So if you are concerned about fertility, are trying to conceive or are having difficulties with your reproductive system then EAT ORGANIC as much as possible. At the least avoid corn, canola, soy and cotton seed products or any products containing them that are not certified 100% organic.
What does food have to do with fertility? Well, what goes into our bodies affects us more than we think or realize. I was just watching a DVD tonight discussing GMO/GE foods. A farmer was discussing how he and fellow farmers were having difficulty with fertility in their animals. Once the farmers talked about it the only common denominator they could come up with was the genetically modified feed they had started feeding their animals. Interestingly once they changed their diet the fertility problems disappeared and their animals were again able to conceive. This case of GMO's affecting fertility is not the only one noted in animals... nor is that the only negative effect of consuming GMO products. What does that mean for women? Well I got to thinking that if genetically modified food affects animals it definitely affects us. Here are some important things to know. The main crops that are genetically modified are Soy, Corn, Canola, and Cotton Seed. The scary thing about these crops is that they are in the majority of processed foods in one form or another. Just look at the ingredient list sometime. It would be nice if all the labels just declared that they contained GMOs but that is a dream that only comes true in Europe where protesters have demanded the right to know what they are eating. But in Canada and the USA there are no such laws. The best way to ensure that your food does not contain GMOs is to grow it yourself (as pointed out my one of my commentators for which I am altering this article). But short of that eating 100% organic food that has gone through as little processing as possible whenever you are able is the next best thing.
So if you are concerned about fertility, are trying to conceive or are having difficulties with your reproductive system then EAT ORGANIC as much as possible. At the least avoid corn, canola, soy and cotton seed products or any products containing them that are not certified 100% organic.
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If you had told me a year ago that I would be taking "pills," vitamins, and eating salad... I would have screamed "NO!!!!" I grew up in a home where my mom was always pushing some vitamin or the other and I was not going to fall prey to the latest vitamin fad. How was someone who did not live in my body and did not do any tests on it going to know what my body needed. I was anti-pill and anti-medicine. That is until until I was in pain with no where else to turn but meds. After the meds made things worse than they already were I decided they were not the answer and found an Iridologist and Master Herbalist who could both tell me accurately what was happening in my body and what natural remedies would fix it. So I have come to appreciate herbs as whole foods and value those capsules filled with powdered, bio-available leaves and roots as miracle working gold. I've experienced the results first hand.
It has been quite a journey... almost 11 months since first seeing my natural health practitioner on March 31, 2010 and here I am many little changes later. I thought I would be the last person making some of those changes and even taking classes and starting a business aimed at sharing natural health but here I am. One of my friends has been asking me to chronicle what I have done... so as a short version I am going to go through and list the various steps that I have taken. This list may seem overwhelming to some but I want you to keep in mind that these changes were born out of very small steps... for example finishing my regular deodorant and toothpaste then replacing them with a natural alternative. If you wish to make changes in your life replacement will be key. Some of the work I have already done for you... on my partners page you can find products that I have discovered and used that may be helpful to you. So here goes:
When your body is in balance there is no greater feeling... My prescription for health and healing boils down to 2 things. DETOX and NOURISH.
DETOX: This includes avoiding putting toxins in your body, removing toxins from your body, and protecting yourself from toxic exposure. · Eat organic (less toxins in means less you have to take out, and organic food is not genetically modified) · Avoid toxins... Don't handle chemicals (this includes bath and body products... 26 seconds from skin to organs check out an alternative... Miessence) · Install a shower filter (Chlorine is toxic and has been linked to endometriosis and other problems) · Clear your channels (cleanse and support your eliminative organs; liver, colon, skin, kidneys. Toxins can't leave if these are stopped up) · Avoid meat, dairy, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, allergens (they plug up your system, create toxic reactions or put your body into a defensive mode) · Avoid food additives (Aspartame is one example that damages your nerves, especially your brain cells, and sets your body up to become insulin resistant) · Reduce EMF pollution (Electromagnetic frequencies/radiation can impact your health, they are released by cell phones, computers, microwaves etc... you can purchase devices that neutralize EMFs) · Detox program (periodically detox your body with a good detox program guided by your natural health practitioner... this may include herbs, juicing, diet changes, a detox foot spa, FIR sauna and more) NOURISH: This includes giving your body what it needs to thrive and repair damage. · Eat a plant based diet (be sure it is rich in variety and includes whole grains, nuts, seeds, vegetables, and fruit) · Use herbs (they nourish and repair specific organs and are a whole food rich in vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients) · Drink lots of pure water · Walk barefoot outside · Get sun and sleep Digestion and weight management go hand in hand and the stomach should be given first class consideration. Many people have difficulty when it comes to their stomachs... there is bloating, acid, and sometimes even pain. Ensuring a smooth transition from mouth to intestines requires special care in the stomach. Having enough acids and digestive enzymes will go a long way to settling things down. Often our bodies do not produce enough of these to handle the amount and type of foods we eat. So for starters here are a couple of simple rules that work.
1. Eat enough, not too much. Pay attention to when your body says it is full. Put the leftovers away to enjoy for another time. 2. Eat a plant based diet, and as much of it raw as possible. Plants contain essential nutrients that are vital to our health. Those nutrients drastically diminish when food is cooked. When cooked food is more than 49% of your diet your body's immune response is activated. A body on immune alert is more prone to allergies. Animal products: meat & dairy, slow down and clog your system. 3. Timing is everything. The stomach, pancreas and liver all need time to work on your food and then rest and restock their stores of enzymes. Best to eat meals at least 3 hours apart. Proteins, carbs, veges and fruit all digest at different rates. Most notable is fruit which can digest in as little as 20 minutes with other food taking between 2 and 3 hours. Fruit eaten with other food has a tendency to ferment and become toxic in the stomach while waiting for the rest of the food to be digested. Eat fruit as a between meal snack or as a meal of its own. 4. Use bitter herbs or a digestive enzyme to improve digestion and lighten the load on your stomach. Taking bitter herbs 20-30 minutes before eating can jumpstart your secretion of stomach acids and enzymes. Herbs considered bitter herbs: Angelica root, burdock, dandelion, gentian, ginger, goldenseal, milk thistle, wormwood and yarrow (http://www.herbal-remedies-at-home.com/bitter-herbs.html). Digestive enzymes such as Garden Essence, Protease Plus or Digestive Enzymes offered by Nature's Sunshine also are great digestive aids. So Stand Up for your Stomach... a proactive approach means a more efficient system which translates into a body that ismo This is a series of articles that I am writing on holistic weight loss. Taken individually each tip can definitely improve your health but if you are seriously considering weight loss then do not expect any one of these tips to make a life-shattering difference they must be taken together and applied together consistently to see positive ongoing results. Many of these tips form the basis for a lifestyle change that can be profound and satisfying.
Chewing an often overlooked part of digestion is one of the most important aspects of health. Digestion starts in your mouth! Breaking food down into very small pieces is the first step. Saliva is the next step in breaking down your food and starting the conversion to nutrients that are easy to absorb. Several glands in your mouth release saliva prior to and during chewing. This is intended to mix with your food, begin neutralizing acids and breaking down carbohydrates. The more thoroughly your food is chewed the greater the exposure it has to your saliva and the more your body will be able to absorb later on. Ensuring that carbs start breaking down in your mouth will help reduce drastic spikes in insulin and blood sugar levels. With this in mind some people even "chew" their juice by swishing it from side to side in their mouth at least six times allowing it to mix with their saliva before swallowing. Those concerned about blood sugar levels and carbohydrate digestion may consider using Chromium GFT an amazing product through nature's sunshine that helps convert carbs into usable energy helping to reduce stress on the pancreas and regulate blood sugar levels. Deliberately chewing your food to a near liquid state and doing it slowly will help you feel full faster. No need for expensive appetite suppressants just slow down and enjoy your meal. Your body needs time to recognize when it is full and relay that feedback to your brain before you become overstuffed. So chew... Chew... CHEW :) Fibromyalgia, Cronic Fatigue Syndrome and Endometriosis are all very much mysteries to the medical profession. I believe that these conditions are caused and perpetuated by complex interactions within the body. In other words one thing cannot be blamed and one magic pill is not going to fix it. The body is such an intricate interaction of systems that understanding what is happening and why is very much like putting a puzzle together. For the next little while I will blog about the puzzle pieces of these various conditions in hopes that I may bring some clarity to the whole picture and give us some ideas about ways to tackle wellness!
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AuthorMy name is Tehani. I am interested in Fibromyalgia, Endometriosis and women's health in general. I believe strongly in alternative health options and know first hand that they work. I offer wellness coaching, sclerology assessments, acutherapy (amazing bodywork), Jin Shin Do, herbal and nutritional consulting... and my opinion :) Archives
February 2011
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