Posts Tagged ‘Balanced Diet’

Hormone Replacement Therapy



Hormone replacement therapy can be carried out in various forms ranging from oral intake of pills to skin patches and needles and even vaginal gels. These products contain replacement hormones that are usually given in the smallest amounts to administer its effects before further continuation.

Menopause is a normal part of aging and every women experiences hormonal variation such as surges or declines in her hormone levels before and during menopause. This is accompanied by a variety of symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness and this the time when HRT comes into play to help women deal with these graveling changes effectively and also to help protect them against osteoporosis, a common disease resulting from insufficient calcium absorption after menopause, Alzheimer’s disease and macular degeneration.

To be more precise HRT or Hormone Replacement Therapy is a medication that contains either one or many female hormones. The most commonly used hormones are estrogen and synthetically manufactured version of the hormone known as progestin.

If you are suffering from severe menopausal symptoms such as lack of sleep, restlessness, mood swings, night sweats, stress attacks, headaches and migraines and weight gain then taking this hormone replacement treatment after thorough discussion with your doctor is recommended. Women who have made use of this therapy acknowledge improved conditions and relief from pre-menopause symptoms to a significant extent.

On the other hand, hormone replacement therapy also has a few side effects which include increased risks to diseases such as breast cancer, blood clotting, gall bladder diseases and certain cardiovascular diseases. Hypertension and fluid retention are also some commonly known side-effects in most cases. When taking the hormone replacement therapy, it is highly recommended that you maintain a well-balanced diet and exercise regularly so as to keep your body active, heart healthy and bones strong.

Hormone replacement therapy is a commonly prescribed medication to help women cope with the discomforts and symptoms of menopause. Even though the use of synthetic hormones has been shown to provide favorable results and substantial improvement in women health, total reliance on HRT is yet to be established. Hormone Replacement Therapy is accompanied by both its benefits and side-effects that should be discussed in detail with your doctor before implementation.

Even though HRT is being increasingly employed by women to relieve themselves of these symptoms, for long term usage the therapy has yet to be proven cent percent safe. HRT comes along with a handful of risks and the extent of these risks affecting each woman depends highly on her individual health and fitness and more importantly her lifestyle. If you are taking any hormones then make it a point to get yourself checked regularly and the hormones re-evaluated after every six months by your doctor for best results.

Anemia – Do You Have it?



Anemia goes undetected in many people, and symptoms can be vague. Anemia can be caused by a deficiency in folate, iron and/or vitamins and can take months to years to develop. It is more a process of a disease, rather than a disease itself. In menstruating women and young mothers, dietary iron deficiency is a common cause of deficient red blood cell production. Some of the more common symptoms of nutritional deficiency anemia are fatigue, chest pain, trouble breathing, weight loss, weakness, dizziness, pale skin. Anemia can make you feel weak, cold, dizzy and irritable. Pale skin and nail beds are often a useful diagnostic sign in moderate or severe anemia, but it is not always apparent.

You are ‘anemic’ when there is not enough oxygen in the blood. This happens when there are not enough red blood cells being produced. Oxygenated blood helps give your body its energy and your skin a healthy glow. Red Blood Cells carry the oxygen from your lungs to your brain and the rest of your body and each blood cell only lives for about 100 days. Therefore, the body is constantly needing to replace them.

The production of the cells is a function of the bone marrow. Folate (Vitamin B9), iron, Vitamins C and B12 are required to produce healthy red blood cells. If there is a deficiency of Vitamin C which assists in the absorption of dietary iron, the bone marrow produces smaller and fewer cells. A deficiency of Folate and Vitamin B12 results in the bone marrow producing large underdeveloped red blood cells resulting in a shortage of cells.

Fortunately, these deficiencies can usually be corrected through a balanced diet containing green leafy vegetables and citrus fruit and juices for Folate, red and white meat and dairy products for vitamin B12, citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes, green peppers, cantaloupe and potatoes for vitamin C. Smoking interferes with the absorption of nutrients, especially vitamin C which helps your body absorb iron, an important building block of red blood cells. Alcohol also effects your ability to absorb nutrients. Some drugs can cause a vitamin deficiency as well.

There may also be another reason for the deficiency of vitamin B12 other than diet. As the liver stores large quantities of B12, it can take a period of time before a deficiency becomes apparent. If there has been an operation on the stomach such as a gastric bypass, vitamin B12 may not be able to be broken down from the food eaten and therefore not absorbed into the body. If this is the case, there are Vitamin B12 shots available to replenish the levels.

Different types of anemia have different causes. However, generally when feelings of constant fatigue, dizziness, pale skin and lack of energy occur, it is advisable to consult a doctor and have blood tests to determine if the blood count is normal. If not, the doctor can then investigate the reasons.

Most people do not realize they are anemic and many complain of weakness or fatigue blaming it on stress, depression, lifestyle etc.. Quite often it is due to a prolonged lack of proper nutrition. A busy and hectic lifestyle can lead to developing a habit of fast foods which lacks the necessary fruit and vegetables in the diet. The effects of a low nutritional diet can take months to years to have a noticeable effect and produce anemia. Altering this habit and changing to a nutritional diet is probably the best prevention.

There is also a new product available as a support to balancing the blood by providing vitamins and iron through absorption through the skin – meaning no tablets necessary. You can read more about it at the Bio Health Chip Store. Always see a doctor if you suspect you have anemia as there are more serious causes that may be present.