavily on drugs, primarily antispasmodics, antidepressants and muscle-relaxants. But Celebrex, Vioxx, Valteran, amitriptyline (Elavil), fluoxetine (Prozac), vanlafaxine (Effecor), trazadone (Desyrel), alprazolam (Xanax), and cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) can adversely affect the liver and disrupt the immune system.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen do not reduce fibromyalgia pain for most women.
Tramadol (Ultram) is a drug which addresses both the altered brain chemicals and the pain signals of those with fibromyalgia.

Step 6: Break and Enter

Beware invasive diagnostic tests. Many women report enduring endless rounds of tests trying to put a name to their pains with no success and at the price of physical, mental, and emotional distress.
Injections of lidocaine, a drug that temporarily numbs nerves, are effective in relieving fibromyalgia pain for some women. Injections of capsaicin (from cayenne) relieve pain by destroying nerve endings.

________________________________________

If you liked this article by Susun S. Weed, you will want
New Menopausal Years, the Wise Woman Way
available from http://www.ashtreepublishing.com.

Legal Disclaimer: This content is not intended to replace conventional medical treatment. Any suggestions made and all herbs listed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, condition or symptom. Personal directions and use should be provided by a clinical herbalist or other qualified healthcare practitioner with a specific formula for you. All material contained herein is provided for general information purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation. Contact a reputable healthcare practitioner if you are in need of medical care. Exercise self-empowerment by seeking a second opinion.

Susun Weed

PO Box 64

Woodstock, NY 12498

Fax: 1-845-246-8081

Vibrant, passionate, and involved, Susun Weed has garnered an international reputation for her groundbreaking lectures, teachings, and writings on health and nutrition. She challenges conventional medical approaches with humor, insight, and her vast encyclopedic knowledge of herbal medicine. Unabashedly pro-woman, her animated and enthusiastic lectures are engaging and often profoundly provocative.

Susun is one of America's best-known authorities on herbal medicine and natural approaches to women's health. Her four best-selling books are recommended by expert herbalists and well-known physicians and are used and cherished by millions of women around the world. Learn more at http://www.susunweed.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susun_Weed

Good Diet At Menopause

2006-12-16T08:21:00.000-08:00

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement - HRT Without the Side Effects

by Danna Schneider

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can be defined as natural chemicals and naturally occurring compounds found in plants that mimic the effects of the actual hormones of the human body, particularly estradiol, progesterone, and estriol, which is another naturally occurring estrogen, and even testosterone (men suffer from a "male menopause" called andropause as well, but that is for another discussion).

Bioidentical hormone therapy has all of the good effects of HRT, or traditional hormone replacement therapy, with none of the severe side effects that has caused so many women looking for menopause relief to steer away from traditionally administered HRT.

What is Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy Used For?

Natural hormone replacement is often used for women in years of premenopause or in the actual stage of menopause itself, who are in need of replenishing the feminine hormones that are lost during this time, and need help easing and minimizing the symptoms of hormonal imbalance such as hot flashes, night sweats, depression, moodiness, and more.

Not only can you get BHRT through a doctor now, you can also find many good BHRT supplements that will really help to equalize your hormones and bring you back to normal estrogen levels.

These supplements are formulated with natural herbs that very closely mimic the effects of estrogen and help to elevate mood, reduce or eliminate night sweats and hot flashes, and also bring back a more youthful existence derived from hormonal harmony.

BHRT is typically derived from elements found in nature such as soy and wild yam, known for their naturally estrogenic properties and influence in the female body when introduced in precise dosages. Scientists and herbalist alike have played with these formulas to exactly mimic the effect of real estrogen hormones in the female body.

Women everywhere are benefitting from this natural alternative to HRT, without the common side effects that would normally make you shy away. Bioidentical hormone replacement is just one of the many ways herbs are improving lives across the world at an increasing pace.

See Bioidentical Hormone Replacement - The Natural Alternative to HRT for more information on an excellent hormone remedy. Danna Schneider is the webmaster of Alternative Medicines and Health Supplements, a site dedicated to naturally curing people with effective herbal alternatives to modern medical science.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Danna_Schneider

How To Control Menopause Through Diet

2006-12-16T05:21:00.001-08:00

Triggers and Causes of Hot Flushes

by Patsy Hamilton

The causes of hot flushes, hot flashes or night sweats are believed to be decreasing levels of estrogen or other naturally occurring hormonal changes, unique to a woman. The symptoms of hot flushes and other symptoms of menopause are more severe in women who have had their ovaries surgically removed, supporting the belief that loss of hormones produced by the ovaries are the actual causes of hot flashes. Certain things trigger hot flushes, increase their severity and frequency, even though they are not the actual causes of hot flushes.

Hot flushes, flashes or night sweats are considered a �vasomotor� symptom, because dilation of the blood vessels and changes in circulation are involved. For many years estrogen replacement therapy was the most commonly recommended treatment, but because of the health risks associated with this form of treatment, it is not recommended nearly as often.

The symptoms of hot flushes typically include excessive warmth in the chest, neck and face. The hands and feet may feel chilled at the same time, once the heat has subsided a woman often feels chilled all over. Increased perspiration under the arms, on the chest, neck and forehead may occur. A woman�s face and neck may look red, blotchy or �flushed�.

When hot flushes occur at night they are usually called night sweats. They can interrupt a woman�s sleep, sometimes leading to insomnia, decreasing energy levels and overall sense of well being. A recent study indicates that the majority of peri-menopausal (a term referring to the time �around� menopause) women do not feel that hot flushes affect their quality of life as much as emotional changes and mood swings. Mood swings and emotions like anger, frustration and irritability are not causes of hot flushes, but they can be triggers.

The sudden changes in body temperature are not believed to threaten a woman�s health. No medical treatment is required, unless they happen frequently, are severe or disruptive to a woman�s life. In these cases, doctors may recommend hormone replacement therapy. For women who are bothered by them, but cannot or do not want to risk hormone therapy, there are natural herbs and other plant components that can relieve them.

Most women can get relief from hot flushes by using an herbal supplement called black cohosh. This herb was used historically by Native American healers to correct symptoms related to hormonal imbalances, to help regulate menstrual cycles, as a diuretic and a mild sedative. Research has shown that women get as much relief from hot flashes when using black cohosh as they do from estrogen replacement. It is highly recommended for women who can not risk estrogen replacement therapy, because of previous cancers or other concerns.

Because, the Women�s Health Initiative found that the health benefits of hormone replacement therapy do not outweigh the risks, most doctors no longer recommend this treatment unless numerous symptoms are present and are severely impairing a woman�s ability to function, her relationships or her quality of life. Black cohosh, on the other hand, is being recommended more and more.

Although they are not actually causes of hot flushes, there are a number of substances that can trigger them. By using a symptoms diary or journal, you may be able to find other triggers that affect you personally. The most common triggers are alcohol, caffeine, nicotine and spicy foods. For more information about hot flushes and other menopausal symptoms, please visit the Menopause and PMS Guide.

Patsy Hamilton was a health care professional for more than twenty years before she became a freelance writer. Currently she writes informational articles related to women�s health for the Menopause and PMS Guide. Read more at www.menopause-and-pms-guide.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patsy_Hamilton

Peri Menopause And Diet

2006-12-16T05:21:00.000-08:00

Stress Causing People to "Super Size"

by Georgianna Donadio, D.C., M.Sc., Ph.D.

Stress Causing People to �Super Size�

by Georgianna Donadio D.C., M.Sc., Ph.D.

It is currently reported that two out of three adults is either overweight or obese, and the numbers continue to climb. As a result, statistics demonstrate that a significant portion of our population is being diagnosed with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease. Even more shocking is that we are experiencing these conditions at earlier ages than previously reported. It is not unusual today, to hear about a young person in their 20�s diagnosed with mature onset diabetes, normally developed during middle-age.

On May 7, 2004, a controversial and award-winning movie aimed at exploring the obesity epidemic hit theatres. In �Super Size Me�, a tongue-in-cheek look at the legal, financial and physical costs of our hunger for fast food, filmmaker Morgan Spurlock explores the horrors of school lunch programs, declining health education and physical education classes, food addictions and the extreme measures people take to lose weight. As a centerpiece of the film, Spurlock puts his own body on the line, living on nothing but McDonald's for 30 days following three rules:

1) Eat only what is available over the counter
2) No supersizing unless offered
3) Consume every item on the menu at least once

In the end, Spurlock has a weight gain of 24 pounds and experiences harrowing visits to the doctor. The issues that are explored in �Super Size Me� beg the question, what has changed in our environment to cause this obesity problem to reach epidemic proportions? Furthermore, what is causing people to overeat as we do?

A groundbreaking study, reported in 2003 by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, found that between 1977 and 1996, portion sizes for key food groups grew markedly in the United States, not only at fast-food restaurants but also in homes and at conventional restaurants. In particular, portion sizes for salty and sugary foods, essentially, �comfort foods� experienced the most dramatic portion size increases. For example, the USDA's recommended serving size for a cookie is half an ounce, while the average cookie sold in restaurants was found to be 700% larger.

The by-products of our affluent American society, envied by many around the world, have a definite dark side, our obesity rate, for starters. In a culture where more is better and disposable income is abundant, when it comes to eating we have developed a �more food, more conveniently and more often� attitude.

Stress: A Pre-Cursor to Obesity

Certainly, no one forces us to eat more than our body needs, so what is driving this �hunger� for more? Over the last two decades, almost proportionally to the dramatic increase of food consumed and chronic disease diagnoses, the amount of stress in our society and on each of us individually has increased significantly. Stress is the term medical researcher Hans Selye, M.D., PhD, gave to the experience our bodies go through when we have to adjust or adapt to the various changes our bodies experience during the course of the day. While many of us think of stress in relationship to emotional states, many other factors can exert an equally detrimental effect on our bodies as well. When we do not get enough sleep or rest, work or exercise too much, nutritional status, have an infection, have allergies, injuries or trauma, undergo dental or surgical procedures, have emotional upsets, or deal with any aspect of reproductive function such a pregnancy, menopause, etc., our bodies must chemically and neurologically adapt in order to survive. Part of this adaptation process relies heavily on the nutrition that is available for the kidney�s adrenal glands to produce the adaptive hormones. It is often this aspect of stress that can lead to overeating, and what�s more, overeating the types of foods that cause unhealthy weight gain.

How it works

Thanks to the work of M.I.T. Professor Judith Wurtman, Ph.D. and others we now understand the significant role that a neurotransmitter or �chemical messenger� called Serotonin plays in producing our cravings for complex carbohydrates and sugars, two of the largest contributors to unhealthy weight gain. Serotonin along with other neurotransmitters, are produced by our bodies as "feel good" hormones. Under stress, we do not have enough of these hormones and we become motivated to "self-sooth" by behaviors that lead to the increase of Serotonin. Overeating of carbohydrate and fatty-rich foods or �comfort foods� such as cookies, ice cream, etc. significantly increases these hormones. Many addictions such as smoking, alcohol, and drugs are also attempts to self-sooth and increase Serotonin, but no other addictive or unhealthy behavior is as socially acceptable and as easily available as over eating. We can do it anywhere, anytime, alone or with company. It is no wonder we have such a love affair with eating.

In addition, our bodies need for certain nutrients, specifically protein, Vitamins A, C, and E, unsaturated fatty acids, cholesterol, and minerals, skyrocket when we are �adapting� under stress. Often, if we do not stop the stress cycle or do not appropriately supplement these nutrients, we can turn to overeating to satisfy the body�s demands for the fuel it needs to keep dealing with the stress we are experiencing.

For a period of time, foods that comfort, sooth or supplement can make us feel calmer until our level of Serotonin drops again or until we become more exhausted and need to feed ourselves, yet again. Then, we start the cycle all over and consume more carbohydrate and fatty rich foods until we feel better. This is the cycle of self-medication or self-soothing practiced in homes, offices, restaurants, automobiles and yes, even bathrooms across America. The long-term effect of such behaviors, apart from obesity and escalating chronic diseases, is that our nervous systems are being hyper-stimulated. Anxiety, exhaustion, depression, overeating and insomnia are just a few of the symptoms we experience when our nervous systems are working on overload.

As a result, it is no wonder that within the last year, low-carbohydrate diets have proven effective for so many people. Approximately 20% of Americans or 20 million people are currently on a low-carb diet. For many of us, our stress level is a major factor in the over consumption of carbohydrates, therefore reducing or eating normal amounts of carbohydrates is spawning weight loss. The real issue, however, is how long can we reduce are carbohydrate loading without reducing our stress levels and the behaviors that create elevated stress in the first place?

Causes of Stress

Prior to the early 1970�s, the majority of family units were structured as a one wage earner household where the male worked and the female stayed at home, taking care of the house and family. Driven largely by social and socio-economic factors, all of that has changed. Now, the overwhelming majority of families include both parents working and we find ourselves on a treadmill of more work, more responsibilities, more demands and non-stop scheduling that has many of us in a state of physical and, at times, emotional exhaustion.

Added to the mix is our competitive culture, which often leads to isolation or a �them against us� thinking. Isolation of this nature causes additional �hidden� stress. A Hindu Vendata truth is that �the whole world is one family�. It is said that there is only one disease, the disease of separateness; separating oneself from the awareness that as members of the human family, we are one living organism. The drama created by a �one-up� or �one-down� dynamic, that we find in competitive societies, can lead to the exhaustion and the psychosocial behavioral issues which can contribute to overeating.

Understanding Exhaustion and its� Effect on Obesity

The tipping point at which our bodies can no longer compensate or adapt from the stress it is under, is based in large part on the threshold of nutritional competency and the state of integrity of our nervous system. When our central nervous system, which governs every cell in our body and makes life possible, is not working efficiently, we have a decrease in bodily function and the ability to adapt to the world we live in. Chronic Fatigue Syndromes, CFS, are rampant in our culture today and growing at an alarming rate because of the over stimulation and increased demands placed on our nervous systems. Add to this inadequate nutrition and a decreased ability of our bodies to digest and absorb properly because of the stress, and we see the foundation of the epidemic of chronic diseases being currently reported.

What is so shocking for us, as Americans, is that while we live in one of the most affluent societies ever to exist on earth and have one of the most technologically advanced medical systems we are raked at approximately twenty-sixth in the world health Olympics. This is not the failure of our medical system, but in fact, the failure to live in our bodies mindfully and respectfully, taking time for rest, proper nutrition, reflection, intimacy with self and others and serving the common good of society. It is this imbalance that leads us to chronic stress, which leads to physical and, if you will, spiritual exhaustion that is producing the levels of chronic diseases and the rampant obesity we see today.

Self-Esteem and Health

We have an innate understanding of how we need to choose to live to be healthy.

Yet, adages about health i.e., �early to be, early to rise, makes a man healthy wealthy and wise�, are often ignored in place of our instant gratification or immediate comfort.

Physical labor has taken a back seat to �mind work�, and today we work harder than ever before to have the money to buy a membership to a gym or spa so we can do the physical exercise we need to be healthy and attractive. However, rarely do we actually have the time to go to the gym we pay membership fees to. Statistically, the average gym membership is used for the first 4 � 6 weeks after signing up and then falls off dramatically. Workout facilities count on this phenomenon when planning their recruitment and enrollment numbers. Likewise, diet plans and weight loss centers know that 90% or more of their customers will continue to have body weight issues, in spite of their best efforts to re-direct to a different way of eating. Why?

The Oprah Syndrome

One of the most powerful, successful people in the world, Oprah Winfrey is a brilliant example of the �super size� syndrome in our culture. With every possible service, care and expert available to her, Oprah has continued to struggle with significant weight gain and loss for many years. In 2001, a chart published in a popular magazine, documents her weight gain and loss over the previous 20 years. Even during the height of her popularity and professional success, her body weight rose to dangerously elevated levels. The reasons most of us give for not taking care of ourselves include; not having enough time to shop for or cook the right foods; not being sure what�s best for our body type; not enough money for domestic help so we can exercise, meditate or relax; stress over money and achieving success. Oprah is an individual who has more than enough money and success to eliminate all those concerns, yet in spite of that she still does not consistently maintain a proper body weight.

Driven by personal history and ambition, Oprah offers a perfect example of the potential outcome of Serotonin driven self-soothing, which invites us to ask and answer questions about self-esteem and self care. When we understand the relationship between our unconscious mind, our self-esteem and the serotonin connection, it becomes quite clear that what is at the core of our �super sizing� is not solved by the �diet of the month� or the next �how to� bestseller. Rather, an examination of our personal worldview, our ego state, our treatment and regard for nature and for others, what we value, what we believe in, how much we consume and how much we accumulate. When these aspects of self are aligned with choices that lead to moderation rather than ambition, that produce balance rather than extremes, that debunk the thinking that �more is better�, we then select the foods we innately know are healthy, even when we must choose from the fast food menu.

In a culture comprised of 5% of the world population, using 75% of the world�s resources, we have come to accept excess as a way of life and a standard to subscribe to. In the 1980�s, Robin Leach�s television show, �Life Styles of the Rich and Famous�, tainted our appetites for a standard of over consumption that has brought us to where we are today � obese and chronically diseased.

Take a Tip from the Gurus

Eastern philosophies offer us an opportunity to re-think our approach to the way we live. Quite opposite from our �in your face� attitude of self-manifestation, Eastern wisdom invites us to ponder, �how much do I really need; to do; to have; to eat; to own; to control; to be content with my life; and what is the role of gratitude in my life?� Shouldn�t having a calm, well functioning nervous system, the source of all life in the body, be a main objective for all of us instead of trying to trick the body into doing what we want with the latest diet craze or vitamin pills available?

Change the Question

It may be time to change the questions we not only ask ourselves, but the questions we are asked as consumers. Maybe, if when making his fast food purchases, Morgan Spurlock was asked the question �super size or down size, sir?� the choices he might have made could have resulted in significant weight loss rather than weight gain, but then Spurlock would not have a movie to make, or the millions that will be realized from it.

Georgianna Donadio D.C., M.Sc., Ph.D., has conducted a private practice in Whole Person Health Care since 1976. She is the Founder and Director of The New England School of Whole Health Education, the pioneer of Whole Health Education and a provider of patient and healthcare professional education since 1977. For more information, visit www.wholehealtheducation.org or call 1-888-354-HEAL (4325).

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Georgianna_Donadio,_D.C.,_M.Sc.,_Ph.D.

Menopause Diet Women

2006-12-16T02:21:00.001-08:00

Menopause and Water Retention

by Cathy Taylor

When women reach a point where they stop ovulating, it is called menopause. It indicates the end of fertility in women. Menopause affects different women differently. For some, menopause starts early, but most would experience it around the age of 50. There is a reduction in the production of estrogen and progesterone in the body during and after menopause. The reduction of estrogen and other hormones in the body leads to many symptoms, and women resort to various ways and medications to replenish the depleted estrogen.

Water retention is excessive accumulation of fluid in the body. It occurs in women during menopause or perimenopause when they take estrogen replacement hormones. Water retention in the body is an indication of weak adrenals or kidneys, the circulatory system, or perhaps the heart. Water retention and/or bloating during menopause or perimenopause can easily be cured. The kidneys become fatigued on overloading, especially when you bloat due to fluid retention. It would be advisable to limit the intake of fluids.

Menopause and Ways to Reduce Water Retention
If you often bloat with water retention during menopause, try the following:

� Reduce salt intake - Excessive sodium in the blood leads to water retention in the tissues. It would be ideal to cut down on junk foods. Avoiding salty fries, pepperoni pizza and other foods containing hidden salt, some types of salad dressings, cereals and canned soups would be a good start. Inculcate the habit of reading labels before buying food off the shelves.
� Get exercising - Start walking, bicycling, and similar activities. These can help reduce water retention in your body. With age, you generally tend to reduce such activities, when you actually need to do the exact opposite!

Although ascorbic acid - Vitamin C - increases water output from the kidneys, its excessive use could stress your kidneys and there is a likelihood of increase in water retention in the future. There are certain things you can try to increase the output of water from your body:

� Tincture of Dandelion - About 10 to 20 drops of this tincture is a great way to reduce water retention. It helps in removing excess fluid from the cells, nourishing and toning your kidneys, the adrenals and the liver. It increases the ability to digest food and aids hormones to ease menopausal change.

� Dong Quai - When used regularly, it relieves bloating, and has a diuretic effect - increase in the discharge of urine. This oil also has a mild sedative effect, soothing the intestines and bladder.

� Helpful Foods - Eating asparagus, corn, cucumber, grapes, and watermelon may be helpful. Reduce intake of parsley, celery, black tea and coffee in order to avoid water retention.

� Other Remedies - Certain oils, such as cypress, geranium, juniper, lavender and rosemary, may help reduce water retention in your body. These essential oils may be used in the form of baths, gargles, mouthwashes, vaporizers, inhalants, as well as compresses and massages.

Trying these remedies, including reduced salt intake, will help in reducing water retention.

Cathy writes frequently on mid-life issues for women and men particularly
menopause and andropause. A copy of her book can be found at
http://www.howtoconquermenopause.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cathy_Taylor

Vegetrian Diet And Menopause

2006-12-16T02:21:00.000-08:00

Menopause Symptoms and Natural Solutions

by Michael Russell

Treating menopause systems seems to be as controversial as any other disease or illness we encounter as humans. As with most ailments, there seem to be a number of ways to treat menopausal systems. First, let's identify common symptoms.

Hot Flashes - We all know of someone who has hot flashes - this is when the room temperature is 70 degrees; however, it feels like 90 degrees to her. Then within moments, that same room feels like 60 degrees. Dizziness or faintness may occur as well.

Night Sweats - For most, hot flashes occur during the day, but for others they occur primarily at night where women wake up drenched in perspiration. This interruption in sleep often can create even more havoc with hormone levels.

Unexplained Weight Gain - The truth of the matter is, women don't get fat and yet they experience metabolic changes between the ages of 45-55. This is normal, yet many do not accept the maturing body image as such. Instead, they diet and exercise only to find that that extra 10 pounds won't go back to where it came from.

Vaginal Discomfort - This includes itching, dryness and pain. The cells in the lining of the vagina often become thinner and less resistant due to a decrease in estrogen and androgen. Let's face it our bodies have been around half a century.

Frequent Urination - Though this is a very common, yet troublesome symptom, there are many, unfortunately, that experience urinary tract and kidney infections. As with the vaginal discomfort, the urethra and bladder tissues become thinner and therefore more susceptible to irritation and infection.

Skin Changes - Topically thinning, drying and wrinkling of the skin are most common signs.

Other Symptoms - Mood swings, increased facial hair, thinning hair, body odor, gastrointestinal distress, tingling or shock sensation under the skin, bleeding gums, anxiety or panic attacks, increased headaches or fatigue and memory lapses.

There are many times that women between the ages of 40 and 55 experience some or many of the above symptoms; sufferers tend to believe they are just going out of they're minds, not realizing the changes that are occurring within them. Women wish, just sometimes, that men shared some of they're biological changes, instead of reaping the glories of becoming distinguished?

So how do women overcome the difficult times of menopause? Most go to the physician and he/she prescribes medication to create some kind of hormone balance. However, others prefer to take a more natural course to get through this difficult time of change.

Women who use herbs and nutrients with food content, as well as a balanced diet and exercise, in addition to sharing their experiences with either a close friend or counselor believe they are going through this life change "as nature indented it to be".

There are many different companies from which to purchase natural products and your doctor cannot prescribe these natural cures. So if you choose to go it the more natural way, get advice from the experts - do your research, it's well worth the time and always let your physician know what you're taking.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Menopause

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

Diet To Reduce Hot Flushes During Menopause

2006-12-15T11:26:00.000-08:00

Effective Menopause Hot Flash Remedy Comes From Plants

by Patsy Hamilton

A hot flash remedy is not that hard to find, if you know where to look. Products that help menopause hot flash symptoms in some women may not help in others. So, here we look at several herbal remedies that may be beneficial. Because of the health risks associated with hormone replacement therapy, natural remedies are becoming increasingly popular. And, many of them can work.

Hot flashes, hot flushes and night sweats are three different names for the same physical reaction to decreasing levels of estrogen. They may begin years before actual menopause and last for several years afterwards. The frequency and severity varies from one woman to the next. Researchers often describe them as �vasomotor� symptoms, because blood vessels and circulation are involved.

Typically the heat begins in a woman�s chest, travels up the neck to the face and head. When they occur at night, they may interrupt a woman�s sleep, increasing levels of fatigue and sometimes leading to insomnia. From the experiences of other women, we know that caffeine, alcohol, tobacco products and spicy foods can trigger them, as can anger, frustration and irritation. Regular exercise and drinking plenty of water seems to help.

The most commonly recommended hot flash remedy is black cohosh. More research has been done concerning the effectiveness and safety of black cohosh than on any of the other herbs that can help menopause hot flash symptoms. Some women using black cohosh report that it is 100% effective. But, if you have tried it and it doesn�t work for you, there are other alternatives.

Scientists are still unsure why black cohosh is such an effective hot flash remedy. Evaluations of the chemical compounds of other plants have revealed an estrogen-like substance, aptly named phytoestrogens. Black cohosh does not appear to contain phytoestrogens. It seems to affect other chemicals in a woman�s body. Phytoestrogens are believed to relieve menopause hot flash symptoms by replacing some of the estrogen lost as the ovaries stop functioning.

Isoflavones are one type of phytoestrogen. If you read the ingredients on a hot flash remedy, you may see �soy isoflavones� or �isoflavones from red clover�. Some researchers have been concerned that isoflavones or phytoestrogens could have the same side effects as synthetic estrogens used in hormone replacement therapy. So, here�s what we know about the risks associated with long term use of synthetic hormones.

We know that estrogen replacement therapy can cause endometrial cancer. The endometrium is the lining of the uterus and estrogen causes the lining to build up, which, without menstruation, frequently led to cancer. Thus, doctors would prescribe an estrogen-progesterone combination therapy. The progesterone would cause the lining to be shed each month, leading to a return of monthly periods, and decreasing the cancer risk. For years, this was believed to be a safe hot flash remedy.

As with many medical treatments, the risks turned up with long term use of this type of therapy. The Women�s Health Initiative recently concluded a seven year study of women using hormone replacement therapies of both types. The conclusion is that hormone replacement therapy of any type increases a woman�s risk for blood clots and stroke. Combination therapy, which was thought to be safer than estrogen only, increased the risk of heart disease and breast cancer, as well. An even longer study (more than twenty years) performed by Harvard scientists found that estrogen only increased breast cancer risks when used for more than 15 years. Typically a woman would not use hormone replacement therapy for menopause hot flash symptoms for that many years, but when the risks are blood clots, heart disease and stroke, even short term use is rarely recommended for mild to moderate menopausal symptoms.

While no long term studies have been conducted concerning women who use phytoestrogens or isoflavones to help relieve menopause hot flash symptoms, short term clinical studies have revealed their effectiveness, lack of side effects and safety. Even the idea that phytoestrogens, which are found in soy beans, a health food, might not be safe for long term use seems silly. People eat soy all of the time and have for many, many years.

Red clover is grown for animal feed. Native Americans used the flower for tea and chewed the leaves raw. Healers used it to treat liver ailments, gall bladder ailments, ulcers, diabetes, tonsillitis, internal cancer, appendicitis, headaches, as a hot flash remedy and to relieve other symptoms related to changing levels of hormones and aging.

Scientific research and the experiences of other women tell us that black cohosh can help relieve menopause hot flash symptoms. Laboratory tests have revealed that black cohosh has no effect on even estrogen sensitive cancer cell lines. If this hot flash remedy has not worked for you or if you have other concerning menopausal symptoms, then please visit the Menopause and PMS Guide to learn about safe and effective alternatives.

Patsy Hamilton was a health care professional for over twenty years before becoming a freelance writer. Currently she writes informational articles for the Menopause and PMS Guide. Read more at http://www.menopause-and-pms-guide.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patsy_Hamilton

Vegetarian Diet For Menopause

2006-12-15T11:21:00.000-08:00

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HRT, Breast Cancer, And Bioidentical Hormones

by Rebecca Prescott

The symptoms of menopause are akin to labor pains in that they feel like they will go on forever, yet they herald the birth of new life. In fact, whilst perimenopause lasts a lot longer - from 5 to 10, or up to 13 years, it is not an indicator of how 'life will be'. Menopause is a time of growth and adaptation, and our bodies are an intimate part of the journey. The symptoms associated with menopause intimately reflect the flux of the body's hormonal systems.

Menopause can be extremely disruptive, however. Whether it's sleeplessness, menopause related depression, hot flushes, vaginal dryness, or emotional swings, the good news is that these symptoms can be alleviated. A good menopause treatment will help many seemingly diverse symptoms, as they are all related to the root hormonal flux in the body.

HRT is one choice, popular with doctors, and one that many women have found extremely useful. But what is often not understood, is that there are different types of hormone replacement therapy, even amongst those prescribed by doctors.

Premarin is one of the best well know, and oldest, types of hormone treatment. Premarin is made from the urine of pregnant horses, and is an estrogen only hormonal pill. It was advocated as being beneficial for, amongst other things:

* thickening vaginal tissue

* helping depression

* stopping hot flushes

* preventing heart disease, osteoporosis, and alzheimers

However, research has also found a link between estrogen-only supplementation and breast cancer. The cells in the breasts and the uterus are responsive to estrogen. So to add estrogen in, without the checks and balances intrinsic to our normal hormonal system, can stimulate the growth of this tissue.

What many believed was a mitigating factor in premarin's favor was the belief that it helped prevent heart disease. This presumption was based on the fact that premarin lowered LDL cholesterol. High levels of LDL cholesterol had earlier been identified as a risk in developing heart disease. However, this belief has been found to be unsupported in several large clinical trials. In one involving women who had heart disease, those taking premarin (in combination with a synthetic form of progesterone which was given with premarin to prevent endometrial cancer), these women actually significantly increased their risk of having another heart attack in the first year of use. This risk leveled off after that, but it didn't provide any heart protective effects. In a study with healthy women, hormone replacement with premarin, with or without a synthetic progesterone supplement, did not decrease the risk of heart attacks or heart disease.

Another drawback to premarin and other hormone replacement therapies is the way they are often prescribed, in a kind of 'one size fits all' way, irrespective of a woman's size or medical history.

But the news is not all bad with HRT therapies. When premarin was developed, there was not the ability amongst scientists to produce other types of estrogen. Because the estrogen in horses is not natural in women, side effects like bloating, headaches, and sore breasts are common. And because the breakdown products of estrogen from horses are so strong, actually more active in the body than the original horse estrogen, they have a pronounced effect on estrogen sensitive tissues, such as the breast. And given that numerous studies have shown that these metabolic by-products can produce changes in the DNA of cells that are carcinogenic to living tissue, it is no surprise that the incidence of breast cancer increases when women take premarin.

But there are alternatives. Bioidentical hormones are developed from soy beans or yams, and their chemical structure is designed to reflect that which is found in women's bodies. Further, bioidentical hormones are not usually given in a standardized, 'one size fits all' dose, but tailored to a woman's presenting history. They are generally given at low doses, and because chemically they behave more like regular estrogen, they are not associated with the side effects of premarin, although they have not been used in the large scale studies that premarin has.

References: Dr Christiane Northrup, The Wisdom Of Menopause

Rebecca Prescott presents more information on hormone replacement therapy here. For other menopause information, click here.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Prescott

Sample Diet For Woman Going Through Menopause

2006-12-15T08:21:00.000-08:00

19 Facts About Depression At Midlife - Tips, Strategies, And Info-Bites

by Rebecca Prescott

When we age, we produce less of two important mood stabilizing hormones, serotonin and dopamine. So, depression is a risk factor for both men and women as we get older. Yet twice as many women compared to men suffer from depression, which leads some to believe there is a link between the female sex hormones and depression.

1. Memory loss at midlife may not be related to aging, but depression. Depression affects our ability to concentrate and remember things. Our mind instead is caught in a cycle of self blame, guilt, or hopelessness,

2. Of the studies that differentiate between major depression and minor depression, an increase in minor depression (ie. non-clinical) is reported, rather than an increase in major depressive episodes,

3. Major depression is characterized by feeling sad or tearful all, or most of the time. Other symptoms include losing interest in regular activities and engaging in day to day life.

4. Those that seem to be at risk of suffering from major depression during menopause are those that have suffered major depression at some other time in their lives. This can include postnatal depression, severe depression associated with PMS, or any other type of clinical depression.

5. Some of the symptoms of perimenopause are also the symptoms of depression, so it's important to consider the whole picture. These common symptoms include tiredness, weight gain, insomnia, difficulties in concentration, memory loss, and a loss of interest in sex.

6. Depression is usually treated with psychological treatments and medication. The psychological treatments include cognitive behaviour therapy which looks at the negative ways we think; and Interpersonal therapy, to improve relationships.

7. Antidepressant medication covers a range including SSRI's, SNRI's, MAOI's, and others. Each class has a lot of individual medications within it, and people may tolerate one well, but have side effects on others. Finding an antidepressant medication appropriate to the individual can be a trial and error endeavor.

8. Some anti-depressants - prozac and others in the category of Selective Serotonin Re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI's) - may cause cardiovascular problems in some people after long term use.

9. If you're taking hormone replacement therapy, too high a dose of estrogen or androgen hormones can lead to side effects like headaches and anxiety. Synthetic progesterone treatments are also often associated with depression.

10. Caffeine and sugar, in excess, may have a negative impact on recurring depression.

11. Estrogen boosts the levels of serotonin and acetylcholine, which are neurohormones that make people feel good, and are part of a normal memory.

12. Deficiencies of the B vitamins biotin, folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12, have been linked with depression, as have vitamin C deficiencies.

13. Vitamin B6 is important because of it's role in making the monoamine neurotransmitters, which help stabilize moods.

14. Minerals linked to depression include deficiencies of calcium, copper, and magnesium.

15. St Johns Wort has been found to be as effective as prozac in treating mild to moderate depression.

16. Anecdotally, 5HTP has been found to help some people with depression who also suffer from weight problems and insomnia.

17. Our brain needs a small supply of good qualify fats every day. This is because nerve fibers are coated with a fatty sheath called myelin. Good sources of healthy fats include non-hydrogenated olive oil, sesame oil, and fish oil. Deficiencies of the omega 6 fatty acids may play a role in depression.

18. Depression is a risk factor for coronary heart disease.

19. Depression can increase the risk of more heart problems in people with coronary heart disease.

For more information on depression and menopause, click here. For tips on dealing with menopause depression, click here. Rebecca publishes the site http://www.menopausetohealth.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Prescott

Menopause Diet Plans

2006-12-15T05:21:00.000-08:00

Premature Menopause

by Michael Russell

Premature menopause is defined as menopause that occurs before the age of forty. Often, the cause of premature menopause, also known as early ovarian failure, cannot be determined. On the other hand, factors that may play a role are heredity, stress, heavy smoking, poor dietary intake, excessive alcohol consumption and the presence of autoimmune diseases (disorders in which the immune system attacks your body). A woman who undergoes menopause prematurely may have been born with fewer eggs in her ovaries; if they are released at a normal rate, her eggs would soon be depleted. Radiation therapy for pelvic cancer, or chemotherapy for any type of cancer, can quickly destroy a large number of eggs, leaving an insufficient number to last that long. Severe infections of the ovaries caused by a virus such as mumps can also injury large numbers of eggs. In some cases, the ovaries simply become dormant and although there may be enough eggs, they refuse to respond normally to follicle-stimulating hormone and so they fail to produce estrogen. This may be temporary and the ovaries come back into action, or it may be permanent. Surgical removal of the ovaries before the age of forty will bring on a sudden and severe premature menopause if hormone replacement is not taken.

Women who experience premature menopause, no matter what the cause may be, are at early and increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. To prevent these serious diseases, unless she has another health problem that would prohibit it, a woman who has a premature menopause should take sufficient hormone replacement therapy at the time of her menopause and ideally up to the age of fifty - in some cases, even longer, especially if her bone density is low. This will be able to give her adequate protection from these debilitating diseases.

A woman who goes through menopause prematurely often experiences a wide range of negative emotions, including anger, disbelief, resentment, shock and even shame. If you are in a situation like this, it is important that you receive counseling from a sympathetic doctor or a qualified therapist, because if you keep all these feeling bottled up inside you, you may find yourself feeling depressed.

If you have early menopause, you may find it difficult to relate much to the information available about menopause, which is usually designed with fifty-year-old women in mind and thus you may find yourself feeling increasingly isolated. On the other hand, if you can find an understanding physician, you may be able to work through these negative feelings. It is essential to understand that menopause is not synonymous with old age. If you go through menopause early, it merely means that your ovaries have exhausted their supply of eggs sooner than normal.

With timely and proper treatment, premature menopause will not cause you to age more quickly, or to change your personality or mental ability. Certainly, to all your family and friends, you will appear just the same as before. With regards to your sex life, adequate hormone replacement should help you to feel and act just as sexy as ever.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Medical Billing

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

Atkins Diet And Menopause

2006-12-15T02:21:00.000-08:00

Menopause, Modern Medicine, and the Celebrity Spin

by Rebecca Prescott

The medicalization of menopause is a process that has subtly been going on since the 1930's, although it wasn't until the 1960's that it really picked up momentum in the public eye. This medicalization has transformed the understanding of what is a natural process, into one defined as a disease.

When you define something as a disease, then treatment becomes compulsory. And the implication is that if you don't get treatment, or what is defined as acceptable treatment, then you are being irresponsible and negligent in your own health. Women's menopausal experiences were for a long time dismissed as the product of their own imaginations, then later embraced by pharmaceutical companies and subverted to push their shiny new pills.

And given that HRT has been so widely taken up by women, and is still used despite its risks, it has been a successful approach by the drug companies.
The celebrity factor in promotional campaigns has been very effective at selling both the idea of menopause as a disease, and the promises of hormone replacement therapy. The FDA and their comparative bodies in most countries require that product claims are verified by appropriate and legitimate studies. But celebrities in interviews are not subject to those rules, which are designed to protect the public from misleading and harmful information. So when an actress or aging supermodel enthusiastically enacts the lines of the drug company's scripts - that menopause is fraught with risks of diseases like alzheimers, heart attacks, colon cancer, cataracts, teeth loss, bone fractures and more (p43), in the guise of 'education' and personal sharing, this is seen as legitimate. There is no reference to the fees they were paid for this work, the source of their information, or its scientific validity (or lack thereof). Nor is their any mention of the fact that even initially, though there were short term benefits, the long term effects of hormone replacement therapy were not known. These celebrities were either ignorant themselves of their own status as human guinea pigs, or didn't care.

Menopause is sold with the language of 'decline', as though once a woman's estrogen 'dried up', so did she. She was relegated to an image of being 'less' than she was before, with the implication being that her value and contributions as a person were defined by something that time would take away. Unless of course she accepted the 'help' of the drug companies with their 'medicine' for her newly defined 'disease'. So instead of being supported as her body moved into another phase of its life, women were basically told they were losing what defined them as 'women', as though one hormone was responsible for what made them unique individuals. As though femininity was characterized not by their own choices and expressions, but driven by hormones. And as though 'femininity' was equated with youth, and that once this passed, women would not enjoy their 'best years' as they would otherwise. And, of course, if a woman wasn't feminine, in the appropriately defined way, then she was not really a woman...

Add to this mix the spectre of diseases that women would supposedly be in greater danger of getting, despite the fact that if scientists really knew the single cause of these diseases they would have triumphantly been marketing the cure to everyone - regardless of gender. When doctors treat alzheimers, heart attacks, colon caner, cataracts and teeth loss, they do not have one treatment for men and one for women. And in most cases, they don't guarantee a cure with their treatments anyway. So this suggests not only do they not have the cure, but they don't fully understand the cause. The murky waters of risk assessment are both complex and already muddied.

Women were given estrogen only in the early years of medical promotion. As studies emerged which showed women taking estrogen were more at risk of developing endometrial cancer, progestogen or progestin was added to form the combined hormone replacement therapy that became known as HRT. It was advertised for a long time as reducing the risk of heart disease, amongst other things. But in 1998, a high quality study, the HERS trial, found that in the group of 3000 older women they were studying over 4 years, who all had some form of heart disease, those on HRT were not in fact protected from heart attacks after all. And during the first year of the study, there was a higher incidence of heart attacks in the women on HRT compared with the placebo group. This was completely the opposite of what the drug companies had been advertising, based on their own observational studies, as opposed to the randomized control trial that the HERS study was.

The HERS trial was not the only one that would raise some niggly little facts about the menopause gravy train.

References: R Moynihan & A Cassels, Selling Sickness - How Drug Companies are Turning Us All Into Patients (Allen & Unwin, 2005)

If you'd like to learn about yoga as a way to improve your mental and physical health, read this article on yoga benefits. Its a gentle way to slow down the effect of aging on our bodies, and improve our ability to cope with changes, such as menopause brings. Rebecca Prescott also runs this website on vitamins and natural health supplements.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Prescott