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Help With Menopause - What Are Bio - Identical Hormones?

Help With Menopause - What Are Bio-Identical Hormones?

By Maya Uriodain

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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Understanding The Top Five Menopause Symptoms

Understanding the Top Five Menopause Symptoms

By Danny Hammond

Many women that are reaching a certain age wonder what are menopause symptoms? Well, there are many but the top five seem to be:

*Fatigue

*Weight Gain

*Hot Flashes

*Low Libido

*Hair Loss

Let's first talk about fatigue. If you are dealing with fatigue as a menopause symptom, it could be caused by many different things. If you are having trouble sleeping because of night sweats due to menopause this could cause fatigue. Once you start feeling fatigued, this increases stress and anxiety which then causes insomnia. This becomes a vicious cycle.

Fatigue can also be from a lack of progesterone. Progesterone is the hormone that keeps you energized and also accounts for your sex drive.

The second menopause symptom that we are going to talk about is weight gain. Probably one of the most complained about symptoms of menopause is weight gain. If you are gaining weight during this time of your life, don't blame yourself. This is something that happens to about 90% of women during menopause. Some will gain more than others. Most women will gain 10 to 15 pounds during their menopausal years. That is approximately 1 pound per year.

The next menopause symptom is hot flashes. Hot flashes are very common during menopause. A hot flash is a brief feeling of heat that may make the face and neck flushed, cause temporary red blotches to appear on the chest, back and arms. Sweating and chills may follow. Hot flashes vary in intensity and typically last between 30 seconds and 10 minutes.

Okay, now let's talk about low libido or low sex drive. As with all menopause symptoms a low libido or low sex drive is different with each woman. As you begin menopause you could have some hormones waning or fluctuating. Estrogen can start to diminish which can affect your sexual response.

Some changes that you might notice are:

*Less sensation in the genital area

*Painful intercourse

*Lower sex drive

*Difficulty becoming aroused

*Vaginal dryness

*More vaginal or bladder infections than usual

Again, if you have the menopause symptom of hair loss, it is usually because of fluctuating hormones. It is normal for women to have some hair loss, but if you see any of the following symptoms it could be from menopause:

*Scalp is red and itchy

*Large amounts of hair in your comb or brush

*Small bald patches

*More hair than usual falls out while washing

*Noticeable hair thinning

All of the above subjects are some of the menopause symptoms. Some women will have more and some women will have less. If any of these symptoms become too extreme you should always tell your ob/gyn or your family practitioner.

Danny Hammond is an author, who writes articles dedicated to helping couples communicate, research and cope with the devastating effects that menopause symptoms can have on relationships. These include marriage, family, friends and co-workers. He is currently working with others on a website featuring these subjects. Please visit this website for advice on strategy on dealing with menopause.

http://www.mymenopausehormones.com

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The Truth About Vitamin A and Osteoporosis

The Truth About Vitamin A and Osteoporosis

By Candice Hughes

If you are researching the connection between Vitamin A and osteoporosis, you will probably find plenty of authors telling you to avoid consuming much Vitamin A. Would it surprise you to know that people consuming their native diets ate foods that gave them about ten times more Vitamin A than is currently recommended? In fact, these people all had perfect teeth and perfect bone structure, along with very strong bones.

Osteoporosis and menopause seem to become health concerns at the same time. Osteoporosis is a serious disease that strikes many women, and you may find that you or someone you love is suffering from osteoporosis. You may know someone who fell and broke their hip, and never recovered. It is frightening to think that we may one day lose our ability to care for ourselves and have to become dependent on someone else.

In the search for solutions that could prevent osteoporosis, you will find many articles that caution you to watch your Vitamin A intake, because it has been shown to be a risk factor in osteoporosis.

But is the information accurate? Is it complete? These are two questions you should always ask when reading information about research studies on health.

Many reports of studies on Vitamin A and osteoporosis have concluded that excess Vitamin A leads to increased risk for getting the disease. Unfortunately these reports do not analyze various other factors revealed in the studies that could shed more light on the reality of vitamin and nutrient intake, and the risk for developing osteoporosis.

In this case, the discrepancy comes to light because there was a dentist, Dr. Weston Price, who traveled to different countries in the 1940's and discovered that indigenous people still eating their native diets had radiant health. These discoveries included observations of perfect bone structure and strong bones, along with the discovery that these people consumed far higher amounts of vitamin A (not carotenoids, found in plant foods, but preformed vitamin A, found in animal foods), than the amounts recommended today.

The Weston A. Price Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to getting the word out about Dr. Price's nutritional discoveries, has provided a more complete analysis on the various studies of Vitamin A and osteoporosis. In reviewing the studies from a different perspective, it becomes clear that certain relationships occur between nutrients or other substances, such as estrogen, that affect the outcomes of the studies.

For example, people who consumed more Vitamin A and less Vitamin D had a higher risk for osteoporosis. This is because Vitamins A and D are required in certain ratios to obtain optimum health. Another factor that affected outcomes for Vitamin A and osteoporosis was whether or not post-menopausal women were taking estrogen. Those that were could consume more Vitamin A relative to Vitamin D without risk. Those that were not taking estrogen had increased risk when they consumed higher amounts of Vitamin A without more Vitamin D.

In fact, the connection between Vitamin A and osteoporosis is a positive one, as long as you consume the right amount of Vitamin D to go along with your Vitamin A. This is just one way to prevent or improve osteoporosis.

Candice Hughes is the owner of Natural Approaches to Menopause.com For more information about osteoporosis and menopause, and which foods and supplements to use for Vitamin A and Osteoporosis, visit Vitamin A and Osteoporosis

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How To Thrive After A Diagnosis of Osteoporosis?

How to Thrive After A Diagnosis of Osteoporosis

By Sandi Thompson

Women are more at risk than men for osteoporosis. After receiving a diagnosis of osteoporosis or osteopenia it is important to keep moving and exercise in a safe manner. This means not putting compression on the spine, especially the thoracic area of the spine. Walking, dancing, strength training and swimming are often suggested.

Perhaps osteoporosis runs in your family. Or, you are reaching menopause and wonder how you can prevent it, since reaching menopause is one of the risk factors. In fact, several risk factors increase your chances of developing osteoporosis or having a fracture, including:

• a thin, small-boned frame


• previous fracture or family history of osteoporotic fracture


• estrogen deficiency from early menopause (before age 45) whether naturally, or from surgically removing the ovaries, or as a result of prolonged amenorrhea (abnormal absence of menstruation) in younger women (often from anorexia or extremely low body fat such as in athletes


• advanced age


• a diet low in calcium


• Caucasian or Asian ancestry (African Americans and Hispanics are at a slightly lower risk)


• cigarette smoking


• excessive use of alcohol


• prolonged use of certain medications or recreational drugs.

Women lose bone rapidly following menopause, making them more susceptible to osteoporosis especially in the first 4-8 years.

Often the first inkling that you might be at risk for osteoporosis begins with decreased blood calcium when you have blood work done. Sometimes this is accompanied by a thyroid imbalance, a Vitamin D deficiency and / or a magnesium deficiency.

Corticosteroid medications. Long-term use of corticosteroid medications, such as prednisone or cortisone is damaging to bones. These and other corticosteroid medications are common treatments for chronic conditions, such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, to name a few.

You may not be able to stop taking them to lessen your risk of osteoporosis unless you find a way to deal with the underlying cause of the chronic condition. Ask your doctor to monitor your bone density if you need to take a steroid medication for long periods. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if there are other drugs they might recommend instead of the corticosteroid medications that won't have the same impact on your bones.

Other medication associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis include aromatase inhibitors to treat breast cancer; the antidepressant medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs); another cancer treatment drug named methotrexate; some anti-seizure medications; stomach acid-blockers called proton pump inhibitors and antacids containing aluminum.

Lab tests may be performed on blood and urine. The test results can help your doctor identify conditions that might contribute to bone loss.

These are the most common blood tests:

• blood calcium levels
• blood vitamin D levels
• thyroid function
• parathyroid hormone levels
• estradiol levels to measure estrogen
• follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) test to establish menopause status
• testosterone levels (in men)
• osteocalcin levels measures bone formation

Common urine tests are:

• 24-hour urine collection to measure calcium metabolism
• tests measuring the rate at which bone is breaking down

Once you learn if there is a deficiency or imbalance of nutrients in your body, then supporting your health by increasing your levels of missing nutrients and correcting a thyroid imbalance, for example, can do wonders for increasing calcium in the blood again and therefore in the bones themselves.

Other markers that indicate a need to correct a body imbalance show up long before low blood calcium or a diagnosis of osteoporosis. Poor digestion, high stress that affects the adrenal glands, and problems with the parathyroid gland can all lead to osteoporosis.

There are several predisposing factors to osteoporosis that you can control, sometimes on your own or with the help of a healthcare professional.

- Poor diet over a long period of time

- Excessive use of alcohol and recreational drugs

- Hormone dysfunction or dysregulation

- Sedentary lifestyle

- Drugs - recreational or prescription or over the counter

- Prolonged bed rest

- Anorexia and other eating disorders

It might be a good idea to look at the cells that make up our bones, in order to better understand the process of building up and breaking down of bone in the body.

1. Osteoblasts build bone by converting cartilage to bone.

2. Osteoclasts break down bone to help buffer the pH of the blood.

3. Osteocytes maintain bone tissue. These are the primary bone cells.

Calcium plays a role in homeostasis. When the blood becomes too acidic, calcium is the buffer. Think of it as Tums for your blood.

When the pH of blood drops, which means the blood becomes more acidic, calcium is used to buffer that acid, making the blood more alkaline. Less calcium is then deposited in bone. When the blood returns to its proper pH, calcium is then stored in the bones again. Calcium can also be deposited in other tissues.

Regulating the pH of the blood and calcium in the body is the role of the small parathyroid gland, located behind the thyroid gland in the throat area. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is a regulator in the exchange of calcium between bone and blood.

How does this work?

1. PTH increases the osteoclast activity within the bones to free up calcium to buffer blood pH. Remember - osteoclasts break down bone.
2. This hormone also reduces calcium excreted in urine by having a direct affect on the kidneys.
3. PTH also pulls the calcium made available from digestion into the blood.

If you eat a diet rich in calcium then lots of calcium can be available for all the different needs of the body. Some suggestions for calcium-rich foods are, in alphabetical order:

� Alfalfa sprouts, which are easy to make at home

� Almonds, almond butter and almond meal or flour

� Avocados which contain healthy fat too

� Coconut

� Dairy foods: particularly raw milk hard cheeses, goat's milk

� Gelatin

� Greens, including kale, turnip, beet tops, cabbage and romaine lettuce

� Seaweed and sea vegetables: agar, dulse, kelp and nori

� Sesame seeds

In addition to calcium, all the foods listed above are high in additional nutrients. That's important because simply taking more and more calcium supplements will not necessarily translate into absorption and then utilization of this nutrient. Calcium needs co-factors to be available for its many roles in the body, including its use in bones.

After you have determined calcium rich foods, then assess if you are actually digesting and utilizing your foods. If you have the classic signs of indigestion: gas, bloating, excessive fullness after a meal, cramping and general discomfort in the abdomen shortly after eating, then you may need give some attention to your digestion.

Since calcium is absorbed in an acid environment, you may need hydrochloric acid supplementation with your meals to acidify the stomach. This may seem counter-intuitive, especially if you suffer from heartburn or acid reflux. However, as we age our hydrochloric acid levels decline. We can actually suffer more from lack of acid in our stomach than from too much, despite what you might hear on the TV.

As mentioned, calcium needs co-factors to be effectively utilized. That means other minerals need to be present, along with Vitamin D and healthy fats. Eating a variety of foods, real whole foods helps to ensure that most of these co-factors are present.

EFAs, essential fatty acids, are needed for transporting nutrients across the cell's membrane:

- flax seed oil, black currant seed oil, fish oils (EPA & DHA), mixed fatty acids from walnut, hazelnut, sesame, apricot kernel

- all these healthy fats help increase calcium tissue levels

Don't forget hormonal support may be needed, so check for any thyroid, estrogens, testosterone or parathyroid dysfunction (PTH).

Other co-factors that support the bones are Vitamin D which works with PTH to increase calcium in blood and increases absorption in the GI tract. Vitamin A, from bright orange and yellow fruits or vegetables, and iodine are needed because iodine supports thyroid function. The seaweeds and sea vegetables mentioned earlier are rich sources of iodine.

Kidney function is important and directly connected to blood calcium levels. One of the best things that you can do is support good hydration by drinking adequate amounts of pure, filtered water. Cutting out soda is also a good idea. It has detrimental affects on digestion.

Other minerals that are important as co-factors to calcium utilization are potassium, manganese, boron, copper and zinc. Zinc is particularly important for good digestion.

Steps for the steady support of healthy bones and the possible, slow reversal of osteoporosis:

1. Improve digestion
2. Take good bone mineralizing supplements or make and utilize bone broths from organic chicken bones.
3. Increase essential fatty acids (EFAs).
4. Add vitamins A, D, E, and K (unless on blood thinners, avoid K).
5. Eat good high quality proteins.
6. Eliminate processed foods, artificial foods, sodas, and caffeinated food and drink.
7. Weight bearing exercise is imperative.

Now that you know the risk factors, take the steps to help your bones stay healthy before a diagnosis of osteoporosis or osteopenia. You also have the seven steps to possibly put the brakes on the further deterioration of your bones once you receive a diagnosis. It may even be possible start rebuilding bone and lose that diagnosis as your overall health improves.

Find more free health tips at http://www.solutionthroughnutrition.com

Sandi Thompson, NTP, Certified Wellness Coach, Expert in Weight Management for Women

Sandi Thompson at Solutions Through Nutrition specializes in weight management and lifestyle changes for better, lasting health. Eliminate the barriers to eating healthy in a toxic world. Discover your individual nutritional needs and learn the steps to keep moving forward along the path to exceptional wellness.

The vision of Solutions Through Nutrition is, "Improving the way America eats, one dining room table at a time."

Sandi Thompson works primarily with women 50+ who are motivated to succeed and achieve their weight loss goals, using real whole foods. In addition, she works with couples and families to build lasting change through mutual support to reach a common goal of better health.

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Hormonal Weigh Gain - 5 Keys To Controlling Hormones And Weight Gain

Hormonal Weight Gain - 5 Keys To Controlling Hormones and Weight Gain

By Annie D'Angelo

Ladies, did you know that hormonal weight gain often ranging somewhere from 10 to 15 pounds on average is a very common side effect and symptom of menopause?

No doubt those women who have already begun to experience the beginning or early stages of menopause will agree with the reality of this slow shift in body weight as they watch (often in horror and frustration) their waistlines slowly thicken and increase in circumference without what seems any probable cause!

In fact both past and recent research studies that were carried out on the changes in the endocrine system and women's hormones during peri-menopause and menopause; in particular hormonal weight gain, estimates that at least 80% or more women will inevitably gain some excess poundage throughout their menopause years regardless of whether they change their calorie intake or not.

Does this sound familiar to you in any way? Have you found yourself confused and frustrated with watching your waist circumference slowly increase in spite of not making any changes to your daily diet plan?

Just to be clear, this isn't a sudden change that just happens overnight, but rather a slow, progressive change in the distribution of your body weight and where body fat tends to plant itself.

Unfortunately, it seems that the stomach, the hips and the waistline tend to be the most favoured areas for extra body fat to be stored for most women, much to our dismay.

Calories taken in are not the culprits here either, so reducing your calorie intake has little effect in maintaining your hourglass figure of yesterday.

In fact, fad diets that endorse a near starvation calorie intake of less than 1,200 calories daily can actually exacerbate the problem and be dangerous to your health!

Rather, hormonal weight gain is a direct cause and the thickening effect that follows as a result of fluctuations and shifts in a woman's hormone levels - in essence, your hormones are to blame for that excess belly fat.

There's no question that hormones and weight gain are very intricately linked and there are actually four key hormones at play here, each having its own unique role in how and where your body stores body fat.

Diet and exercise are the first two main factors that can influence the state of your hormones.

Stress, sleep and nutritional supplementation are three important factors too and also play an important role in influencing the state of your hormones and maintaining a healthy body weight as well.

Knowing what NOT to do can be helpful too.

For example, cutting back or avoiding excessive caffeine, alcohol and other stimulants is also important.

The good news for women is that many of these factors can be manipulated and changed in order to help you achieve optimal hormonal balance and avoid hormonal weight gain.

To learn more about your hormones and weight gain and how you can best put these 5 key factors into practice visit http://www.Belly-Fat-Blues.com

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Womens Safety Outside The Home

Womens Safety Outside The Home

By Mark Etinger

Despite the dangers in this world, we all have to step outside of our homes at some point in time, unless you want to live a fearful life with no social interaction. Bad things do happen, but the chances are not astronomically high and as long as you use common sense, you can avoid risky situations. As long as you think clearly, remain alert, and follow basic womens safety advice you can protect yourself from danger.

First it's important to use the "sixth sense." If you ever feel that something just doesn't seem normal or for whatever reason you feel uncomfortable on your normal route, leave, go home a different way. Even if it ends up to be nothing, it's always better to be safe than sorry. Always look confident and never be distracted by cellphones. Predators are looking for the easy target who is either not paying attention or who looks easily intimidated -someone who won't be willing to fight back.

If taking public transportation, wait for the vehicle in a public area. There is always safety in numbers. Hang out in a coffee shop until your taxi arrives. It's best to choose the aisle seat in case you need to make a quick exit. Window seats are fun to look out but that also means you're blocked in. When traveling during non-peak hours by train, choose the compartments with the most passengers sitting in them. For taxis, double check the identification of the driver. If possible, avoid flagging down a taxi on the street. Call for a taxi so it can be traced.

Danger doesn't only happen when taking public transportation. There are plenty of opportunities for something to go wrong in your very own car. When out and about, always park as close to the store/building as possible. Is a dent in your car really worth the risk? When returning to your vehicle, have your keys already in your hand and check your car before entering. Even if you're just leaving your car for a moment to run into a store, always lock your doors and roll up your windows.

For women who walk or jog around the neighborhood, regularly change your routine. In your mind mark out "safe houses" of people you either know or public shops you can run into in case of an emergency. In isolated areas it's best to put away that iPod for a while so you can hear what's going on around you. Look into personal protection products and consider taking self defense courses. The courses should demonstrate attacks that are likely to occur -so don't bother with the mixed martial arts class. You want real life scenarios.

TomPatire.com is a great resource to learn about child safety programs, as well as advice for women, seniors, and families. Find personal protection products and helpful tips. Remember safety first, because you may not get a second chance.

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