Hello Everyone,
Well, I feel really stupid. For about 5 years I've been dealing with "energy" challenges. Major energy challenges. Now I thought as they would appear, one by one over time, that I was just "over worked" or "over stressed." And by taking that thought pattern, I would shrug it off and just tell myself to "buck up."
I can't begin to tell you how many times my "internal" voice would be nagging at me to get up off the couch and get to work, beat me up for being lazy, and generally make me feel like I was a good-for-nothing, no account laggard.
On a good day I would give myself a break, saying to myself, "you've got a lot on your plate, be patient with yourself, give yourself a wee bit of mercy." That was on a good day. But never once did I connect the dots: stress, stress response, menopause, food and diet, exercise = hormonal imbalance. I mean to say that I never understood the deep response and the downward spiral of this delicate house of cards known as the endocrine system.
Well, yesterday as I lay in bed all afternoon wondering - despairing - if I would ever get my act together, it suddenly came to me. What if it were hormones?
Now I have been cleaning up my diet quite religiously for at least a year now. This is to say that I'm eating way more veggies and fruits, absolutely NO processed foods, and mostly organic. I drink no sodas, only water and green/white teas. I went off coffee a year ago, and if I do have a cup (one cup), it's decaf. I faithfully take my "superfood" and mineral supplements. I have even begun doing Tai Chi in the mornings to rev up the old engine. But within hours, I'm out of energy, focus and fuzzy. I could sleep ( and do ) a lot.
I've had patience with this for over a year since my chiropractor informed me that my adrenal glands were "blown out". No sh_t Sherlock. No wonder I couldn't get up off the floor, but more importantly, was the realization that it was my reaction to stress (internal) and the consistency of it that got me here. Add to that, this particular time of life to which I gave no notice or import.
So it came to me, what if it were hormonal? Then I went searching and found http://www.womentowomen.com. I took their online quiz and found out that my symptoms were "severe" and "entrenched" hormone deficiencies. Sigh. The good news (found the answer) and the bad (not an instant fix).
I don't know when I've felt so utterly stupid, not to have put this together sooner. I should have known when the antidepressants did nothing for me and I threw them away. I should have guessed a long time ago, but well, let's stop the self-flagellation and get on with the getting well part.
This morning I called Women To Women in Maine and reached a lovely woman named, Lisa.
Turns out they've been doing this work for 20 years. Well, thank heaven.
The symptoms which I think every woman should pay attention to are these:
1. by 3:00 pm you need coffee or a nap to get through the rest of the day;
2. you're craving sweets (bagels, donuts, carbs, candy); and
3. your sleep patterns are disrupted (can't get to sleep, can't stay asleep, or you could sleep all the time); and
4. your thinking is fuzzy.
Listen, it doesn't matter what age you are, seems that we here in Western Culture with all of our "stress" can experience hormone imbalance at any age, it doesn't have to be menopausal age.
Lisa told me that in some parts of the world where they don't live our life style, they don't even have a word for "menopause", because women don't experience anything disruptive. Imagine that.
Our food (quality) and our lifestyle is what contributes to this hormonal imbalance at any age.
Well, to make a long story short, I have signed up for their 90 day program which consists of phytotherapy (plants and herbs for hormone rebalance and regeneration) as well as nutritional support (the foundation). A book comes along with the supplements. Lisa assures me that by the 4th of July I will be feeling like my old self again. (Can't remember what that felt like, to be truthful.)
So stay tuned. I am going to be the human experiment once again and report back to you as I go along.
Baseline is today, May 28, 2008. I eat mostly organic foods; I eat no processed foods other than tortilla chips; I drink no sodas. I drink only decaffeinated coffee and probably have less than one glass of wine a week (organic). I do eat meat, but not a lot. I am doing Tai Chi in the am for 20 minutes. I write in my journal every am. Meditate daily. Walk daily for at least 20 minutes. I take a superfood, and liquid minerals daily. I sleep at least 8 hours a night (and could sleep more).
What I'm hoping for? Energy, enthusiasm, staying power and pure positive focus, even temperament, balanced optimism, and cheerful countenance.
Stay tuned, I will keep you all posted. In the meantime, if you'd like to join me on this 90 day program, check out http://www.womentowomen.com. Take the quiz and participate along with me.
For now I have decided to wait on any kind of HRT - hormone replacement therapy, which will be the subject of another blog at a later time.
Thanks for reading!
Kath
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Sunlight: Healthy Skin, Healthy Body
Good Morning Everyone!
Last blog I spoke about the necessity of water for healthy skin and a healthy body. Today we're going to talk about sunlight.
Once again we're pushing against the tide here. The powers that be, principally the American Dermatological Association in conjunction with manufacturers of sunscreens would have you scared witless about your exposure to sunshine. Well, here's the True scoop: you need sunlight!!! And it's always better to get your vitamin D from a natural source than a synthetically manufactured pill. It's cheaper too, of course, since sunshine is free. You can go to the link provided and download the report for yourself.
http://downloads.truthpublishing.com/Sunlight.pdf
The report is an interview with Dr. Michael Holick, MD. at Boston University School of Medicine.
His information is a result of his direct research.
In short, here's the information. In answer to the question why is Vitamin D so important?
"Every tissue and cell in the body requires vitamin D, not just bones and teeth. Vitamin D deficiency contributes to the cause of many diseases such as cancer, MS, rheumatoid arthritis and depression. It's critical to overall health. Many people are deficient, but at first the symptoms are subtle. After a time, they can develop bone pain, muscle pain and physical weakness. Often, they will end up being misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome," says Dr. Holick, author of The UV Advantage and director of the Bone Clinic at Boston University.
And you can't get too much of it, either!
Did you know that upwards of 42% of Americans are deficient in Vitamin D? And even more serious is that upwards of 80% of seniors in America are Vitamin D deficient. I know that I personally know many people that complain of joint pain, muscle pain and fatigue accompanied by depression. These same folks get very little sunlight and if they do go into the sun, they're covered up and have sunblock slathered all over them.
You say you work in an office all day? Well take your 15 minute break and go OUTSIDE! And while you're at it, take the stairs instead of the elevator. Go sit outside and feel the sunshine on your face, breathe deeply, smile at the birds and check out the flowers, then take the stairs back up to your office. You've given yourself a "health break" all the way 'round, including a mental break from what you were doing.
I've always been skeptical of sunscreens, simply because they are synthetic chemicals; and it seems even more dangerous to me to be applying a chemical to your skin and then add the heat of the sunshine to "cook" it into your absorption system. Just seems wrong to me, somehow. So, as you know, I have found that there are organic sunscreens for the same purpose which work as a reflectants with no synthetic chemicals.
However, Dr. Holick's studies prove that we absolutely require pure sunshine for optimal health - without a sunblock for prescribed periods. In his book there is a chart to help you regulate your direct skin exposures. For example, you might expose 6-10% of your body (face, hands, feet) for 20 minutes 3 times a week. Recently a friend of mine who is experiencing symptoms of MS was written a prescription by her homeopathic MD for sunshine at 20 minutes per day. She lives in Northern California.
Again, this seems to be another area where common sense has taken flight. I know how uncomfortable I feel in prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, and I have an olive complexion. It used to be growing up in Ohio that I could be outside all day and only get slightly pink cheeks. Now I notice here in Southern California that after 15-20 minutes in direct sunlight, my skin begins to feel taught. I can feel it telling me, "Enough!"
In the summer when I'm gardening, I make every effort to be outside in the early morning, say from 7-9 am. After that, the sun is too hot, and I'm in for the day. If I still have more work to do in my garden, I wait until the evening hours. I rarely use a sunscreen, but when I have to, I use Miessence Reflect Outdoor Balm (see link
https://honestskincare.mionegroup.com/product/13430) coupled with a wonderful wide-brimmed floppy hat and a cool long-sleeved linen shirt and trousers.
Again, it's how does this feel to you? When it stops feeling good, it is time to stop. But you also have to pay attention to how you're feeling! You have to be aware and know when enough is enough. Listen to your internal guidance, it says "when" and so does your body.
Meanwhile, get out there and soak up one of the last remaining free things left: the sunshine. You might also want to get a copy of the UV Advantage, by Dr. Michael Holick to check out the sun exposure table he recommends for your skin type and longitude and latitude.
You may not be getting old, just not getting enough Vitamin D. Which begs the questions, perhaps that's why people "get old"....they stop playing in the sun!
Thanks for reading!
Kath
Last blog I spoke about the necessity of water for healthy skin and a healthy body. Today we're going to talk about sunlight.
Once again we're pushing against the tide here. The powers that be, principally the American Dermatological Association in conjunction with manufacturers of sunscreens would have you scared witless about your exposure to sunshine. Well, here's the True scoop: you need sunlight!!! And it's always better to get your vitamin D from a natural source than a synthetically manufactured pill. It's cheaper too, of course, since sunshine is free. You can go to the link provided and download the report for yourself.
http://downloads.truthpublishing.com/Sunlight.pdf
The report is an interview with Dr. Michael Holick, MD. at Boston University School of Medicine.
His information is a result of his direct research.
In short, here's the information. In answer to the question why is Vitamin D so important?
"Every tissue and cell in the body requires vitamin D, not just bones and teeth. Vitamin D deficiency contributes to the cause of many diseases such as cancer, MS, rheumatoid arthritis and depression. It's critical to overall health. Many people are deficient, but at first the symptoms are subtle. After a time, they can develop bone pain, muscle pain and physical weakness. Often, they will end up being misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome," says Dr. Holick, author of The UV Advantage and director of the Bone Clinic at Boston University.
And you can't get too much of it, either!
Did you know that upwards of 42% of Americans are deficient in Vitamin D? And even more serious is that upwards of 80% of seniors in America are Vitamin D deficient. I know that I personally know many people that complain of joint pain, muscle pain and fatigue accompanied by depression. These same folks get very little sunlight and if they do go into the sun, they're covered up and have sunblock slathered all over them.
You say you work in an office all day? Well take your 15 minute break and go OUTSIDE! And while you're at it, take the stairs instead of the elevator. Go sit outside and feel the sunshine on your face, breathe deeply, smile at the birds and check out the flowers, then take the stairs back up to your office. You've given yourself a "health break" all the way 'round, including a mental break from what you were doing.
I've always been skeptical of sunscreens, simply because they are synthetic chemicals; and it seems even more dangerous to me to be applying a chemical to your skin and then add the heat of the sunshine to "cook" it into your absorption system. Just seems wrong to me, somehow. So, as you know, I have found that there are organic sunscreens for the same purpose which work as a reflectants with no synthetic chemicals.
However, Dr. Holick's studies prove that we absolutely require pure sunshine for optimal health - without a sunblock for prescribed periods. In his book there is a chart to help you regulate your direct skin exposures. For example, you might expose 6-10% of your body (face, hands, feet) for 20 minutes 3 times a week. Recently a friend of mine who is experiencing symptoms of MS was written a prescription by her homeopathic MD for sunshine at 20 minutes per day. She lives in Northern California.
Again, this seems to be another area where common sense has taken flight. I know how uncomfortable I feel in prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, and I have an olive complexion. It used to be growing up in Ohio that I could be outside all day and only get slightly pink cheeks. Now I notice here in Southern California that after 15-20 minutes in direct sunlight, my skin begins to feel taught. I can feel it telling me, "Enough!"
In the summer when I'm gardening, I make every effort to be outside in the early morning, say from 7-9 am. After that, the sun is too hot, and I'm in for the day. If I still have more work to do in my garden, I wait until the evening hours. I rarely use a sunscreen, but when I have to, I use Miessence Reflect Outdoor Balm (see link
https://honestskincare.mionegroup.com/product/13430) coupled with a wonderful wide-brimmed floppy hat and a cool long-sleeved linen shirt and trousers.
Again, it's how does this feel to you? When it stops feeling good, it is time to stop. But you also have to pay attention to how you're feeling! You have to be aware and know when enough is enough. Listen to your internal guidance, it says "when" and so does your body.
Meanwhile, get out there and soak up one of the last remaining free things left: the sunshine. You might also want to get a copy of the UV Advantage, by Dr. Michael Holick to check out the sun exposure table he recommends for your skin type and longitude and latitude.
You may not be getting old, just not getting enough Vitamin D. Which begs the questions, perhaps that's why people "get old"....they stop playing in the sun!
Thanks for reading!
Kath
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Water For A Healthy Life
Good Day Everyone!
First thing this morning I learned quite a bit reading an interview in Natural News with Doctor Batmanghelidj, author of Water For Health, For Healing, For Life.
If you have been following my blogs, I have been on a quest for some time now to understand why so many people are getting sick, especially with autoimmune dis-eases. Myself, included with exhausted adrenals. This quest is what has led me to One Group and their wonderful certified organic personal care products - without any synthetic chemicals, which has bee step one for me in detoxifying. Step two has been to switch as many of my foods into organic foods, further eliminating any toxic chemicals - pesticides, herbicides, etc. I never ate many prepared foods, but for those of you who do. Stop. Start cooking whole, fresh, foods.
Today after reading Dr. Batmanghelidj's interview in Natural News, I am further convicted!
Drink your water! I have a wonderful concoction that I brew up and drink all day. It's tea made with green tea, white tea and berry tea - all organic. I have been drinking this in lieu of water.
Why I wonder am I so tired? Still. Well, ask and it is given. This morning I learn that my body is dehydrated. This dehydration takes many forms, including pain. Are you suffering from headaches, joint pain, asthma, stomach pain? These are just a few SYMPTOMS OF DEHYDRATION.
For those of us concerned with beautiful skin. Listen up! That crepe waddle under your chin and those crows feet around your eyes - symptoms of dehydration according to Dr. Batmanghelidj.
"The skin -- if the skin is nice and loose and smooth, then we are hydrated. If it becomes creasy and shriveled, it means dehydration. The crow's feet on the face of elderly people, that's a sign of dehydration. The turkey neck under the chin is a sign of dehydration. These are mentioned in my books, Your Body's Many Cries for Water, and also in my Water For Health, For Healing, For Life. I recommend everyone to read Water Cures, Drugs Kill, because in this book I've identified over 90 health problems that we in medicine have called disease, and yet water cures them.
A ready sign that you are dehydrated is to simply notice the color of your urine. Says Dr. Batmangheliidj,
"So, first thing, people should never allow themselves to get thirsty -- they should drink throughout the day. An average person needs two quarts of water a day. Average person really needs four quarts of water a day. But two quarts we have to supply. Two quarts we get from food metabolism and water content in foods. We need this amount of water to manufacture at least two quarts of urine. You know, not to put pressure on the kidneys. When we drink enough water so that the urine is colorless, that is a good sign. When the urine becomes yellow, it means that the body is beginning to become dehydrated and when it becomes orange, then the body is truly dehydrated and some part of the body is suffering from that dehydration."
A few parting thoughts of my own regarding water. Be utterly certain that the water you are consuming is pure.
Don't just take it for granted that the bottled water you are buying is pure. We're looking to consume water that has been cleaned of all toxic chemical residues as well as biological impurities.
Also stop buying bottled water in all those little bottles. First of all it's absolutely wasteful and they all end up in the landfill. Buy yourself a great stainless still thermos or cup and use that for your water. Or you can use that old fashioned glass. It might be well worth the time and trouble to research water purification systems so that you can be assured that what you are consuming and cooking in, not to mention bathing in is pure - and that includes free of chlorine and fluoride. But for this discussion today, we're talking about your portable drinking water. Stainless steel or glass. Use NO PLASTICS as when they heat up they degrade and impart more toxins into your water.
So I'm a believer now and will switch to water starting today. Minimum two quarts folks, more of this stuff is not a mistake. And check out www.watercure.com; just click on the title of this blog and it will take you there. Lots to know.
Thanks for reading!
Kath
First thing this morning I learned quite a bit reading an interview in Natural News with Doctor Batmanghelidj, author of Water For Health, For Healing, For Life.
If you have been following my blogs, I have been on a quest for some time now to understand why so many people are getting sick, especially with autoimmune dis-eases. Myself, included with exhausted adrenals. This quest is what has led me to One Group and their wonderful certified organic personal care products - without any synthetic chemicals, which has bee step one for me in detoxifying. Step two has been to switch as many of my foods into organic foods, further eliminating any toxic chemicals - pesticides, herbicides, etc. I never ate many prepared foods, but for those of you who do. Stop. Start cooking whole, fresh, foods.
Today after reading Dr. Batmanghelidj's interview in Natural News, I am further convicted!
Drink your water! I have a wonderful concoction that I brew up and drink all day. It's tea made with green tea, white tea and berry tea - all organic. I have been drinking this in lieu of water.
Why I wonder am I so tired? Still. Well, ask and it is given. This morning I learn that my body is dehydrated. This dehydration takes many forms, including pain. Are you suffering from headaches, joint pain, asthma, stomach pain? These are just a few SYMPTOMS OF DEHYDRATION.
For those of us concerned with beautiful skin. Listen up! That crepe waddle under your chin and those crows feet around your eyes - symptoms of dehydration according to Dr. Batmanghelidj.
"The skin -- if the skin is nice and loose and smooth, then we are hydrated. If it becomes creasy and shriveled, it means dehydration. The crow's feet on the face of elderly people, that's a sign of dehydration. The turkey neck under the chin is a sign of dehydration. These are mentioned in my books, Your Body's Many Cries for Water, and also in my Water For Health, For Healing, For Life. I recommend everyone to read Water Cures, Drugs Kill, because in this book I've identified over 90 health problems that we in medicine have called disease, and yet water cures them.
A ready sign that you are dehydrated is to simply notice the color of your urine. Says Dr. Batmangheliidj,
"So, first thing, people should never allow themselves to get thirsty -- they should drink throughout the day. An average person needs two quarts of water a day. Average person really needs four quarts of water a day. But two quarts we have to supply. Two quarts we get from food metabolism and water content in foods. We need this amount of water to manufacture at least two quarts of urine. You know, not to put pressure on the kidneys. When we drink enough water so that the urine is colorless, that is a good sign. When the urine becomes yellow, it means that the body is beginning to become dehydrated and when it becomes orange, then the body is truly dehydrated and some part of the body is suffering from that dehydration."
A few parting thoughts of my own regarding water. Be utterly certain that the water you are consuming is pure.
Don't just take it for granted that the bottled water you are buying is pure. We're looking to consume water that has been cleaned of all toxic chemical residues as well as biological impurities.
Also stop buying bottled water in all those little bottles. First of all it's absolutely wasteful and they all end up in the landfill. Buy yourself a great stainless still thermos or cup and use that for your water. Or you can use that old fashioned glass. It might be well worth the time and trouble to research water purification systems so that you can be assured that what you are consuming and cooking in, not to mention bathing in is pure - and that includes free of chlorine and fluoride. But for this discussion today, we're talking about your portable drinking water. Stainless steel or glass. Use NO PLASTICS as when they heat up they degrade and impart more toxins into your water.
So I'm a believer now and will switch to water starting today. Minimum two quarts folks, more of this stuff is not a mistake. And check out www.watercure.com; just click on the title of this blog and it will take you there. Lots to know.
Thanks for reading!
Kath
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
