August 26, 2014

2 New Smoothies/Juice Recipes ~ Borrowed from HPFY Stores

Strawberry Pineapple Mint Juice
Ingredients:
  • Pear - 1 medium
  • Peppermint - 15 leaves
  • Pineapple - 1/2 fruit
  • Strawberry - 1 cup/whole
Directions:
  • You may have issues juicing the mint leaves if you use a centrifuge juicer.
  • Try to bunch them up into a tight ball or pack them into some lettuce before juicing.
  • If all else fails, just stick a few mint leaves in the juice itself to get some of the minty flavour.
Passion 4 Juice
Ingredients:
  • 1/4 Pineapple
  • 1 Apple
  • 1/4 Banana
  • 200g Natural Yogurt
  • 1/2 Teaspoon of Spirulina
Directions:
  • Simply juice the pineapple and apple.
  • Pour into a blender along with the banana, yogurt and spirulina.
  • Blend until smooth.
  • Drink over ice.

Menopause Products Reviews - Borrowed from WellesleyHealth.org

Compare Supplements



Our criteria:

We’ve interpreted the ingredients of these herbal menopause supplements under the light of traditional medicine. Each formula was evaluated using available information about the individual ingredients and how they interact with normal hormone levels. The safety of the ingredients was also evaluated.

Product

Overall Score

1. Mendapause
2. Source Naturals Hot Flash
3. Rainbow Light Complete
4. Menoquil/Menersa
5. NewPhase Complete
6. Phyto-B
7. Estroven
8. Estrotone
9. Solgar PM Phytogen
10. Promensil
11. i-Cool
12. Remifemin
13. Macafem
PLEASE feel free to add your two-cents below! I welcome all Praises and Fusses! 
I have not tried any of these yet, as I am not in the throws of the craziness of it... I am peri, and just starting out with a few 'small' problems. As soon as I start experiencing the more common problems, and trying products, you'll be the first to know! LOL


Going through Meno? Hot flashes driving you nuts?!

This study is looking for women going through Meno and dealing with hot flashes several times a day. Read through and see if you qualify and if you'd be interested.

http://www.theperimenopauseblog.com/hot-flashes-in-perimenopause-the-replenish-study/




August 22, 2014

8 "Yoga" Tips That Ease Menopause ~ I love this!!

8 Yoga Tips That Ease Menopause



8 Yoga Tips That Ease Menopause
When Guru Hari Kaur experienced menopause, it was a transformative experience. Surgery changed everything for her in only four days. Learn her personal story and how the experience taught her 8 steps that helped her ease menopause, and will also help you.
My transition through menopause was one of the most important transitions of my life. I am an active yoga and meditation teacher who had just moved from Boston to New York City in my early 50’s. I was in a new city and although I am an expert at handling stress, had met my match with the move to NYC.

I was faced with healing myself physically, emotionally, and spiritually

My experience began with sleepless nights and a menstrual period that just would not stop. Although doctors tried to stop the bleeding and did tests, they could not find, at least immediately, any problems. I was losing my usual high energy and high achievement feeling and was confronted with a weakness I had never felt before. I knew something was wrong. Finally the doctors found, after bleeding for months, uterine cancer. Surgery was scheduled within 10 days. I had a full hysterectomy during hurricane Irene in NYC.
I went into menopause in 4 hours. Fortunately I had excellent doctors and healers and I did not need additional treatment. I am two years away from that surgery, happy, strong, and vibrant.
I was educated in healing, had a healthy vegetarian diet, and understood how deeply stress affects the body. Once the diagnosis was made and the surgery was done, I was faced with healing myself physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I took on the project moment to moment to reclaim the full energy and the happiness, strength, and deep restful sleep I had before menopause and cancer.
Here are some of the lessons I learned during my healing journey and what I recommend to all women going through the transition of perimenopause and menopause.
Open your mind. You are older, wiser and you have what it takes to move away from “doing” and into “being”. This is a time when your physical body is giving you a huge opportunity. The biggest spiritual transition and enlightenment you can find during this time is the experience and understanding of “doing” versus “being”. I found the following things extremely helpful:
Making Changes Menopause & Meditation31. Clean out your physical home, office, files, drawers, cabinets and closets as much as you can. Menopause is the time to let go of the past. If you want the wisdom that is on the other side of this transition, let go of the past and your attachments to things you no longer need. Figure out what is meaningful to you in the material world, and let go of the rest. Lighten your material load.
2. Practice yoga, Qi Gong or some style of conscious exercise several times per week. Slow down so you can hear what you body is saying. Listen and pay attention. Years of experience with yoga and meditation served me well and with that training I could tune into my body and what it needed.
3. Sweat and laugh every day. Walking is not enough exercise. You need to sweat and work hard to stay young. I recommend Kundalini yoga of course, but also Qi Gong and any physical practice that directly takes on what your body needs to get strong. Go muscle by muscle, organ by organ, bone by bone, and don’t give up for a second. You will be amazed at what you can do! Getting strong does not mean you will be skinny. Getting strong means you will be strong. Learn to love STRONG.
4. Keep an open mind with diet and find what works. Menopause is the time to take diet seriously. Cut down or eliminate what you know is not healthy, like white sugar and processed foods. Get back to basics and enjoy fresh foods filled with nutrition, color, and taste. Think of comfort food as food that makes you comfortable, steady and strong. Clean up your digestion and get as strong as you can organ by organ.
5. Listen more, speak authentically. 
6. Forgive yourself and everyone else. Live life as it is, here and now. The past is over and you did your very best up to this moment. Embrace your past with humor and compassion.
7. Learn how to express and process anger, frustration and fear. These emotions are not going away. Embrace all your emotions and live life full out. One of the least understood emotions is anger. Often women have spent their lives caring for others and feeling under-appreciated. This can create anger and resentment that can lead to bitterness. Consider yourself appreciated if you appreciate yourself for a life well lived. If you need to correct something, correct it. Otherwise celebrate every day and enjoy the ride.
8. Do the spiritual work needed to be the person you want to be. Meditation will help you accomplish this. If you have never practiced meditation before, start now. Learn to calm your mind and relax yourself. The benefits of a regular meditation practice are AMAZING!

Life is an experience that is yours to have. Live it with awareness.

To adjust your diet, do the additional exercise and meditation or spiritual work may take some time out of your day. Unfortunately there is no other way. The result will astound you. You have lived this long and accumulated so much wisdom; use this wisdom for your own healing and you will realize you grace and power and happiness in a way that is your birthright as an elder. Best of all, no disease, no outer circumstances will be able to remove your inner happiness. Disease comes and goes, pain comes and goes. Life is an experience that is yours to have. Live it with awareness.
I have come back from cancer stronger in mind body and soul, than I was 10 years ago – honestly this is the truth! You can get stronger day by day even during illness and challenge. Do what you can each day. Turn on your grit to get your grace. These years are the years for self-realization. Go for it. Leverage the wisdom you have gathered for your happiness now.
One last thought – hang around with great people that you love and that love you. Let go of relationships that don’t work. Socialize with other women at this stage of life, especially women in your peer group and older. You are in an amazing part of life. Claim it.
I wish you all the best and would love to hear from you if I can help. Please feel free to contact me by email at Hari@HariNYC.com, or visit me at Hari NYC, my studio in NYC for classes and training in Kundalini Yoga and Meditaiton and Qi Gong.
________________________
Hari KaurDirector and Founder of Hari NYC – Kundalini Meditation

August 19, 2014

Simple Dietary Changes That Can Help Your Thyroid Naturally



Simple Dietary Changes That Can Help Your Thyroid Naturally



by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP
  • The case for thyroid nutrition
  • What about soy and thyroid health? Foods that may disrupt thyroid function
  • Find your balance — the Women to Women approach
The thyroid is one of the most important, and often mismanaged, glands we have working in our body. Located in the front of our neck, this butterfly-shaped gland secretes hormones that control some major functions including weight management, how we use energy, how we metabolize food, and even how we sleep. For women, hormones can shift out of balance during childbearing and menopause, and even under chronic stress, putting them at a higher rate of thyroid conditions than men, and at various times of life.
We hear about thyroid concerns every day, as women want to understand why they may be having issues that point to faulty thyroid functioning. Healthcare practitioners frequently rely solely on blood tests and do not work through the delicate gray area between “your lab results are fine” and “let’s try prescription hormone therapy”. But only considering these very two different ends of the spectrum leaves women at risk for a lifetime of thyroid imbalance, and possibly more serious, or even irreversible thyroid conditions.
But before you begin to worry, let me reassure you that there are many ways to support thyroid health easily and naturally, utilizing food and nutrients to encourage proper functioning. The way we eat can actually help, or hurt, our thyroid gland. The nutrients our thyroid needs are easily accessible in many foods and dietary supplements available at the grocery store. With the right information, we can make simple choices to improve thyroid health. Here’s how.

Nutrients that support our thyroid

The thyroid gland needs specific vitamins and minerals to properly do its job. Since we are all unique in how our hormones are functioning, the best way to get a handle on what our body specifically needs is to have a full thyroid panel to help pinpoint where individual levels may be off balance. Research shows us that there are a few key nutrients are highly valuable for everyone.
Iodine (I): This is the most important trace element found in thyroid functioning. Without it, our thyroid does not have the basic building blocks it needs to make the necessary hormones to support all of the tissues in the body. Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3) are the most essential, active, iodine-containing hormones we have. In 2012, a CDC report showed that women of childbearing years in the United States, ages 20-39, had the lowest iodine levels of any other age group. This is something we can easily improve by eating more iodine-rich foods.
Selenium (Se): This element is indispensable to our thyroid in several ways. Selenium-containing enzymes protect the thyroid gland when we are under stress, working like “detox,” to help flush oxidative and chemical stress, and even social stress – which can cause reactions in our body. Selenium-based proteins help regulate hormone synthesis, converting T4 into the more accessible T3. These proteins and enzymes help regulate metabolism and also help maintain the right amount of thyroid hormones in the tissues and blood, as well as organs such as the liver, kidneys, and even the brain. Selenium also helps regulate and recycle our iodine stores. These are all very important functions!
Zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and copper (CU): These three trace metals are vital to thyroid function. Low levels of zinc can cause T4, T3, and the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) to also become low. Research shows that both hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroids, and hypothyroidism, or under active thyroids, can sometimes create a zinc deficiency leading to lowered thyroid hormones.
Decreased levels of iron can result in decreased thyroid function as well. When combined with an iodine deficiency, iron must be replaced to repair the thyroid imbalance.
Copper is needed to help produce TSH, and maintain T4 production. T4 helps cholesterol regulation, and some research even indicates copper deficiency may contribute to higher cholesterol and heart issues for people with hypothyroidism.
Antioxidants and B vitamins: Most people have heard that antioxidants are important to help temper oxidative stress, and thus combat degenerative diseases as well as improve the aging process. Vitamin A (commonly known as beta-carotene), C, and E, along with iodine and selenium, help the thyroid gland mitigate oxidative stress in an ongoing, daily process.
Oxidative stress tends to be higher with Graves disease, the most common form of hyperthyroidism. With this condition, the overactive thyroid uses more oxygen, which can result in an accumulation of oxygenated compounds that can damage cells. Antioxidants are recommended to help stop the oxidative stress before it dominoes. In addition, the B vitamins, including B2, B3, and B6, help with the manufacturing of T4. As you can see, these mechanisms are all connected, which is why the proper micronutrients are important!

Foods that support our thyroid

The following list offers whole food sources containing the necessary vitamins and minerals needed to help our thyroid stay healthy and work properly.
Iodine
Primary sources:
Sea vegetables: kelp, nori, kombu, dulse, arame, wakame, hijiki
Seafood: haddock, clams, salmon, shrimp, oysters, sardines
Iodized sea salt
Secondary sources:
Eggs, spinach, garlic, asparagus, Swiss chard, mushrooms, summer squash, sesame seeds, lima beans
Selenium
Tuna, mushrooms, beef, sunflower seeds, Brazil nuts, organ meats, halibut, soybeans
Zinc
Beef, turkey, lamb, fresh oysters, sardines, soybeans, walnuts, sunflower seeds, Brazil nuts, pecans, almonds, split peas, ginger root, whole grains, maple syrup
Copper
Crabmeat, oysters, lobster, beef, nuts, sunflower seeds, beans (white beans, chickpeas, soybeans), shitake mushrooms, pearled barley, tomato paste, dark chocolate
Iron
Organ meats, oysters, clams, spinach, lentils, soybeans, white beans, pumpkin seeds, blackstrap molasses
Vitamin A (beta-carotene)
Broccoli, asparagus, lettuce, kale, carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, liver, winter squash/pumpkin, cantaloupe
Vitamin C
Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, greens (mustard, collard, kale, turnip), parsley, peppers (chili, Bell, sweet), strawberries, guava, papaya, citrus, kiwifruit
Vitamin E
Peanuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, beans and soybeans, asparagus, leafy green vegetables, whole grains, liver
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
Egg yolks, organ meats, wild rice, wheat germ, Brewer’s yeast, mushrooms, almonds
Vitamin B3 (niacin)
Poultry (white meat), peanuts (with skin), wheat bran, rice bran, liver, Brewer’s yeast
Vitamin B6 (pyroxidine)
Fish (tuna, trout, salmon), liver, bananas, brown rice, wheat germ, sunflower seeds, walnuts, beans (navy beans, garbanzos, pinto beans, soybeans, lima beans), Brewer’s yeast

Foods that may disrupt our thyroid function

Soy: There are some studies showing that the isoflavones in soybeans can inhibit the enzyme which adds iodine to the thyroid hormone known as thyroid peroxidase (TPO). These studies indicate that soy isoflavone might bond with the iodine we do have, diminishing the reserve for thyroid production. The issue lies with the levels of iodine we have. If levels are sufficient, eating natural soy should not be a problem. Natural soy is a tremendous help to many women in regulating menopause symptoms, so this is an important nutrient to consider.
Brassica family of vegetables: This group of vegetables includes brussel sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage, which studies show can reduce the thyroid hormone in a similar way to soy. Goiter, an enlarged thyroid, is linked to iodine deficiency. The compounds categorized as goitrogens can be found in small amounts in many other foods as well, including spinach, peanuts, and strawberries. It’s ok to eat them, but by pairing them with iodine-rich foods, we can counteract the metabolization reducing iodine.
Gluten: There is a distinct connection between gluten intolerance, celiac disease, and autoimmune thyroid issues. This is the one food I strongly recommend to avoid if you have a thyroid condition. Gluten is found in many foods, and can trigger a whole series of digestive issues and hormonal imbalances. I have many patients whose thyroid functioning improves if we determine a gluten sensitivity and remove gluten from their diets. Not only that, they feel better!

Find the right balance

When we support our thyroid naturally, we can improve the way we feel on many levels. It may seem complicated, but once we learn which foods help and how to support our thyroid with the micronutrients we need, it will become second-nature.
  • Get tested. Have a full thyroid panel, as well as check iodine, selenium, and Vitamin D levels. The results of these tests combined, can help determine any underlying conditions and the best way to treat them.
  • Eat whole foods and consider supplements. Supporting our thyroid through consuming wholesome foods rich in the right micronutrients is ideal. But it isn’t always possible to do this on a regular basis. Using a quality multi-vitamin and mineral supplement can help round-out deficiencies in thyroid imbalance. Try this approach before taking a synthetic thyroid hormone, since these prescriptions tend to increase our thyroid’s dependence on them, making it harder to get off of them later.
  • Use herbs. There are many herbs that can support thyroid function, such as sage, ashwaganda, bacopa monnieri, and coleus forskohlii. Combined with iodine and selenium, these herbs can help boost energy and support healthy metabolism. A functional medicine practitioner can help with the formula based on individual need.
  • Address stress. Chronic stress leads to elevated levels of cortisol, the primary stress hormone, which over time can overwork thyroid hormones, eventually leading to hypothyroidism. A good way to minimize physical stress is to actually eat more often. Three balanced meals and two healthy snacks every day can keep our thyroid working smoothly. Minimizing emotional stress is also important. Exercise, plenty of sleep, and relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation can also help balance our hormones and thyroid functioning.
  • Sit and enjoy your meals. We live in a culture where relaxing is put at the bottom of our to-do list. When we are rushed and hurry to eat, or eat standing at the kitchen counter, in the car, or at our desks, our digestive systems do not work as well as they do when we are relaxed and comfortable while eating. Sitting down and enjoying our meals not only helps nourish our bodies, it helps our thyroid by reducing the stress associated with hurrying. Sit with friends and family, talk, laugh, relax, and enjoy the break. You will notice a difference in how you feel, and your thyroid will too.

Something you can use as a quick printout:

Here are three things you can do to boost your thyroid function:

1. Eat more of these great sources of iodine to enhance thyroid function: 
  • Low fat cheese  
  • Cow’s milk
  • Eggs   
  • Low fat ice cream    
  • Low fat yogurt                                  
  • Saltwater fish
  • Seaweed (including kelp, dulce, nori)
  • Shellfish
  • Soy sauce
2. Eat less of these foods; they slow your thyroid because they block your thyroid and your medication from producing thyroid hormone properly, especially when eaten raw. Cooking these foods inactivates their anti-thyroid properties. These foods are called goitrogens, which are chemicals that lower thyroid function. Eat these foods sparingly or only once every four days:
  • Almonds                      
  • Cauliflower (Any vegetable that falls into the broccoli family is a goitrogen and shouldn’t be eaten more than twice a week if you have hypothyroidism.)
  • Millet             
  • Pears               
  • Turnips
  • Brussels sprouts          
  • Corn                      
  • Mustard       
  • Pine nuts           
  • Cabbage                         
  • Kale                        
  • Peaches         
  • Soy (Isoflavones block iodine)
  • Canola oil                                                       
  • Peanuts         
  • Spinach     
3. Workout every day. All you need is a pair of sneakers and a watch, and you’re ready to go. For optimal thyroid function, you must exercise at least three days a week for 40 minutes per workout. I strongly suggest working out/walking every day so your thyroid gets a boost daily to correct the condition until your thyroid is running at an optimal rate. Circuit training is also great way to lower insulin levels and increase thyroid function. This is easy to do in the comfort of your own home by doing push-ups, lunges and sit-ups back to back without rest, pushing yourself a bit to get out of breath.

Bonus: Enhance your thyroid with supplements. Take thyroid-enhancing supplements daily to gently and safely keep your thyroid working optimally for life. The best way to treat anything is to prevent it!  Supplementing is the best way to keep your thyroid running at an optimal rate and to keep your weight under control. Start your supplement regime first by using a very strong, high quality multivitamin.  Most store-bought vitamins are not suitable or strong enough to help hypothyroidism, so look for a very potent high quality multi with high levels of iodine, selenium, zinc, vitamin B, D, E and at least 2 grams of vitamin C. Other nutrients such as omega-3 as well as amino acids also help regulate the thyroid and need to also be considered. One of my favorites that I put all of my hypothyroid clients on is gugglesterones. Guggulsterone or guggulipid’s have been used for centuries in ayurvedic medicine to naturally regulate the thyroid and keep it running at an optimal rate without the side effects of medications. Look for supplement multitaskers from a very reputable source so you don’t have to take 29 different pills every day.  ~Excerpt from Dr. Oz