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Nutrition and Hormonal Balance

  Good Morning,  Nutrition and Hormonal Balance As an acupuncturist in the area of fertility, I realize tha...

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Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Recipe: Crescent Moon Cookies

 


Good Morning!

Recipe: Crescent Moon Cookies
The cycles of the moon are important when doing any kind of empowerment work in order to manifest what we want in life. When working with the energy of natural cycles, you are likely to get better results with the cycles of the moon since they have great power over the tides of our emotions.

Food has been used all over the world to help celebrate rituals and festivals and food associated with the moon is no different. Enjoy these wonderful ideas for your moon ceremony.

Crescent Moon Cookies are delightful treat often eaten during various moon celebrations or rituals. They are made in the shape of the crescent moon, and the whole hazelnut in them represent the Full Moon that is to come.
Ingredients:
9oz whole wheat flour
3oz soft light brown sugar
6oz butter or vegan margarine
A handful of hazelnuts

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 300F or 150C. Beat the butter or margarine with the sugar until blended.
2. Add the flour, and mix together to form a dough. Knead on a floured surface. Gently work the whole hazelnuts through it, flatten out to a depth of about half an inch.
3. If you have a moon-shaped pastry cutter, use this to form the biscuits. However, you may want to cut the moon shapes yourself with a small sharp knife. You can even add a few features, or Moon symbols, to the surface. Place the biscuits on a baking sheet, and put in the oven until light golden brown.
Makes about 18 biscuits

Sunday, September 22, 2013

PCOS - Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

 



Good Morning!

PCOS - Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

PCOS (Polycystic ovarian syndrome) is an endocrine disorder that is the most common hormonal disorder among women of reproductive age and is a leading cause of infertility. It occurs among all races and nationalities. The primary features are lack of regular ovulation and irregular or absent periods. There is also an excessive amounts or effects of androgenic hormones. The symptoms and severity of the syndrome vary greatly between women. While the causes are unknown, insulin resistance (often secondary to obesity) is heavily correlated with PCOS.
Other symptoms may include acne, weights gain (but not always) or have trouble losing weight, male pattern baldness or thinning hair on the scalp, hair growth on the face, back, or chest or sometimes, high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). About half of women with PCOS have high insulin and blood sugar levels called insulin resistance. When the body doesn't use insulin well, blood sugar builds to high levels. If not treated, this can lead to diabetes. High cholesterol levels are also common with PCOS.
In PCOS, there are multiple cysts in the ovaries, which are actually small, undeveloped follicles that have had their growth stunted. The cysts, as well as the connective tissue around them produce male hormones called androgens. Androgens are then released into the blood stream and alter the feedback within the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis (HPO axis). The amount of estrogen then increases in relation to progesterone causing an increase in testosterone and Luteinizing hormone (LH).

Treating PCOS
The two most important key factors that any woman could do to lower her risk of PCOS is to eat a heart-healthy, low glycemic, low fat foods, and incorporate regular exercise into your life. This helps to reduce insulin resistance, one of the main factors in anovulation and hormone imbalance.
Foods to Avoid:
-Cut out all forms of refined sugar
-Cut out all refined (simple) carbohydrates. Follow the Full Spectrum Diet. This says to cut out all white foods, which include all white bread, rice, pasta, low fiber foods, most breakfast cereals and rice cakes.
-Reduce animal products and fats
-Avoid all soda, fruit juice and sugary drinks
-Avoid milk and dairy products
-Avoid alcohol and caffeine
-Avoid fertility diets that suggest you eat large amounts of yams. This is not appropriate for PCOS
-Reduce the intake of oily, fried, and sugary foods, fried snacks and fast foods
-Do not miss meals; and do not starve in terms of total quantity of food

Foods You Should Eat:
-Eat adequate amounts of protein
-Eat as much fresh vegetables as you can
-Eat foods, which nourish the liver such as dark green vegetables, lemons, carrots and beets
-Eat fruit light in sugar and sweetness such as berries
-Eat complex carbohydrates (lower glycemic carbohydrates), which tend to have more fiber such as bran cereal, brown rice, whole wheat, whole-grains and nuts and grains like quinoa, whole oats, and bulgur.
These foods help women with PCOS to maintain steady blood sugar and insulin levels and may assist in weight loss. A diet composed of mainly low-GI foods will also help to combat the effects of insulin resistance.

Supplements and Herbs
-Chlorophyl helps reduce symptoms of hypoglycemia without raising blood glucose levels
-Include supplements that help improve insulin resistance such as B vitamins, magnesium, alpha lipoic acid and chromium. Chromium increases the sensitivity of insulin receptors. Recommended dosage is 300 micrograms/day.
-Essential fatty acids, including flax oil, evening primrose oil (Oenothera biennis), and black currant oil, act as anti-inflammatory and hormonal regulators.
-Supplementation with antioxidants, including zinc, and vitamins A, E, and C, are also recommended. If you are anemic, take an iron supplement with Vitamin C (which helps with iron absorption). If you have heavy periods or bleed heavy for longer than five days, you may be anemic.
-Western herbal medicine uses phytoestrogen and phytoprogesteronic herbs, such as blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) and false unicorn root (Chamaelirium luteum), as well as liver herbs, like dandelion (Taraxacum mongolicum), to work toward hormonal balance.
-Acupuncture works on the body's energy flow according to the meridian system. Chinese herbs, such as gui zhi fu ling wan, can be effective.
-In naturopathic medicine, treatment focuses on helping the liver function more optimally in the hormonal balancing process.
-Exercise is the second most important key to PCOS. Exercise helps the body's cells use glucose as energy, reducing blood glucose levels. A structured exercise plan can help the body use insulin more efficiently and gradually reduce insulin levels. Regular exercise also improves circulation, reduces blood pressure, increases levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL), your good cholesterol and helps with weight loss.
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Friday, September 20, 2013

How to Prevent Stomach Cancer or Peptic Ulcer in Just 1 Week

 

How to Prevent Stomach Cancer or Peptic Ulcer in Just 1 Week

Loss of appetite is usually a part of the normal aging process. Our digestive system tends to worsen with age especially when it comes to our stomach. However, some stomach or digestive problems don't necessarily relate to normal aging. Rather, the stomach may actually be aging prematurely or aging faster than it should.

If these stomach problems are left untreated, it can result to an increased risk of peptic ulcer and stomach cancer, which can start as early as age 30, with twice as much risk to those aged 50 and above!

Of course, there's good news! There's a possible treatment that does not only help delay the aging process of the stomach, but rejuvenate it, too.

In this article, we'll tell you the surprising cause of 'aging' stomach including the latest treatment available.

## Aging Stomach among Healthy People

One of the characteristics of aging stomach is thinner stomach lining, which makes it more susceptible to damage. This condition progresses rapidly, so you'll have 18 times increased risk of peptic ulcer, and 100 times the risk of having stomach cancer.

In one of the case studies conducted in Japan, 50% of the participants aged 40s-60s have their stomach aging 10 years ahead than the actual age. On the contrary, people who are 50 years and older have their stomach aged younger.

Another case study was conducted on an 80-year-old man and 20-year-old man to determine if regular exercise and diet have anything to do with aging stomach.

It was shown that the 80-year-old man's stomach is aged above its actual age. It's worth noting that this person had a good lifestyle, taking regular exercise, and good diet.

On the other hand, the 20-year-old man is not getting regular exercise, and eats mostly only his favorite meals. In other words, he does not have a good healthy lifestyle, yet his stomach is aged younger than its actual age.

Based on these studies, abnormal aging of the stomach is not necessarily attributed to exercise and diet.

You may think that stress could be the cause, but stress experiments also do not show any changes to the stomach at all.

In conclusion, lifestyle does not cause the aging of the stomach.

## Gastroenterology Discovery! Stomach is Not Aging Originally!?

The cause of premature aging of the stomach has been a mystery among the medical community for quite some time. It is only in recent years that the primary cause of aging stomach is discovered. This discovery does not only help get rid of the cause but rejuvenates the health of the stomach altogether.

Simply put?poor lifestyle, stress, diet, and exercise do not directly affect how the stomach age. In fact, the stomach organ, by its inherent nature, does not age!

If that is the case, then what kind of thing that breaks into the stomach and makes it age?

Latest findings show that one of the primary causes of aged stomach and stomach cancer is "H. pylori (Helicobacter pylori)". About one-half of the world's population is infected with this stomach bacterium. This makes it the worldfs most widespread infection.

## H. Pylori Infection Makes Your Stomach Lining Thinner!

Because of the stomach's rapid metabolism, too much drinking and eating can easily stress the stomachfs wall lining and irritate it. The stomach however, is capable of healing itself over the course of a few days.

However, if one is infected with the H. pylori, the bacterium continues to stay in the stomach at all times. The bacterium is capable of breaking the surface cells of the stomach and making the mucous membrane thinner. In this state, the stomach won't be able to self-heal sufficiently and could eventually lead to stomach cancer and gastric or peptic ulcer.

## How is Helicobacter Pylori Diagnosed?

There are several methods available that can be used to diagnose an H. pylori infection.

These tests and procedures include:

1. Endoscopy
2. Breath test
3. Blood antibody test
4. Urine test
5. Stool antigen test

## How Do You Eradicate Helicobacter Pylori?

Take a one-week antibiotic regimen. This is a standard first-line therapy that has revolutionized the treatment of peptic ulcers. You can help to successfully eradicate H. pylori infection by incorporating this modern one-week antibiotic "eradication protocols".

Research shows that the risk of ulcers and cancer drops dramatically after proper eradication of H. pylori.

However, if the stomach lining has already been damaged by the H. pylori infection, then it may take 4-5 years for it to recover completely. The recovery will also be slower with age. Therefore, it is recommended that the infection is eradicated as early as possible.

Are there natural ways in eradicating Helicobacter pylori? Some new studies suggest that virgin olive oil may help treat H. pylori infections. However, its efficacy against the bacteria is only shown in laboratory tests. How effective it will be when it's incorporated into our diet is yet to be determined.

## Important Notes

1. Loss of appetite and weight loss are some of the common side effects of antibiotic therapy. Consult your doctor before taking the one-week antibiotic regimen.
2. Do not expect to have a zero risk of getting stomach cancer after successfully eradicating the H. pylori bacterium. Regular checkup is still recommended.
3. If you are suffering from gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), H. pylori eradication may lead to worsened control of reflux. Please consult your doctor beforehand.___