Menopause

Ongoing research over the last decade has cast the efficacy and potential safety of many commonly prescribed synthetic drugs into doubt. Hormone Replacement Therapy has come under particular scrutiny during this period, with research suggesting links between long-term use of the treatment and an increased risk of heart disease, blood clots, breast and ovarian cancer and stroke. This concern over the potential side-effects of HRT has led many women to look for safer, cheaper and more natural ways to treat their uncomfortable menopausal symptoms without synthetic hormones. In this growing trend towards natural medicine, non-estrogenic herbal supplements for menopause have become a first line of treatment for many women.

What are non-estrogenic herbs?

The most effective kinds of herbal supplements for menopause are either phytoestrogenic or non-estrogenic. Phytoestrogenic herbs contain a natural compound which is very similar to human estrogen, which means they can help balance fluctuating hormone levels when they are consumed on a regular basis. Non-estrogenic herbs, however, - as the name suggests- do not contain any substance that replicates the effects of estrogen in the body. Instead, this kind of herb works by stimulating the pituitary and endocrine glands to produce more of the body's own natural hormones more efficiently.

There are many varieties of plant that can be considered non-estrogenic, but only a small number contain the nutrients needed to improve the function of the endocrine system and balance hormone levels, and fewer still have been clinically proven to be beneficial to menopausal women.

What are the benefits of non-estrogenic herbs?

Non-estrogenic herbal supplements for menopause are effective for many women because they encourage the body to produce more of its own natural estrogen, at a time when hormone production is gradually winding down to a halt. By nourishing the endocrine gland, non-estrogenic herbs help to restore hormonal balance and prevent many of the problems caused by fluctuating hormone levels during menopause, including hot flushes, night sweats, depression, mood swings and vaginal dryness. Furthermore, because non-estrogenic herbs help to keep estrogen at a healthy level, it is thought that herbal supplements of this kind could help prevent osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease, two conditions which menopausal women are particularly vulnerable to as their estrogen levels start to decline.

Recent medical research has indicated that certain kinds of non-estrogenic herbal remedies for menopause can be used as a natural alternative to Hormone Replacement Therapy. These herbs promote hormonal balance in a very similar way to HRT, but instead of introducing synthetic hormones to the body, they improve natural hormone production and work in harmony with the rest of the body. Non-estrogenic herbs are widely prescribed in countries such as Germany, France and Japan for menopausal women who report uncomfortable and distressing symptoms and they have become increasingly popular in America and across the rest of Europe. These herbal remedies for menopause generally come in capsule form and are recommended for daily use.

If you want to know more about herbs for menopause then please visit http://www.ccherb.com/herbs-for-menopause for more information.

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During your menopause years you may find yourself surprised and upset to notice that you've started to put on weight - especially around your belly.

You could notice discomfort after eating even though nothing has changed except you're over 40. In fact, for many reasons, the foods and beverages you enjoyed in your 20s and 30s may not be appropriate, or enough, for the older version of you.

As you age, your digestion slows and your body becomes not as efficient at producing essential nutrients such as Co-Enzyme Q10, or extracting nutrients from the food you eat. It needs your help to make different food choices and take supplements that supply nutrients, such as essential minerals, that are missing from your food because of modern farming methods.

Now that you're in your 40s or 50s you need 200 fewer calories each day to maintain your weight. If you continue to eat the same number of calories as you did in your 20s and 30s, you'll gain weight.

Stress and the toxins you've taken into your body for a lifetime start to impede the optimal function of your organs, hormones and body systems.

A glass of wine with dinner every night may have become a welcome respite from a stressful day dealing with the multiple demands of others. It's also a recipe for weight gain.

Eating frozen prepared food, reheating bottled sauces for white pasta or rice or ordering fast food because you've left no time to cook does not contribute towards your well-being. In fact, long work days or jamming too many activities into every waking hour is stealing time from preparing fresh foods that nourish your body and keep it strong and vital.

It really is no surprise to learn what wise men of ancient civilizations knew - you are what you eat. If you eat the packaged prepared food imposters that are sold from the interior aisles of most grocery stores, you're setting yourself up - and your family - for disaster.

Food is meant to be a joy - but it can be your sorrow when it's based only on taste and convenience, not nutrition. The wrong food contributes towards chronic illness; poor mental focus and memory; painful, poor digestion; mood swings; premature aging; poor muscle tone; excess body fat; gray, lifeless skin; low energy; poor motivation and the scourge of old age - high blood pressure and high cholesterol - symptoms which are indicators of circulation and heart challenges! They are the very symptoms for which medical doctors love to prescribe medications that will keep you drug-addicted, and dealing with side-effects for the rest of your life.

It's a funny thing to notice that pet food stores emphasize that they are the suppliers of proper nutrition for your companion animal, while grocery stores don't dare to make such claims for their human customers. This seems to imply that we take better care of our pets than we do of our own bodies.

However, with a little more care and attention to what you put in your mouth at mealtime you can supercharge your body with greater nutrition and fewer calories, which will set you up for many years of vitality and good health!

How?

Eat more of the following:

Organically-grown raw foods,Fresh green vegetables that include broccoli, asparagus, avocado, celery, green pepper, parsley, peas, spinach, beet greens;Superfoods' - such as beets, fennel, fresh sprouts, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, goji berries, acai berries, oats, maca root, raw lignan-rich flax & sesame seeds, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds, quinoa, dried sea vegetables, and medicinal mushrooms such as Reishi.High quality supplements as insurance that you're getting enough of the 90 minerals, vitamins, healthy fat, and other nutrients your body needs every day.

These foods and supplements will keep you satisfied and energized while helping to protect you from developing lifestyle diseases and conditions that are becoming epidemic such as obesity, cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

It's never too late to begin nourishing your body for health, wellness - and taste! So start now! Why wait a day longer to start feeling the vitality you were born to enjoy.

Wendy Vineyard is a holistic health practitioner, lifestyle coach and wellness journalist. She specializes in inspiring and empowering women to thrive during menopause naturally - without drugs or added hormones. Are natural remedies the best way to handle your menopause transition? You decide.
http://www.naturalmenopausenow.com/
http://www.facebook.com/NaturalMenopauseNow

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