What's Your Favorite Comfort Food?
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Menopause Part 1 - The Natural Approach
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| Maca Root |
There comes a time in a woman’s life that should be a cause for joy, but ends up being torment…Menopause! This is not a disease or an illness. It is a transition between two phases of a woman’s life. Menopause occurs when a woman permanently stops menstruating (having periods).
Many women experience a variety of symptoms as a result of the hormonal changes associated with the transition through menopause. Around the time of menopause, women often lose bone density and their cholesterol may worsen, increasing their risk of heart disease.
Premature menopause: The average age of US women in whom menopause occurs is 51 years. The most common age range at which women experience menopause is 48-55 years. If menopause occurs in a woman younger than 40 years, it is considered premature. Menopause is considered late if it occurs in a woman older than 55 years. For most women, menopause is a normal occurrence.
Menopause is more likely to occur at a slightly earlier age in women who smoke, have never been pregnant, or live at high altitudes. If premature menopause occurs, a health care provider will check for other medical problems. About 1% of women experience premature menopause.
Perimenopause: The hormonal changes associated with menopause actually begin prior to the last menstrual period, during a 3- to 5–year period called perimenopause. During this transition, women may begin to experience menopausal symptoms and may lose bone density, even though they are still menstruating.
Surgical menopause: Surgical menopause is the removal of the ovaries. Women who have had surgical menopause have an increased risk of early heart disease and often experience menopausal symptoms, unless they are given medication.
Menopause occurs when a woman's ovaries run out of functioning eggs. At the time of birth, most females have about 1-3 million eggs, which are gradually lost throughout a woman's life. By the time of a girl's first menstrual period, she has an average of about 400,000 eggs. By the time of menopause, a woman may have fewer than 10,000 eggs. A small percentage of these eggs are lost through normal ovulation (the monthly cycle). Most eggs die off through a process called atresia.
Normally, FSH, or follicle-stimulating hormone (a reproductive hormone), is the substance responsible for the growth of ovarian follicles (eggs) during the first half of a woman’s menstrual cycle. As menopause approaches, the remaining eggs become more resistant to FSH, and the ovaries dramatically reduce their production of a hormone called estrogen.
Estrogen affects many parts of the body, including the blood vessels, heart, bone, breasts, uterus, urinary system, skin, and brain. Loss of estrogen is believed to be the cause of many of the symptoms associated with menopause. At the time of menopause, the ovaries also decrease their production of testosterone—a hormone involved in the libido, or sexual drive.
Next week, I will write about those dreaded hot flashes, cardiovascular risks and bone loss. Then in part three of this series I will tell you about natural remedies for menopause. God bless.
Sugar is Good for You! Really!
Not really…but there is an all natural sugar that is taking the world by storm, which doesn’t destroy your health! Xylitol, a sweetener with amazing health benefits is one of bacteria's natural enemies. Xylitol is derived from birch bark and corn.
With Xylitol, when certain harmful bacteria enter the body, they attach to the membranes of the nose and throat. They begin to culture and grow, causing infection and sickness.
When bacteria is exposed to Xylitol (specifically Strep pneumo and H Flu), these harmful bacteria lose their ability to adhere to infected membranes and are not able to grow. Unlike most antibiotics, which kill the majority of bacteria and leave the resistant "super bacteria" behind, Xylitol merely flushes harmful bacteria away. A medical colleague of mine has a 93% success rate in stopping ear infections in children, which mean they are not having tubes put in the ears that will only get infected again. When Xylitol is used in children, they have less sinus problems and virtually no ear infections!
Dental benefits from the use of Xylitol have been confirmed in numerous field studies conducted throughout the world and has lead to official endorsements by the dental association in Finland, Norway, Sweden, England, Ireland, Estonia and the Netherlands of products containing high levels of this sweetener.
Xylitol has been clinically proven to:
- Fight and lessen the occurrence of Inner Ear and Sinus Infection
- Fight and Reduce Plaque
- Fight Cavities
- Reduces the secretion of Plaque Acids
- Facilitate the Remineralization of Tooth Enamel
Did you know that regular white sugar can lead to osteoporosis because it causes calcium to leave the bones. But Xylitol attaches to the calcium ions in the body and causes calcium to re-enter the bones making them stronger. So for those of you with osteoporosis should replace your white sugar for the pure, cool taste of Xylitol!
One can cook with Xylitol as it measures the same 1:1 ratio to sugar. It looks, tastes and mixes just like sugar. Many wives are switching to Xylitol in their homes and the husbands don’t know the difference!
t is great for diabetics and those with low blood sugar because it is much lower on the glycemic index than regular sugar. That’s all for this week, be blessed and be healthy!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
The Apple as Medicine
We’ve all heard the old saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” But is it true? Well, let’s take a look at the some actual research on apples being used as a healing food.
At a conference in Bolzano, Italy in 2002, a number of components in apples, most notably fiber and phytonutrients were found in studies to lower blood cholesterol and improve bowel function, and may be associated with a reduced risk of ischemic heart disease, stroke, prostate cancer, type II diabetes and asthma. Preliminary research from Finland indicates diets with the highest intake of apple phytonutrients were associated with a 46 percent reduction in the incidence of lung cancer. Findings indicate that two apples a day or 12 ounces of 100% apple juice reduced the damaging effects of the “bad” LDL cholesterol.
Over the past four years, apple consumption has been linked with reduced cancer risk in several studies. A 2001 Mayo Clinic study indicated that quercetin, a flavonoid abundant in apples, helps prevent the growth of prostate cancer cells. A Cornell University study indicated phytochemicals in the skin of an apple inhibited the reproduction of colon cancer cells by 43 percent. The National Cancer Institute has reported that foods containing flavonoids like those found in apples may reduce the risk of lung cancer by as much as 50 percent.
Two British studies done in 2000 and 2001 indicated that eating apples can improve lung health. A study of Welsh men indicated that people who ate at least five apples per week experience better lung function. Researchers at the University of Nottingham reported that those who ate five apples per week also had a lower risk for respiratory disease. In the Netherlands at the University of Groningen, apples were singled out as a fruit that could cut smokers’ risk of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) in half. Scientists believe antioxidants found in apples may ward off disease by countering oxygen’s damaging effects on the body.
Overall, apples are a delicious source of dietary fiber, and dietary fiber helps aid digestion and promotes weight loss. A medium apple contains about five grams of fiber, more than most cereals. Also, apples contain almost zero fat and cholesterol, so they are a delicious snack and dessert food that’s good for you.
With ongoing research, I believe that an apple a day may keep the doctor away, especially if one starts eating apples during childhood. Start early and live long! Be blessed and be healthy!
Basic Suggestions for Healthy Fasting
1. Start with a clean system. Take a good Herbal Laxative for one (1) or two (2) days before you began your Fast.
2. Use a low sodium bottled water for best results (spring or distilled water). Chlorine in drinking water can cause hunger cramping, and/or indigestion.
3. DO NOT DRINK ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
a) Carbonated drinks.
b) Any liquid containing caffeine.
c) Any liquid containing salt (sodium of any kind).
d) No Milk products of any kind.
4. BEST LIQUIDS FOR FASTING IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER:
a) 10 to 12 oz. of bottled water with the juice of 1/2 lemon and 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of honey (honey may be purchased at your grocery store). This mixture should not be tart or sweet if mixed correctly. For convenience you may use the Minute Maid Lemon Frozen Concentrate. Do Not Use The Brand called "Real Lemon".
b) Welchs Grape Juice. Mix 50% water and 50% juice. Do not drink grape juice full strength.
c) Apple juice full strength. Do Not dilute.
d) Spring or distilled water at any time.
e) Herbal teas with out caffeine as desired.
5. Many will drink their juice and alternate with water or tea.
EXAMPLE: Lemon Juice Drink at 8am
Spring water at 10am
Lemon Juice Drink 12noon
Herbal Tea at 2 pm
Lemon Juice Drink 4pm
Spring water 6pm
Lemon Juice Drink 8pm
Bedtime 9pm to 10pm
6. READ YOUR BIBLE.
7. BATHE AND BE EXCEPTIONALLY CLEAN.
8. DO YOUR FASTING IN THE PRIVACY OF YOUR OWN MINE AND SPIRIT. DO NOT BROADCAST IT TO THE WORLD.
9. When you finish your FAST, regardless of the length of time you fasted, Three (3) things should always apply. You should be Spiritually Stronger ‑ Physically Stronger ‑ Mentally Stronger. If you fast correctly you can have it ALL.
10. When you break your fast do not eat any heavy meals for a day or two. Eating fruits and yogurt is a good way to break your fast.
