Category: Sexual Health

Does DHEA Help Menopause?

10/11/2016

Are you over 30 and find yourself stressed to the point that you feel overwhelmed or depressed? You may be low in DHEA.

DHEA is a natural steroid and precursor hormone produced by the adrenal glands, which are located above the kidneys. It naturally begins to decline after age 30.

Your adrenal glands also produce the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline. If you are producing too many stress hormones as a result of stress, your body can’t produce enough DHEA to support a healthy hormone balance. This will cause you to feel overwhelmed and depressed.

If you are producing too many stress hormones as a result of stress, your body can’t produce enough DHEA to support a healthy hormone balance. This will cause you to feel overwhelmed and depressed.

Always consult your doctor before starting DHEA

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Does Chasteberry Help With Menopause Symptoms?

9/28/2016

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Benefits of Chasteberry

Chasteberry is a normalizing herb for female sex hormones. There is some scientific and anecdotal evidence that it is especially beneficial during menopausal changes, although more scientific studies need to be conducted. Its benefits are believed to include:

Reducing hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause.
Boosting the libido.
Increasing bone density.
A beneficial estrogenic effect.
It may be taken with Black Cohosh for optimum impact.

Chasteberry is a normalizing herb for female sex hormones. It has been used to treat menopausal symptoms.

Chasteberry for menopause

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13 Health Benefits of Basil

9/9/2016

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Liver Detox

Basil is great to detox your liver. If you overate or drank too much the previous day, give your liver a break and add some basil or pesto to your breakfast.

Basil is great to detox your liver

Inflammation & Swelling

A study found that Holy Basil can reduce swelling by up to 73%.

Digestion

The essential oils contained in basil lower inflammation, which is at the root of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Basil also improves digestion by supporting healthy bacteria in the gut.

Clear Skin

Basil oil combats the bacteria that cause acne.
Try this recipe from Health.com: Boil a handful of fresh basil leaves in 1 cup of water for 10 minutes; let the liquid cool. Dip a cotton ball into the liquid, pat it on your breakout zones, wait 10 minutes, then splash with water; repeat once or twice a day.

Stress

Holy Basil helps with stress by reducing cortisol, your stress hormone. Basil is considered an adaptogen, which means it helps your body adapt to stress. It helps your body normalize and deal with the effects of stress. Try adding basil to your iced tea after it has steeped.

Basil decreases inflammation.

Arthritis

Basil can help with arthritis by reducing the inflammation that the disease causes.

PMS

When you are menstruating, you lose iron. Basil is an excellent source of iron, containing the same amount as spinach! Eat plenty of iron rich foods during your period.

Heart Health

Basil contains powerful antioxidants that help protect the lining of the blood vessels from free radical damage. This helps prevent arterial clogging, heart attacks, and stroke. It can also help the muscles in your blood vessels relax and contract, thereby promoting healthy blood pressure. It also helps prevent blood clots.

Diabetes

Basil has been found to reduce circulating blood glucose, which helps prevent diabetes. It can also lower triglycerides and cholesterol, which diabetic patients often suffer from high levels.

Basil is an antibacterial

Antibacterial

Basil has many antibacterial properties. One of the many ways you can take advantage of this is to wash your veggies in a solution with 1% basil or thyme oil. Doing this kills bacteria that can cause diarrhea. Scientists are doing studies about basil’s effects on antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Studies are showing that basil is effective in killing powerful bacteria strains. Basil essential oils may be effective in treating viruses and infections.

Prevent Cancer

The antioxidants in basil help prevent cancer. They do this by keeping chromosomes from becoming altered or damaged. They can also target harmful cells, such as cancer cells. Basil can also help protect healthy tissue from the harmful effects of radiation and chemotherapy.

Depression & Anxiety

Some people consider basil to be an antidepressant. It can help stimulate the neurotransmitters that regulate the hormones that are responsible for making us feel happy.

Aphrodisiac

Basil has traditionally been used in some countries as a natural aphrodisiac. It is believed to cause arousal and to support healthy sexual function.

Vegan Basil Pesto

I wrote this post after spending the morning making pesto. I have two basil plants that have been VERY prolific! I started wondering what the health benefits were. I hope you enjoy this vegan version of pesto!

Vegan Basil Pesto

4 cups loosely packed basil
1/2 cup olive oil, more if needed
1 tablespoon lemon juice
3-4 tablespoons nutritional yeast
1/2 cup pine nuts or other kind of nuts (I have used blanched almonds or walnuts)
1 teaspoon salt

Place the basil into your food processor. Turn on processor and drizzle oil into processor as its running. Process for 15-30 seconds. Add the rest of the ingredients and continue processing until smooth. If it needs more olive oil to process smoothly or reach the correct consistency, then add some.

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Reduce Menopausal Symptoms with Black Cohosh

8/8/2016

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Black Cohosh is commonly used to treat menopausal symptoms. It is an adaptogen, which means that it helps bring the hormones into balance. If they are too high, it brings them down; if they are too low it brings them up. It also contains estrogenic substances and binds to estrogen receptors. It also acts on serotonin receptors and may relieve hot flashes and improve mood.

The benefits of Black Cohosh include:

Calming the nerves, less nervous tension, less nervous irritability.
Fewer hot flashes.
Reducing inflammation.
Increasing adrenal activity, improving the body’s ability to respond to stress.
Normalizing metabolism.
Traditionally used to treat insomnia, menopause, hormonal imbalances, and sexual disinterest.

Increasing bone density.

How to use Black Cohosh:

Always use as directed by your physician and as directed on the label of your supplement.
Do not take for more than 6 months at a time. Stop for about a month, then resume. Stay on Black Cohosh for as long as symptoms persist.
It is commonly used in conjunction with vitamin E, evening primrose oil, B complex, and vitamin C.
When combined with St. John’s Wort it can improve mood and smooth mood swings.
German health authorities have approved 40 mg/day for 6 months for menopausal symptoms, PMS and dysmenorrhea.
Do not take if you have liver problems.
Do not take if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Common side effects include mild gastric effects. Overdoses are characterized by nausea, vomiting, dizziness and headache.

References
Duke, J. A. (1997). The Green Pharmacy. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press.
Find a Vitamin or Supplement: Black Cohosh. (2016, May 6). Retrieved from WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-857-BLACK+COHOSH.aspx?activeIngredientId=857&activeIngredientName=BLACK+COHOSH&source=2
Geller, S. E. (2007, January 8). Botanical and Dietary Supplements for Menopausal Symptoms: What Works, What Doesn’t. Retrieved from US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1764641/
Gottlieb, B. (1995). New Choices in Natural Healing. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press.
Pedersen, M. (1998). Nutritional Herbology. Warsaw, IN: Whitman Publications.

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Does Ashwagandha Help with Menopause?

7/8/2016

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The adrenal gland sit on top of the kidneys and pump out estrogen, testosterone, and the stress hormone cortisol. When the adrenal glands are fatigued (when you’re stressed, anxious, angry, or depressed) your body decides it’s more important to make cortisol rather than estrogen and testosterone.

Ashwagandha is an Ayurvedic herb designed to help with adrenal fatigue, hormonal balancing, and improving a range of menopausal symptoms including hot flashes and mood swings. It is an adaptogenic herb, so if cortisol is too high, it will lower it; and if it’s too low, it will raise it. Cortisol contributes to muscle loss and weakness, wrinkles, and cognitive impairment.

The benefits of Ashwagandha include:

Improving resistance to stress.
Acting on the endocrine system by encouraging hormone balance.
Reducing menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes and anxiety.
Supporting sexual health and vitality by increasing blood flow and reducing bodily tension. Women who take it typically experience an increase in sexual desire and satisfaction.
Improving energy.
Boosting mood.
Supporting thyroid function, an organ responsible for regulating hormones.

ALWAYS CHECK WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER BEFORE BEGINNING A NEW HERB OR SUPPLEMENT.

References

Bayless, K. (2015, December 18). 10 Supplements You Should Be Taking After Menopause. Retrieved from Prevention: http://www.prevention.com/health/post-menopause-supplements

Group, E. (2014, July 11). 7 Amazing Benefits of Ashwagandha Root for Women. Retrieved from Global Healing Center: http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/7-amazing-benefits-of-ashwagandha-root-for-women/

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Does DHEA Help Menopause?

Does Chasteberry Help With Menopause Symptoms?

Benefits of Chasteberry

13 Health Benefits of Basil

Liver Detox

Inflammation & Swelling

Digestion

Clear Skin

Stress

Arthritis

PMS

Heart Health

Diabetes

Antibacterial

Prevent Cancer

Depression & Anxiety

Aphrodisiac

Vegan Basil Pesto

Reduce Menopausal Symptoms with Black Cohosh

Does Ashwagandha Help with Menopause?

Tonya Cruz

Archives

Categories

Does DHEA Help Menopause?

Does Chasteberry Help With Menopause Symptoms?

​Benefits of Chasteberry

13 Health Benefits of Basil

​Liver Detox

​Inflammation & Swelling

​Digestion

​Clear Skin

​Stress

​Arthritis

​PMS

​Heart Health

​Diabetes

Antibacterial

​Prevent Cancer

​Depression & Anxiety

​Aphrodisiac

Vegan Basil Pesto

Reduce Menopausal Symptoms with Black Cohosh

Does Ashwagandha Help with Menopause?

Tonya Cruz

Archives

Categories

Benefits of Chasteberry

Liver Detox

Inflammation & Swelling

Digestion

Clear Skin

Stress

Arthritis

PMS

Heart Health

Diabetes

Prevent Cancer

Depression & Anxiety

Aphrodisiac