For Women Health Supplements Can Help Treat Specific Conditions

Women, who lead busy, stressful and demanding lives, putting other’s needs first and their own last, should consider taking women health supplements to prevent nutritional deficiencies in their bodies. When considering which of the many supplements for women on the market are best for you, you need to know what nutrients to look for.

All good women health supplements will contain vitamins A, B, C, D, and E. These are essential ingredients. Vitamin C is particularly important for women because it helps to keep both the heart and the immune system healthy. It also lowers blood pressure and raises good cholesterol (HDL) which reduces the risk of heart disease. Vitamin E, also lowers the risk of heart disease and also reduces the risk of stroke. Antioxidants such as Vitamins E, C and A may also lower the risk of cancer and muscle degeneration.

Supplements for women are particularly important because as women age, the hormonal and other physical changes place additional nutritional demands on the body. It is particularly important that women over the age of 50 ensure they are getting enough Vitamin D which will help them absorb calcium which is essential to protect against osteoporosis. While women are going through menopause, it is recommended they take additional vitamin E and B12 than what might normally be in women health supplements.

Supplements for women should also include organic iron. Women need iron in order to produce red blood cells and an iron deficiency cause anemia. Specially formulated, women health supplements are vital to a women’s health. This is because women have very specific health needs which need to be addressed and our modern polluted world and busy lifestyles make it hard to do so. Most women have serious gaps in their nutritional intake. Largely as a result of poor diet and increased stresses on the body, women are increasingly suffering from breast cancer, obesity, osteoporosis, premenstrual syndrome, infertility and skin problems. Pregnancy and menopause also place serious stresses on a woman’s body.

The best supplements for women will include calcium and magnesium which combine to reduce the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. However, if PMS is a particular problem, there are women health supplements available for specific needs. A supplement designed to assist people with PMS should include Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, choline, taurine and herbs such as licorice root, dong quai root and peony root. These ingredients work synergistically to help relieve PMS. Essential fatty acids can also be beneficial to women who suffer from PMS.

Even if you think you are eating well and therefore do not need to take a vitamin and mineral supplement, if you are in one of the following groups you may need to think again:

• Post menopausal women experience a sudden decline in their levels of estrogen which in turn causes an increase in bone loss. Supplements for women containing Calcium and Vitamin D will help to prevent this bone loss.

• Women who have heavy menstruation may have an iron deficiency due to excessive blood loss. This can cause the blood to be low in hemoglobin (anemia) which carries oxygen in the blood to the tissues. Women health supplements containing organic iron can replace the depleted iron and avoid anemia and its effects.

• Women who are trying to become pregnant or who are already pregnant would benefit from taking various women health supplements. In particular, they should ensure their supplements contain calcium, Vitamin D, folate and iron. It is best to start taking a good supplement before getting pregnant.

Women have nutritional needs that are unique to them and cannot be met by just taking a broad-spectrum multi-vitamin supplement. Supplements for women should certainly contain the vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes that we all need, but they should also include ingredients that meet the specific needs of women. You can find women health supplements that are both comprehensive and specific to certain needs.

If you avoid synthetic products, buy a natural broad spectrum women’s supplement, eat a healthy diet, exercise and reduce stress where possible, your health should improve. If you are still experiencing ‘female problems’, look for a specific supplement to meet that need. You won’t look back.

Stan Rogers is an alternative health researcher and an expert in natural healing. He is a contributor to many health sites, including the Womens Health section of Nutritional Supplements Guide, a site dedicated to natural treatments for various health conditions.

How To Find The Best Women Health Supplements

As a woman, it can sometimes be tough to follow a proper diet and exercise routine. With so many schedule demands and not enough hours in the day, it can often feel as if your nutritional needs take a back seat in your life. By incorporating vitamins and supplements into your diet, you can provide your body with the nutrients it may be lacking. But how can you determine which women health supplements are best for you? In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the nutrients you should be looking for when choosing a supplement.

The Essentials

At the core of any women’s supplement should be the essential vitamins; A, B, C, D, and E. Vitamin C is especially beneficial to women, as it helps protect your heart while keeping your immune system healthy. It has also been found to lower blood pressure and raise the levels of HDL (otherwise known as good cholesterol). Increased HDL helps lower your risk for cardiovascular disease. Vitamin E is also vital to a woman’s well-being as it is a great antioxidant, which helps to lower the risk of heart disease and stroke.

As You Age

As a woman ages, her body goes through physical changes that increase the demand for certain nutrients. If you are a woman over 50, it is important that you are getting plenty of vitamin D, which helps to absorb calcium. It then goes without saying that you should also be adding calcium to your diet, to protect against osteoporosis. In addition, calcium and vitamin D have been proven in helping to fight against certain types of cancer as well. For women experiencing menopause, it is also recommended that you supplement your diet with extra vitamin E and vitamin B12.

Consult Your Physician

For any woman, it is always best to talk to your doctor before introducing supplements into your diet. While these are just a few tips for helping boost your nutrition, only your health care provider can definitively answer all of your questions.

Dean Iggo is the webmaster of a vitamin supplements website which reviews a number of different supplements including glucosamine sulphate, weight loss supplements, bodybuilding supplements and more...

Natural Supplements for Women's Health: Blood Sugar

One of the problems that women face is blood sugar. There are a number of factors that can cause high blood sugar levels. Pregnancy and menopause change estrogen levels which affect metabolism and how body processes fat. In turn, that affects blood sugar levels. Menstruation also affects blood sugar, at least indirectly. Everyone has heard about “those pesky hormones” and all about craving certain foods like salty items such as chips or everyone’s favorite treat, chocolate. With some dietary changes and a little help from supplements you can achieve a healthy balance in your blood sugar levels.

Tackling the Diet

Carbohydrates are important for your body, but eating too many of them in your diet can cause your blood sugar to have more drastic highs and lows. In addition, you’ll find that more fat collects along your midriff and hips. By being selective in the types of carbs you ingest, you will still get what you need in your diet but without those blood sugar swings.

Just say no to processed foods. Basically white foods – anything with white flour and sugars – are converted more quickly to glucose in your body. This causes a spike in your blood sugar levels that lasts just a short time. Before you know it, your energy plummets and you feel lethargic because that “sugar rush” is gone. Then, in order to get that energy level back up, you eat more carbs and the cycle starts all over again.

By choosing carbohydrates that are found in whole grain foods, your body has to work harder to process them. What this means for you is that extreme high-low factor goes away and you are left with a more balanced blood sugar level and your energy level is more consistent. And because your body works harder to process these types of carbohydrates, you are expending calories, meaning less fat gets deposited in your mid-section.

Vitamins and Supplements

While taking care with your diet helps greatly, sometimes you just need an additional boost. This is where women supplements and vitamins for women come in. Business is booming with herbal supplements and special vitamin formulas. But which ones help with your blood sugar?

When your blood sugar levels fluctuate, it can be draining on your body and leave you feeling a bit sluggish. Taking supplements for women that contain chromium might give you a boost and alleviate some of that fatigue. If you have diabetes or might be prone to developing it, ginseng can also be beneficial. It has been known to boost metabolism and help control blood sugar.

If you are looking for vitamins or supplements you have to make sure you only buy high quality products. Always look for products from companies that only specialize in vitamins and supplements products for women. One of the companies that makes nutrients for women and specializes in supplements for women health is nutraOrigin.

There are a number of other women vitamins and supplements that could also be beneficial. However, be sure the check with your doctor to determine which ones might be best for you. If you are taking other medications, certain vitamins or women supplements might counteract with them.

It all boils down to common sense. Do your research into the different vitamins and supplements. Make positive changes in your diet. Women are built differently than men. Therefore, you must be more diligent with your body and what goes into it for your health.

This article was provided by nutraOrigin - the makers of nature-based supplements for women. For more information about various women health issues, tips and nutraOrigin products

Celebrating Life after Breast Cancer

THE DIARY OF A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR

Symptoms of Breast Cancer
“The most common finding is a painless lump, although occasionally painful lumps are cancerous. A thickening of the breast or a change in density should also be checked out. Occasionally breast cancer can show up as a lump under the arm, redness of the skin over the breast, eczema of the nipple, or dimpling of the skin. Finally, the most common finding these days is an abnormality seen on a mammogram with no physical findings at all. ” – an excerpt from the Breast Book by Dr. Susan Love.

Breast Self-Examination (BSE)
I strongly urge every woman to do breast self-examination. You can do it any time you choose – whether when you’re getting dressed or when you are taking a shower. Raise one arm up above your head and use your fingers to press down firmly on the chest area around the breast, the armpit area and above and under the breast. When you’re done with one, examine the other breast.

It is by self-examination that I was first able to discover my lump. We should all get to know our breasts during the different times (especially when we’re menstruating and when we’re not). If we do that, there’s a good chance we will notice when a lump shows up.

Friday, November 17, 1995
I am 34½ years old and today I discovered a lump in my right breast. I was just straightening my bra strap at work, and then ran my hand across my breast. It was a natural thing for me to do. It was just like a greeting – “How’re you doing, breast?” It’s the kind of action a woman does unconsciously, and as long as things are as expected, she doesn’t give that action a second thought.

But today the greeting I got in return wasn’t what I expected. A lump! A hard, non-moveable lump! Now this lump wasn’t a normal part of my breast tissue. I was concerned and scared, and called a co-worker to confirm what I felt. I didn’t want to keep this a secret. I also called my husband, Fred, and told him my discovery.

Now, I have been a very healthy person, no medical problems, and no surgeries. I have been in the hospital twice for full-term pregnancies. I felt no pain in my body and now this lump!

Carcinoma Of The Breast (Breast Cancer)

Currently, there are more than 180,000 new cases of breast cancer every year in the United States and 46,000 deaths, and it has been estimated that one of every eight American women living to age 95 years will develop breast carcinoma. Until 1983, breast cancer was the leading cause of cancer deaths among females; despite an increase in the incidence of breast carcinoma, it is now second to lung cancer because of the larger increase in the number of women developing lung cancer.

Breast carcinoma is rare before 25 years of age and uncommon before 30 years; the incidence increases sharply after 40 years, with a mean and median age of 60 years. Statistically, the risk of breast cancer is increased in nulliparous women (nuns have a high incidence), in women who have early menarche and the late menopause, and in those who have their first pregnancy after age 30. Breast feeding appears to have protective effect for the mother. Evidence linking oral contraceptives to breast cancer is scant; a few studies suggest a very slightly increased incidence in women who use oral contraceptives.

A familial history (limited to first-degree relatives, i.e. mother, sister, daughter) of breast carcinoma increases the risk fivefold. The first-degree relatives of woman who develops bilateral breast cancer before menopause are at greatly increased risk. The increased risks resulting from atypical hyperplasia and family history are additive.

The etiology of breast carcinoma is unknown but is probably multifactorial. Genetic factors are suggested by the strong familial tendency. There is no inheritance pattern, suggested that the familial incidence is due either to the action of multiple genes or to similar environmental factors acting on members of the same family. Mutation of the BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 is believed to cause breast cancer. Hormones are also widely believed to play a role in the etiology of breast cancer. Estrogen has been the most extensively studied hormone because of the epidemiological evidence that prolonged estrogen exposure (early menarche, late menopause, nulliparity, and delayed pregnancy) increases the risk of breast cancer. Viruses are also suspected of causing breast cancer (e.g., the Bittner milk factor is a virus that causes breast carcinoma in mice).

Carcinoma of the male breast is extremely rare. It presents with a painless breast mass. Histological features are identical to those of infiltrating ductal carcinomas in the female. In spite of the small bulk of the breast in men, the diagnosis of male breast carcinoma is usually delayed; 50 % of patients have axillary lymph node metastases at the time of diagnosis. As a result, male breast cancer has a worse overall prognosis than female breast cancer.

Nulliparous—a woman who has never borne a viable child.

Hyperplasia—abnormal increase in the number of normal cells in normal arrangement in an organ or tissue, which increases in volume

Breast Cancer Causes and Treatment

About Breast Cancer:
Breast cancer is a type of uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells that can develop in one of several areas of the breast, including the ducts that carry milk to the nipple, the small sacs that produce milk (lobules) and the nonglandular tissue.Breast Cancer is estimated that 192,200 women and 1,500 men in the United States will be diagnosed with Breast cancer in 2001. Though rare in men, Breast cancer accounts for 31% of all cancer diagnosed in women. Breast cancer is a disease in which cancer cells are found in Breast tissue. There are numerous types of Breast cancer. For example, ductile cancer, found in the cells of the ducts, is the most common type of Breast cancer. Cancer that begins in the lobes or lobules is called lobular cancer. Treatment will depend on the type of Breast cancer and stage of the disease. There are also many non-cancerous (benign) Breast diseases as well.
Symptoms of Breast Cancer:
1.A lump or thickening in the breast or under the arm.
2.A clear or bloody discharge from the nipple.
3.Crusting or scaling of the nipple.
4.Nipples that don't stick out (inverted).
5.Redness or swelling of the breast.
6.Dimpling on the breast skin resembling the texture of an orange.
7.A change in the contours of the breast, such as one being higher than the other.
8.A sore or ulcer on the skin of the breast that does not heal.
Causes of Breast Cancer:
The exact cause of cancer remains a mystery. Over twenty percent of those who have cancer never know why. The primary parts that are involved are the natural parts of food, tobacco, occupational hazards, genetic composition and food additives. Other agents that have been linked with cancer are ionizing radiation, chemicals in the air and diet, vitamin deficiency, high-fat diet, stress and environmental conditions.
Diagnosis:
Biopsy: Used to diagnose tumors, a biopsy tests cells removed surgically or through aspiration for microscopic examination.
Cytology test: A test that shows the shedding of abnormal cells. A good example of a cytology test is pap smear.
Imaging techniques: low dose x-rays such as those used in a mammogram can detect early Breast cancer. Ultrasound scanners can also produce images of organs.
Chemical testing: Detect the presence of blood in the feces or elevated levels of enzyme acid phosphates in the blood.
Ultrasound: A new ultrasound technique used after a mammogram can help reduce uncertainty about whether a Breast mass is cancerous or not.
Home Care Suggestions:
-Avoid tobacco in all forms, synthetic hormones, particularly estrogen, excessive alcohol, caffeine.
-To minimize hair loss apply cold packs to the scalp while taking radiation or therapy.
-Engage in mild exercise such as walking and make it part of your daily ritual.
-If you ever receive a serious diagnosis of any kind, one of the most important things you can do is to free your mind of daily concerns.

Author By Michal John

Female Health Questions and Female Health Concerns

Whether your female health questions are on early signs of menopause or how to reduce PMS symptoms, you can find answers online to important female health questions.

Busy women today have to keep up with their career, money issues and family. There is hardly time to prepare meals and care for the children and/or partner before and after work hours. Most women in the western industrialized countries become involved with career and family in their late twenties and early thirties. As responsibilities grow, women will typically experience a great deal of stress and have female health concerns.

Along with increased stress may come excessive caffeine or alcohol consumption, sleepless nights, cigarette smoking, lack of exercise, birth control pills, poor nutrition choices, obesity and exposure to the many environmental toxins found in daily life. These lifestyle choices add to the female health problems instead of helping the body to cope with the many demands placed on it.

It is no wonder that many women have female health concerns and begin experiencing health symptoms that make them wonder what is going on and to look for answers to questions such as the following:

Female Health Questions #1 - How Can I Have More Energy and Feel Better?

Lack of energy may be from overexertion or it may be your body telling you that it needs to rest. Anyone can feel tired occasionally. However, constantly feeling fatigued can be a symptom of disease or bodily imbalance and can occur at any age. It may be the first sign that your body is not working as it should and something should be done.

Female Health Questions #2 - Why Am I Gaining Weight?

Weight gain probably means you have gained unwanted weight around the mid-section even though no changes have been made in eating habits. Daily calories might have even been reduced but still the weight remains. Again the logical question is "Why?"

Female Health Questions #3 - Why Am I Having Hot Flashes/Night Sweats?

About half of all women experience hot flashes and night sweats during the years as changes happen in the monthly menstrual cycle. As menopause approaches, they frequently continue for several years following menopause if not treated. With the major changes in the body's hormones, the brain thinks your body temperature is changing which causes your nervous system to want to cool your body down. Fluctuating hormone levels are the #1 cause.

Female Health Questions #4 - Why Is My Hair Thinning?

Women experience thinning hair and even hair growth in the wrong places. There are various treatments like changing your hair style or using a shampoo and conditioner that makes your hair fuller. However, instead of purchasing female hair loss products, a woman should first look for the underlying causes that are related to hormone imbalance.

Female Health Questions #5 - Can I Find Online Information on These and Related Health Issues?

Yes! A woman should understand what are normal changes in her reproductive cycle and health and what symptoms indicate underlying hormonal imbalances or damage from poor eating habits, stress and other factors. And the health problems you may be having can definitely be related!

A woman with female health concerns should know which symptoms she has. And how mild or severe are those symptoms? What are you demanding of your body? Are you frequently stressed? Are you taking prescription drugs? What about caffeine and alcohol? What support are you giving your body? What do you eat and are you taking a high-quality women's nutritional supplement? And what is your age? Your age is important because you need to compare your health with other women your age.

Find out more about your health, the symptoms you may have, what these symptoms mean and your options. There is an online test for hormone health related to symptoms that indicate hormones are out of balance. This health test has been developed by a leading womens health clinic, it is used in their practice every day and is available to women online at no cost.

If you are a woman in your thirties or older and you feel your health is not what it should be, get answers to your female health questions by taking the womens health test online and see what the clinic recommends for your health situation. Understanding what is healthy and normal and what is not is crucial when your energy, your health and well-being are at stake.

A Guide To General Female Health

A number of novels and stories of the early 18th and 19th centuries often portray women as mad and irrational beings, thus, espousing the creation of mad women literature. But, modern medicine dispels this "mad" attribute. By establishing that women's hormones are more sensitive and susceptible to change than that of men, more attention is given to female health. Menstruation, menopause, PMS, and perimenopause - these are all part and parcel of general health topics related to women. Aside from that similarity of being part of female health, these phenomena are due to one thing: hormonal changes. Hormones are fickle, they change with the slightest variation in diets or physical activity. Sometimes even emotional upheavals are enough to make women's hormones go haywire. Researchers on female health come up with studies on the relationship of female psycho-emotional well-being and their physical health. More often than not, hormones are the established links between this relationship.

Hormonal imbalances are the usual culprits for a number of health disorders in women. Although some of the symptoms are associated with other illnesses, their root remains to be unbalanced hormones. As varied as general health topics are, they range from physical manifestations to psychological and emotional troubles. Physical manifestations of hormonal imbalances include fatigue, weakness, weight gain, weight loss, digestive problems, hot flashes, and joint pain. Other symptoms are more pronounced and less insidious like hair loss and dry skin. Unfortunately, with the demands of career and family life, women often ignore these symptoms as merely due to excess work and overall tiredness. Some attempt to cure their symptoms with remedies and rest that do not work. Hormonal imbalances need medical attention and hormonal supplements to be treated properly. Otherwise, symptoms grow worse with heart palpitations, increased nausea, urinary dysfunction, breast pain, and vaginal dryness. Extreme cases even include changes in menstrual periods with the affected person either suffering from extended periods and bleeding or have total absence of periods.

If the symptoms and conditions above are bad enough, they are just the hormonal imbalances' physical aspect. Usually cropping up as manifestations of other psychological disorders, the psycho-emotional aspect of these imbalances are often disruptive. There are documented cases wherein afflicted persons confess of being unable to function at their normal level because of the symptoms. Some of the minor symptoms include cravings and mood swings. However, if the symptoms do not receive treatment, they progress to worse conditions like lack of sexual desire, depression, insomnia, and unclear reasoning. It's no wonder that general health topics and concerns about women often include well-being exercises.

But, these imbalances are not permanent afflictions. With proper diet, exercise, supplements, and counseling, women are able to get their hormones back on track. However, early detection is a key factor in treating hormonal imbalances. It is therefore important not to dismiss the symptoms as just belonging to general health topics or issues. Hormonal imbalances are not just topics -- they are real, and they happen to more women everyday.

Women's Reproductive Health: A Life-Long Ritual for Female Health, Happiness and Fitness

Women's reproductive health is something that they must be aware of for their entire lives. Taking good care of ones self from puberty on will affect whether a woman can have children, and if she will get through the rest of her life without any serious problems. Typically, a good diet, exercise, and yearly exams are all that women need to stay on top of their reproductive health but sometimes, especially when pregnant or going through menopause women need a little bit more help. It seems that women's reproductive health becomes even more important after suffering from some menopause symptoms or even something as simple as a yeast infection. A simple problem or some mild symptoms are enough to make any woman really stand up and take notice of her overall health. When young, women's reproductive health concerns usually revolve around pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, yeast infections, and the occasional bacterial infection. Women that have just have children may also have to consider depression treatment as well as help with weight loss. These are standard women's reproductive health concerns and they usually pass as women age. If women continue to seek treatment for yearly exams and when they have odd symptoms, they are helping to ensure that things will be well in the future as well as right now. Sometimes young women are more inclined to seek homeopathic treatments for their illnesses, which can be a great way to manage women's reproductive heath. As women age reproductive health concerns may concern sex and weight loss, depression treatment, menopause symptoms, mammograms, and anti-aging efforts. Menopause is a huge concern for many women as they begin to experience hot flashes and simply have the need to do something about their changing hormones. Many women find that homeopathic treatments can help them stabilize their hormones so that they can be comfortable and continue to live their lives. It’s understandable why the focus turns as one ages from babies to hormones and many women simply do not give it much thought. While homeopathic treatments often work for the occasional menopause symptoms, yearly pap smears and mammograms are a must so that you can be proactive to reproductive health instead of reactive. Perhaps the lack of thought about aging is why many women find that they need depression treatment. Some women have a hard time with waking up one day and realizing that they are “old” and are well past the reproductive age. While some women have a hard time aging, other women really bask in the glory of middle age, as it no doubt has its responsibilities, but other women find that some old responsibilities are gone. No longer is pregnancy an issue, now women just need to take good care of themselves: mind, body, and spirit. Attitudes toward the care of ones reproductive health typically change over time. Many women are very relaxed about reproductive health when they are young, but as they age most women begin to take it more seriously. Perhaps the change in attitude is due to experience, watching ones friends being sick or getting sick themselves, but it happens with most women. A lot of women feel the shift in their focus on reproductive health when they get pregnant and then they carry it with them. Luckily, women have the Internet at their disposal, which will help them decide when they need to seek help from a professional and when they may be able to handle things on their own. Having advice their fingertips really allows women to take complete control of their reproductive health and can arm them with all of the information they could possibly need.

Chris Robertson

How Caffeine Can Affect Your Health

In a regular cup of coffee there are about 170 mg of caffeine and in decaffeinated coffee there are about 30/40 mg of caffeine.

On the stock market, Coffee is a 90 billion dollar industry but what is significant is that just in North America 85%+ drink 3 to 5 cups of coffee per day. A huge number of people are at risk for many of the issues surrounding coffee consumption.

Top Ten Reasons why you should consider switching to a "Healthy Coffee"

Top 10 Caffeine-Related Health Problems

Cardiovascular Problems

Caffeine increases your heart rate, elevates your blood pressure, and can contribute to the development of heart disease. Both decaf and regular coffee increase your cholesterol and homocysteine, the biochemical that science has linked to increased risk for heart attack. Caffeine is also linked to coronary vasospasms, the cause for 20% of all fatal heart attacks which kill otherwise perfectly healthy people.
Stress

Caffeine stimulates the excretion of stress hormones which can produce increased levels of anxiety, irritability, muscular tension and pain, indigestion, insomnia, and decreased immunity. Increased levels of stress from caffeine can keep you from being able to make healthy responses to the normal daily stress everyone is subjected to in their lives.

Emotional Disturbances

Anxiety and irritability are hallmark mood disturbances associated with caffeine consumption, but equally important is depression and attention disorders. Depression may occur as part of the let down after the stimulant effects of caffeine wears off. It may also appear during the recovery period after quitting caffeine while the brain's chemistry is readjusted. Caffeine rather than increasing mental activity actually decreases blood flow to the brain by as much as 30% and negatively effects memory and mental performance.

Blood Sugar Swings

Diabetics and hypoglycemics should avoid caffeine because it stimulates a temporary surge in blood sugar which is then followed by an overproduction of insulin that causes a blood sugar crash within hours. If you're trying to loose weight, this rollercoaster will actually cause weight gain since insulin's message to the body is to store excess sugar as fat.

Gastrointestinal Problems

Many people experience a burning sensation in their stomach after drinking coffee because coffee increases the secretion of hydrochloric acid leading to an increased risk for ulcers. Coffee, including decaf, reduces the pressure on the valve between the esophagus and the stomach so that the highly acidic contents of the stomach pass up to the esophagus leading to heartburn and gastro-esophageal reflux disease. With America 's high consumption of coffee, its no wonder the best selling over-the-counter drugs are the so-called antacids.

Nutritional Deficiencies

Caffeine inhibits the absorption of some nutrients and causes the urinary excretion of calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and trace minerals, all essential elements necessary for good health.
Male Health Problems

Male Health Issues

Coffee is an irritant to the urinary tract and bladder. It is also a diuretic that aggravates conditions associated with frequent urination. Eliminating coffee and caffeine often relieves symptoms associated with frequent urination due to enlarged prostate glands.

Dr. Milton Krisiloff, M.D. has found that in the majority of cases, men can significantly reduce their risk for urinary and prostate problems by making dietary changes which include eliminating coffee and caffeine.

Female Health Problems

Fibrocystic breast disease, PMS, osteoporosis, infertility problems, miscarriage, low birth weight infants, and menopausal problems such as hot flashes are all exacerbated by caffeine consumption. Women on birth control pills are particularly at risk since they have a decreased ability to detoxify caffeine.

Adrenal Exhaustion

Caffeine consumption leads to eventual adrenal exhaustion which can leave you vulnerable to a variety of health disorders related to inflammation, autoimmunity, and fatigue.
Aging

Many people find in their forties that they can no longer tolerate the same level of caffeine consumption as they could in their twenties and thirties. The production of DHEA, melatonin, and other vital hormones start to decline and caffeine speeds up that downhill drop. Caffeine dehydrates the body and contributes to the aging of the skin and kidneys. It has been shown to inhibit DNA repair and slow the ability of the liver to detoxify foreign toxins.

Exhausted Adrenal Glands

Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. It causes the adrenal glands to secrete adrenaline, the hormone your body depends on in emergencies to elevate your heart rate, increase your respiration and blood pressure for a rapid flight-or-fight response. When you overuse stimulants, the adrenals become exhausted. If your caffeine sensitivity has diminished or you're one of those who claims you can drink 3 shots of espresso and go right to sleep, guess what? Your adrenals have given up responding. This means you have less resistance to stress, which leaves you vulnerable to health hazards such as environmental pollutants and disease pathogens

Severe Blood Sugar Swings

Caffeine forces the liver to release glycogen into the blood stream. The pancreas responds to the sudden rise in blood sugar by releasing insulin, the hormone which causes excess carbohydrates to be stored as fat. Within the span of an hour or two, the result is a sharp blood sugar drop resulting in a state of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). That's when you think it's time for another cup of coffee and the whole cycle starts up again.

Acid Imbalance

Over 208 acids in coffee can contribute to indigestion and a wide variety of health problems resulting from over-acidity associated with arthritic, rheumatic and skin irritations. Many people experience a burning sensation in their stomach after drinking coffee because coffee increases the secretion of acid in the stomach. Optimal health calls for an alkaline pH balance in the body.

Essential Mineral Depletion

Coffee inhibits the absorption of some nutrients and causes the urinary excretion of calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and trace minerals, all essential elements necessary for good health. Women need to be concerned about osteoporosis as menopause sets in. Studies show that women who drink coffee have an increased incidence of osteoporosis compared to non-coffee drinkers. Men are not immune to osteoporosis either.

These are a number of health conditions for which doctors advise their patients to eliminate coffee and all caffeine from their diet.

Acid indigestion
Anxiety, irritability and nervousness
Candida or yeast problems
Colitis, diverticulitis, diarrhea and other irritable bowel symptoms
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and other auto-immune disorders
Diabetes or hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
Dizziness, Meniere's syndrome or tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
Gout (Elevated Uric Acid levels)
Heart disease or heart palpitations
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Insomnia and interrupted or poor quality sleep
Liver disease and gallbladder problems such as gallstones
Kidney or bladder problems including kidney stones
Migraines or other vascular headaches
Osteoporosis
Skin irritations, rashes and dryness
Ulcers, heartburn, and stomach problems such as hiatal hernias
Urinary tract irritation

Women Reproductive Health

A woman gives birth to a child and therefore she is considered to be the originator of life. She is responsible for providing a healthy living and her general health as well as women health reproductive is of prime importance. A rise in number of women death rate because of STD (sexually transmitted diseases) and unintended pregnancies can’t be overlooked. It is important that she goes through safe motherhood while bearing a child or even when she contributes to other normal duties of life.

For this it is important to know that what Women reproductive health is. What factors should be considered by a woman for her sexual health? Are methods such as contraception, sterilization enough to avoid any health hazards to her health?

Women Sexual Health – What health activities to be incorporated?
Contraception is way to prevent pregnancy even after a sexual intercourse. Pills, barrier methods such as female condoms, using uterine contraceptive device, a plastic or copper device fitted in the womb of a women are some of the common methods to avoid unintended pregnancies.

Health Hazards- Infertility: Infertility is the disability of a woman where she is unable to conceive even after performing sexual intercourse. It happens when she has abnormal menstrual cycles, feels pain while sexual intercourse or has passed through a chronic illness or miscarriage.

Other Diseases: Chlamydia, Endometriosis is some diseases that cause inflammation or burning sensation in cervix and other fertility and reproduction related problems. Sometimes these diseases cause internal bleeding and injury.

Methods such as contraception, sterilization are taken for safety from sexually transmitted diseases and hazards but one should always be careful that having unsafe sex with more partners would lead to any of the deadly diseases.

Treatments- Infertility could be treated by way of fertilization whereby eggs from a female donor are fertilized in a laboratory with a male sperm and then transplanted into recipient’s uterus. Other forms are medication through birth control pills and other fertility drugs. Ovulation Induction uses fertility drugs with the help of artificial insemination to stimulate development of egg.

Olivia Andrews is a freelance journalist and has written many reviews on subjects such as finance, education, entertainment, music, apparels and mobile phones.

Women's Health: Cervical Smears

All women at some point in their life will have to have a cervical smear as a part of a health checkup. But do you know exactly what a cervical smear is, and how it can affect, diagnose or treat women’s ailments? Read on for more information about this common procedure.

Women’s Health: What is a Cervical Smear?

A cervical smear is a test used on women to tell if there are any changes in the health of the cervix. This is helpful to diagnose the early stages of cancer.

The cervix is located at the end of the uterus, and connects to the top of the vagina. There is a central canal that connects the vagina to the inside of the uterus, and it measures approximately 3cm square.

Women’s Health: Why Have a Cervical Smear?

The main reason to have a cervical smear is to monitor the health of the cervix, and to lower the number of women who contract cervical cancer. The smear is targeted to detect early strains of potentially cancerous cells. If caught in time, women’s health may not suffer terribly, and the growth of the cancer may not progress further. However, a cervical smear is just a screening process; it won’t detect all forms of cancer, all of the time.

Women’s Health: Who Needs a Cervical Smear?

Women who are sexually active, or who are 18 or older (whatever comes first) should take their health in their own hands and have regular cervical smears until the age of 70. A regular smear would be every three years for most women, depending on their health and the results of the last smear. Also, women who are not healthy should have annual smears, such as those with HIV. Women who have had a hysterectomy who have had abnormal pap smears in the past should get themselves checked every year by a health practitioner; there is still a risk of abnormal cell growth at the top of the vaginal canal.

Women’s Health: How is a Cervical Smear Done?

A cervical smear is only taken when women are in good health, and are not bleeding. Any blood that appears during the testing can skew the results unnecessarily.

The procedure is performed with women on their backs, and their legs held up in the air by a health practitioner or stirrups. A speculum is placed inside the vagina, so that the health practitioner can view women’s cervix closely. Then a brush-like instrument is placed over the cervix, and cells are wiped onto the brush, and then placed onto a glass slide for diagnosis.

Women’s cervical smears can be done by a health practitioner, such as a doctor or nurse. The procedure usually only takes a couple of minutes, at the most, and isn’t painful, although it may be a bit uncomfortable.

BY> Peter Lenkefi

Peter Lenkefi
Level: Basic

Did you know that 120,000 blogs are created everyday? If you are trying to build an "authority" site or business blog, how will you ever ... ...

A

Top 10 Foods for Women

Beans and Pulses

Beans and pulses should be included in everyone's diet, but for women they are especially important. They are highly nutritious, low in fat, and an excellent source of vegetable protein. A fibre-rich diet is one of the first components to colon cancer prevention, and with more women dying of colon cancer than breast cancer every year; it makes sense to eat plenty of beans. This group of foods also contain phytoestrogens, the natural plant hormones, which are also protective against cancer, as well as being important for bone health.

Kale

Kale is an often-overlooked vegetable that happens to be loaded with folate (folic acid), an important B vitamin for women. Having a deficiency in folic acid during pregnancy may cause neural-tube defects in babies. In the UK, all women of childbearing age are now thought to need 400 micrograms of folate daily. Kale is also an excellent source of vitamin C and calcium, too.

Orange vegetables

Orange squashes (and tubers) like pumpkin, butternut squash and sweet potatoes are a girl’s best friend when it comes to nutritious, comforting food. All these foods are filling, low in calories, and rich in beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, which will work plenty of it’s antioxidant magic in your body. Antioxidants are important in the anti-ageing process, helping to repair and regenerate skin and other tissues. Beta-carotene is also thought to help reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Linseeds (flaxseeds)

Flax seeds (or linseeds) and flax seed oil have so much to offer women. For starters, flax is full of “essential” Omega 3 fatty acids (EFA's), which help to balance a women’s hormones, protect a woman from heart disease (the leading cause of premature death among women) and the pain of arthritis. The dietary fibres in flax are called lignans, which contain phytoestrogens, currently being researched and showing promise in cancer prevention. Lignans are also thought to have antioxidant properties. The best way to get the benefit of the flaxseeds fibre and oils is to grind them in a clean coffee mill, used just for this purpose. Alternatively use a pestle and mortar, and sprinkle them onto cereal in the morning or add them to a bowl of natural yogurt and fruit. The essential fatty acids are very fragile, unstable, and liable to oxidation if exposed to light and air. Within the whole seeds, the oil is protected. So buy fresh, organic seeds if at all possible. You can eat them whole; just chew them thoroughly!

Iron-rich foods

Women need to eat more iron-rich foods. Getting iron from food (as opposed to a supplement) is by far the best way to get the correct amount of iron the body needs and can absorb. Lean red meats and dark poultry are the ideal food sources of iron. Unfortunately that doesn’t help much if you are vegetarian or one of the many women who avoid red meats. In this case, think about eating more of the following iron-rich foods… lentils, dried apricots, beans, spinach, enriched wholegrain cereals, pumpkin seeds, and oysters! If you do need to take a supplement, the best choices are Easy Iron (Higher Nature Ltd), which is an organic, food-form of iron, and Floradix, an herbal-based iron-rich tonic. Increase your intake of vitamin C too, which helps to absorb non-haem sources of iron.

Soya

Soya foods (including beans, tofu, soya milk & yogurt, soy sauce, Tamari and Miso) are the richest food sources of phytoestrogens (and of course soy protein). The natural plant substances – phytoestrogens - are now thought to be beneficial in maintaining bone density, as well as being the best “alternative” to HRT when many women need hormonal support as they enter menopausal years. Tofu, milk, and yogurt are also great calcium sources. All these foods can help a woman significantly lower her bad cholesterol (LDL) and raise the good (HDL) cholesterol. Tofu is a great source of low-fat, vegetable protein, best used in a vegetable stir-fry with soy sauce, and brown rice. Try Cauldron Foods, firm tofu.

Brocolli

Broccoli is not only a good source of calcium and B vitamins; it contains plant substances called sulphurophanes. These plant chemicals are cancer-protective and help the liver process and clear any excess oestrogen. Nowadays we don’t just produce oestrogen internally, but we are exposed to it in the environment in the form of oestrogen-like chemicals found in plastics, tap water and other insidious places. Excess oestrogen causes weight gain, hormonal imbalances, night sweating, and presents an increased risk of fibroids, breast cysts, breast cancer and endometriosis.

Calcium and magnesium - rich foods

Women of all ages need enough calcium in their diets to build and maintain strong bones. Calcium-rich foods that are also good sources of magnesium (and other nutrients) go a long way to supporting bone, and heart health. Magnesium is the nutrient that plays an important role in the creation of new bone; so think about seeds and nuts as healthy additions to a wholegrain cereal. Calcium, magnesium and potassium are alkalising minerals. Bones serve as a reservoir of these highly important alkaline minerals, which are released to help neutralise the acids in your body. If your body is overly acidic (this happens if you eat a lot animal protein, smoke or drink too much alcohol, or become highly stressed), your bones must donate their minerals to restore your pH balance. This can deplete the bones, leaving them brittle and weak.

The UK RNI for calcium is 700 milligrams a day, but many experts feel it should be more like 1200 to 1500 milligrams a day. When you take into consideration the epidemic of osteoporosis and heart disease among women, it is wise to include or increase your intake of the following foods… plain natural yogurt, which is not only a source of beneficial bacteria for good colon health, it is also much easier to digest than other dairy products), parmesan cheese (again, easy to digest), ricotta cheese & goat’s cheese, tinned bony salmon, freshly grilled sardines, kale, almonds and sunflower seeds, tofu, fortified “SoGood” soya milk (20% more calcium than cow’s milk) and “Provamel” soya yogurts. Replacing dairy with soya milk and yogurts in the diet provides all the benefits of soya protein while reducing the amounts of animal fats in the diet. A 100g serving of tofu or 125g pot of plain yogurt both provide 200mg of calcium. An ounce of Parmesan provides a whopping 390mg of calcium, and 100g canned pink salmon 300mg. Don’t forget your fruit and vegetables… latest research in bone health shows that women who have more fruit and vegetables in their diets, tend to have higher bone density. Fruit and vegetables contain an array of micronutrients such as magnesium, vitamin C, and boron. We now know that these play an equally important role in bone metabolism.

If you feel you need to supplement with calcium, remember that calcium should be taken with magnesium in a 2:1 ratio. This is because calcium and magnesium require each other for proper absorption, and utilisation in the body. So, if you supplement with 500 mg of calcium, you need to take 250 mg of magnesium at the same time. Most reputable companies now formulate supplements that take this into account, as well as the synergistic “need” for the other nutrients involved in the entire process of bone metabolism. Choose carefully.

Water!

Water is a nutrient and the fact is, we need it... and plenty of it. Certainly, water may be one of the best tools in the weight loss game. It not only suppresses the appetite, but helps the body metabolise stored fat. Water keeps the body’s tissues well hydrated, so if you want smooth, line-free skin for as long as is naturally possible… drink!

Salmon and other oily fish (in moderation)

Salmon was at one time avoided in favour of white fish or sole, due it’s higher fat content. However, once we understood the value and benefit of the essential “Omega 3 fatty acids” present in salmon and other oily fish, it was back on the plate.
The time has arrived however, that food-conscious individuals are steering away from oily fish again (or at least cutting down), not because of the fat content, but because of the presence of harmful chemicals and metals. Fish such as mackerel, salmon and swordfish are known to contain high levels of potentially carcinogenic chemicals, and others, including shark, marlin, swordfish and red snapper contain the highest levels of mercury. These larger, long-lived predatory fish and mammals tend to accumulate more mercury from the environment than shorter-lived fish.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) recommends that we eat 2-4 portions of fish a week, and 1-2 at least should be of an oily variety. Pregnant mothers are the only group that need to limit oily fish intake to 2 portions a week, but not to avoid fish altogether. Omega-3 fats are vital for the baby’s brain development. Many people often prefer to take an uncontaminated fish oil supplement, or stick to flax seeds as a source of Omega-3’s. Nutri’s Eskimo oil is one of the best un-contaminated fish oils on the market, and contains the fat-soluble antioxidant vitamin E to ensure the fish oils do not oxidise in the body.
Remember Omega-3s ARE essential to good health, and freedom from diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, depression, diabetes, heart disease, and rheumatoid arthritis… so as I say, don’t avoid fish altogether, as fish oil is clearly the richest source of Omega 3’s we know. Important omega-3s are DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) - from fish oil and algae - and alpha linolenic acid, usually from vegetable sources such as flax seed oil. In a healthy person, linolenic acid can be converted to DHA, and EPA, provided the correct enzymes are present. However, only 2% of the alpha-linolenic acid found in flax oil is actually converted to EPA… far less than we find in fish oil. EPA and DHA substantially lower your risk of heart disease by lowering LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, prevent blood platelets from becoming sticky, and can lower blood pressure. They also promote good bone health, heart health, and breast health. DHA is particularly important during brain development, so is a popular and useful supplement during pregnancy.

Re: CANNED FISH - During the canning process of tuna, all the fat is lost, so tinned tuna does not count as an oily fish. The canning process of other fish (salmon, sardines, pilchards etc.) is different to that of tuna, and does not affect the oil content of the fish. How the canning process affects the stability and integrity of the delicate fish oils has not been fully elucidated. The possible presence of mercury and toxic chemicals I would imagine is no different in canned vs. fresh fish.

Eating fruit to offset mercury absorption?

To enjoy fish while minimising your mercury exposure, eat some tropical fruit for dessert… eating antioxidant-rich tropical fruits, such as mango, pineapple, banana, and papaya, may help reduce the amount of mercury that your body absorbs, according to research published recently in Environmental Research (2003).
This particular study was a 12-month prospective dietary survey, carried out with 26 adult women from a fish-eating community in the Brazilian Amazon. They found a strong relationship between fish consumption and mercury (Hg) levels in hair. Not surprising you may think…. What was surprising and very interesting was the finding that this strong relationship was significantly modified by fruit consumption: for the same number of fish meals, those who ate more tropical fruits had lower hair mercury levels. The findings of this study indicate different ways of maintaining fish consumption while reducing Hg exposure in the Amazon. A number of phytochemicals and nutritional fibres present in fruits might be interacting with Hg in several ways: absorption and excretion transport, binding to target proteins, metabolism, and sequestration.
More research on larger worldwide populations would further elucidate the extent, and public health implications of the use of fruits to counteract the toxic action of methylmercury.

Try this tasty fish dish… with minimal mercury exposure!

Fresh Tuna Steak with Mango Salsa
(Serves 2)

Ingredients:
2 fresh Tuna steaks, marinated in olive oil and chopped garlic

For the salsa:
1 whole mango, peeled, sliced off the stone and chopped
A small piece of finely chopped fresh ginger root
Handful of chopped fresh coriander
1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar and 1 tablespoon of olive oil, mixed
Juice of half a lemon or lime
Ground black pepper to taste

Method:
Place the steaks into a frying pan. Pan-fry on a medium heat until opaque on the outside and a little pink in the middle.
While the fish is cooking, combine all the salsa ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly.
Serve the fish alongside the mango salsa and a large mixed green salad.

Lucy-Ann Prideaux MSc BSc RNutr Registered Nutritionist