Showing posts with label Menopause. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Menopause. Show all posts

Sunday, April 15, 2012

6 Simple Ways to Overcome the Challenges of Menopause And Enjoy Your New Life

Menopause is one of the stages of life that every woman will go through. The transition into this stage of life can be very challenging. Fortunately, there are certain things you can do to overcome the challenges and live your life to the fullest.
When you're going through the process of menopause, don't just sit back and worry, or try to ignore it. Below are the tips to help you cope.
1. Reach out: Talk to other women. Find out what symptoms they're having, what causes them difficulty, and what they do to cope. A lot of women are doing their own research and information-gathering, and they can be a tremendous resource for you.
2. Find a mentor: Some older women who have been through menopause can serve as wonderful mentors. Find a woman 10-15 years older who is living a lifestyle you admire and talk to her about what has meaning in her life. Make her your role model.
3. Know your options: Talk to your doctor about your symptoms and options for dealing with them. Deciding to take hormones is a very individual decision.
Talk to several doctors if you need to, until you find one you're comfortable with and who is willing to respect what you want to do to manage your menopause.
4. Stay connected: There are so many women's community out there. Any of these communities can help you feel connected and productive during this transitional time. Therefore, join a book club or take art lesson or a course that stimulates your intellect.
5. Expect sexual changes: Some women find that sex is not as passionate but becomes more affectionate. And this can be fine, since their mate's testosterone (sex hormone) levels may be dropping as well, lowering his sex drive.
Some women also find that certain places on the body that use to be highly sensitive are less so, and that other places that were not sensitive now are.
6. Explore sexual options: Try to stay sexually active. Not having sex can cause your vagina to change in size and elasticity, which can make sex painful.
Talk to your partner about the changes you're feeling and explore new and different ways to have sex that may be more comfortable. If you don't have a partner, masturbation helps promote circulation and moistness in the vagina helping it to maintain its size and elasticity. Put these tips into practice and you'll be amazed at how wonderful your menopause life will be!
Saeed Sikiru is a fitness enthusiast, a wellness advocate, a full time blogger and freelance writer. He owns a blog where he writes regularly about Health Tips and Advice. You can also Hire Him for your writing and marketing projects at affordable cost.

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Saturday, April 14, 2012

11 Secret Foods That Ease Menopause Symptoms

Good for you, you have decided to take control of yourself, instead of Menopause controlling you! One of the big steps in your personal makeover as making the right food choices. If you did not know, food choices impacts your symptoms, your energy, your frame of mind.
I am going to share with you 11 foods that have really helped me overcome those negative side affects of menopause. To name a few, bloating, anxiety, depression and constipation. These foods not only help with those wicked symptoms of menopause, but they burn belly fat, and eliminate it; they make your skin glow, increase your energy, help you sleep. These great foods are so good for you, and to you. Doesn't that make you feel a little better?
Here are the 11 Secret Foods that give you clear eyes, soft hair and nails, strong immunity. You will feel energized, empowered, and strong.These good foods even reduce the appearance of wrinkles, add oxygen to your blood, and soften your skin, along with all the other benefits I listed above. And they are so yummy, and filling. Come on, let me introduce you to our friends.
1) Cucumbers - Full of chlorophyll and oxygen, cucumbers are loaded with vitamins and minerals. A fabulous high PH, low sugar, must eat. So yummy and crisp in salads, juices and smoothies.
2) Avocados - A fruit, who knew. With more potassium than a banana. Packed with 70% good fats and oils that give you a slow burn that works on your fat, non - stop.
3) Lime - Even though this fruit is considered acidic,when the body breaks it down, it has an alkalizing effect on the body. This lowers the bodies Ph, protecting us, and burning fat. Limes give that "sweet" taste to foods.
4) Almonds - A fabulous snack! The monounsaturated fats and vitamin E will help lower your LDL cholesterol. It's a healthy substitute for people with wheat allergies or diabetics. And it helps clear your complexion.
5) Wild Caught Salmon - So much protein, vitamin D and omega - 3 fatty acids. These fish are full of good cholesterol, and the proteins and omega - 3 fatty acids are used in your fat burning furnace.
6) Fresh Spinach - Loaded with antioxidants. A strong iron source, vitamins A,E,C & K, and even those great omega - 3 fatty acids. Truly a "super" veggie.
7) Asparagus - Very low in calories and so high in antioxidants. With the nutrient density and wonderful source of fiber, asparagus aids in your digestion, and gives you a natural protein that helps build long, lean muscle.
8) Tomato - Wow, another low sugar, fat burning fruit.Tomatoes have an ostonishingly high level of vitamin A and some have even double the amount of vitamin C. Yummy too.
9) Sprouted Seed Bread - the healthiest alternative to satisfy your bread and carb needs. Yea, you get toast!Plus they are high in fiber,and have a great protein content to keep your muscles strong.
10) Olive Oil - Delicious and full of the monounsaturated fats that help reduce coronary heart disease. The fatty acids in this oil have anti - inflammatory and anti - hypertensive properties.
11) Broccoli - An anti - viral, anti - bacterial goodie. Broccoli,will all that vitamin C, helps burn fat and is an excellent source of fiber.
Look at that list! You can have toast and nuts to snack on and Avocados....no calorie counting, no portion control. And you are Burning Fat while you eat.
Add lots of water with Super Greens Supplement, and Honey, You are a fat burning machine!
Don't worry, don't give up, more help is on the way! Over the next couple of weeks you will be receiving more ammunition to fight those hormones that add belly fat, as well as so many other awful symptoms. I know what you are going though, and I am going to help you win back you sanity, your self.
Hang in there!
It's Your journey, but You're not alone,
Corby Campbell,
Co Founder: http://www.menopausemasterplan.com/

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Friday, April 13, 2012

Making Sense Of Herbal Menopause Remedies

If you've looked online recently for an herbal menopause remedy you've no doubt found tons of remedies and little information about them. Most brands rely on the prior reputation or familiarity of an herb to make the sale. There seems to be very little tangible information about what to expect in terms of results, and virtually no information about side effects and safety issues when taking herbs.
Since you're putting it in your body, you probably want to know a little bit about how a particular herbal remedy works. Let's investigate that first. Menopause complaints span a wide variety of symptoms involving many parts of the body. What they all have in common is the cause. Menopause related symptoms or complaints are attributable to dropping hormone levels of progesterone and estrogen.
Using herbs to replace dropping estrogen and progesterone
Many of the herbs that are advertised as helpful for relief of menopause complaints are essentially herb sources of estrogens. They have been called phytoestrogens (plant-estrogens) by the scientific community. By restoring dropping estrogen levels with plant like estrogens, menopause symptoms are relieved. Some common herbs (and foods) that contain phytoestrogens are red clover, soy, flaxseed and Siberian rhubarb root extract.
Alternately, some herbs contain a progesterone like molecule. The one that stands out is wild Mexican yam. Wild Mexican yam contains a substance diosgenin, which is very similar to progesterone. Different medical researchers argue in both directions-that the human body can, and cannot convert diosgenin into progesterone. So the reported benefits of wild Mexican yam may be due to its direct effect on human tissues. Or it may be due to the fact that it is converted bio-chemically by the body into progesterone, thereby restoring optimal progesterone levels as they drop during perimenopause.
Other menopause herbal remedies-Chasteberry
Other herbs and nutrients frequently used for relief of menopause related complaints don't fall into either of the above categories. That is, they don't mimic the activity of either estrogen or progesterone, yet can have beneficial effects. One example is vitex or chasteberry. This herb has been used more for relief of premenstrual complaints, and particularly for relief of breast pain associated with monthly cycling. How chasteberry achieves its benefit is not fully understood, but it has been shown to change levels of prolactin. Prolactin is a hormone that regulates milk production in the breast.
Black Cohosh
Another herb that is commonly used by menopausal women is black cohosh. It was initially thought that black cohosh contained phytoestrogens. This has been refuted by recent research that suggests that black cohosh impacts serotonin receptors in the brain. Serotonin is a brain neurotransmitter that is sometimes referred to as the "tranquilizing" brain neurotransmitter. Many popular prescriptive anti-depressants (the SSRI's) work by influencing serotonin levels in the brain. Research suggests that black cohosh may have some benefit for osteoporosis. Research also suggests that black cohosh has no benefit for relief of menopause related hot flashes.
St. John's Wort
Another herb that finds its way into herbal menopause remedies is St. John's Wort. The herb has a well deserved reputation for helping to relieve mild depression. Since depression may be associated with premenopause and menopause, some manufacturers of menopause herbal remedies include it in combination formula's. How St. John's Wort works is not clearly understood. It is believed to benefit brain levels of serotonin in the same way as some prescriptive anti-depressants (the SSRI's) such as Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa and Prozac.
Other issues with herbal menopause remedies
There are a number of other issues to be considered with regard to herbal menopause remedies. Herbs are effective because of specific active ingredients within the plant. These active ingredients can vary depending on where the plant is grown, the growth conditions, when the herb is harvested, etc. A quality herbal product monitors the level of active ingredients in the herb. The bottle label should refer to "standardized" levels of key ingredients in the herbs used. Herb purity is another important issue. Herbs harvested overseas can be contaminated with toxins, including bacteria, heavy metals or pollutants. A quality herbal manufacturer tests any and all ingredients used for contaminants. Finally, before taking any herbal product, you should be clear on what side effects to expect. Some herbs tend to have side effects while others do not. If you are taking an herb that may produce side effects, it is important to know what they are. If you experience them, you want to be able to recognize that they are due to the herb you are taking, so that you can stop.
For more information on menopause herbal remedies including which remedies work the best for relief of specific menopause complaints, the side effects of some menopause herbal remedies, issues of herb quality and purity, and more please visit http://herbalmenopauseremedy.com/

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Thursday, April 12, 2012

Finding the Right Remedy for Menopause

What is the Right Choice for a Remedy for Menopause?Since not every woman is the same it is necessary to find the right remedy for menopause for you. There are prescription treatments, natural treatments, and a variety of other types of treatments. The main goal is to lessen the symptoms and make your life more comfortable while you are going through the journey of menopause.
Understand that treating menopause will require making some changes to your diet, your daily habits, and adding in some exercise. This will help to make it a bit easier than if you continue with your regular diet and your regular habits. Your body is going through some very big changes and you really need to make the right changes to your life as well.
The Most Popular Remedy for Menopause
Probably the most popular remedy for menopause is getting a prescription from the doctor. This does not make it the best treatment just because it is popular and comes from a doctor, however. Most doctors will prescribe estrogen and progesterone, which are better known as hormone replacement therapy.
Usually this treatment is for those women that still have their uterus and it will help to prevent osteoporosis and reduce many of the symptoms of menopause. When a woman has already gone through a hysterectomy most doctors will only prescribe Estrogen instead of both drugs.
Hormone replacement therapy used to be a very popular choice as a remedy for menopause, but more recent studies show an increase in risk of heart disease, blood clots, stroke, and breast cancer are associated with this type of treatment. This may be a few good reasons to seek out treatment other than prescription drugs.
Most of the drugs that comes from doctors come with at least some side effects and risks. Many women are not seeking our more natural ways to treat the symptoms of menopause and there are many choices. Changes to your diet and to your lifestyle can make a difference along with adding in specific vitamins and herbs.
It may take a bit of time to find the right combination to help treat all the symptoms you are suffering from, but it will be worth it. Below are some of the recommended herbs and vitamins that can become the natural remedy for menopause you are looking for.
Choices to Add to your Remedy for Menopause
Before we get into the different natural herbs and supplements you can take to help with things like hot flashes and night sweats you need to understand that natural does not equal safe. If you are currently taking prescription drugs you will need to talk with your doctor before adding in an herbal remedy for menopause because it could react negatively with the drugs you are taking.
Taking Soy and Isoflavones can help with hot flashed within the first two years of menopause and can also help with night sweats. These contain plant estrogens and can be found in the form of soy protein. Taking 50 grams a day can be helpful in the short term and over the long term it can help make your bones stronger and keep your cholesterol down.
However, if you take large amounts of soy it can interact with your natural estrogen and can be harmful to any women with a history of estrogen-dependent breast cancer. It is always good to stick with the recommended amount and having too much can cause issues you don't want to deal with.
A few other choices to treat the symptoms of menopause include St. John's Wort, Flaxseed oil, Red Clover, and Black Cohosh. There are many therapies that can help as well like relaxation techniques, meditation, and acupuncture. These are just a few choices you can add to your remedy for menopause.
Find out how you can get the Menopause Control you are looking for by reading the Menopause Control EBook Review here

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Saturday, April 7, 2012

Hot Flash Triggers of Menopause and How I Get Natural Relief

Where is the cold shower, water hose, ice packs or swimming pool? This is the immediate relief you think of when you get the hot flashes of menopause. There are many things that trigger these hot flashes. They can range from minor to severe in nature.
What are hot flash triggers?
They are any conditions or substances that bring about the symptoms of menopause. Hot flashes is one of the main symptom of menopause.
How to know you have hot flashes?
Its exactly what it says it is "hot flashes." Your body becomes or feels flushed, over-heated and you begin to sweat profusely, as though someone poured a bucket of hot water on you. You feel as though your temperature gauge is in overdrive or you think you have a fever. They appear suddenly without notice, usually are erratic and can be frequent or infrequent.
Things that trigger or activate hot flashes are:
1. Spicy foods - especially hot pepper, hot sauce, black pepper
2. Alcohol - all beverages with an alcoholic content
3. Caffeine - tea, coffee and some soft drinks
4. Hot food - soups or foods cooked hot
5. Hot weather
6. Hot shower
7. Hot rooms or environment
8. Smoking
9. Stress - can be minor or major
10. Hot restrictive or woolen clothing
11. Some medications - can be prescribed or over the counter
12. Overweight
How do I get natural relief from them:
1. Mind over matter - Think cool thoughts
2. Exercise - usually in the morning
3. Hydration - plenty of water
4. Showers - cool are best
5. Cool compress - to back of the neck for a few minutes
6. Fan - manual, electric or the little mini battery operated handheld ones
7. Reducing stress level - avoid it at all cost
8. Avoid any thing that you know will activate them
9. Wear cool or lightweight clothing
10. Cool night wear and light weight bed covers
11. If you need to lose weight, it would be an advantage
Some other symptoms of menopause are: fragile emotions (you cry at the drop of a hat), impatient and feelings of depression or anxiety (mood swings), irregular menses or no menses and sleep problems. As with any condition, you must seek the advice of a physician to be safe and ensure good health. Some women require treatment for these symptoms with medication prescribed by a physician. Depending on your severity and the advice of your doctor you still should be able to live a healthy lifestyle.

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Friday, April 6, 2012

Hormone Replacement Therapy in Menopause

Getting older is inevitable although many women dread the thought. As women age and reach menopause, they experience many changes to their bodies that can be uncomfortable and debilitating. Although there are several treatments available, these treatments are not safe for everyone. As with any medication, there are always risks and side effects that need to be considered. The physician should be consulted about whether hormone replacement therapy is suitable for them in helping to alleviate the symptoms of the menopause.
Hormone replacement therapy helps many women deal with the harsh reality of menopause. While this treatment has helped many, it may not be the right choice for everyone. Hormone replacement therapy has been know to produce both positive and negative side effects from use, this is why it is important for women to determine if this is the proper treatment for them. A physician should help one determine if using hormone replacement therapy is the wisest decision for them, as well as if the benefits outweigh the possible risks.
For many, hormone replacement therapy has proven to relieve the discomforting signs of the menopause. In fact, doctors believe that these treatments can actually help prevent many serious conditions that women are faced with as they become older. Studies show that estrogen can tremendously reduce a woman's risk for developing heart disease when taken early in menopause.Some more recent studies however have shown the converse of this,i.e that estrogen replacement actually causes heart disease. Also, a woman's risk for colo-rectal cancer is reduced significantly as well. Furthermore, studies have noted that osteoporosis can be reduced or prevented with the use of hormone replacement therapy treatment. In addition, the chances of fracturing the hip due to bone loss are reduced as well. Other benefits of this therapy include lessening of hot flashes, as well as ease of vaginal symptoms such as dryness and pain.
Although there are many benefits from taking hormone replacement therapy to prevent symptoms of the menopause, these powerful medications are not for everyone. Throughout the years, doctors have discovered that for some women, this type of therapy may actually cause more harm than good. Many negative side effects have been associated with hormone replacement therapy. In fact, women on this treatment may have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. In addition, many women taking hormone therapy treatments may experience abnormal mammograms, especially false negative readings. Furthermore, the chance for stroke and blood clots are increased as well for women who manage symptoms of menopause in this way. Every woman should be evaluated individually to determine if this treatment is appropriate for them.
Even though hormone replacement therapy has many risks associated with it, it is still the most widely used option for dealing with menopause. For most women, the benefits of taking this treatment far outweigh the risks. If a woman experienced menopause early, particularly before she was 40, then the benefits likely will outweigh risks. Also, before starting this treatment, it is important that the individual does not have any previous bone loss or severe health problems. For example, if a woman currently has a heart condition, then this treatment will likely not be prescribed. In addition, a woman's family medical history and individual health are all factors that determine if this therapy should be used on a particular person for treating symptoms for menopause. With a physician's assistance, the lowest dose possible should be used, and women need to be reevaluated at least twice a year. With close evaluation and monitoring, hormone therapy treatment may help a menopausal woman get her life back to normal.
Faye Finlay has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Sciences. She works as a Health Researcher. Her special interest is in Women's Health. For more information on symptoms menopause, please visit her website at http://www.thesymptomsofthemenopause.com/

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Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Help With Menopause - What Are Bio-Identical Hormones?

During pre-menopause and menopause, many women suffer from an array of symptoms and need help with menopause symptoms. In this article I will discuss the cause of most menopausal symptoms as well as what options women have to alleviate them.
Most pre-menopause and menopause symptoms are due to a poor diet, a sedentary lifestyle and exposure to environmental estrogens. And also an imbalance in a woman's hormone levels. Two hormones in particular are out of balance at menopause: estrogen and progesterone.
When at menopause, the progesterone level drops to zero, a woman's menstruation stops and she starts suffering from painful breasts, weight gain, bloating, low bone density, trouble sleeping, anxiety and stress. At the same time, estrogen also declines and brings symptoms such as breast tenderness, anxiety, allergies, decreased sex drive, weight gain particularly around the belly, foggy thinking, insomnia, irritability, etc.
If the symptoms are not too severe, one type of help with menopause a woman can try is by changing her diet to include more fruits, vegetable, lean meats, whole grain and legumes. It is also important to include the healthy fats such as the Omega 3 found in fish such as salmon, herring, tuna.
Extending this natural treatment includes staying away from all types of stress as stress can worsen symptoms and cause further hormonal imbalance.
If the symptoms are more severe, a woman then can talk to her doctor about bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. Bio-identical hormones are natural, plant -based hormones that mimic the structure of the hormones made by the body. Because they are natural. They do not have any side effects.
This is important to know because many medical practitioners still want to use synthetic hormones which are obtained from pregnant mares and are foreign to the human body. Studies have found that the regular hormone replacement therapy increase s the risk of breast cancer and stroke.
In order to be put on Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) you will have to find a physician knowledgeable about hormones to help with menopause symptoms. The doctor in turn will prescribe a special formula that is unique to your hormonal levels after some tests.
It is important that you get adequate information about bio-identical hormones because a lot of doctors still prescribe synthetic hormones as they are more readily available and supported by the pharmaceutical industry. Because the natural hormones cannot be patented by the pharmaceutical companies, there is still some controversy about their efficacy. So you will be wise to find out more information so you can make an educated decision about the best options for you when it comes to help with menopause.
To learn more about bio-identical hormones as well as help with menopause, get the free e-book at Menopause in Women.

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Monday, April 2, 2012

Can We Actually Feel Better Though Our Diet for Menopause?

What is a diet for menopause? It is a diet that can help with your stress, as well as the stress on your body. It is a diet that does not add extra, to your already growing waist line, due to hormonal changes and the stress on your body.
This is a diet that gives you soft supple skin, energy and shiny eyes. It is a diet that makes you feel so good, you will want to get up out of your chair and move, and bend, stretch and walk.
Whole foods fill you up, are packed with great vitamins and minerals, and they are very low in calories. These are natural, raw, real foods with names like sweet potato, avocado, spinach, almond, and cucumber. Another foreign sounding thing to consider is water. Clean, pure, body craving water.
When you decide to start eating healthier, your headaches and constipation are better. And you didn't even know how bad you felt, until you started to feel better.
So now you have decided to consider you diet for menopause. This diet involves whole fresh foods and lots of water. What does this change eliminate?
It eliminates that sluggish, sleeping feeling you get from eating frozen, processed. diet meals.
The headaches, anxiety and constipation diminish because you are no longer downing fried, fast foods.
The dull skin, puffy eyes and expanding waist line from dairy laden pizza, mac and cheese and drive thru food is a thing of the past.
And the wrinkles and depression from diet pop, sugary coffee drinks and lack of water are not so noticeable.
Sometimes it is more about what you don't eat, than what you do eat, that matters and makes a difference. Whole foods fill you up, are packed with great vitamins and minerals, and they are very low in calories. Sounds like a win-win thing to consider. Where do you start?
Start at the beginning and go from there. See if you feel better.
1. Substitute a vegetable or salad for French fries. This is a conscious start. Think about what to put in your body that is healthy. You body needs to last another 30-50 years. Help it as much as you can, so you can feel really well, as you age.
2. Order "just water, please" instead of a medium soda. This is so simple, and less expensive. Our body is 90% water. Everything in it fires and runs and blinks on water. Give your body what it craves.
3.Consider fresh juice instead of a pastry at snack, Not processed orange or apple juice, which contains a ton of sugar, but 'made from scratch' juice. The best thing about juice is it tastes amazing.
I love a glass of juice made from: supergreens and water, green grapes and green apples, cucumbers and spinach. It's so fresh, and light and tart and delicious. Juice is seriously good, and good for us. Juice is also packed with nutrients; it is filling, and is really, really low in calories.
Little changes make big differences. You may feel run down, sluggish and yucky because of what you ate. Consideration of the fuel you put in our mouth is important. Adding healthier choices is a consideration when it comes to your diet for menopause.
Corby Campbell Shields
Co-Author Menopause Master Plan
http://www.menopausemasterplan.com/

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Sunday, April 1, 2012

Do Depression and Menopause Come Together?

Depression and Menopause - What you can Expect
It is true, depression and menopause can happen together. They may not belong together, but if you are going through menopause it can cause a certain amount of depression. Scientists and doctors really don't have a true answer to why the two go together, but they have found it is worse in women from families with a history of depression.
Most believe that depression and menopause are actually related more with the pre-menopause period than during actual menopause. This is when estrogen levels are beginning to decline on a gradual basis and some studies suggest this can bring out the depression in women. If you are going through the premenopausal years here are some of the symptoms you might expect.
Some of the most common symptoms with depression and menopause:
- Multiple weeks of a depressed mood
- Appetite change
- Less pleasure from activities
- Sleep patterns change often
- Loss of energy and fatigue
- Struggle concentrating
- Suicidal thoughts
- Guilty feelings and feelings of worthlessness
- Irritability
What to do During Periods of Depression and Menopause?
There are many options when going through depression and menopause at the same time. Antidepressant medications are one of the options and if you believe your depression is severe, then you need to consult your doctor. However, if you are looking for a more natural remedy, then you can try these options.
Exercise - When you add regular exercise to your daily life you will be able to help lessen the effects of depression. This will help both your mood and your physical health and there is really no substitute for exercise. A good goal to start is to strive for 30 minutes of exercise three times a week, but if you cannot manage this even 10 minutes can help.
Taking away Daily Stresses - Usually women going through depression and menopause need to ask for help around the home and with other daily tasks because you have the stress of children to care for and potentially elderly family as well. Ask for help and eliminate some of the different daily tasks to help lessen your stress.
Nutrition - Making changes to your diet can also help during this time of your life. This can include eating better and healthier foods, adding supplements into your diet, and also adding in an herbal treatment. If you put together the best choices for your diet it can help support your body and keep your depression to a minimum.
Sleep - It is necessary to make sure you get enough sleep every single night. This can be where women struggle due to night sweats and hot flashes. There are some herbal remedies and some specific diet changes you can use to help make it easier to sleep at night and this will help with both your night sweats and your depression by allowing you to get proper rest.
Seeking Help for your Depression and Menopause
If you know you are suffering from depression and menopause, then you may want to seek professional help. This can come in the form of psychotherapy, your health care provider, or even a book. Finding the right help for you may not be easy and you will have to decide whether you want to trust prescription drugs or if you want to use a more natural treatment.
Naturally treating menopause and depression is a good way to alleviate the symptoms without having to deal with the side effects possible with some of the prescription drugs. You can use specific herbal remedies, vitamins, mineral supplements, diet changes, and other natural treatments to make your journey through menopause easier.
Finding the right book or eBook can help you tremendously and it is much less expensive than taking a trip to the doctor, getting prescription drugs, or going through therapy. Plus treating your depression and menopause with a natural treatment found in a book or eBook can be much better for your body over the long journey you are about to go through.
Find out how you can get the Menopause Control you are looking for by reading the Menopause Control EBook Review here.

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Thursday, March 29, 2012

Is There Something Else Going On Besides Menopause?

It is too easy for a woman that is considering herself to be in her menopause years to just assume that all of the symptoms she is feeling are menopause related. This can be risky because often many other ailments and some that are serious can be missed.
As most women know entering into menopause is not something that can be avoided and there are many symptoms that come with it. It's a well known fact that the hormones jump all over the place during this time. What also has to be realized is that there are many different types of hormones that are affected that are applicable to the different organs. One of these is the thyroid gland. It produces a hormone that plays a critical role in the body and when it is not working properly it can create all types of problems. These hormones help the body to know how much energy to use, and it also makes proteins, and just as important it direct the body on how to act in respect to the hormones. So you can see why during the menopause years the functioning of the thyroid is critical and how it can have an effect on the hormone changes that are taking place in the body during menopause.
One of the changes in hormones that takes place at the onset of menopause and often before these years are reached is a reduction in the hormones that are needed for reproduction.
The common symptoms of the menopausal years are many and they vary in intensity. They can be...
- Fatigue
- Moodiness
- Bloating
- Depressed
- Insomnia
- Weight gain
... and of course many others. Not every woman has every symptom or the same combination of symptoms.
With some thyroid disease it can be either hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, the hyper meaning over active and the hypo being underactive. In respect to being close in symptoms to menopause it would be in reference to hypothyroidism.
Some of the common symptoms of hypothyroidism vary as well and there can be several combinations of them, they can be...
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight gain
- Depression
- Heavier than normal menstrual periods
They sound very close as to what one could simply assume as being menopause. You can see why these symptoms could be easily written off as being the change of life cycle. It is most important when you experience any new symptoms in your body that you have a good medical checkup. For women no new symptom should just be considered as menopause. Ideally having the thyroid checked on a yearly basis while going through menopause wouldn't hurt. You are most likely going for yearly medical checkups anyway so just insure that you ask your health care provider to check your thyroid at this time.
For other important things to keep track of during your menopause years we have lots of resources to help you with this. Plus if you are in need of some support we can help with that as well.

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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

How Much Do You Know About Menopause?

Menopause can be a time of great physical, psychological and emotional changes that can overwhelm you if you don't know what to expect.
If you're close to menopause age, or already going through it, the more information your have the better you will manage the transition.
With that in mind, I have set up a fun quiz so that you can discover how much you REALLY know about menopause.
1 At approximately what age can you expect menopause to begin?
a) 46
b) 57
c) 51
d) Anywhere over 35
2 Which of the following, can cause premature menopause?
a) Smoking
b) Drinking alcohol
c) Being overweight
d) Being underweight
3 Spotting or bleeding after menopause is normal:
a) True
b) False
4 Which of the following can help control the symptoms of menopause?
a) Healthy lifestyle
b) Adequate exercise
c) Good food choices
d) All of the above
5 Symptoms of menopause usually start suddenly without warning:
a) True
b) False
6 Which of these hormones do the ovaries eventually stop producing?
a) Estrogen
b) Progesterone
c) Both
7 How much bone loss per year can you expect in the first 5 years after
menopause?
a) 3-5%
b) 11-15%
c) 1-2%%
d) 6-10%
8 Why does hormone production decline during menopause?
a) Women run out of eggs
b) Reason is not yet known
c) The uterus loses it's effectiveness
d) Fallopian tubes lose their effectiveness
9 All menopausal women should be on hormone therapy:
a) True
b) False
10 Menopause is:
a) A purely physical change
b) The cause of depression
c) A natural stage of development
d) A pain
11 A diet rich in what may help control menopausal symptoms?
a) Fruit and vegetables
b) Dairy roducts
c) Lean meat
d) Soya products
12 What test can help determine whether a woman is starting menopause?
a) FSH
b) Perimenopause
c) Estrogen
d) Progesterone
13 What are the most serious side effects of menopause?
a) Cancer
b) Heart disease and osteoporosis
c) Thrombosis
d) Arthritis
14 What is the first symptom of menopause?
a) Hot flashes
b) Missed periods
c) It's different for every woman
d) Weight gain
15 Menopause can increase the chances of suffering with:
a) Bowel disorders
b) Cancer
c) Urinary infection
d) Conjunctivitis
If you're not sure of the answers, here they are:
1 c The onset of menopause varies from woman to woman - as do the symptoms. Some women enter menopause in their mid 30's, a few in their late 50's. However, most women experience menopause during their early 50's.
2 a Statistics tell us that women who smoke may go through menopause a year earlier than women who don't.
3 b Unless you're on hormone therapy, it's not normal to experience bleeding after menopause. Professional help should be sought as a precautionary measure.
4 d Medication is not always necessary to control menopausal symptoms and they can often be managed by taking a more natural approach.
5 b Symptoms usually begin gradually as the body goes through various hormonal changes.
6 c The levels of both hormones decrease throughout menopause. This causes the associated symptoms, such as fatigue, mood swings and hot flashes
7 a Bone loss can result in reduced height, weight gain and osteoporosis. It's vital to maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine to protect the bones as much as possible.
8 b The cause of hormonal decline is, as yet, unknown, although it is known that the decline begins in a woman's mid to late thirties.
9 b While some women have great results from traditional(synthetic) forms of hormone therapy, others prefer to seek out a more natural approach to managing their symptoms.
10 c Yes, it brings huge changes, but menopause is a natural progression from one stage of a woman's life, to the next. And as more is discovered about it, more options are available to manage and control most symptoms.
11 d There has been some evidence that consuming soya products can have positive effects on menopausal symptoms. This is due to the mild estrogenic effect of soya.
12 a The amount of Follicle Stimulating Hormone in the blood will be tested to give an indication if a woman is in or about to enter menopause.
13 b Be sensible about your lifestyle and pay particular attention to your eating and exercise routing. Don't leave your health to chance.
14 c There is no standard menopause. Symptoms, their regularity and intensity will be different for each woman.
15 c Urinary infections are one of the more unpleasant symptoms of menopause.
For great information and a FREE report on hormone therapy - visit The Complete Menopause

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Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Menopause and Fatigue

Fatigue is a symptom that is too often overlooked in our busy lives. We usually pump ourselves up with caffeine and sugar to get us through the day. It is not unusual for us to go days and weeks without getting the proper nutrition and rest that our bodies crave. We over commit, face work deadlines, and run faster and harder always promising that tomorrow we will slow down to recuperate. For too many women, that day only comes when the body is ill or diseased.
Fatigue is the first sign that your life is out of balance and something needs to change. A number of factors can contribute to low energy. A few factors that contribute to exhaustion are poor nutrition, lack of sleep, sedentary lifestyle, role as a caretaker, workaholic, or stress from life choices and life situations. The bottom line factors are:
· Not pursuing a life that stimulates your mind, your creativity, and your personal growth
· Living someone else's plan for who you should be or what you should do with your life
· Not addressing, processing, and resolving emotional pain in your life to create optimum health
The mind energizes the body. If it is mired with unresolved grief, anger, or anxiety, the result is exhaustion. Menopause is a time to resolve unfinished business in your life. There are not only internal physical changes taking place, but mental and emotional issues presenting themselves for you to resolve.
There are natural remedies and natural healing modalities to support your body when resolving unfinished emotional business.
Homeopathic remedies:
· Kali phos
· Phosphoricum acidum
· Nux vomica
Aromatherapy:
· Peppermint
· Patchouli
· Bitter orange
Herbal remedies:
· St. John's wort
· Dandelion
· Black cohosh
· Ginseng
Menopause diet:
· Ground flaxseed
· Green vegetables
· Fresh fruit
· Liver, red meat, molasses
Other remedies:
· Massage
· Journal
· Remove negative, draining people from your life
· Do something special just for you just because
· Do nothing/take a day off, if you are tired from overwork
· Get moving, if fatigue is from a sedentary lifestyle
Menopause is a change at a cellular level. Holding on to unresolved emotions that no longer serve you drain your energy. If you process through them, you will feel lighter, more focused, and more creative. It is a time to reassess your life, refocus on what really resonates with who you are becoming, and to take action. It is a time to experience the freedom of being your authentic self independent of what others think.
Suzy Manning asks..Do you need to press the pause button on life? Sizzzl celebrates women finding life balance, embracing their magnificence, and living with passion & purpose. Let's Hit the Pause Button Together! Become Sizzzlicious! Free guide.... http://sizzzl.com/

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How to Know If You Are Pregnant or Have Menopause

One of the most crucial questions for a woman in her late thirties or early forties when she does skip her period is whether she is pregnant or is having menopause. That's because, whether during pregnancy or when having a menopause, the body of a woman goes through some hormonal changes. In both the cases women experience similar symptoms and hence it becomes difficult to differentiate between the two conditions. The common symptoms associated with both these conditions are headaches, sleep problems, food cravings, constipation, bladder control, breast tenderness. Mood swings though considered quite common in pregnant women are common in women having menopause too.
Here is some basic information that will help you identify the difference between these two conditions in women -
• The most important thing that you need to do at the very beginning is to get yourself informed about the common of symptoms of pregnancy and menopause. If you do experience any of those symptoms, you should arrange for an appointment you're your gynecologist. Your gynecologist will recommend a few blood tests or other lab tests which will help her in clearly identifying the actual reason for the symptoms. Mostly pregnant women can diagnose their condition in about 2 or 3 weeks after they conceive. During pregnancy, unlike in women experiencing menopause, the blood or urine will have presence of the HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) hormone.
• The gynecologist may also require you to get a specific blood test done to determine the presence of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH). This test is recommended when the test for being pregnant is negative but the symptoms persist. If the FSH is high, it is possibly an indication of you being in menopause. Then the doctor orders additional lab tests to diagnose the causes of menopause.
• In pregnant women, cramps in abdominal area are common. If you have any abdominal cramping, observe the duration and frequency of cramps. Cramping in pregnant women is generally due to the stretching of the muscles in the uterus. Women in menopause also experience cramping. It is a matter of concern if the cramps continue even after about a year of menopause and should be reported to your gynecologist.
• Keep an eye if you notice any spotting as this could indicate that you are pregnant. If your period is for a shorter duration that always, there are good chances of you being pregnant. Often referred to as implantation bleeding, it usually happens within 10 to 14 days of fertilization. Spotting is also common during menopause.
• If you experience any sort of fatigue, don't ignore it. In case of being pregnant the progesterone levels in the body rise, causing extreme exhaustion and tiredness. Whereas in menopause the levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone drop, causing fatigue.
• Mood swings is common during the initial months of being pregnant. This will gradually pass during the later months. During menopause changing moods occur due to fluctuating hormones.
My name is Nisha Mohsin and I lead a team of passionate writers at Gulsway Business Intelligence. Together, we have delivered quality content to our list of regular clients successfully. Writing comes to me naturally and I take pride in educating people with what I know.

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Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Don't let menopause stop your sex life!

The descent of a woman's sex drive during menopause is considered by many who suffer from normal behavior. It could promote feelings of sadness, frustration and feelings of guilt; All the emotions that improve libido problems.
While some of the changes occurring during menopause physical attribute the loss of the vagina, many of the problems with real psychological in nature, in fact in turn can be treated effectively.
-Voltage menopause usually occurs around the early 1950s, a time when most women experience major changes in their family life and career. Children move from work or studies, and issues with their husbands or parents wine partners can cause elevated levels of stress. Stress is a common feature associated with lowered sex drive, but fortunately have reduced tension or avoid altogether with a good support network of family and friends.
Losing interest is plain?- an additional feature of menopause is pre conceived ideas-people generally believe that is correct. Simply because many people say low sex drive is a normal phenomenon of menopause, women actually get it right, as opposed to looking at other external influences, such as their sex drive, fatigue or boredom. Many women may use the menopause as an excuse to hide problems existing relationships, which in the end it over time.
Double handling that must be an efficient method to bring the hidden problems on the surface. This will allow the feelings of guilt, and shall fear again.
Check your medication- typically prescribed antidepressants, such as prozac, many medications for high blood pressure, have a negative effect on the libido of women. If you are on medications like this it might be worth your time to visit your doctor to discuss the options.
Of course, the physical symptoms of menopause can also affect sex drive, but fortunately now have safe medicines, remedies can reduce these feelings. Curcuma comosa that are very effective countering vaginal dryness, hot flashes (flushes), vol and tone back to stomach breasts. In addition, Curcuma comosa is 100% natural, and not cause unpleasant side effects or cause conflicts with other medications.
If you really want to mzlgoth your sex life, you owe it to yourself, your partner, to explore all possible solutions, both physically and mentally.

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Monday, March 19, 2012

Menopause and Pregnancy - Just What Are The Chances?

Imagine the scene if you will.
Marjorie and her husband Ken (not their real names), were settling down for a romantic night in front of the television, when Marjorie quietly leaned over and informed her husband that they were expecting the pitter patter of tiny feet! Apparently Ken almost fell off his chair.
Now normally, this would be a cause for celebration, but what if I told you that Marjorie and Ken were both in their early fifties and they had brought up three children, prior to taking early retirement? This was supposed to be 'their' time, when they had no-one to please but themselves.
You would probably be shocked and then surprised at this story, I know I was when my friends told me. You see, I didn't realise that a woman could become pregnant once she had started menopause. Unfortunately, neither did Marjorie. She had taken birth control right up until she began suffering from hot flashes and 'spotting' and then she stopped. You see Marjorie, as many women do, had wrongly assumed that because she was displaying menopausal symptoms, that she was now infertile.
Many of us believe that menopause is an event with a start and a finish that signals the end of fertility from day one. But, that is incorrect and it is a process that could potentially last for ten years (yikes) usually beginning somewhere in our early fifties. Although some women do suffer from premature menopause and they can go through it many years earlier than this. All that the symptoms mean is that our hormone levels are becoming unbalanced, but this does not mean that we are unable to conceive.
It's true that as a woman ages, her fertility decreases and so it becomes less likely that she will fall pregnant naturally - but it is not impossible. In fact there are many stories available to read online of ladies over fifty giving birth naturally.
That's all well and good, providing you are ready to welcome a new born baby into your life, but this article is for those menopausal women who are looking forward to the freedom from child rearing that age and maturity usually brings.
So, how can it happen that a woman is going through menopause and yet she is still fertile? Easy, while eggs are still being released and there is an adequate supply of the necessary hormones, she can still become pregnant.
It doesn't matter that her periods may be all over the place or she is so bloated that she resembles a small planet, providing that she is still having her monthly period, pregnancy is possible. In fact, it is wise to continue with birth control until there has been no show of blood for twelve consecutive months. After this time, it is impossible to become pregnant naturally as there would not be an adequate supply of estrogen to facilitate the process.
Apart from the psychological aspects of a late pregnancy, there are of course health considerations to think about for those women who become pregnant in menopause.
This list is by no means comprehensive, but it will give you an idea of the dangers.
There is an increased risk of infection, miscarriage, bleeding and several other potentially dangerous medical conditions. Furthermore, medical research has proven that the risk grows even higher with every passing year over the age of forty.
So, if you are coming up to an age where night sweats and hot flashes beckon and you don't fancy the idea of early morning feeds and dirty diapers - don't take a chance and hope for the best. Make sure that you continue with the birth control.
If you`re hating your menopause and want to discover great ways of handling menopause signs, or if you just want to feel normal. Visit us today.
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Sunday, March 18, 2012

Have You Ever Considered a Diet for Menopause Symptoms?

Have you ever considered that your diet for menopause may actually help with your symptoms?
On the other hand, what if you are currently eating things that may increase your retched symptoms, and make you feel worse?
Sometimes we don't know how bad we feel, until we start feeling better. That was my case, for sure. And because I was so fat and bloated and miserable, I decided to change my diet. I was 51 years old and in menopause. That was 4 years and 4 sizes of clothes ago.
Maybe my symptoms of moodiness, stress, exhaustion and headaches had something to do with my diet for menopause? Thanks goodness, I really started thinking about what I was putting in my mouth.
The diet for menopause that helped me lose extra belly fat and give me a ton of energy is based around clean, whole foods and lots and lots of water. I can tell you right now that this diet may help you as well.
The reason I have chosen to eat mostly raw and whole foods is because; when I am eating "clean". I am not eating things full of sugar, salt and preservatives. I am not eating fast and junk food. I am not eating frozen diet meals full of things I can't pronounce. And I am not eating fried foods that put my body in a stress mode, causing me to even add more belly fat to my already expanding waist line, because of hormonal changes.
So my diet for menopause is actually more about what I am not eating than what I am eating. Am I deprived and suffering? Absolutely not, and you will not be as well. Actually I am eating more now than I ever did, dieting all my life, just trying to stay an average sized girl.
I have sprouted grain toast with almond butter and agave syrup, sprouted grain cereal with almond milk, or a huge, chocolate, brown rice protein shake with almond milk for breakfast.
My morning snack is celery and almond butter, a glass of fresh juice, a hand full of almonds or a small carton of blueberries.
Lunch is a sprouted grain sandwich with mustard, dill pickles, a whole avocado and smoked turkey, or it might be a spinach salad with almonds, red peppers, avocado, carrot and cucumbers.
Another afternoon snack, for sure. On this diet for menopause I am grazing though the day, it keeps my energy and metabolism up. It might be another avocado, or an apple, maybe jicama strips or a sprouted grains muffin.
Supper is also wonderful, and has usually been in the crock pot all day. Fresh green beans and mushrooms, sweet potatoes, squash, a broccoli or cauliflower head. Maybe I will add a touch of goat butter; dinner is so yummy and filling.
I think you have to agree that this way of clean eating has nothing to do with deprivation. The only thing I am missing with this way of eating is feeling bad about the way I look and feel. I am still loosing inches and weight, with all this eating. And now, my clothes size is smaller than it was when I was 28 years old. I want the very best for you. Please consider helping yourself out, as well as your diet for menopause.
Corby Campbell Shields
Co-Author of Menopause Master Plan
http://www.menopausemasterplan.com/

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Wednesday, March 14, 2012

How to Lose Weight During Menopause: Steps on the Best Ways to Do It

You probably have never wondered how to lose weight during menopause. Maybe because you have never thought about how difficult it becomes for women to lose weight at this stage in their lives. This is normally a natural stage in a woman and it comes with many changes for them. They may be physical and biological as well as social.
One of the major changes is the hormonal imbalances that result in a weight gain. The social life also changes and this woman may not be able to carefully watch her diet due to changes in social life and this too results in a weight gain.
Whenever you find yourself in such a situation, the issue of how to lose weight comes up. The health of this woman becomes more important so in essence, she is not looking for a diet pill or surgery, but instead out to look for the healthiest way to lose weight.
Why is it difficult?
During this period, the hormonal changes bring along some sort of sensitivity to diets. Your body is more in need of some nutrients than it did before, so weight loss menopause only becomes more difficult. The loss of important nutrients such as calcium also leads to some weight gain.
First step: Moderate things
The major problem that a woman in her menopause may encounter is resistance to changes. At this period, completely changing your diet may not be the solution and you may find that it will only make it worse. So as a remedy, try to moderate things. Do not introduce everything instantly but rather give the body some time to register the changes.
For instance, if you deny yourself all your favorite meal because they are unhealthy, it is more likely that you will fail in weight loss. But always remember that you must strive to achieve the healthiest feeding habits you can.
Second step: Exercise
Most women in their menopause find exercise quite impossible. But weight loss is to be made possible, you must try and exercise. Try sticking to simple and less intensive exercise such as jogging and walking at least everyday. Remember you must want to maintain a very healthy lifestyle and such can not be achieved devoid of exercise.
However, be careful as your body is quite fragile at this age and you would not want to engage in exercise that will hurt you in the name of weight loss.
Step three: Everything natural
During menopause, you will find that your body is quite sensitive and to avoid evoking negative reactions, keep everything natural. Try natural herbal tea and other foods and you will find that the body responds positively. This will not only help you in losing weight but will also boost your health which could be quite frail at such a time.
So you now know that how to lose weight during menopause should not be such a hard thing, just understand your body ad feed it with what it needs. Remember staying fit at this time is also essential.
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Monday, March 12, 2012

3 Ways To Look Great After Menopause

Menopause is a mile stone achievement. It occurs around the age of 45 to 55 years, but can begin as early as the late 30's. Women are not truly menopausal until they have gone 12 straight months without a period. Menopause, however, is not straight forward. You will go through several stages, changes, and feelings of pre-menopause, peri-menopause, and menopause; then comes post-menopause. Some women get to this last stage, feeling quite worn-out, stressed, and lonely. You however, do not have to feel this way. What can you do to look your best? You can use three simple everyday solutions that can help make you look great after menopause.
At this stage after menopause, you are said to be post-menopausal. You have somewhat less menopausal symptoms such as hot and cold flashes, breast pains, bloating feelings, mood swings. There is a greater sense of mellowing down. Along the way to this stage, you have lived a life. Many lessons have been learned. You have made many acquaintances, and most importantly, you have reached a milestone or a different level of feminine maturity.
You might not have looked lately or examined who or where you are in life, or what you can do to look your best. Socrates suggested that at some point, life should be examined. He stated, "The unexamined life is not worth living." But you do have a great deal of life yet to be lived.
And so, this is a wonderful time to continue to make life worth living to the fullest. It is said that how you feel reflects how you look and how you look affects how you feel. One of the first things you want to do about any concerns of life is to check with your health care provider. Aside from that, think of these 3 ways that can help you to look great after menopause. First reflect on your body, spirit, and social life. Second, reform your body, spirit and social life. Third, make an action plan to rejuvenate your body, spirit, and social life. These can help avoid feeling stressed and worn out.
Reflect on your body, spirit, social life (You may write these down)
First, affirm how you feel about your body, spirit and social life.
Next, reflect on your thoughts and feelings about your body, spirit and social life.
Question whether these feelings are yours or those of others.
Questions or thoughts may include, but are not limited to:
Reflections On Your Body:
1. Am I am too thin?
2. Am I am too big?
3. Do I love my body just the way I am?
4. Do I eat what I want whenever I want?
5. Am I exercising at least once a week?
6. Would I would more if I had company?
7. Is exercise not for me?
8. Is there at least one thing about my body that I would change if I could
Reflections On Your Spiritual Life:
1. Do I have a spiritual life?
2. Do I know and love whom I believe?
3. Do I know in whom I believe?
4. Have I any spiritual concerns?
5. Do I know at least one thing that is true?
6. Am I spiritually fulfilled?
7. Do I know at least one thing that no matter what I would not change my mind?
8. Is there at least one thing about my spiritual life that I would change if I could?
Reflections On Your Social Life:
1. Do I have close friends and family?
2. Do I communicate with at least one person daily?
3. Do I get out of my home as often as I can?
4. Do I call friends and family from time to time?
5. Are there any friends or family who call me from time to time?
6. Do I care about communicating with anyone?
7. Is there at least one thing about my social life that I would change if I could?
8. Do I love my social life?
Reform Your Body, Spirit, Social Life
All areas of life are intertwined, especially, body, spirit and social well being.
One of the ways to looking great after menopause is to take a look at all aspects, formulate an action plan, and put the plan into action. For example, Steps can be taken to care for body, spirit, and social aspects. For example, rest, relaxation, exercise and nutrition, and recreation must be included to help prevent feeling stressed. For example, changing the way you eat can make a difference. Though some menopausal symptoms tend to lessen as women get older, insomnia might continue to be of concern. Women are encouraged to avoid late afternoon exercise, meals, or naps. A late evening massage - foot, body, or shoulder might help you to feel refreshed.
In socializing, people draw on the strength of each other, as it lifts the spirit.
The spirit can also be lifted by eating and exercising and sharing with each other. In addition, one needs to have a belief system to draw on for inner strength. Most things are more fun when shared than when done alone. Post-menopausal women can benefit by sharing in various activities. Here they can be encouraged and motivated to look their best as they seek to renew their bodies.
Rejuvenate your body
Life can be a joy if we make the changes that we can and learn to live with things that we are unable to do much about. An action plan is necessary to restore your body, spirit and social life. For example, the post-menopausal woman can join various groups to keep active. She might even form a group if the one she seeks is not available. A senior's group, for example, might be formed or joined to engage in regular exercise, going for walks; sharing meal times. Massages can be shared. For example, to decrease cost, take turns giving friends and members of the family foot massages; back rubs.
Rejuvenate your Spiritual life
Weak or strong, everyone has a spiritual life. Relying on it during menopause is necessary because it can help you to look great. It is that part of you that helps to make you uniquely who you are. It is your inner being that directs who and what you believe. Whatever your feelings, you should be able to draw from it for strength. You know that if you let go of it, you will let go of life. And so, you hold on to it no matter what. Learn to share your feelings and beliefs with friends and family. You will find that you have more in common that you have differences
Rejuvenate Your Social life
The woman who leads an active social life will look great after menopause. This is possible as she shares her life with others. Have at least one person whom you call; or who calls you daily. Call up friends and members of the family from time to time. Most times they are longing to hear from you. Talk about times you had together. Most people love to talk about themselves. Don't be concerned that you will not know what to talk about. Just allow them to talk.
Find and join a group that already exist or form one with people of similar interests. Some existing groups can be found at churches or within communities.
With groups, you can: go out together for walks, swimming, and plays; can take turns in each others home; have girls' night out; movie and/or game night; entertain in your home; take turns hosting in your home. Take turns serving each other. Take turns doing each others hair, nails and make up.
Menopause is not straightforward. The woman goes through several changes, and finally, becomes post-menopausal. During this phase, she can continue to look great as she engages in ways to maintain her body, spirit and social life. This can be achieved as she reflects, reforms and rejuvenates her life
Claudette McFarquhar is a Registered Nurse with a PhD in Education. She has over 30 years of experience as a Nurse, and as an Educator. She has a wealth of experience and information about Menopause that she shares freely at her website. To learn more, visit http://yourhealthwise.com/ and get information that could change your life.

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Sunday, March 11, 2012

Managing Menopause and the Seasons of Our Lives Naturally

To every thing there is a season and a time and a purpose... Don't we women know it, especially when we enter the season of our lives known as menopause. It is a time when our bodies will undergo changes due to the drop in the hormone estrogen. While it may be a natural part of life, it may not be comfortable or welcome.
Some of the symptoms of menopause are nausea, rapid heartbeat, sweating, mood swings, achy joints, sleep problems, night sweats, a decrease in libido, and even a feeling of suffocation. While these symptoms may come and go our lives don't stop and we can't just put things on hold. They may range from mildly annoying to life changing and extremely frustrating. Though it may be hard to laugh at, sometimes seeing the humor in a situation is one of the best ways of coping.
Though menopause is inevitable, it doesn't mean that you can't have some control over it, after all it is still your body. Using natural herbs that have been used for centuries is one way to lessen the effects and give your body a break. The natural phytoestrogens found in plants have no harmful chemicals or synthetic ingredients and they do soothe you naturally because they have the same effect as estrogen, just what your body needs.
Each one of us is an individual so no two women's bodies are exactly alike and how we respond to the change in estrogen and the symptoms it produces vary. Talking to other women and reading about their experiences and how they coped is one of the best ways to prepare yourself and then to adjust to the new cycle of your life. It is usually gradual unless there has been a drastic change in health or surgery, so most women have time to get into the swing of things.
Are there any pluses or benefits to menopause? One thing that many women find is that they start listening to their bodies and tuning in. Some feel that this is an often overlooked benefit of menopause. Nature forces us to slow down and start paying attention to our own health and the rhythms of our bodies. Just as there are often changes taking place in the world around us, outside of us, there are changing going on inside as well and they all combine to produce a new season and sometimes some new ways of looking at life.
Debi Swift, the owner of Endless Herbs Natural Foods, has developed the formula for EZ Meno'Pause http://endlessherbs.net/products/ez-meno-pause/. A natural and safe herbal remedy. Endless Herbs is a small company run by women and we use our own experience to develop our products and yes, we use them ourselves. We chose each ingredient through our own experiences and we are proud of the results and our repeat customers. Visit our store in Newport, Me or online at Endless Herbs Natural Foods

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Saturday, March 10, 2012

Coffee, Menopause and Me

You really can't get going in the mornings without it; actually over half of us do have a cup of coffee every day. And you have heard a lot of good things about your cup of Joe, when it comes to Alzheimer's disease. Coffee lowers the insulin and estrogen in the blood, and that triggers added protective agents in the brain, that can then protect you from the onset of this disease.
There are two more studies that I also want to share with you on the effects of coffee. When this study was done, it was not about caffeine in general, but specifically on coffee, which has over 200 elements in its composition.
A Harvard study followed 67,470 women between the ages of 34-59 for twenty-six years. Those women drank an average of four cups of coffee a day. They found that 4 cups a day lowered their risk of endometrial cancer of the lining of the uterus by 24%. Women, in the study, who drank and average of 2-3 cups of coffee a day, lowered their chances of getting the disease by 7%. That's a big difference in the percentages, huh?
On the other side of the coin, a study done in 2008 has shown that coffee can prevent some common medicines that menopausal women take on the regular basis, from being properly absorbed completely. These two meds are Levothroxine, for the thyroid, and Adendronate, for osteoporosis. Caffeine can also lower the circulating levels of estrogens and other hormones in women.
This study found that almost half of us drink an average of three cups of coffee a day, which sounds about right, huh? And the study then went on to say that when you drink caffeine 45 minutes before taking your meds, or up to 30 minutes after you take them, that caffeine can actually block the absorption of your prescription by 55% to 60%. That means you are only metabolizing ½ of your thyroid and osteoporosis prescription. I don't know about you, but I am thinking that I would really need the full dose of both of those drugs.
In the same study, it was also found that the caffeine can enhance certain drugs, including antidepressants, antibiotics and birth control pills. Once again, these are common prescriptions, taken by us, women who are dealing with perimenopause and menopause symptoms. The results in this study showed that when taken with coffee, these drugs persisted in the body for several hours longer than normal. It showed that some how the enzyme in the coffee blocked the rapid absorption of these meds.
Other side effects of coffee consumption can be trouble sleeping, it can also make heartburn worse and may be the cause of restlessness, heart palpitations and anxiety.
We hear about new studies coming out everyday. One day a study touts that red wine is good for us, the next day it is not. You have seen conflicting research with studies on oat bran and now coffee. I did want to share this with you these findings though, because I am interested in how and what I eat, affects how I feel, and how my prescriptions work. Hope it helped you as well.
Corby Cambell Shields
Co-Author Menopause Master Plan
http://menopausemasterplan.com/

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