I also had other things in my life, which were a concern for me, I suffered with a stuttering speech impediment from the age of four, I had a bald patch on my head from birth and I was also quite short for a male at only five foot four. All of these had a massive negative affect on my overall self-esteem. To make myself happy, I would binge and comfort eat, which would only add to the problem. I would feel guilty for hours, after eating for only twenty minutes.

Aged 21; I decided to fight back – I needed to become much fitter, healthier and thinner. I was now working for a front doors company and also part time for a firm which offered cheap calls, it was now time to attempt to lose some weight. I then went about formulating my own form of diet. I realised I had to cut out these wrong type of foods I was eating and to also drink far less alcohol. To say this was difficult was an understatement, however I knew that I had to be strong and to fight off my urges and cravings.

OK so the majority of weight loss experts would advise me to stop eating such fatty and foods and to cut down on my alcohol intake – this was not something that I was particularly interested in doing and so I formulated the following plan:

Breakfast

For breakfast I would eat properly for example, a bowl of cereal or a couple of slices of toast.

Lunch

At around one o’clock I would eat my lunch which would consist of something light such as a salad or a plain jacket potato.

In between meal snacks

It was quite simple; the snacks had to stop; I needed to stay disciplined to not eat between each meal.

Evening meal

Lets have some fun, this was the meal where I allowed myself some pleasure as I decided that I could basically eat what I wanted to, including pizza, my favourite.

For exercise I decided to ditch the car, wherever possible, and walk to more places. Something else that I started to do, and have continued to do, was to take my kids to the local playing fields on a much more regular basis. At the park we would play games such as football, cricket and baseball. It is amazing how much weight you can lose by having fun.

Talking About Safety

Chiropractic care is generally safe even when given to pregnant patients, provided that the practitioner is a qualified and experienced chiropractor. The professional should be well-trained in the physical changes that happen inside a pregnant woman’s body. Chiropractors trained to deal with pregnant patients need to have a special table that adjusts accordingly to the shape and size of a pregnant women, at different stages of the process. Techniques will be incorporated to avoid unnecessary pressure on the abdomen.

It will be necessary to consult a chiropractor who is expert in the treatment of pregnant women. The professional should be highly competent in meeting the needs of pregnant women, providing stretches and exercises that are generally safe during pregnancy and support any type of adjustment given to the spine.

Is It Useful?

As a women enters pregnancy, variouis physical changes and alterations in the endocrine system takes place which prepare the environment for the developing fetus. The changes can also lead to joint and spine problems as evidenced by pelvic changes, protruding abdomen and more back curve, posture changes, uterus enlargement and uterus expansion forward.

When you create a balance and pelvis alignment, you get to have chiropractic care during pregnancy. Pelvic misalignment often lowers the available room for the baby. The baby may have a hard time getting into the right position just in time for delivery. The spine also needs to be aligned, so that the nervous system can properly send messages to different systems and organs, thereby making the body work better.

Knowing the Benefits

Pregnant women can benefit greatly from chiropractic care, such as a controlling signs and symptoms such as nausea and headache, keeping a healthy pregnancy, relieving joint, neck and back pain, minimizing the time of delivery and labor and avoiding the possibility of a caesarean section.

Unnecessary stress is lost or reduced from the uterus and supporting ligaments as balance is achieved in the pelvis of pregnant women. The balanced state then makes it easier for babies to turn naturally. The risk for having a breech position is lessened significantly. Babies may be presented in the breech position until the 3rd trimester, which is very normal. It is only during the 37th week that experts start worrying about breech position.

Treating Symptoms

Chiropractic care during pregnancycan eliminate several problems such as sciatica, low back pain, headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome and midback and rib pain. Pregnancy associated with low back pain is usually linked to several joint problems in the body.

As women’s bodies become heavier throughout pregnancy, more and more stress and physical conditions can develop. These should be treated immediately with chiropractics. Subluxation is described as misalignment of joints, thereby triggering irritation to tissues and nerves in the surrounding areas. Hormones also boost quickly during pregnancy with some causing joints, muscles and ligaments to relax.

The pelvis, in turn opens, to let the baby to go through the birth canal. Treatment via chiropractics is highly useful in assisting mothers have easier deliveries.

Night sweats, which are an absolute outcome of nighttime hot flushes, are often times dreadfully disturbing for women. Menopause night sweats which can trigger profuse sweating that might force changes of clothes and bed sheets, do not help deliver a soothing night’s sleep.

Over time a person might start to show the symptoms of insomnia which may possibly be coupled directly to night sweats. A racing pulse, tossing and turning and apprehension play a huge part of menopausal sleep deficit. Unending fatigue from inadequate sleep is time and again the biggest reason for seeking aid for menopausal symptoms. Becoming disheartened is furthermore an issue for the menopausal woman as hormonal changes shape ones frame of mind and overall outlook.

There is heaps of information existing which discusses dietary influences such as foods which are highly spiced, caffeine and alcohol, all of which might intensify the signs of menopause. It has been said that calcium, in easily absorbable variety, is crucial especially when declining estrogen levels bring about poorer calcium absorption. As further investigations have exposed, a dynamic life style and herbal supplements, will be the most efficient medication for many women.

One herb from China that’s often utilized in defeating the symptoms of menopause is an herb celebrated as dong quai. Much of the Chinese long-established medical investigations have made known that there is a requirement for blood therapy attributed to dong quai.

Dong quai, moreover known as Chinese Angelica, has been utilized for thousands of years in established Chinese, Korean, and Japanese medicine. It remains one of the most accepted plants in Chinese medicine, and is used principally for health conditions in women. Dong quai has been known as "female ginseng," based on its use for gynecological ailments (such as aching menstruation or pelvic tenderness), revitalization from childbirth or sickness, and exhaustion/low verve. It is furthermore given for strengthening xue (loosely translated as "the blood"), for cardiovascular diseases/high blood pressure, irritation, headache, infections, and nerve pain.

In the late1800s, an extract of Dong quai known as Eumenol became fashionable in Europe as a remedy for gynecological troubles. Recently, interest in Dong quai has resurged on account of its proposed low estrogen-like properties. Nevertheless, it remains vague if Dong quai has the same effects on a person’s body as estrogens, blocks the activity of estrogens, or has no substantial hormonal effects. Further study is obligatory in this area before a certain supposition can be reached. Pending that time you may contemplate a Bedfan.

Many females have the tendency to slow down at the time of their menopausal years and merely depend on menopause remedies like natural progesterone, however it is significantly important to be fit and active as much as possible. There are numerous arguments why regular exercise is especially important during a woman’s menopause and below are some of the top reasons:

Heart disease. Menopause has been reported to exacerbate the probability of being afflicted with coronary heart disease; however if the cardiovascular system is strengthened with regular physical activity, then the risk is significantly decreased. Physical training also promotes the health of our blood vessels so that good circulation is sustained and symptoms during menopause, such as chronic exhaustion and enervation will cease.

Porous Bones or Osteoporosis.  Even though working out cannot fully block the advent of osteoporosis, it can diminish the rate in which bone density is lost, hence the condition advances at a much slower rate. It can also produce more hardy and tough ligaments, bones and tendons so that strains and breakages do not ensue quite so often. Natural hormone replacement therapy is also believed to protect against osteoporosis and is worthy of hashing out with your physician.

Depressive Disorder. This is a common sign of the onset of menopause. And exercise has been proven to clear depression in many women. This is because exercise galvanizes the brain to release endorphins, which are referred to as the ‘natural high’ producing hormones for they produce a feeling of liveliness. Minor depressive disorders generated by the uncertainties of this natural condition can often be assuaged by performing some kind of exercise.

Overall Feeling of Satisfaction.  Working out is great for making you feel fitter and healthier, even if you only exercise a few times each week. Plus if you are feeling more contented about yourself, then you will not be so caught up with symptoms of perimenopause.

What type of exercise regimen you should do is a personal choice. However, you should aim to include a variety of aerobic routines and muscle building workouts.

Cardio Training Program.
This category includes any form of physical exercise that makes the speed of your heartbeat and your breathing rate to rise. Some examples of these exercises are brisk walking or aero-walking, jogging, running, swimming, biking or vigorous dancing. It also includes activities such as doing chores in the house, gardening activities, chasing after your puppy or the children and even vigorous lovemaking. In fact, whatever activity you do which causes your heart to pump faster can be described as an aerobic activity and thus it is beneficial for you.

It is essential not to over-exercise however, because the potential benefits of exercise can be negated by overexertion and this will get you feeling weak and tired when you should be bright and feeling good.

Muscle building Exercises
This includes anything that makes your muscles work. These can be, climbing the stairs, lifting objects, stretching and muscle toning exercises and even carrying bags or heavy objects can be classified as body building even if these activities don’t technically cause your muscles to grow. Weight_lifting workouts are vital for keeping the tendons, bones, connective tissues and muscles stronger, and this in turn lessens the chance of getting bone fractures and sprains.

Based on this health arguments you can see that any workout exercise undertaken during the menopause years is more desirable than not having a fitness plan. You should try to find a few fitness activities you like and alternate between these physical activities so that there is minimal chance of you getting disinterested to performing them regulary. Lastly, a moderate amount of fitness routine during the pre-menopause years can make life a lot more comfortable menopause and ‘post-menopause’; and ultimately, is it not what we ladies want?

Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective: Menopause is determined a deficient characteristic of the liver and qi (life force). When the energy and blood quality is deficient and obstructed then all body organs that depend on that blood are not able to function at their best. This condition causes the liver to overheat which rises through the body, wreaking havoc in its path. The heart, lungs, digestion, glands, throat, mouth & teeth, nose, eyes, ears, brain, skin and hair become heated and dried resulting in the body heat ailments. Additionally, When the liver isn’t filtering the blood then it progresses into a clotted and sluggish.

Because the body is deficient of life-giving body energy, quality filtered blood and diet, therefore the glands do not perform normally. Their glandular secretions can develop irregularly or immobilized altogether. Whereas the blood is filtered and nourished then the body’s organs thrive. Progressively, the energy comes back and they are able to function normally. The hormonal functions, secrete normally, transforming the body towards wellness.

The physical body isn’t missing chemical hormones. The blood is clogged like sludge. Glands are not receiving/transmitting life-giving messages, timely and/or minimally!

So therefore why do we add or provide more hormones. Doesn’t that risk an overload of hormones? Remember when you were a teen and your hormones were super revved. You won’t want to chance of experiencing that again. You have enough hormones. If you nourish your blood, keep fit, sleep, deal with stress, etc. Our hormones revive back and reenforces increased balance.

So if Chinese medicine knows the problem, then what is their solution to this weakened conditioneath

What Restores Usual Hormone Function? Chinese Medicine Has Had An Answer for More Than a Thousand Years! Traditional Chinese Medicine has 20+ formulas for menopause. But which one is the best? To figure this out, its necessary to consult an adept Master Herbalist. While nearly all women fall into 6 main constitution types: 1) cold 2) damp 3) deficient 4) hot 5) dry and 6) excess 

On the whole menopausal women benefit 95% of the time from Chinese herbs contained in Menopause Comfort. The exception is during the summertime. Particular women, who are more hot than the usual population, require a colder menopause herbs, Paramalin, to offset the surplus inner heat produced in the liver.

You can look at the top 10 menopause Chinese herbs, the most effective  menopause formula, listed in more depth, at Longevity Mountain.

Night sweats should not be confused with a fever which will generally be of longer duration. A woman should consult her physician if she suspects she is experiencing menopause night sweats to get the proper exams and help.

What is a woman to do in the meantime if she is experiencing menopausal night sweats? For one, living a healthy life style with the proper diet and exercising is a great start. Next, ceasing all unhealthy habits like smoking or alcohol abuse will also help maintain a healthy body. Next, adapting a woman’s life to being ready for whenever night sweats happens needs to be part of her daily routine.

Choosing the appropriate bedding for one’s bed is of major importance. Fabrics that retain heat like flannel or wool can make menopausal night sweats worst. A lighter and more natural fabric such as cotton can diminish the number of episodes of night sweats a woman experiences. Also, having the possibility to “peel off” layers of sheets can be of great help and will also insure that the menopause woman’s spouse is not left shivering of cold if the blankets are pushed aside.

Another very important factor in preventing menopausal night sweats is to choose the proper sleeping clothing. Again a flannel pajama will feel very uncomfortable to a woman experiencing an episode of night sweats. A light pajama made of cotton will usually prove more comfortable. Menopause might also be the occasion to get out the baby doll. Besides the fact that a woman will feel less uncomfortable if she experiences menopausal night sweats, she might also put back the romance in her life.

In the case of a strong very uncomfortable episode of night sweats during menopause, cracking-up open a window will prove to be a fast and very efficient solution. A woman might also try to keep a wet face cloth on her night table and just sponge herself to comfort if she experiences night sweats during menopause. She can also decide to buy at her local pharmacy those water atomizers and just spray her face to coolness.

Night sweats during menopause are not dangerous and can be controlled with the appropriate preparation. Every woman going through peri menopause should feel assured that this phenomenon is temporary and will resolve in itself with time. Making certain to be comfortable when menopausal night sweats occur is of major importance and will insure that this transition stage is lived peacefully.

Menopausal night sweats can also be triggered by a bad dream or nightmare. To diminish the risk of experiencing such nightmares, it is best not to listen to stressful television program just before going to bed. Another good habit is to avoid caffeine or eating at least two hours before going to bed. Taking classes such as relaxation, yoga or having a soothing massage can also help lower the level of stress a person feels and hence diminish the number of nightmares she experiences.

In conclusion, night sweats are common in menopause and can be dealt with by taking the proper preventive measures.

Joining a support group composed of women in their menopause years can be of great value. If such a group does not exist in one’s area, becoming a member of an internet forum can be very helpful. Making certain that this forum is composed of women who are also interested in sharing about menopause symptoms such as night sweats is of major importance.

Dr Nathalie Fiset is a family doctor and a certified hypnotherapist. For more information go to: http://www.happymenopause.com/Menopause-Night-Sweats.html http://www.aperfectharmony.com or http://www.a-1hypnosis.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathalie_Fiset

Nowadays, women think menopause is related to hot flashes, insomnia and many other menopausal symptoms. Menopause  is so feared and dreaded that most women do not want to talk about it.

Although menopause is the end of your childbearing years, it is not the end of your life. In fact, menopause is a protective mechanism for longevity. Human beings are the only species with such a long span of life after reproduction. For most animals, the basic function for female is to reproduce. After reproduction, females will die.

The current women life expectancy is about the age of eighty, so women still have about forty years after menopause . The second half of life can be longer, richer, and more satisfying than ever before. The first half of life was childhood, which was controlled by your parents and youth which you made many innocent mistakes.

We should understand that menopause is the energy-saving mechanism used by nature in order to live longer, because energy-saving is a basic principle of living organisms.

Reproduction costs a lot of energy. During childbearing years, a woman experiences about 500 periods. Menstruation is the greatest and most unpretentious of deities evolution by natural selection. Every month, the uterine lining builds up with nutrients and energy, and awaits implantation. Ovulation is accompanied by an abrupt surge in hormones.

After menopause, the body is kept in a low hormone level: the ovaries slow down the production for hormones. In the Novak’s Textbook of Gynecology (Williams & Wilkins, 1987) said: "Thus it would seem that although menopausal women do have an estrogen milieu that is lower than that necessary for reproduction, it is not negligible or absent but is perhaps satisfactory for maintenance of support tissues. Menopause could then be regarded as a physiologic phenomenon that is protective in nature, protective from the undesirable reproductive and the associated growth stimuli."

So, after menopause, estrogen levels are below that necessary for pregnancy but sufficient for other normal functions, in order to avoid risky stimuli on hormone-sensitive organs: breasts, uterus and ovaries.

The hormone replacement treatment is against the nature, and it artificially recreates childbearing years, without the childbearing ability. Estrogen pills artificially induce the cycle of bleeding every month to keep you "feminine forever". Unfortunately, they only bring excessive stimulation on estrogen-sensitive organs: breasts, uterus and ovaries and hasten your death from cancers. No wonder breast cancer and uterine cancer are epidemic today.

For your healthy longevity, take the menopause as a protective design by nature. Take hormone replacement treatment as the sloppy design by man.

Libo Li, MS. MPH.

Cool herbs for hot flashes – Reduce hot flashes in 1 month without even a breast swelling side effect.

http://www.balanceherbs.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Libo_Li

HOT FLASHES:

Although hot flash is the most common symptom faced by menopausal women, it can also be caused by medication and lifestyle.

·         Occurrence of Hot Flash: Estrogen is the hormone that directly effect’s the part of the brain known as hypothalamus. This part is responsible for controlling appetite, sleep cycles, sex hormones, and body temperature. Decline in estrogen confuses the brain into believing that the body is over-heated. Subsequently the brain signals to heart to pump more blood and to sweat glands to release more sweat. Hence the woman feels a sudden flush of heat and then unpleasant and unnecessary sweating.

·         Hot Flash Triggers: Many women find that their hot flash is triggered by some external elements. Stress is the top reason of triggering a hot flash. And to counter hot flash one would need to counter stress by relaxing. Other known triggers for hot flash are spicy foods, hot foods, alcohol, smoking, caffeine or diet pills.

·          Lifestyle Changes to reduce Hot Flash: Increasing the level of activity can reduce hot flashes and have a positive impact every other symptom attributed to menopause and growing older such as, insomnia, fatigue, mood swings, loss of libido or elevated cholesterol levels.

·         Fighting Stress to deter Hot Flashes: Usually it is not easy to deal with stress in a fast paced world. There different ways of tackling stress such as yoga, massage, meditation, breathing exercises or relaxing exercises.

·         Diet as prevention to Hot Flash: A low-fat diet helps some women with hot flashes. Losing excess weight helps, but losing too much weight can worsen symptoms. Too spicy or too hot meals should also be avoided. Variety of fruits should be routinely consumed.

·         Herbs for Hot Flash: Herbs such as Black Cohosh are rich in phytoestrogens which can replace human estrogens. However, these herbs have proven negative side affects with regard to breast cancer. Macafem is a herb that induces body to produce estrogens naturally.

·         Using medications against Hot Flash: Mild sedatives, blood pressure lowering medicines or antidepressants can be used to tackle hot flashes as well.

Related Articles:

Top Menopause Products

Herbs For Menopausal Relief

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryan_English

A hot flash is a sudden, intense version of what the body normally does to cool down when it is overheated: Blood vessels near the skin dilate and you break into a sweat. But why, when a woman is sitting at her desk or driving down Main Street, does her body suddenly think it is overheated? The causes of such thermal chaos are only partly understood. Hot flashes are linked to the fluctuating hormones that cause so many perimenopause symptoms, but other factors can cause your temperature control to go out of whack.

Instead of hormone replacement therapy, look at safer, less drastic measures first because you should always begin with the least aggressive approach to treating your menopausal symptoms, and because living a healthy lifestyle makes sense regardless of what else you do.

Here are some ideas that have helped many women find relief:

• Keep a record of when hot flashes occur and what you were eating or doing, or how you were feeling at the time. Look for your "triggers." Some common triggers are: hot or spicy foods, alcohol, caffeinated drinks, cigarette smoke. Watch out for hot tubs, hot beds, hot rooms, hot weather, and hot showers. Avoid saunas. Sugar and, alas, chocolate were the biggest triggers for me.
• Many women find that stress tops the charts as a trigger. Was that hot flash at work a random hit, or were you feeling under pressure at the time? Was it a full day of pressure without a break? This is the time of life when nature forces you to slow down and take care of yourself or else everything gets worse.
• Paced breathing. Two studies found that slow, deep breathing reduced the frequency of hot flashes by 39 percent and by 44 percent.
• Dress in light layers, so you can peel off one layer after another as you get warmer. Make sure the layer beneath the jacket you wear to work is something you won’t mind showing if you need to take your jacket off during a meeting. Avoid turtlenecks. Don’t wear wool or synthetics, and be wary of silk. That leaves cotton, linen, rayon, and more cotton.
• Try to notice the subtle signs right before a hot flash starts. You can often stop a hot flash or lessen its intensity by drinking cold water or touching something cold like metal or window glass. If you’re home, an ice pack to the back of the neck can be very effective. The trick is to catch it early, before it really gets going.
• Sip ice water to cool down your insides. Be sure to drink enough water to replace the fluids lost by sweating.
• Cooling exercise. Yoga is perfect and can also help balance your endocrine glands, reduce stress, and teach you the paced breathing exercises.
• Dietary supplements such as black cohosh, red clover, soy, and vitamin E can help control your hot flashes.

Remember that what works for one woman may not help another. If one strategy doesn’t provide relief, try another and discover what works for you.

Catherine Galeana is a writer and photographer who survived menopause and shares what she learned in the process.

Catherine says this about herself, "I was just getting into yoga when I started searching for help with my own perimenopause. And yoga led me to discover a wealth of safe, natural remedies that worked."

Visit my blog, perimenopause-symptoms.org, to find out more about hot flashes and other perimenopause symptoms and natural remedies that relieve them.

(c) Copyright – Catherine M. Galeana. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Catherine_Galeana

[A few,A small number of,Some,One or two] [studies,investigations] have [also,as well] investigated the herb’s [effects,special effects] on menopausal [symptoms,signs], [but,yet,except,however] have focused on its [impact,influence,effect,bearing] on [mood,disposition,frame of mind] — and [not,never] the so-called vasomotor [symptoms,signs] of menopause, [which,that,which have] [include,consist of,involve] hot flashes and night sweats.

[Among,Amongst] women taking St. John’s wort, the [average,usual,typical,middling] [number,amount,quantity] of hot flashes [declined,went down] from [roughly,approximately,about,around,more or less,in the region of,almost] [four,4] [per day,each day] at the [start,beginning] of the [study,inquiry,survey] to [fewer,less] than [two,2] [per day,each day] at week [eight,8]. In [contrast,difference,distinction], women in the [placebo,panacea] [group,cluster,set] were having an [average,mean,median] of 2.6 hot flashes [per day,each day] by the [eighth,8th] week.

The herb [also,as well] appeared to [lessen,diminish,reduce,decrease] the [duration,period,length,extent,time] and [severity,harshness,ruthlessness,difficulty] of the women’s hot flashes.

The [study,research,report,review,analysis,survey] [included,incorporated] 100 women who were 50 years old, on [average,mean,median], and had been having [moderate,modest,average] to [severe,serious,brutal] hot flashes [at least,no less than] [once,one time] [per day,each day]. The women were [randomly,arbitrarily,haphazardly,aimlessly,indiscriminately] assigned to [take,get,accept] either drops containing St. John’s wort [extract,extort] or [placebo,panacea] drops [three,3] times [a day,each day] for [eight weeks,56 days].

SOURCE: Menopause, February 2010.