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HEALTH
NEWS
by Lynne Gully |
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May 2007 |
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WOMEN’S PROBLEMS – Part One Ever
since I became interested in natural health many women have asked for my
advice on various female health problems such as the menopause, heavy or
painful periods, PMS, endometriosis, etc. I have always enjoyed researching
these health problems and I purchased many books trying to find the
solutions. One of the best books on the market (in my opinion) is a book
called ‘The Natural Health Handbook For Women’ by Marilyn Glenville
PhD. She has over 20 years experience of specialising in women’s problems.
Women who go to see her want to know what natural remedies are available to
treat their problem and also want details of the conventional medical options
in order to make an informed decision about which treatment to choose. You
may have just been told that you have fibroids or endometriosis and that you
need a hysterectomy or drugs. You may not be comfortable with this suggested
treatment and want to know if there are any other options available to you.
The book lets you know what choices are available to you both naturally and
medically. You may choose to try the ‘natural’ method for six months or so
and then have a medical check-up to see how effective this treatment has been.
The
natural approach usually consists of a change in diet to exclude certain
foods that may be causing a hormonal imbalance together with various
vitamins, minerals and herbs to ensure you have optimum nutrition and to
balance the hormones. Nutrition is the actual foundation of your health. What
you eat governs how well you survive and the actual quality of your health.
There are many female health problems, but most are triggered by the same
mechanisms, including stress, hormone imbalance, nutritional deficiencies and
toxins. By taking steps towards optimum health, the majority of women’s
health problems can be alleviated or, in many cases, eliminated altogether. It
is always a good thing to find the cause of your problems. For example, if
you have endometriosis, surgery can remove as much of the endometriosis as
possible. However, if you do not change anything regarding your diet or
lifestyle, the endometriosis can grow back within a few months, because the
underlying cause of the problem has not been addressed. I
will provide some suggested natural treatments for various female health
problems in this newsletter and in next month’s newsletter. Then it will be
the turn of the men so that you don’t feel left out. ******************************************************************************************** Article
From The Independent – 19 April 2007 Women
undergoing HRT face increased risk of getting cancer by Jeremy Laurance
HRT
(hormone replacement therapy) was once described as the last frontier in the
emancipation of women. A pill that would ease the transition through the
menopause. Now the world’s largest study of HRT has shown that it may have
caused 1,000 deaths from ovarian cancer between 1991 and 2005. Previous
results from the same study have shown that the risk of breast cancer and
endometrial cancer (of the lining of the womb) is also increased by the
treatment. Overall,
the incidences of these three common cancers are increased by 63%
among women currently taking HRT compared with those who have never taken it.
An estimated two million women were taking HRT at the height of its
popularity in 2002 in the UK and millions more worldwide. The huge numbers
exposed to the drug mean that tens of thousands will have developed cancer as
a result. On
top of the cancer risk, HRT also increases the risk of stroke and thrombosis.
Earlier evidence suggesting it cut the risk of heart disease has not been
borne out by later studies. Professor Valerie Beral, chief author of the
ovarian cancer study, published in The Lancet, said the argument about HRT
was now settled. “In terms of the major health impact of HRT, the adverse
effects outweigh the benefits. I don’t think in the serious scientific
literature there is any longer a debate about this.” |
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Contact Lynne at lynne.gully@optimumhealth.co.uk
or tel: 0030 28920 42356 |
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Hormone Balancing Diet An excess of oestrogen causes many of our female
hormone problems, so you need to control high levels of oestrogen and to eat
foods that have an overall balancing effect on hormones. 1.
Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables 2.
Eat complex carbohydrates - whole grains like brown rice, oats and
wholemeal bread. Avoid white bread and white pasta. 3.
Buy organic foods where possible. 4.
Eat phytoestrogens, including beans such as lentils, chickpeas and
soya products. 5.
Eat oily foods, including fish, nuts, seeds and oils. 6.
Reduce your intake of saturated fat from dairy products and red meat.
7.
Drink enough fluids and drink at least 6 glasses of water. Start your
day with hot water and fresh lemon juice, which helps to cleanse the liver. 8.
Increase your intake of fibre. 9.
Avoid additives, preservatives and chemicals, such as artificial
sweeteners. 10.
Reduce your intake of caffeine from coffee, tea, colas and chocolate. 11.
Reduce alcohol to give your liver a “break”. 12.
Avoid sugar, both on its own and hidden in foods. NATURAL
HRT The first female health
‘problem’ to be addressed is the menopause. This is not an illness, but a
collection of symptoms showing a hormonal imbalance. The best way to address
these symptoms is to balance your hormones naturally. Ø
Begin the Hormone Balancing Diet Ø
Increase your intake of phytoestrogens from food such as soya, lentils, chickpeas, aduki
beans, kidney beans, peas, garlic, celery, seeds (linseeds, sesame, pumpkin,
poppy, caraway, sunflower). Broccoli, carrots, rhubarb, potatoes, fennel.
Alfalfa and mung bean sprouts. Some herbs and spices are also classed as
phytoestrogens including cinnamon, sage, red clover, fennel and parsley. Ø
Take a good multivitamin
and mineral supplement such as Mega Chel. Stock no 1821. Ø
Nature’s Sunshine has put together a ‘Natural
Woman’ pack designed specifically for
women approaching or experiencing symptoms of menopause. This contains: ·
Black Cohosh &
Licorice, Wild
Yam and Chaste
Tree, which help to balance the hormones and alleviate hot flushes. ·
Nutri Calm, which is a combination of all the B vitamins together with
calming herbs - valerian, hops flowers and passionflowers, helping
to reduce stress and strengthen the nervous system. ·
Skeletal Strength is a combination of calcium, magnesium, boron,
potassium, zinc, horsetail herb and many other nutrients all designed to
strengthen the bones. ·
Flax Seed Oil protects the heart, helps to reduce cholesterol and blood pressure
and lowers the risk of strokes. Also helps to break down saturated fats and
aids in weight loss. Natural Woman Pack. Stock no 6877 |
Painful Periods It is estimated that
between 50 and 70 per cent of women endure some degree of period pain and
cramping. For some women the pain can be so debilitating that they are forced
to take time off work or can only get through their periods by dosing
themselves with painkillers. There may be no specific problem casing the pain
or it could be caused by a specific condition such as endometriosis or
fibroids. Because pain is usually a warning signal from your body, it is
important that investigations are carried out. This natural treatment
plan can be followed if the pain has no specific cause: Ø
Begin the Hormone Balancing Diet Ø
Eliminate or greatly reduce dairy products including milk, cheese,
cottage cheese, yoghurt, butter and even dairy ice cream. Ø
Reduce all sources of meat as this contains arachidonic acid, which
causes inflammation and cramps. Ø
Eat lots of oily fish such as mackerel, herring, sardines and salmon.
Ø
Omega 3 fish oil supplementation is extremely important in the treatment of painful
periods. Stock no 1609. Ø
Take a good multivitamin
and mineral supplement such as Mega Chel. Stock no 1821. Ø The herbal combination of Red
Raspberry and Dong Quai is classed as a ‘woman’s tonic’ as it helps to
encourage the normal functioning of the womb by changing the rhythm of the
contractions and by improving the circulation to the womb. This ensures
enough oxygen reaches the tissues and so minimises pain and cramping. Take
this throughout the month but stop when your period begins. Stock no 882. Why The Need For Supplements You may wonder why you
need the supplements recommended, particularly if you have a good diet.
Unfortunately even the best diet can no longer supply us with everything we
need and supplements are no longer considered to be a little ‘extra’. You
simply do not get all the nutrients you need from your food. This was
confirmed from a National Food Survey conducted in 1995, which found that the
average person in the UK is grossly deficient in six out of the eight
vitamins and minerals surveyed. Less than one in ten people receive the RDA
(recommended daily allowance) of 15mg of zinc; which is the most important
mineral for female hormone problems. It is absolutely essential
that you get the best quality vitamins, minerals and herbs for maximum
absorption and effectiveness. Not all supplements are the same. Many
companies use the cheaper form of many vitamins and minerals, which means
they will not be as effective. The herbal remedies need to have the correct
potency and are free from pesticides and herbicides. This is why I recommend
the company Nature’s Sunshine as they produce high quality supplements and
carry out over 300 tests to ensure the potency and cleanliness of the herbal combinations. Ensure that you take your
supplements with food. You want your body to think they are part of your
diet, so that they are better absorbed. To order any of these products–
call Nature’s Sunshine Products on 08458
40 50 60 or the main telephone line on 01952 671600. |
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