Celiac disease is a malabsorption syndrome and chronic digestive disorder. The intestine is not able to absorb vital dietary nutrients from foods containing gliadin, an alcohol-soluble portion of gluten. This condition which is often hereditary means the sufferer has a serious intolerance to wheat (including durum, semolina and spelt), rye, oats, barley, and related grain hybrids such as tritaclae and kamut.
Arthritis refers to inflammation of the joint. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis which is characterised by joint degeneration and loss of cartilage. Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of inflammatory arthritis which is also an autoimmune disorder. In this case the body's immune system attacks its own cartilage and tissue surrounding the joints.
Some detoxification experts advocate fasting, while others do not. It is known that the components of any well-designed detox program will stimulate the body to cleanse itself, but people who are underweight, are undernourished, have weak hearts, have blood sugar issues or are ill should avoid fasting. Some studies have shown that restricting food intake can actually lead to bingeing.
Hemorrhoids are extremely common in industrialised countries and it is estimated that fifty percent of persons over fifty years of age have symptoms of hemorrhoidal disease. Although most people may begin to develop hemorrhoids in the twenties, the symptoms do not become evident normally until in ones thirties!
Enhancing female hormones
- What is menopause?
- Symptoms of menopause
- How do I treat menopause naturally?
- Menopause - Natural treatments and remedies
- Diet for support of menopause
- Supplements to support menopause
- Lifestyle support for menopause
- Herbal support for menopause
This natural stage of life typically occurs in women between the ages of 40 and 60 years, when the ovaries stop producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone. In the United States, the average age of menopause is 51 years, though around the world the average is 60 years. The decrease in estrogen levels can also cause bone loss (osteoporosis) and put women at an increased risk of heart disease.
The perimenopausal period, which occurs 1-5 years before actual menopause, may also be a period of uncomfortable side effects for many women. Approximately 80% of perimenopausal women in the United States experience hot flashes as a result of changes in hormone levels; 30% of these women have hot flashes that are severe or frequent enough to interfere with normal life.
Hot flashes, or "power surges" as some women call them, can occur at any time of the day and typically last for 3-5 minutes. For some women, however, they can last for 30 minutes or more. Most women experience hot flashes for 6 months to 2 years, but some may experience them for much longer. Symptoms of hot flashes may include some or all of the following:
- A feeling of extreme warmth
- Sweating that is sudden and may be drenching
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Headaches
- Joint pain
- Interruptions in sleep or night sweats
How do I treat menopause naturally?
Various things change in your body as you go through menopause and therefor there are different areas of your health that you may need to give a little more attention to. These are
The adrenal glands; Once a woman reaches menopause, the adrenal glands and fat cells become the primary sources for estrogen production
Your bones; Estrogen plays an important role in bone health by decreasing the rate of bone reabsorption . As estrogen levels decline, the body’s ability to keep up with the natural process of bone turnover also declines, as bone mass decreases, the risk of fractures increases.
Your heart and general circulation' Estrogen which diminishes at menopause, appears to naturally protect women from heart disease presumably by promoting a favourable plasma lipid profile and healthy circulation.
Menopause- natural treatments and remedies
Diet for support of menopause
Increase PHYTOESTROGENS: They may help to lesson menopausal discomfort and help protect against cardiovascular disease, breast cancer and osteoporosis.
Tofu, tempeh, sprouted soy beans, miso, chickpeas, alfalfa and mungbean sprouts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds buckwheat, millet, legumes and beans.
Increase FLAXSEED FIBRE (linseeds): For weak oestrogenic activity and can facilitate excretion of cancer causing estrogen. Protects against cardiovascular disease, breast uterine and ovarian cancer. Try the linseed breakfast cereal
Increase FISH OILS: Omega 3 fatty acids are important of decreasing heart and cancer risks in menopausal women. Eat plenty of dark oily fish.
Reduce red meat to 1-2 x a week, Eat fish 3x week (esp. salmon, sardines and tuna) and free range organic chicken 2x week
Increase fibre intake- fibre helps to lower risk of heart disease and cancer.
Increase intake of antioxidants to protect against cardiovascular disease
Avoid use of soda drinks and other soft drinks with high phosphorous.
Drink lots of purified water
Drink herb teas:
Oat straw
Nettle
Dandelion root coffee
Horsetail tea
Suggested Foods For pre Menopausal and Post Menopausal Women.
To be included as part of your daily diet
1 apple
1 cup of yogurt
½ cup of wholegrain oats- either soaked overnight or cooked
Nuts – 6 almonds, 1 tbs ground sesame seeds, 1 tbs pumpkin seeds.
And/or 3-4 walnuts in season.
3 to 4 Dates or figs
Fermented soy or 100 gm tempeh, or 2 tsp of miso added to soup or food
For the following, 1 serving equals 1 cup.
Lentils 1 serving
or chickpeas
or pulses (beans and peas)
or dahl
Green veges – fresh or cooked – at least 2 servings daily
Yellow/orange veges – 1 serving daily
Liquids
Water/herb teas 6-8 cups
Coffee – 1 cup max
Oils
1 tbs Extra virgin Olive Oil.
1-2 tbp freshly ground linseed
1 tbs Flax seed oil
3 fish oil 1000mg or eat dark fish.
Others
1 tsp – tbs Honey
1 clove of garlic
Seaweed – 1 tsp kelp, 1 tbs karengo.
1 tbsp Molasses
1 cup oatstraw infusion
|
For Non Vegetarians Cold water fish – 3 x per week Red meat – 1 or 2 servings per week Chicken 1 x per week |
For Vegetarians Add extra nuts eg. Sunflower seeds, macadamias, brazils mushrooms, avocados |
NB: for optimum Vit D synthesis and use in the body we need sunlight daily and/or 2-4 eggs per week and/or oils from cold water fish.
The above is to provide adequate levels of minerals and other food constituents such as phytoestrogens for the older woman.
Supplements to support menopause
If you cannot get enough of these nutrients through your food, you may wish to consider the following supplements:
B Complex esp. vitamin B6 and vitamin B5 – supports adrenals and lowers homocysteine levels which leads to increased protection from heat disease.
Vitamin E – antioxidant, supports cardiovascular health, helps relieve hot flushes.
Vitamin C- supports adrenals, protects against cardiovascular disease, antioxidant.
Bioflavonoids – supports capillary integrity, antioxidant.
Calcium, magnesium, boron and vitamin D : Help support bone health and reduces risk of osteoporosis.
Lifestyle support for menopause
Reduce or eliminate the use of stimulants such as coffee, nicotine – both nicotine and caffeine are known to negatively affect bone health. Cigarette smoking is also a major risk factor for heart disease and lung cancer.
Reduce or avoid hot spicy foods is suffering from hot flushes.
Exercise regularly – walking 30 minutes a day and weight bearing exercise.
Herbs are really a womens best friend during menopause. Some of the most popular are Black Cohosh, Zizyphus, Liquorice, Chaste tree and Red Clover. Take herbs as prescribed by your herbalist/naturopath.
