OneHealthyGirl.com - Carla Golden's Get Healthier! Blog

KEEPING HORMONES BALANCED

A reader wrote in and asked:

"I love reading your blogs and find myself passing them on to my friends when the topic seems appropriate to their needs. I do, however, have a question for you.  I'm in my forties and have started pre-menopause (whoo hoo ... not).  I have also started an 80% raw food lifestyle (hate the word diet) about 2 months ago.  I have noticed that some of my menopausal symptoms have decreased, some.  

Would you ever consider doing a blog on this subject?? What would be the correct vitamins/oils your body may need or can this be done thru foods?  I have stopped taking my natural estrogen. I honestly don't feel it's needed but I still take natural progesterone.  I know that raw foods contain phytoestrogens but will that help for all symptoms??  Any info is appreciated."

First of all, my blanket statement is yes, I do believe that we can get everything we need through good, quality food, but supplementing with natural remedies in a time of crisis or injury can be prudent. Of course, most people interpret "food" differently, so it is a hot debate.

First I would recommend staying away from any animal flesh or animal by-products that could have had artificial hormones injected into the living animal. This could definitely sway your natural balance.

Soy is often recommended for its high phytoestrogen content to supplement waning estrogen levels, but I would suggest sticking to fermented soy such as tempeh, miso or natto rather than tofu, soy milk or soy oil. The fermenting processes increases the bio-availability of isoflavones, which are the naturally occurring phytoestrogens in soy, making them easier to assimilate by the body. 

Soy is a controversial vegetable because of its industrialized management. It is often grown from genetically modified seeds and is often sprayed with pesticides. It is only second to corn in its mass produced and manipulated nature. Definitely stick to only organic (non-genetically modified and not sprayed) soy products.

With a healthy lifestyle, what you don't eat or use is just as important as what you do eat or use. While you increase the "good" stuff, be sure to reduce the "bad" stuff for maximum benefit. 

We have so many petrochemicals and other toxins in our environment that behave like estrogens in our bodies. These are called xenoestrogens and can be found in cosmetics, food storage containers, room deodorizers, fertilizers, pesticides, medications, and a long, dirty laundry list of many items. We can only control so much, so it is important to be aware of the choices we can control.

Look at your life and examine every element. What are the materials in your home and closet? How is the indoor and outdoor air quality that you breathe? What are you rubbing into your skin and scrubbing into your scalp? How much plastic do you touch a day? Are you subjected to the perfume and cologne of others? Do you eat organic foods? Are you exposed to vehicle exhaust? How many additives are in your food? Do you take birth control medication?

Leave no stone unturned and then.....don't panic. Little by little we can make smarter choices when it comes to protecting our hormone balance. Be more selective with your purchases, avoid toxic environments and cleanse daily.

Toxins such as xenoestrogens are stored in our fat tissue, so maintaining a healthy body fat ratio is important. Eating a lean diet with few refined carbohydrates and sugars is important. Detoxing regularly by fasting, juicing or supplementing can be helpful. Citrus fruits are excellent for cleansing fat cells and drawing out toxins. Pure clean water is essential for eliminating the toxic debris. 

And lastly, it is just as important to keep your hormones in balance to one another. Getting your levels checked is wise and can be done with a saliva test. Wild yam cream can help keep your progesterone levels in check with your estrogen levels. 

And, of course, keeping your stress levels in check, getting enough exercise, sleep and sunshine are also crucial. Remember too, authentic change is a slow process. Allow a good six weeks to six months after a change in routine or habit to start looking for evidence of efficacy.

Hormonal balance is a tricky maneuver and those who have breezed through peri-menopause and menopause seem to be women who eat a plant based diet, maintain a healthy weight and fat level, exercise and keep their environments as natural as possible. 

Hope this helps! Live Light, xo-C.

PS - For an indepth exploration into repairing your metabolism and endocrine (hormone) system, pick up a copy of The Schwarzbein Principle II - The Transition.

PPS- Do join me on Facebook for a OneHealthyGirl.com extension to this blog with daily recipes, photos, supplemental articles and conversation!! It's fun!

EIGHT DRUGS DOCTORS WOULD NEVER TAKE!

From Mercola.com:

1. Advair
2. Avandia
3. Celebrex
4. Ketek
5. Prilosec and Nexium
6. Visine Original
7. Pseudoephedrine

Read why on Mercola.com.

Live Light, xo-C.

For the Love of Lavender!

As many of you know, I am a HUGE fan of essential oils. I use them at home - on myself, my hubby, child, dog and with housekeeping - as well as at work as a massage therapist. Never am I without my oils - one never knows when a headache will hit or a bug will bite. They are my medicine. I use nothing over the counter or prescription, and last year I had ZERO medical expenses, save the voluntary blood tests I got. I swear by them as my most effective tool for staying healthy.

One of the most popular oils is lavender. Enjoy this video with great tips! Live Light, xo-C.

Antibiotics May Not Help Sinus Infections

Antibiotics destroy healthy intestinal bacterial balance where 75% of your immunity resides. If you absolutely must take a round of antibiotics, be sure to supplement with a probiotic to help restore those beneficial bacteria needed to keep you healthy. One round of antibiotics can set back your immune system making you more susceptible to the next wave of illness and then the vicious cycle begins. Studies are beginning to show that antibiotics mostly make a patient feel better because they're taking "something" rather than doing nothing, not because they actually work. Consider antibiotics the last resort. When the body is weak enough to be taken down by an illness it's an indication of a care (sleep, quality food, relaxation) deficit and an overabundance of stress (poor food choices, stress, toxins). Prevention is the key and saves so much time and money in the long run! Drink your water, eat healthful food, exercise, sleep enough and take high quality supplements...and reap the rewards!

Antibiotics may not help sinus infections

A study comparing the use of a placebo with the drug treatment finds little difference. Patience and over-the-counter remedies are recommended.

By Jia-Rui Chong, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer  - Original Article
December 5, 2007

The widespread use of standard antibiotics to treat sinus infections does not help cure patients and may harm them by increasing their resistance to the drugs, according to a study released Tuesday.

The researchers found that the percentage of patients who recovered in 10 days was about the same whether they took an antibiotic or a placebo.

"With a little bit of patience, the body will usually heal itself," said Dr. Ian Williamson, a family medicine researcher at the University of Southampton in England and lead author of the paper published today in the Journal of the American Medical Assn.

The results showed that patients should be more willing to forgo antibiotics, although they should still check with their doctors when a cold worsens into a sinus infection, he said.

Dr. Daniel Merenstein, a family physician at Georgetown University in Washington, who was not involved in the study, said the report was more evidence of the overuse of antibiotics, which has caused enormous problems with drug resistance.

More than 80% of American physicians prescribe antibiotics for sinus infections, he said. Recent studies also have shown that antibiotics are unnecessary for treating ear infections and bronchitis.

"Doctors and patients get into habits and use antibiotics," Merenstein said. "Now people know . . . we should just give supportive care," such as pain relievers and saline nasal mists.

Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses that commonly develops as a complication from a cold.

Allergies can also cause sinusitis, but researchers in this study focused on cases likely to be caused by bacteria.

Bacterial cases often lead to localized pain in the face and to thick discharges from the nose, with more coming from one nostril.

In the latest study, which was funded by the British government, Williamson and his group looked at about 200 sick adults from family practice offices around southwestern England.

Of the 100 patients who took the antibiotic amoxicillin, 29% had symptoms lasting 10 or more days. Of the 107 patients taking a placebo, about 34% of patients had symptoms of a similar length. Researchers deemed the difference statistically insignificant.

Williamson surmised that the antibiotic was ineffective because it had trouble penetrating pus-filled sinus cavities. Though the researchers did not test other antibiotics, he said, they probably would fare no better because amoxicillin is considered the most appropriate drug for sinusitis.

The researchers also tested the efficacy of a nasal steroid spray called budesonide because it was thought to reduce inflammation.

The proportion of patients in the steroid group and the placebo group who had symptoms lasting 10 or more days was the same at 31%.

The researchers found that the nasal spray helped a subset of patients with milder symptoms who reported feeling less ill by day 10. Williamson said the spray probably helped in milder cases because it wasn't washed away as quickly as it was in sicker patients with more nasal discharges.

Confession and A Wonderful Lecture!

I have been OneBadGirl.com! For three whole days I didn't exercise. I need to go back to my initial recommendation and take my own advice: "If you don't have 30 minutes to dedicate to walking, you need to reasses your lifestyle." My lifestyle has been out of whack these days with my sincere devotion to the creation of spma.com. But I am happy to report that I secured a Core Essentials Complete helper and my MBT walking shoes arrived during this time, so there has been progress!

Yesterday afternoon I had the opportunity to attend a fabulous presentation by Marti Chitwood - a registered dietician and Board certified clinical nutritionist. The information she shared over the course of two hours was direct and to the heart of the matter: you have to educate yourself about nutrition and and your body's needs. Knowing how your body feels when it is in balance and functioning optimally is key to measuring your ever-changing needs. Marti spoke of the importance of ample sleep, eating nutritionally appropriate, bio-available foods, and an undeniable, without a shadow of a doubt, need for quality supplementation - especially antioxidants, essential fats and probiotics. She mentioned her involvement with Pilates and yoga so I know she values exercise and she was drinking a large bottle of Figi water (good water, bad plastic...try SIGG) so I know she also values sufficient water intake.

After listening to Marti's very educated advice and opinions, I am convinced, now more than ever, that the Get Healther! Wellness Program including the Core Essentials Complete supplementation are crucial tools to help anyone improve their wellbeing and to help overcome health challenges and concerns. She, by her advanced education, was able to speak in a micro-biological context - the ways micro-elements behave in the body on a cellular level. I was in awe and admiration. What she spoke of is right in line with what I (who is not a trained nutritionist nor dietician) have shared on a more macro-biological level. Marti referenced the Weston A. Price Foundation as a useful source of nutritional guidance which you'll find in my Health Websites recommendations.

In a time when eating and being well is boring to most people and when being adamant about the foods I put in my mouth or the mouth of my child annoys the other people, Marti's voice was a refreshing and indirect validation for how I choose to behave. Nothing is more important than your health. It affects EVERYTHING that you do.

Now I need to put on those MBTs and go walk my validated booty! Be well, xo-C.

Video Demonstration of Core Essentials Complete

What Are You Worth?

Please tell me you and your health is worth at least $6.66 per day. That's what the Core Essentials Complete costs ($200/30).

For one month try saving $7 in cash per day. Walk a little more and drive a little less. Pack a Balance Complete shake or healthy bag lunch instead of eating out. Skip the designer coffee. Skip the afternoon snack (you won't need one from being so content after the shake!) Pass up the impulse buying and refrain from the lottery tickets. Your best bet is health!

There are a host of ways you can save $7 per day and then at the top of the next month you can treat yourself to improved wellness through a daily dose of Core Essentials Complete.

Please tell me you think you're worth it.

"Can you remember (before the rise of credit cards in your life) the joy of saving your money for something you really wanted? As a child, maybe it was a toy of your own choosing. Later, maybe it was your first car or your first house. Or perhaps it was a special gift for someone else. With that conscious commitment, every time you passed up the chance to spend your money on something else, any regret most likely was outweighed by the excitement of your commitment and the satisfaction of growing that much closer to achieving it." Lynne Twist, The Soul of Money

Get excited about your commitment to wellness! xo-C.

Get Radical About Free Radicals!

Free Radicals, the enviroment and health
An important concern to humans today is environmental pollution and its effects on our bodies. Environmental pollutants - from auto exhaust, second-hand cigarette smoke, pesticides, or even ultraviolet radiation from the sun - create what are known as free radicals in our bodies. Free radicals are molecules that are highly reactive and unstable because they contain an unpaired electron in their molecular structure. Electrons are most stable in pairs, and the free radical tries to stabilize itself by attaching to cell membranes in the body, robbing their molecules of electrons. This attack spontaneously generates another unstable free radical molecule, starting a chain reaction that eventually leads to the cell's death.

Free radicals are formed naturally in the body - for example, as byproducts of normal metabolism, by the breakdown of bacteria by white blood cells, or by enzymatic reactions; they are also formed, in ever-increasing numbers, outside the body by pollution, radiation, cigarette smoke, motor vehicle emissions, and many other processes. These environmental free radicals then enter the body through the skin, respiration, and other means. Even oxygen, which we need in order to survive, can initiate a free-radical chain reaction in our bodies.

A good example of oxygen free-radical damage can be seen when an apple is sliced in half and left exposed to air. Within a short time, the apple begins to turn brown. This browning is caused by free-radical damage and will eventually destroy the fruit. Whether formed endogenously or exogenously, once in our bodies, these unstable free radicals rob electrons from other molecules to make themselves more stable. In the process, they often cause damage to the body's cells and metabolic processes and many times turn the molecules they have attacked into free radicals themselves. Those molecules, now missing an electron and highly reactive, rob electrons from other molecules, and a chain reaction occurs. This process is called oxidation. It happens all the time in our bodies. In fact, it is estimated that every cell in our body is attacked by free radicals thousands of times a day.

The effects of free radical damage
Overall, free radicals have been implicated in the development of at least 50 diseases! A partial list includes arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, kidney disease, cataracts, inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, lung dysfunction; pancreatitis; drug reactions, skin lesions, and aging, to mention a few. Heart disease and cancer are two of the most widespread diseases associated with free radical damage. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America today, killing an estimated one in every three Americans. Several factors, such as high blood cholesterol levels, hypertension, cigarette smoking, and diabetes, are chief culprits in the promotion of heart disease. Literally, free radical is the major factor of aging.

The protection of antioxidants
Fortunately, the body is able to curb free-radical damage by producing antioxidant molecules and enzymes. Their purpose is to neutralize oxidizing free radicals by donating an electron to them or robbing one from them. The body's arsenal of antioxidants appears to be sufficient for keeping oxidation in check in children and in youths, but once we reach our twenties, the effectiveness of the body's antioxidant defense mechanisms appears to lessen, and free radicals are given greater rein to do damage. The results appear to be, that many of the diseases we associate with aging, including coronary heart disease, cancer, skin damage, Alzheimer's disease, strokes, and rheumatoid arthritis are from free-radical damage. Our prognosis need not be bleak, however. Plants, like humans, produce antioxidants for their own natural defense mechanisms. So, growing all around us are sources of antioxidants that can be ingested to augment our body's natural supply. Indeed, researchers believe that increased dietary intake of antioxidants can slow the process of free-radical damage and associated diseases. Although fruits and vegetables contain the greatest amount of antioxidants in nature, their effectiveness as dietary antioxidants is diminished by two factors: (1) the concentrations of the different types of antioxidants in the plant tissues vary widely, and (2) ripeness, storage, and growing conditions affect these concentrations. For these reasons, it is important to measure the actual antioxidant capacity of fruits, vegetables and dietary antioxidants.

© Copyright 2003-2006 by Brunswick Laboratories

Drink your daily NingXia Red juice and eat lots of healthy (preferably organic) fruits and vegetables! Now go get radical! xo-C.

Just a Reminder

Please remember, if I have not already made it clear, that I am not a doctor. I have no authority to diagnose nor prescribe and will not attempt either. I am a Licensed Massage Therapist and an avid health nut. Being healthy is my hobby. I've read and researched nutrition and wholistic health for much of my adult life.

I can not guarantee that the Young Living products will produce for you the possible health benefits listed in their descriptions. No one can. Not even Young Living. Not even a doctor recommending Young Living. It's the nature of the alternative therapy industry and it's love/hate relationship with the FDA. I, alongside Young Living, can guarantee that you will be satisfied with your first month of products or your money will be refunded.

You know what is right for you. Listen to your body and make your decisions. A large part of getting healthier is empowering yourself with knowledge and understanding so that you can make sound, life-affirming decisions for yourself.

Again, if you have an acute situation, if you have a chronic disease and/or if you're on prescriptive medications, please consult your doctor before making any radical changes.

Some people think my plan is too extreme and others think it's too simple. Pace yourself. Only you know you. Take the parts that make sense for you and leave the rest behind or for a later time. Add your unique twist and make it your custom wellness plan.

I am striving for simple, logical steps that just about anyone can follow and I'm simply setting a goal. I didn't arrive at this point overnight and I don't expect you to either.

And the next time someone (doctor, friend, therapist) gives you wellness advice, please scrutinize that person's level of wellness - physical, emotional, spiritual, financial, and social. Make sure that person can walk their talk.

Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same. — Francesca Reigler

Happy and strong here, xo-C.

Core Essentials Complete

Here's the moment you've been waiting for! I am going to let you know how you can get started with the supplements.

The kit of all the aforementioned supplements is called Core Essentials Complete. It contains:

1. NingXia Red - Nutrient Infusion Juice
2. Balance Complete - Daily Superfood Energizer and Nutritive Cleanse
3. True Source - Daily Whole Food Multi-Nutrient
4. Life 5 - Hi-Potency Probiotic
5. Omega Blue - Pure Fish Oil and Omega Enhance
6. Longevity - Daily Essential Oil Ulta-Antioxidant

As a thirty day (one month) daily-use supply, you get:

1. One bottle of NingXia Red Juice - 1 oz. per day preferable in the AM
2. Two canisters of Balance Complete - One (1) 8 oz. shake replacing your least nutritious meal
3. One box of Core Supplements, organized in tri-packets as follows:
AM: 1 Longevity, 1 (yellow) True Source, 1 Omega Blue
Noon: 1 (pink) True Source, 2 Omega Blue
PM: 1 (green) True Source, 1 Life 5

That's it! Easy breezy!

Core Essentials Complete costs $199.75 wholesale. Go ahead, choke. Tell me all the reasons why it's too expensive.

This is where my fun truly begins.

What's more important than investing in your health? Nothing. If you don't have your health, you are not free. If you don't have your health, you are not able to do the things with and for your family that you desire. If you don't model good health for your family, you pass on the legacy of poor habits and mediocre health.

Remember...walking is free. You can cancel your gym membership.

Water is very inexpensive. You can stop dropping $5 at your favorite coffee shop every day. And walk away from that soda machine!

You can drink a Balance Complete shake and stop eating out for lunch every day. Save the occasion for Fridays.

If you want it bad enough, you can find a way to trim the excess and instead use that money to fund your wellness. There are a million solutions. No one ever said being healthy was not an effort. But everyone healthy says that it's worth the effort!

And let me ask you something. When was the last time a company paid YOU to do their advertising?

"Hey Sue, Dave and I went to the Spicey Grill for dinner. It was awesome. You gotta go!"

So, when Sue went, did Spicey Grill send you a check for your advertising services?

"I just love these smart threads with the little pony and the athletic ones with that simple swish."

So, not only did you lay down good money for the nice clothes, you also paid the company to do advertising for them instead of vice versa.

"Hey, Bob, have you seen Super Space Giant III yet? The special effects are outstanding!"

Did Hollywood cut you a check after Bob filled his eyes with theatrics over popcorn and soda?

And my point is......?

Young Living pays YOU when you do their advertising. The Young Living company returns 50% of its profits to its wholesale customers on a regular basis.

Basically you can inspire six of your friends to improve their health and their purchases fund your monthly Core Essential Complete expenses.

And, you can try Core Essentials Complete risk free! Any opened product with which you are dissatisfied can be returned within thirty (30) days after shipment for a credit on your Young Living account of the purchase price and applicable sales tax (less shipping charges).

Is Young Living a Multi-Level Marketing Company? Yes, thank goodness! Though the term Direct Marketing is much preferred, thank you. MLMs have gotten a bad rap over the years (thanks, Amway!) but look at Tupperware and Avon. I anticipate the day when Young Living products become so "every day" that they too can be found on retail shelves. Until then, this is the way Young Living products are sold. And what a fabulous arrangement it is. Wholistic health includes physical health, emotional health, spiritual health, financial health and spiritual health. Young Living provides the opportunity for all of these.

Go to youngliving.us and click Sign Up. Follow the instructions using my code number: 893979. Core Essentials Complete is available only on Autoship (monthly shipment...afterall it's a monthly allotment), so sign up as a wholesale customer (Distributor) and then set up your Autoship account. The button for that will be on the left side of your screen once you are fully registered. There is a one-time fee of $40 to become a wholesale customer - much like Sam's or Costco buying club, only Young Living does not charge annually.

There are a couple other ways to get Core Essentials Complete (Preferred Customer and Retail) but they are more expensive and you don't get any bonus kick-backs. I don't recommend those paths because I want you to experience your full potential on this wellness journey.

If you are currently a Young Living Customer and would like to upgrade to a wholesale customer (Distributor) call 1.800.371.2928 (M-F 7am-7pm Mountain) and a live operator will help you convert over.

Now send me all your excuses. If you don't have any, then go to youngliving.us. Really, can't you afford to try it for a month? What if...just what if you really do start to feel better?? Seeya there, xo-C.