for Women Only

Protect Your Feminine Health by Keeping Your Estrogens in Balance

Modern women face some serious challenges to their health. By the age of 60, at, about one in three women will have lost their full reproductive organs by having a hysterectomy. Breast cancer rates have increased from 1 in 20 women in 1960 to 1 in 8 women. Fertility rates have been declining worldwide. Something is obviously wrong because it hasn’t always been like this.

Weston Price, a dentist who toured the world in the 1930s studying indigenous people found almost no reproductive health problems in native women eating traditional diets. So, these problems aren't normal. Their causes lie in our modern lifestyle, and one of the primary causes of these problems is a class of environmental toxins known as xenoestrogens.

What are Xenoestrogens?

To understand what a xenoestrogen is, we need to begin by realizing that there is no single hormone called estrogen. The term estrogen should really be used in the plural-estrogens. For starters, there are three estrogenic hormones produced in the human body, estrais, estrone and estradiol. But, that's not all! Plants also make substances that have estrogen-like effects. These plant-based estrogenic compounds are called phytoestrogens.

Xenoestrogens are a third type of estrogenic compound. They are environmental pollutants that have estrogen-like actions. Xenoestrogens come to us in the form of eggs, meat and dairy products from hormone-fed animals, pesticide residues on food, plastics and other sources. Individually, these chemicals may not be a serious health threat, but when a person is exposed to multiple xenoestrogens, the estrogenic effect is 100-1,000 times stronger than the most potent form of estrogen made in the human body.

This excessive estrogen stimulation can create many health problems. By over stimulating estrogen sensitive tissues, xenoestrogens cause abnormal changes in breast and uterine tissue, contributing to the development of breast lumps and uterine fibroids. Other symptoms of this excessive estrogenic activity include mood swings, menstrual irregularities such as cramps or heavy bleeding, thinning hair, hot flashes and weight gain. Xenoestrogens also play a role in endometriosis, breast cancer and other reproductive cancers in both men and women. The American Geriatric Society also reports that postmenopausal women with higher levels of circulating estrogen also experience greater cognitive decline.

It's not that estrogen itself is bad, it's just that xenoestrogens over stimulate an estrogen response. So, in this article, we'll tell you how to avoid exposure to xenoestrogens, how to rid your body of excess estrogens, and how to keep your hormones more balanced, in general. We'll also introduce you to some effective natural remedies for specific female problems.

Protecting Yourself from Xenoestrogens

Biologists, environmentalists and health care professionals all agree we are living in the age of excessive estrogen stimulation. Our food and water supplies are laden with xenoestrogens from herbicides, pesticides and petrochemical residues from plastics. Estrogen compounds are fed co chickens and cattle to increase meat, egg and dairy production. The common practice of microwaving food in plastic containers produces more xenoestrogens. They're even found in shampoo.

Since xenoestrogens are involved in numerous health problems (including uterine fibroids, fibrocystic breast disease, ovarian cysts, menstrual irregularities such as heavy bleeding and cramps, menopausal symptoms, breast cancer and cervical cancer), it is wise to both reduce your exposure to them and improve your body's ability to balance them and break them down at the same time.

Use Organically Grown Foods

Meat, eggs and dairy foods can be a source of xenoestrogens. Estrogens are fed to dairy cattle to encourage more milk production and to chickens co increase egg production. Animals that are raised organically can't be given estrogens. So choosing organically grown eggs, milk and meat not only reduces your own exposure to estrogens, it reduces the amount of estrogens released into the environment.

Pesticides are another source of xenoestrogens. So, eating. organically-grown fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and beans will also decrease your exposure to xenoestrogens. Many pesticide are fat soluble and they accumulate in animal fat as they work their way up the food chain, resulting in reproductive problem in birds, fish and, of course, human beings. So, also avoid animal fat from non-organic animal foods as both xenoestrogens and other toxins tend to concentrate in the fat.

When you can't get organically grown food, be sure to thoroughly wash your produce with water and Sunshine Concentrate to remove pesticide residues.

Eat Foods Rich in Phytoestrogens

Many natural foods contain phytoestrogens, plant-based estrogen compounds that bind to the same estrogen receptor sites that xenoestrogens do. When a receptor site is already occupied by a phytoestrogen, xenoestrogens can't attach to it.

The great thing about phytoestrogens is that they are generally much weaker in their estrogenic effects than xenoestrogens, or even the body's more potent natural estrogens. So, phytoestrogen help to protect the body against excessive estrogen stimulation by binding receptor sites against more potent compounds with estrogenic activity.

Soy products, such as Phyto-Soy, are frequently touted for their phytoestrogen content, but all beans contain phytoestrogens. Other foods rich in phytoestrogens include many whole grains and dark green, leafy vegetables. So, add more legumes, whole grains and dark greens to the diet. Flax seeds and Flax Seed Oil with Lignans are also excellent ways to gain the protection of phytoestrogens in your diet Lignans are a phytoestrogen.

Detoxify Xenoestrogens

Since the liver is responsible for breaking down excess hormones, environmental toxins and other substances for elimination; the liver is often overworked in today's world. It is also frequently malnourished, due to poor diet.

You can help your liver rid your body of xenoestrogens and other toxins by supporting it with appropriate herbs and supplements. All Cell Detox is a great formula for helping the liver get toxins, like xenoestrogens, our of the body. Enviro-Detox is another formula that may help.

You'll detoxify faster if you also take a fiber supplement like Psyllium Hulls Combination or Everybody's Fiber. Fiber binds toxins, including xenoestrogens, in the intestines and carries them out of the body.

Cruciferous vegetables, such as cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower, are also valuable in reducing levels of xenoestrogens because they contain compounds like indole-3-carbynol, which enhance the liver's ability to break down excess estrogens in the system. Indole-3-Carbinol is also available as a supplement.

Enhance Progesterone

Progesterone and estrogen compete for the same receptor sires and good reproductive health requires a balance between these two hormones. Since the scale in many women is ripped towards estrogen, a natural progesterone supplement, such as Pro-G-Yam Cream is helpful for many women.

Herbs such as sarsaparilla and false unicorn can also be used to counteract excess estrogen by enhancing progesterone. These herbs have been used to help sustain pregnancy and prevent miscarriage and to relieve heavy menstrual bleeding and cramps. Wild Yam & Chaste Tree, taken regularly for several months, can also balance out estrogen and progesterone.

These are some basic suggestions to improve your overall feminine health. Talk to the person who gave you this information for more specific help and advice.

Natural Solutions to Common Female Health Problems

In addition to the general suggestions for helping improve your feminine health, here are some specific suggestions for common feminine health problems. Be sure to obtain a proper medical diagnosis of these problems and to work in conjunction with a qualified health care provider.

Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are growths made up of muscle cells and other tissue that grow in the uterine wall. They can cause pain during periods and heavy menstrual bleeding. They can also cause abdominal swelling and bleeding between the periods. Uterine fibroids are the number one reason for hysterectomies.

Because estrogen stimulates uterine tissue, uterine fibroids are a sign of problems with xenoestrogens and the inability of the liver to detoxify excess estrogen. If you have problems with fibroids, follow the tips for avoiding xenoestrogens and use some detoxifying supplements like All Cell Detox.

When there is heavy bleeding associated with fibroids, Menstrual Reg may be helpful. Yarrow is a single herb that can be very effective for fibroids. Yarrow not only helps control bleeding, it is a "blood moving" herb that breaks up stagnation and helps the body dissolve the fibroids.

Another great tip for helping fibroids heal is to use vaginal boluses made with combination V-X. Empty the powders from the capsules of V-X and mix with cocoa butter to make a thick paste. Form them into small boluses the size of the end of your little finger. Refrigerate them until ready to use.

Many women have found that inserting one V-X bolus in the evening and one in the morning helps tissues heal faster and is very effective at shrinking fibroids. Some women don't bother making the boluses; they simple insert one capsule direcr1y into the vagina twice daily.

Endometriosis

The second leading cause of hysterectomies, endometriosis involves the growth of estrogen-sensitive uterine lining tissue outside of the uterus. This tissue sheds and bleeds with the monthly cycle and can lead to scarring and infertility. It can cause painful periods, pelvic pain, bowel disturbances and cramps. Because of its relationship to the monthly cycle, problems with endometriosis naturally end with menopause.

As with uterine fibroids, a good place to start with natural therapy for endometriosis is to reduce overload of xenoestrogens by avoiding them and enhancing liver detoxification.

False unicorn, which down-regulates estrogen and up regulates progesterone is also helpful for endometriosis. Also consider black cohosh or Wild Yam & Chaste Tree for hormone regulation.

Because it targets abnormal cell growth, Paw Paw Cell Reg has been helpful for some women in getting rid of the uterine tissue growing outside of the uterus. It can be taken with IF-C to reduce inflammation and pain. If there is cramping, antispasmodic remedies such as Cramp Relief and/ or Lobelia Essence may be helpful. Surgery may be necessary in some cases.

If either fibroids or endometriosis have caused anemia due to blood loss, consider taking I-X or Chinese Blood Build.

Ovarian Cysts

A cyst is a sac containing fluid or semi-solid material that develops somewhere in the body, in this case in the ovaries. Ovarian cysts typically occur where there aren't enough hormones to properly mature eggs, so they don't get released. As a result, ovulation fails to occur and the body doesn't produce enough progesterone.

Ovarian cysts can be symptom free in early stages, but they can also cause absent or scant periods, pelvic pain and distention and excessive bleeding. While medical science doesn't know the exact cause, in natural medicine, cysts are considered a sign of toxicity and are created to store toxins the body is having trouble eliminating. So, taking supplements to enhance liver detoxification, such as All Cell Detox, is a good place to start when approaching this problem naturally. Pau d'Arco is also helpful for detoxification.

To ease pain and promote healing, you can apply Nature's Fresh and Helichrysum essential oil topically over the affected area. To help balance out hormones, consider taking Wild Yam &Chaste Tree for at least three to six months. Since diabetes and obesity are risk factors for ovarian cysts, cleaning up your diet by avoiding refined carbohydrates and eating more complex carbohydrates like fruits, vegetables and whole grains is also important.

Fibrocystic Breasts

This condition involves cysts that develop in the breast tissue and cause swollen, tender or painful breasts. A common problem, over 30% of women between 30 and 50 develop breast cysts. Fortunately, they are usually benign and only 10% of fibrocystic conditions develop into breast cancer.

Again, avoiding xenoestrogens and enhancing liver detoxification is the starting place for natural therapy. Because caffeine tends to aggravate this condition, it should be avoided. Essential fatty acids, like Super Omega-3 EPA are also helpful for cystic breasts, as are Vitamin E and Vitamin B6.

To reduce breast swelling and tenderness, it is important to improve lymphatic drainage by wearing correctly fitted bras. Lymphatic Drainage Formula and exercise will also help.

Additional Suggestions

Used with the tips for protecting yourself from xenoestrogens, the following practices can reduce your risk of feminine health problems, including breast cancer. First, consume good fats such as Super Omega-3 EPA, Flax Seed Oil, organic coconut oil and butter from grass fed animals.

Second, avoid excess alcohol and caffeine. They can tribute to reproductive disorders. Third, reduce stress by filling your life with pleasurable activities. Find ways to pamper yourself regularly. And finally, regular exercise will also help maintain both your reproductive and general health.

For additional tips and suggestions on maintaining feminine health, take to the person who gave you this article. They will be happy to help you

For More information Contact:

Karen Olerich, Herb Specialist

Phone: (719) 495-4930

E-mail: herblady@a-renewedhealth.com

Web: http://www.a-renewedhealth.com

Real Health Insurance

Tips on “Insuring" Good Health in Your Retirement Years

Many people spend a lot of time and energy saving, investing and planning for retirement. Unfortunately, most of these people will develop chronic and degenerative health problems as they age, which diminish the quality of life they experience in their senior years. It won't do any much good to have a fat bank account if they die of a heart attack or cancer, or suffer from crippling arthritis or other conditions that prevent them from enjoying life as they grow older.

So, when your are planning and preparing for our senior years, you ought to invest some time, effort and money into improving and maintaining your health at the same time. And remember that government health care programs like Medicare and private health insurance policies don't really insure good health. All they cover is the costs of “disease care” -the use of drugs and surgery to treat symptoms of disease after they develop. This is not the same as investing in creating good health.

Senior Citizens and Prescription Drugs

It's no secret that senior citizens have more health problems and take more medications than any other age group. According to the United States Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, in 2005 Americans 65 years and older spent $70.2 billion dollars on prescription drugs, with $48.4 billion (69%) of that being provided via Medicare. Total drug expenses for all age groups during that same year totaled $198.9 billion. So the age 65 and over bracket accounted for 35% of the prescription market.

The top five classes of drugs used by senior citizens are 1) cardiovascular medications (such as heart and high blood pressure medications), 2) metabolic agents (such as cholesterol lowering and anti-diabetic agents), 3) central nervous system agents (pain relievers, brain medications, etc.), 4) gastrointestinal drugs (antacids, acid blockers, etc.) and 5) hormone replacement therapy. From this, we can conclude that the most critical health concerns facing senior citizens are cardiovascular problems, diabetes and cholesterol management, pain and mental function, digestive upset and menopausal symptoms.

It would be great if these drugs were actually improving the health of senior citizens, but more often than not, they aren't. Americans use more prescription drugs than any other country, yet have some of the lowest health statistics of any industrialized nation. All one has to do is take a close look at the quality of life of those taking these medications to realize that drugs aren't improving the health of senior citizens. The goal of this article is to provide some suggestions on how one can invest in creating real health. Take a look at some natural alternatives of the top five categories of drugs listed above. The goal is to help everyone, both young and old, to learn how to build real health. The younger you are when you start doing this, the better off you will be and it's never too late to get started, because unlike financial investment plans where the benefits won't he received until many years in the future, investing in one's health reaps immediate positive benefits as well as future ones.

Investments for Creating Radiant Well-Being and Longevity

Investing in your health isn't all that complex. It doesn't even require that much self-disciple. Self-discipline suggests some type of self-deprivation, but caring for your health is the exact opposite of self-deprivation. Instead, it is self-nurturing.

What it takes to invest in one's health is a change of habits. You simply start investing in health by forming positive health habits. Once you start making these investments and notice how much better you feel, you'll want to keep investing because the physical, mental and emotional dividends will become obvious. So, here is a checklist of places to invest time, energy and money in your health.

Eat Quality Food

Obviously, good nutrition is the place to start. The basic investment rule here is simple; avoid putting your money into refined and processed foods and purchase whole, natural and organically-grown foods instead.
The most important dietary habit you can establish is to eat five to seven 1/2 cup servings of fresh fruits and vegetables every day. It's also important to select whole grain products and natural sugars (such as raw honey, xylitol, organic natural brown sugar, etc.) over their refined and processed counterparts. If you crave sugary snacks and white flour products, you need to eat more healthy fats and protein.

When selecting fats, avoid margarine, shortening and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. Instead, use olive oil, organic butter and cream from grass-fed cows, coconut oil, avocados and nuts as good sources of quality fats. Starting your day with a tablespoon of coconut oil will greatly reduce sugar cravings, too.

Food is both the fuel that energizes your body functions and the source of raw materials to produce healthy structures. Eating cheap junk food is no way to save money. It will reduce your energy, weaken your tissues and you'll wind up spending far more in doctor and hospital bills than you saved by eating low quality food.

Use Appropriate Supplements

Even if you're eating a healthy diet, you can take out some additional health insurance by selecting a few well-chosen supplements. These can be general supplements, designed to support overall nutrition, or specific supplements to address common health concerns associated with aging. Here are a few ideas for some basic supplements.

Super Trio is a great basic program containing three important supplements, Super Supplemental, a high quality multiple vitamin and mineral; Super Omega-3, a source for the essential omega-3 fatty acids; and Super ORAC, a powerful antioxidant blend. Super Trio can provide basic nutrients that may be lacking in the diet, reduce the inflammation and oxidative damage associated with aging and degenerative disease and support general health.

Three other basic supplements to consider are Thai Go and Ultimate GreenZone, and Mineral Chi contains trace minerals which help ensure healthy tissue function and tonic herbs that enhance energy production, reduce stress and balance hormones. These tonic herbs are traditionally used to counteract the effects of aging.

Thai Go is a delicious juice made from antioxidant fruits and herbs. It reduces the free radical activity believed to be responsible for aging and the development of chronic and degenerative disease.

Ultimate GreenZone is a whole food supplement. It supplies extra nutrients to insure the body is getting what it needs. In many ways, GreenZone is even better than a multi-vitamin because it supplies numerous trace elements found in whole foods that science may yet discover are critical to our health.

Drink Water and Breathe Deeply

Two very simple things one can do to insure one's health are to drink plenty of pure water and practice deep breathing. For optimal health one needs to drink about 112 ounce of water per pound of body weight every day. Practicing any form of deep breathing will also greatly benefit one's health. These two practices alone can reduce pain and inflammation throughout the body while increasing energy levels and overall health.

Balance Rest and Exercise

It is very important to stay physically active as one grows older. A rigorous exercise program isn't necessary, but some form of moderate physical activity such as walking, swimming or gentle bouncing on a mini-trampoline is essential to good health. The lymphatic system stagnates when we aren't breathing deeply and moving around. This causes toxins to accumulate in the system and contributes to aging and degenerative disease.

Of course, it's also important to balance activity with rest. As we grow older, it's natural to slow down a little. Taking short naps or otherwise resting when you are tired is good for your health. It's also important to get a sound night's sleep, something that often becomes a challenge as we get older.

If you're having trouble sleeping, there are numerous herbs and supplements that can help such as Herbal Sleep or Nervous Fatigue Formula.

Natural Alternatives to the Top Five Categories of Drugs Used by Senior Citizens

In the beginning of this article was mentioned the top five categories of drugs used by citizens aged 65 and older. Also mentioned how these drugs may be relieving symptoms, but are not improving overall health. Here are some natural alternatives to these categories of drugs that can actually improve health rather than just treat symptoms.

(1) Cardiovascular Drugs
With cardiovascular disease accounting for half of all deaths, it's little wonder that cardiovascular drugs are number one. Nearly three quarters of all Medicare patients are on at least one cardiovascular medication. The interesting thing about this is that cardiovascular disease as we know it was rare prior to 1900 and practically non-existent in traditional cultures. This means it is an illness largely brought on by modern diets and lifestyles.

So, if cardiovascular health is a concern to you, the place to start is with the basic health investments listed above. It's also a good idea to regularly use herbs that enhance cardiac health such as garlic, capsicum, hawthorn and ginkgo. Two great formulas to consider are Capsicum, Garlic and Parsley and Ginkgo and Hawthorn. These formulas can help maintain blood pressure, improve blood flow to the heart, brain and extremities and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Using Mega-Chel as part of an oral chelation program can dramatically improve circulation throughout the body. The Mega Chel oral chelation program has enhanced mental clarity, improved macular degeneration, helped with diabetic neuropathy, reduced blood pressure and relieved coldness in the extremities in numerous people. Talk to the person who gave you this newsletter for instructions on how to use Mega-Chel to improve circulation.

If high blood pressure is a concern, RG-Max may be helpful. It supplies l-arginine, an amino acid that enhances nitric oxide production to dilate blood vessels and improve blood flow. Blood Pressurex is another supplement that also helps reduce blood pressure in many people.

(2) Metabolic Regulators

Metabolic regulators are drugs that help to lower cholesterol, treat diabetes or other altered metabolism. The best way to regulate your metabolism is with diet. Avoiding refined sugars and processed grains and oils, while eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, high quality fats and proteins is the best way to keep cholesterol and blood sugar balanced. However, there are supplements that can help, too. Let's start with cholesterol.

Before seeking to lower one's cholesterol, the first question to be asked is: does your cholesterol really need to be lower? Contrary to popular belief, cholesterol is not the cause of heart disease and lowering cholesterol with drugs like statins does not necessarily reduce your risk of dying of heart disease. If your cholesterol is between 200 and 250 don't worry about it; you're actually within a healthy and perfectly normal range.

If your cholesterol is actually high (say 300 or above), consider using Red Yeast Rice. It contains the natural compounds from which statin drugs were originally produced and is much safer.

Better yet, just increase your intake of dietary fiber. A fiber supplement like LoClo or Nature's Three will absorb cholesterol released from your liver and gall bladder and will remove it from your body. It will also help protect you against colon cancer, regulate your blood sugar and improve your general health.

If blood sugar problems are present, two great supplements to consider are Target P-14 and Sugar Reg. Both of these supplements supply herbs and nutrients that reduce insulin resistance and help to improve blood sugar levels.

(3) Nervous System Remedies

This class of drug remedies includes pain relievers, remedies for memory loss and mood disorders like depression. Again, making the investments will go a long way to preventing and relieving these problems. Specific supplements can also be taken to help.

Arthritis and other inflammatory conditions that cause pain and decreased mobility are common among the elderly. Pain medications may provide temporary relief, but do little to actually fix the problem. Consider taking Joint Support, a tried and true herbal formula that has helped people for decades. Joint Support helps reduce inflammation and pain, detoxify the body, balance the pH and supplies minerals for healthy bones and joints.
Another supplement many people find helpful is EverFlex. This blend of g!ucosamine, chondroitin, MSM and hyaluronic acid also helps reduce inflammation and pain while assisting the rebuilding your damaged joints. As a general remedy for pain, IF Relief may be helpful. It contains pain relieving and anti-inflammatory herbs and nutrients.

For enhancing memory and brain function, Ginkgo/Gotu Kola w/Bacopa is an excellent choice. It enhances circulation to the brain and acts as a general tonic to improve memory and cognitive function. To protect the brain against free radical damage and memory loss, consider Brain Protex, a blend of antioxidants and nutrients to enhance the brain cells responsible for memory.

(4) Gastrointestinal Medications

Many elderly people suffer from digestive system problems. This is because levels of hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes tend to decline with age. Believe it or not, the most common cause of acid indigestion isn't excess stomach acid; it's actually due to a deficiency of hydrochloric acid and enzymes in the stomach. Taking antacids and acid blockers only makes the problem worse.

What is more likely to help is to take Food Enzymes or Proactazyme to enhance digestion. If acid reflux is a problem, get checked for a hiatal hernia and use Digestive Bitters to reduce the acid reflux and promote better digestion at the same time.

When elderly people are losing weight and becoming thin and pale due to poor digestion and metabolism, the Chinese formula Spleen Activator can help. It enhances digestion and improves metabolism and utilization of proteins.

(5) Hormone Replacement Therapy

In 2003, hormone replacement was the third leading class of drugs prescribed to elderly patients. By 2005, it had dropped to fifth place, probably due to concerns over the safety of hormone replacement therapy. Fortunately; there are safe natural alternatives that can help to balance hormones in the elderly.

Ginseng, for example, has been used as a tonic for the elderly for thousands of years both in Asia and by Native Americans. It reduces stress, enhances immunity and improves energy. Just one capsule of Wild American Ginseng or Korean Ginseng per day can make a big difference. For those whose general health and immunity is weak, consider Trigger Immune. This is a general tonic for improving overall health and is a great hormone balancer for the elderly.

Low levels of hormones can be enhanced with DHEA-F for women and DHEA-M for men. DHEA is a building block for estrogens and androgens like testosterone and may have anti-aging characteristics for people with low levels of it.

Another natural hormone replacement product is IGF-I made from deer antler velvet. Deer antler velvet has been used in Asia to enhance function of the immune system and sexual performance, slow aging and promote cell growth and repair.

There are many other produces that will help for most of the above problems. Let me know if you need more information and help with what is best for you.

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For more information Contact:

Karen Olerich, Herb Specialist

E-Mail: herblady@a-renewedhealth.com

Web: www.a-renewedhealth.com