Monday 27 December 2010

Improve Ovarian Health And Reduce Ovarian Cysts Naturally

Natural Secret to Ovarian Health
You won't hear this from your doctor, but exciting new research is revealing that plant pigments may improve the health of your ovaries and help normalize their function.
If you're not eating your veggies, this article should give you a compelling reason to get started!
Many plant foods are high in red, yellow and orange pigments called "carotenoids". They are especially abundant in yellow-orange vegetables and fruits, and dark green, leafy vegetables. Of the more than 700 naturally occurring carotenoids identified thus far, as many as 50 may be absorbed and metabolized by the human body.
Carotenoids provide antioxidant protection, improve cell-to-cell communication and support the immune system, in addition to other functions. We'll just mention two of the carotenoids here.
  • Beta-carotene: The corpus luteum that appears on the ovary at ovulation contains the highest level of beta-carotene in the body.
  • Lutein: Lutein appears to play a role in ovarian function. Originally lutein was isolated from the corpus luteum, hence the name "lutein." The corpus luteum of the ovaries contains high concentrations of lutein as well as other carotenoids.
The role of carotenoids in the ovaries is not entirely known. However, carotenoids appear to protect the ovaries against damage from free radicals, which are unstable elements in your cells. One study has noted that women with more consistent levels of carotenoids were more likely to become pregnant with in-vitro fertilization (IVF) than women who had more varying levels of carotenoids.
Several studies have suggested that a free radical activity may interfere with the corpus luteum's ability to produce steroid hormones such as progesterone. Carotenoids may help to control some of this free radical activity since they are well known as antioxidants.
It's also possible that increased intake of carotenoids may help to increase progesterone production. In a study of dogs at Washington State University, administration of supplemental beta-carotene increased their progesterone levels.
Carotenoids may also be helpful for controlling insulin levels and reducing risk of diabetes. A study by the Centers for Disease Control has shown that people had the highest levels of carotenoids were the least likely to develop diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance (which is a risk for women with PCOS).
Carotenoids also appear to reduce your risk of ovarian cancer.
The available research clearly indicates that optimal levels of dietary carotenoids will contribute to improved ovarian health and function.
Refer to chapters 8.8 and 8.10 of The Natural Diet Solution for PCOS and Infertility ebook for lists of vegetables and fruits that are high in beneficial carotenoids.
We urge you to try for five servings of vegetables every day, especially the ones with colors (pigments). Also, some carotenoid-rich fresh fruit is a good idea.
Your ovaries will thank you! And your PCOS problems should diminish.
Source: PCOS News

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Food sources of carotenoids include carrots, sweet potatoes,spinach, kale, collard greens, and tomatoes. To maximize the availability of the carotenoids in the foods listed above, the foods should be eaten raw or steamed lightly.

Thursday 23 December 2010

Five Simple Eating Principles Your Body Is Dying To Follow.

(NaturalNews) There are several basic principles of health that your body is dying to follow. Here is a brief discussion of 5 of these, as they pertain to eating, below. If we follow these principles we can be assured of great benefits because indeed an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Regularity In Meals

First let's look at regularity in meals. It is ideal to maintain a regular schedule not eating too late or eating at irregular times. By eating at the same time daily, the stomach will get used to eating at a certain time each day. This will encourage rhythm within the stomach. This will facilitate the entire gastrointestinal tract. Many people set the stage for gastrointestinal problems by eating and drinking at irregular times.

Moderation In Eating

Moderation in eating is extremely important. Overeating is a serious issue. You should never overeat, but rather eat only enough to satisfy your hunger. There have been numerous studies that show the negative health effects of overeating. A
Harvard University study for instance found that overeating in mice triggers a molecule that had previously been considered effective at locating and destroying viruses, but apparently overeating causes this molecule to also destroy normal metabolism. Hereby, this causes insulin resistance and sets the body up for diabetes.

The study, published in the
February 5, 2010 issue of Cell, was very insightful. "When mice eat a normal diet, this molecule called PKR is silent," explained the senior author of the study, who is the chair of the HSPH Department of Genetics and Complex Diseases. "However, if a cell containing PKR is bombarded with too many nutrients, PKR grabs other immune system molecules that respond to this food attack and organizes a firing squad to shoot down normal processes, leading to insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction." In this study, the lead researchers from the Harvard school of Public health even made a link between the immune system and metabolism.

Take Small Bites

Take small bites. Only put a small amount in your mouth at a time. This will facilitate sufficient chewing and salivate the food better. Therefore, you will tend to eat less.

Relax

Relax and eat slowly. If you are too rushed to eat a meal without being anxious, worried, fatigued, or angry, then wait until you are calm, or until you have sufficient time to sit down and eat in a relaxed atmosphere.

Too Many Foods

Do not eat too many foods at a meal. Three or four items are all that you need at one meal. Once you begin to add more items than this, you begin to encounter food crowding and possibly even some food combination problems. When this occurs you will inevitably run into gastrointestinal problems.

Finally, when possible always take a walk after eating. A brisk walk of about 20 to 30 min. after a meal helps to encourage proper digestion. However, vigorous exercise immediately after eating is harmful.

There are many more principles that encourage wellness and health, but these are a few simple principles that if invested in will pay off great dividends.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/030812_eating_body.html#ixzz18y0jYXkP

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Happy Holidays everyone, :)

Friday 3 December 2010

Sinking

Lately I've been in funky mood. Dh and I are still stuck in a financial rot and trying to claw our way out. He has been ill of health which hasn't helped our situation. When you're facing the prospect of being homeless, TTC doesn't really take the forefront of your goals, hence I haven't been blogging much. Ever since the blocked tubes diagnoses, I thought I could be strong about it. Despite all my high falutin gusto I'm still shattered inside.

I told my mum, and another friend who is heavily pregnant (didn't get any sympathy there though). I also shared it with another friend who has PCOS and has been TTC #2 for almost ten years. She was so sympathetic she actually cried for me. Then I felt bad for telling her and when she suggested we meet up I wriggled my way out of it.

What's wrong with me?

The truth is I don't want anyone feeling sorry for me. I actually regret telling her, even though I was feeling really shitty when I did and REALLY needed to get some load off my chest. I don't want to be seen as the poor woman with the blocked tubes. I know, I'm crazy... I should be happy to have as shoulder to cry on, but like I said, I'm still shattered. The last thing I want to do now is have cause to relive that day or have someone give me false hopes. With the place I am in right now, nothing can be said to make me feel better. I need to find my own peace. Just the thought of it is making me angry.

I'm sick and tired of taking supplements and herbs, not just because I can't afford them any more but because I'm just plain sick of 'em. I'm sick and tired of watching what I eat all the time. In fact I started eating cookies a couple of days ago. I just don't care any more. Month after month of disappointment since February 2007, it will be 4 years in two months. I'm just too tired to give a fuck. Because, hey, even though my PCOS is under control, I still can't get pregnant, ha ha ha!

I was flicking through the channels on Sky and I saw that bloody MTV show '16 and Pregnant' and I clicked on it. Dh said that he just knew I would settle on that channel. I don't know why I watch that show. I can only think that I'm punishing myself. Because all those foolish girls do is open their legs a couple of times and BAM! they're pregnant and moaning about how they weren't expecting to be pregnant. I get so annoyed when people say 'oh we weren't expecting it' or 'it was a surprise' or 'it was unplanned'. I mean really? As long as you're having unprotected sex how dare you say you were NEVER expecting to be pregnant. Fuck off!!!!

Yes, I'm angry, and bitter. Let me be!!!

I'm just going to focus on finding a good job now. Hopefully that should give me other things to do.