Green cleaning. It's something I've always had an interest in, and had to learn about while I was pregnant. The smell of just about anything made me feel queasy for the first trimester, so I decided I couldn't keep cleaning with anything that had a smell, especially anything chemical. yuck!
If you google green cleaning,
bicarb soda comes up trumps for just about everything. I
had always used gumption (thanks Mumsie, which was, as I found out,
mostly made of bicarb) for the bathroom, and have never minded having to use a bit of elbow grease to scrub things down.
Then I started looking down the list and realised you can use bicarb in the washing up water to wash dishes, you can pop it into the bath to wash grubby kiddos (and their toys), you can use it as a face scrub, you can put it into smelly shoes to deodorise them, it even helps to remove stains off clothes!
We use it as a deodorant. Simply dab a couple of your fingers in water, (or lick them), and touch them into the bicarb box and rub under your arms. No smells, even after sweating!
We use it a lot on Max's modern cloth nappies, even the pooey ones. Just like magic, after a sprinkle of bicarb, and a bit of water & scrub, no smell, no poo stain.
You can say goodbye to toothpaste, if you use bicarb paste. Just wet the brush and dip it in the bicarb, and brush away! No chemicals, no nasties, just pearly whites :)
Make jewellery sparkle by making a paste with bicarb and water and gently rub with a clean soft cloth.
We don't have carpets, but you can sprinkle it onto carpet as a stain treatment and/or deodoriser (vacuum 15 minutes after adding bicarb).
If you make a paste, bicarb acts as anti-itch for a mozzie or ant bite.
Of course it's helpful in the kitchen as a rising agent in baking too. Use 2 teaspoons of bicarb to every cup of plain flour (or we use spelt).
Ever had indigestion or heartburn? Add a teaspoon of bicarb to half a glass of water, stir and drink immediately. Bicarb is really alkaline, so it helps to decrease stomach acidity. Please only use this remedy after or between meals, as having a good amount of stomach acid is necessary to properly digest your food.
Sometimes you might want your cleaning to leave a nice aroma. There are healthy ways to add fragrance to your cleaning, it is natural, and doesn't cost the earth.
Mould? Clove bud oil, tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil (about 5 drops of each) into a spray bottle with water. Spray onto the mould directly, and then scrub with a brush or toothbrush (dipped in bicarb) after 10 minutes. Then rinse with water.
Soap scum? Bicarb, then vinegar spray, then scrub.
Alternative to rinse aid in dishwasher? A handful of bicarb in the bottom of the dishwasher during the rinse cycle, and 5-10 drops of lemon or orange essential oil. Bliss!
Don't you just love it? I keep a box of bicarb on the kitchen window sill and another in the laundry. It costs about $3 a month to keep it stocked up, and as you can see from my list of uses, it gets used multiple times per day. Winner!
A warning about the not so nice guy cleaners...
The chlorine vapour from domestic mould cleaners has been linked to a large array of respiratory issues as it causes oxidative damage to the epithelial lining of the mouth, oesophagus and lungs. See this study to find out how toxic cleaners and swimming pools can be!
Remember to put bicarb on the shopping list this week, and throw out the chemicals. You might even feel as healthy and sparkly as your newly polished jewellery :)
Wednesday, 27 March 2013
Friday, 22 March 2013
Mainstream Health Myths. Part Two: Low-fat Diets
This is one part of mainstream society that really gets to me. People talk about needing to lose weight, therefore, consider cutting most, if not ALL fat out of their diet. Fat makes you fat right? WRONG!
Firstly, I'd like to say I have tried the low-fat eating fad when I was in my late teens, early 20's. I was mainstream, I believed what I saw on t.v and I was certain that we would be warned of health risks if there were any.
Then, I became a Naturopath. I researched foods, and learned about what the body requires to function efficiently. Wow, was I blown out of the water to find out that eating eggs in their whole form (no egg-white omelettes for me!) and choosing organic, full-fat dairy was so much healthier than any low-fat product that had been deceivingly marketed as 'healthy'.
About dairy- Yes, it is high in calcium, children need calcium for strong teeth and bones. We've heard this time and time again. But did you know that you require fat and fat soluble vitamins to absorb calcium efficiently? The skimming of the fat from the milk, and the processing (pasturisation and homogenisation) actually make phosphorus more bioavailable, and calcium less bioavailable. Calcium and phosphorus compete for absorption, and phosphorus wins. What are you left with? Brittle bones! Not to mention, the possibility of multiple fat soluble vitamin deficiencies (Vitamin D being the most common).
Fat naturally brings about feelings of satiety (fullness). Often, milk solids (a by-product of dairy processing) are added to low-fat dairy in order for it to have a certain fake creaminess. Milk solids are a highly processed additive that many people show allergy or intolerance symptoms to. Low-fat dairy also requires synthetic vitamins to be added back into the product whilst being manufactured, as they are lost in the skimming process (it is no longer a whole food).
This is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what they don't tell you about the processing of low-fat dairy products. I actually don't understand why they would take something so naturally beneficial and process it so much, it barely resembles the original food (nutritionally).
Saturated fats are necessary in your diet. There you go, I said it. If coupled with an antioxidant rich diet and exercise, they probably won't cause heart disease.
Saturated fats:
Avocado, Nuts and Seeds, Fish and Coconut, to name a few, are high in essential fatty acids, Omega 3,6 &9, along with antioxidants, fibre and many vitamins and minerals. They are considered health promoting, and assist your body to combat inflammation, digestive upset such as constipation, dry skin or hair & brittle nails. Fats are essential for proper nerve activity, vitamin absorption and immune system function.
If you are on a low-fat diet, these health promoting foods are crossed off the list (except maybe fish). I highly recommend you include these in your daily eating plan. They not only taste great, but they are easy to cook, and are so good for you!
In regards to portion sizes, each and every person is different, however, you could aim for:
Half an avocado a day
1-2 handfuls of soaked nuts per day (Soaking makes them easier to digest)
Deep sea oily fish (mackerel, cod, sardines, halibut) 3-4 times per week (150gm per person)
A teaspoon of coconut oil with each main meal is linked to increased satiety, increased liver metabolism of fats, better energy levels (the liver uses the medium chained fatty acids in coconut oil as a fuel source), and normalised cholesterol levels. Give it a try, it is delish!
No one needs to be on a strict low-fat (or no fat) diet to lose weight. Fats are a natural and necessary part of a healthy eating plan. You might be interested in some of the information written by Weston A Price. Read more HERE.
I read a great little quote one day "Whenever you see the words 'low fat', think 'chemical shit storm". Take a look at the ingredients on the packet. You'll know what I mean.
Firstly, I'd like to say I have tried the low-fat eating fad when I was in my late teens, early 20's. I was mainstream, I believed what I saw on t.v and I was certain that we would be warned of health risks if there were any.
Then, I became a Naturopath. I researched foods, and learned about what the body requires to function efficiently. Wow, was I blown out of the water to find out that eating eggs in their whole form (no egg-white omelettes for me!) and choosing organic, full-fat dairy was so much healthier than any low-fat product that had been deceivingly marketed as 'healthy'.
About dairy- Yes, it is high in calcium, children need calcium for strong teeth and bones. We've heard this time and time again. But did you know that you require fat and fat soluble vitamins to absorb calcium efficiently? The skimming of the fat from the milk, and the processing (pasturisation and homogenisation) actually make phosphorus more bioavailable, and calcium less bioavailable. Calcium and phosphorus compete for absorption, and phosphorus wins. What are you left with? Brittle bones! Not to mention, the possibility of multiple fat soluble vitamin deficiencies (Vitamin D being the most common).
Fat naturally brings about feelings of satiety (fullness). Often, milk solids (a by-product of dairy processing) are added to low-fat dairy in order for it to have a certain fake creaminess. Milk solids are a highly processed additive that many people show allergy or intolerance symptoms to. Low-fat dairy also requires synthetic vitamins to be added back into the product whilst being manufactured, as they are lost in the skimming process (it is no longer a whole food).
This is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what they don't tell you about the processing of low-fat dairy products. I actually don't understand why they would take something so naturally beneficial and process it so much, it barely resembles the original food (nutritionally).
Saturated fats are necessary in your diet. There you go, I said it. If coupled with an antioxidant rich diet and exercise, they probably won't cause heart disease.
Saturated fats:
- Form the necessary building blocks for cholesterol to make healthy hormones (as many of you know, hormones rule our lives!),
- Keep cells fluid-like so nutrients and wastes can pass easily in and out of the cell. If you lack fat in your diet, you might notice how fatigued you feel. This could be from cells in your body being over burdened with toxins, as they are not freely being excreted.
- Assist in padding around the organs as protection, and also serve as a storage place for excess wastes and hormones. One of the main reasons why it is important to take liver detox and weight loss slowly. (When the fat cells are released, so are the excess toxins, which can cause headaches, sluggishness and fatigue).
Avocado, Nuts and Seeds, Fish and Coconut, to name a few, are high in essential fatty acids, Omega 3,6 &9, along with antioxidants, fibre and many vitamins and minerals. They are considered health promoting, and assist your body to combat inflammation, digestive upset such as constipation, dry skin or hair & brittle nails. Fats are essential for proper nerve activity, vitamin absorption and immune system function.
If you are on a low-fat diet, these health promoting foods are crossed off the list (except maybe fish). I highly recommend you include these in your daily eating plan. They not only taste great, but they are easy to cook, and are so good for you!
In regards to portion sizes, each and every person is different, however, you could aim for:
Half an avocado a day
1-2 handfuls of soaked nuts per day (Soaking makes them easier to digest)
Deep sea oily fish (mackerel, cod, sardines, halibut) 3-4 times per week (150gm per person)
A teaspoon of coconut oil with each main meal is linked to increased satiety, increased liver metabolism of fats, better energy levels (the liver uses the medium chained fatty acids in coconut oil as a fuel source), and normalised cholesterol levels. Give it a try, it is delish!
No one needs to be on a strict low-fat (or no fat) diet to lose weight. Fats are a natural and necessary part of a healthy eating plan. You might be interested in some of the information written by Weston A Price. Read more HERE.
I read a great little quote one day "Whenever you see the words 'low fat', think 'chemical shit storm". Take a look at the ingredients on the packet. You'll know what I mean.
Wednesday, 13 March 2013
Mainstream health myths. Part One: Cholesterol
I am constantly having to
stop reading articles and switch off advertisements that make claims
about health. I am not sure who began common health claims in society,
but somehow they have become what people automatically think are the
truth. I hope after reading this series of posts, at least a few
mainstream myths will be different in your eyes!
MYTH 1. CHOLESTEROL
'You must not eat any food containing cholesterol if you have high cholesterol' Heard this before?.
Let me inform you about cholesterol.
The liver naturally makes it in our bodies (about 90% of it in fact). It is a necessary building block for hormones and serves as an indicator of levels of inflammation in your body. If you have high cholesterol, your liver has been running on over drive producing lots of cholesterol to serve as a protector of your arteries.
It has been shown in autopsies of people who have died from heart disease, that their arteries were clogged with cholesterol. Not surprising. They had huge levels of inflammation in their bodies. It is not the cholesterol that caused the heart disease, it is the oxidation and degradation of the fats in their arteries, caused by lifestyle factors (smoking, excessive alcohol, trans fat intake, no exercise) and a lack of antioxidants in their diet that damaged the cholesterol and the arteries, leading to heart disease.
C-reactive Protein (CrP) is a much more accurate finding from a blood test that measures the risk of heart attack.
People claim they have no control, high cholesterol runs in their family, and take statin drugs as recommended by their Doctor. Statins are scientifically known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. They bascially inhibit the enzyme necessary to produce cholesterol in the liver. Do they decrease cholesterol? Yes. Do they have side effects? YES.
Unfortunately, statins also block the production of CoQ10. One of our body's most powerful antioxidants. Ironically, low levels of CoQ10 have been linked to heart disease. All muscles in the body (including the heart) require CoQ10 for energy production. It essentially delivers oxygen to working muscles. Without CoQ10, you may feel particularly tired and achy on a physical level, and on a molecular level, your antioxidant status is decreasing over time. As I outlined above, oxidation leads to inflammation, & poor health status.
What can you do to normalise your cholesterol naturally?
Exercise.
You've probably heard of good cholesterol and bad cholesterol (HDL vs LDL). Exercise encourages your body to transport the LDL (bad) cholesterol back to the liver to form more HDL (good) cholesterol.
Eat more fibre.
Excess cholesterol tends to accumulate in the bowel and can recirculate into the body, causing an increase in total cholesterol. By eating more fibre, you can reduce cholesterol in two ways. 1) Fibre can bind the cholesterol, rendering it unavailable to recirculate; 2) Fibre regulates the bowels so you move your bowels more frequently, and eliminate the cholesterol. Try eating fibre from a variety of sources such as fresh fruits and vegetables, wholegrains, nuts and seeds. This way, you also benefit from increasing the nutrient value of your fibre filled meals.
Avoid trans fats.
These are the absolute bad guys when it comes to causing damage to your body. Trans fats are a product of unstable fats that have been heated, and/or hydrogenated to make a solid fat spreadable at room temperature or when refrigerated. There is no 'safe' daily amount of trans fats. The best thing to do is avoid them altogether!
Found in packaged biscuits, chips, pastries, margarine, unstable vegetable oil (canola, soy, sunflower, cottonseed, sesame, peanut), cakes, take-away foods.
Eat more 'good' fats.
Coconut products (oil, cream, milk, flesh) are all high in medium chained fatty acids. Your liver tends to prefer these fats and processes them quickly for energy. The liver becomes very efficient at metabolising fats (the opposite to low-fat diets) and studies on coconut oil have shown HDL (good cholesterol) to rise, total cholesterol to decrease, and LDL (bad cholesterol) to decrease. The great benefits of coconuts really do deserve their own post, so I will follow that one up later.
Avocadoes and deep sea oily fish such as cod, mackerel and sardines provide an array of healthy fats (omegas 3, 6 & 9) that the body requires several times per week.
Eat a variety of antioxidants- daily!
Rainbow coloured food, in it's whole form such as blueberries, acai, maqui, leafy greens, broccoli, spirulina, pineapple, ginger, tomatoes,strawberries, cherries, capsicum, carrots, oranges, sweet potato.
A little bit of each colour is the key. You can't overdose on natural antioxidants. They are nature's treatment to so many different ailments, and help to protect the body from oxidation (cellular ageing and degradation). Fresh is best, but if your favourite berry is out of season, you can keep some high quality supplements in the house to keep you boosted (see acai, maqui and spirulina).
There are many herbs and nutrients that are commonly prescribed by Naturopaths such as Turmeric, Globe Artichoke, Milk Thistle, Fenugreek, Gymnema, Activated Vitamin B3, Vitamin C, & high dose antioxidant supplements.
Please contact your Naturopath for correct dosage instructions, so you can gain the optimum treatment for your specific condition.
Much of the information posted here on cholesterol is from a book I read many moons ago. Click here to check it out for yourself!
MYTH 1. CHOLESTEROL
'You must not eat any food containing cholesterol if you have high cholesterol' Heard this before?.
Let me inform you about cholesterol.
The liver naturally makes it in our bodies (about 90% of it in fact). It is a necessary building block for hormones and serves as an indicator of levels of inflammation in your body. If you have high cholesterol, your liver has been running on over drive producing lots of cholesterol to serve as a protector of your arteries.
It has been shown in autopsies of people who have died from heart disease, that their arteries were clogged with cholesterol. Not surprising. They had huge levels of inflammation in their bodies. It is not the cholesterol that caused the heart disease, it is the oxidation and degradation of the fats in their arteries, caused by lifestyle factors (smoking, excessive alcohol, trans fat intake, no exercise) and a lack of antioxidants in their diet that damaged the cholesterol and the arteries, leading to heart disease.
C-reactive Protein (CrP) is a much more accurate finding from a blood test that measures the risk of heart attack.
People claim they have no control, high cholesterol runs in their family, and take statin drugs as recommended by their Doctor. Statins are scientifically known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. They bascially inhibit the enzyme necessary to produce cholesterol in the liver. Do they decrease cholesterol? Yes. Do they have side effects? YES.
Unfortunately, statins also block the production of CoQ10. One of our body's most powerful antioxidants. Ironically, low levels of CoQ10 have been linked to heart disease. All muscles in the body (including the heart) require CoQ10 for energy production. It essentially delivers oxygen to working muscles. Without CoQ10, you may feel particularly tired and achy on a physical level, and on a molecular level, your antioxidant status is decreasing over time. As I outlined above, oxidation leads to inflammation, & poor health status.
What can you do to normalise your cholesterol naturally?
Exercise.
You've probably heard of good cholesterol and bad cholesterol (HDL vs LDL). Exercise encourages your body to transport the LDL (bad) cholesterol back to the liver to form more HDL (good) cholesterol.
Eat more fibre.
Excess cholesterol tends to accumulate in the bowel and can recirculate into the body, causing an increase in total cholesterol. By eating more fibre, you can reduce cholesterol in two ways. 1) Fibre can bind the cholesterol, rendering it unavailable to recirculate; 2) Fibre regulates the bowels so you move your bowels more frequently, and eliminate the cholesterol. Try eating fibre from a variety of sources such as fresh fruits and vegetables, wholegrains, nuts and seeds. This way, you also benefit from increasing the nutrient value of your fibre filled meals.
Avoid trans fats.
These are the absolute bad guys when it comes to causing damage to your body. Trans fats are a product of unstable fats that have been heated, and/or hydrogenated to make a solid fat spreadable at room temperature or when refrigerated. There is no 'safe' daily amount of trans fats. The best thing to do is avoid them altogether!
Found in packaged biscuits, chips, pastries, margarine, unstable vegetable oil (canola, soy, sunflower, cottonseed, sesame, peanut), cakes, take-away foods.
Eat more 'good' fats.
Coconut products (oil, cream, milk, flesh) are all high in medium chained fatty acids. Your liver tends to prefer these fats and processes them quickly for energy. The liver becomes very efficient at metabolising fats (the opposite to low-fat diets) and studies on coconut oil have shown HDL (good cholesterol) to rise, total cholesterol to decrease, and LDL (bad cholesterol) to decrease. The great benefits of coconuts really do deserve their own post, so I will follow that one up later.
Avocadoes and deep sea oily fish such as cod, mackerel and sardines provide an array of healthy fats (omegas 3, 6 & 9) that the body requires several times per week.
Eat a variety of antioxidants- daily!
Rainbow coloured food, in it's whole form such as blueberries, acai, maqui, leafy greens, broccoli, spirulina, pineapple, ginger, tomatoes,strawberries, cherries, capsicum, carrots, oranges, sweet potato.
A little bit of each colour is the key. You can't overdose on natural antioxidants. They are nature's treatment to so many different ailments, and help to protect the body from oxidation (cellular ageing and degradation). Fresh is best, but if your favourite berry is out of season, you can keep some high quality supplements in the house to keep you boosted (see acai, maqui and spirulina).
There are many herbs and nutrients that are commonly prescribed by Naturopaths such as Turmeric, Globe Artichoke, Milk Thistle, Fenugreek, Gymnema, Activated Vitamin B3, Vitamin C, & high dose antioxidant supplements.
Please contact your Naturopath for correct dosage instructions, so you can gain the optimum treatment for your specific condition.
Much of the information posted here on cholesterol is from a book I read many moons ago. Click here to check it out for yourself!
Tuesday, 5 March 2013
HCG Diet. What's the hype about losing weight?
Weight loss is a hotly followed topic amongst the population worldwide.
Recently, I was speaking to my mum and she asked me about what I thought about the HCG diet. To be honest, I am not interested in calorie counting or encouraging people to starve themselves to be thin. I think most people look great if they are within a natural weight range for their body type and height.
When I looked into the details of the HCG diet, I was mortified to hear that people were eating 500 calories a day, weren't allowed to exercise, and took drops under their tongue of a hormone produced by the placenta during pregnancy to suppress their appetite. I'm not sure as to whether the hormone given is a synthetic 'mimic' of human chorionic hormone (HCG), or if they source it from actual placentas, but I cannot believe the lengths people are going to trying to lose weight! Apparently the HCG drops (or injections) induce the morning sickness feeling, less the nausea, so you don't feel hungry. The 500 calories is made up of mainly protein, and is very low carbohydrate.
So what does your body live off? Your fat stores, in a process called ketosis. A couple of problems could arise here. The brain requires glucose to function efficiently. Although the body can convert glucose to fat quite easily, the reverse conversion is a lot more difficult to perform. So your body might be burning fat, and you might be losing weight, but you can't remember what you did with that thing-a-me-jig. What was I saying again? Yep, you turn into an airhead, because your brain doesn't have enough fuel.
With such high rates of body dis-morphia (people who think they are fatter than they are) and eating disorders around, I spend my time encouraging people to have a better relationship with food. It is here to nourish us, make us healthy and live long, quality lives, not to make us fat. We need to bring the culture of food back to life and celebrate our love and joy for good quality, tasty meals, eaten in the company of good friends and family.
In our house, we eat local grown organic food (where possible) and cook everything at home from scratch using wholefoods. Wholefoods are those we eat as they are found in nature, with no, or very little processing (E.g. Fruits and vegetables). We eat a moderate amount of fat, complex carbohydrates, and quality sources of protein. We eat seasonally, and in touch with what our bodies need. E.g. Some days I need more protein than Matt. He feels like he's had enough meat for the week, or it might be a hot day, so we opt for a raw salad.
So rather than looking to get skinny, let's look at getting healthy.
Eat organic wholefoods that are local and in season.
Learn to cook from scratch (it takes a few trial and errors, but you'll get the hang of it)
And learn to accept & love the way you look.
Focus on what you DO like about yourself.
The better relationship you have with your food and yourself, the better relationship you'll have with life.
Recently, I was speaking to my mum and she asked me about what I thought about the HCG diet. To be honest, I am not interested in calorie counting or encouraging people to starve themselves to be thin. I think most people look great if they are within a natural weight range for their body type and height.
When I looked into the details of the HCG diet, I was mortified to hear that people were eating 500 calories a day, weren't allowed to exercise, and took drops under their tongue of a hormone produced by the placenta during pregnancy to suppress their appetite. I'm not sure as to whether the hormone given is a synthetic 'mimic' of human chorionic hormone (HCG), or if they source it from actual placentas, but I cannot believe the lengths people are going to trying to lose weight! Apparently the HCG drops (or injections) induce the morning sickness feeling, less the nausea, so you don't feel hungry. The 500 calories is made up of mainly protein, and is very low carbohydrate.
So what does your body live off? Your fat stores, in a process called ketosis. A couple of problems could arise here. The brain requires glucose to function efficiently. Although the body can convert glucose to fat quite easily, the reverse conversion is a lot more difficult to perform. So your body might be burning fat, and you might be losing weight, but you can't remember what you did with that thing-a-me-jig. What was I saying again? Yep, you turn into an airhead, because your brain doesn't have enough fuel.
With such high rates of body dis-morphia (people who think they are fatter than they are) and eating disorders around, I spend my time encouraging people to have a better relationship with food. It is here to nourish us, make us healthy and live long, quality lives, not to make us fat. We need to bring the culture of food back to life and celebrate our love and joy for good quality, tasty meals, eaten in the company of good friends and family.
In our house, we eat local grown organic food (where possible) and cook everything at home from scratch using wholefoods. Wholefoods are those we eat as they are found in nature, with no, or very little processing (E.g. Fruits and vegetables). We eat a moderate amount of fat, complex carbohydrates, and quality sources of protein. We eat seasonally, and in touch with what our bodies need. E.g. Some days I need more protein than Matt. He feels like he's had enough meat for the week, or it might be a hot day, so we opt for a raw salad.
So rather than looking to get skinny, let's look at getting healthy.
Eat organic wholefoods that are local and in season.
Learn to cook from scratch (it takes a few trial and errors, but you'll get the hang of it)
And learn to accept & love the way you look.
Focus on what you DO like about yourself.
The better relationship you have with your food and yourself, the better relationship you'll have with life.
Thursday, 28 February 2013
Fertility Part 3- The role of Functional Pathology
Many people just try and 'hope for the best' when it comes to their fertility. You can have a blood test taken with your local GP, which unfortunately tells you pretty much nothing about the actual functionality of your organs. You might be 'trying' for a couple of months (or years) before attempting to find out if everything works.
Before you try IVF, there are many ways Natural Medicine can assist you to find what the cause might be of yours or your partner's infertility.
According to Angela Hywood, founder of Tonic Australia, functional pathology provides us with a far deeper understanding of factors involved with individual cases of infertility. Recent research has linked subfertility and infertility to environmental toxicity, heavy metal exposure and xenoestrogen ingestion, amongst other factors.
What tests are available?
Adrenal Hormone Profile- tests your cortisol and DHEA at specific times of the day, to give an accurate depiction of your adrenal function.
I touched upon it in previous posts- stress can wreak havoc on your menstrual cycle, and affect the viability of sperm. Why? Because stress can cause inflammation. Inflammation causes oxidative damage (this is why antioxidants are important).
In males, oxidative damage can affect the fertilising potential of sperm, and the sperm's ability to form a healthy embryo.
Who would've thought this could then lead to a risk of miscarriage or health issues in the baby? A lot of people are shocked to find out, that's for sure!
Many women blame themselves for the infertility, however, males make up 50% of the subfertility or infertile cases, I kid you not.
Baseline Hormone Profile
Females: This tests your Oestrogen (all types E1, 2 and 3), progesterone, testosterone & DHEA-S
Males: This tests your Oestrogen (E1 and E2), testosterone, DHEA-S and Cortisol
The baseline hormonal profile gives accurate and valuable information about your hormonal status. If you have recently gained weight, have mood swings, disturbed sleep, loss of libido, anxiety or depression, you may find a huge benefit having this test!
Female Hormone Profile- Full cycle/Luteal Phase
By measuring different hormones on specific days of your menstrual cycle, it gives an insight into imbalances that may be affecting ovulation, endometriosis, fibroids, polycystic ovaries, PMS, irregular periods, or a history of miscarriage.
Women are told it is 'normal' to have pain, heavy bleeding and feel terrible when they have their period. Yes, these symptoms are common, however, a 'normal' period (when you have balancd hormones) is actually pain free and PMS doesn't even enter your radar...*Gasp*
Comprehensive Urine Elements Profile
Assesses the urinary excretion of 15 nutrients and 20 toxic metals which may reveal the need for detoxification and correction of deficiencies.
Toxins such as glue, volatile solvents or silicones, chemical dusts, and pesticides have been linked to infertility. (Think twice before taking that job in the mines!)
Smokers are 60% more likely to be infertile than non-smokers, not to mention an increased risk of ALL cancers. Certainly not something you'd like your baby to inherit!
Thyroid Hormone Profile
The thyroid is responsible for metabolism.The thyroid hormone profile is different to the one your doctor might send you off for. This tests levels of TSH, free T4 and free T3, which give a true indication of your metabolic rate.
Underactive thyroid is extremely common in women, attributing to weight gain, fatigue, constipation, dry skin and hair and depression. You might have more frequent (sooner than every 28 days), heavier bleeding with clots and painful periods.
An overactive thyroid is less common and has symptoms such as rapid heart rate, anxiety, frequent bowel movements, weight loss despite increased appetite and heart palpitations. You may have scanty (light spotting) or irregular periods (irregular ovulation or no ovulation at all).
Hormones tend to work in a 'one out, all out' fashion, so it is valuable to have the tests done if you feel you are out of balance. The sooner, the better!
Stay tuned for the next post :)
Before you try IVF, there are many ways Natural Medicine can assist you to find what the cause might be of yours or your partner's infertility.
According to Angela Hywood, founder of Tonic Australia, functional pathology provides us with a far deeper understanding of factors involved with individual cases of infertility. Recent research has linked subfertility and infertility to environmental toxicity, heavy metal exposure and xenoestrogen ingestion, amongst other factors.
What tests are available?
Adrenal Hormone Profile- tests your cortisol and DHEA at specific times of the day, to give an accurate depiction of your adrenal function.
I touched upon it in previous posts- stress can wreak havoc on your menstrual cycle, and affect the viability of sperm. Why? Because stress can cause inflammation. Inflammation causes oxidative damage (this is why antioxidants are important).
In males, oxidative damage can affect the fertilising potential of sperm, and the sperm's ability to form a healthy embryo.
Who would've thought this could then lead to a risk of miscarriage or health issues in the baby? A lot of people are shocked to find out, that's for sure!
Many women blame themselves for the infertility, however, males make up 50% of the subfertility or infertile cases, I kid you not.
Baseline Hormone Profile
Females: This tests your Oestrogen (all types E1, 2 and 3), progesterone, testosterone & DHEA-S
Males: This tests your Oestrogen (E1 and E2), testosterone, DHEA-S and Cortisol
The baseline hormonal profile gives accurate and valuable information about your hormonal status. If you have recently gained weight, have mood swings, disturbed sleep, loss of libido, anxiety or depression, you may find a huge benefit having this test!
Female Hormone Profile- Full cycle/Luteal Phase
By measuring different hormones on specific days of your menstrual cycle, it gives an insight into imbalances that may be affecting ovulation, endometriosis, fibroids, polycystic ovaries, PMS, irregular periods, or a history of miscarriage.
Women are told it is 'normal' to have pain, heavy bleeding and feel terrible when they have their period. Yes, these symptoms are common, however, a 'normal' period (when you have balancd hormones) is actually pain free and PMS doesn't even enter your radar...*Gasp*
Comprehensive Urine Elements Profile
Assesses the urinary excretion of 15 nutrients and 20 toxic metals which may reveal the need for detoxification and correction of deficiencies.
Toxins such as glue, volatile solvents or silicones, chemical dusts, and pesticides have been linked to infertility. (Think twice before taking that job in the mines!)
Smokers are 60% more likely to be infertile than non-smokers, not to mention an increased risk of ALL cancers. Certainly not something you'd like your baby to inherit!
Thyroid Hormone Profile
The thyroid is responsible for metabolism.The thyroid hormone profile is different to the one your doctor might send you off for. This tests levels of TSH, free T4 and free T3, which give a true indication of your metabolic rate.
Underactive thyroid is extremely common in women, attributing to weight gain, fatigue, constipation, dry skin and hair and depression. You might have more frequent (sooner than every 28 days), heavier bleeding with clots and painful periods.
An overactive thyroid is less common and has symptoms such as rapid heart rate, anxiety, frequent bowel movements, weight loss despite increased appetite and heart palpitations. You may have scanty (light spotting) or irregular periods (irregular ovulation or no ovulation at all).
Hormones tend to work in a 'one out, all out' fashion, so it is valuable to have the tests done if you feel you are out of balance. The sooner, the better!
Stay tuned for the next post :)
Sunday, 24 February 2013
Fertility tips for girls and guys
Ways to Improve Your Fertility – info for both partners. (It takes 2 to tango!)
1 In the last post I touched upon being aware of your menstrual cycle. It takes a few cycles to get the hang of it, but there’s a few ways you can consciously keep track of where you’re up to. The sooner you know when you’re most fertile, the easier it is to achieve (or avoid) pregnancy.
The Billings Method – More info here
The cervix produces mucus that changes significantly throughout your cycle (thick, slippery, milky etc.). By staying aware, noticing changes in mucus give an indication of what I like to refer to as ‘tiger territory’. The thinner, more slippery, egg white looking mucus means you are in ‘tiger territory’. If you want to be pregnant, now is your time! If you don’t want to be pregnant, use some form of contraception, or wait until the mucus changes again (usually takes around 3-5 days).
Temperature method- Your basal body temperature is your temperature when you're fully at rest. Ovulation may cause a slight increase in basal body temperature. You'll be most fertile during the two to three days before your temperature rises. By tracking your basal body temperature each day, you may be able to predict when you'll ovulate. In turn, this may help you determine when you're most likely to conceive.If you're hoping to get pregnant, you can use the basal body temperature method to determine the best days to have sex. Similarly, if you're hoping to avoid pregnancy, you can use the basal body temperature method to determine which days to avoid unprotected sex.
NB: Temperature need to be taken upon waking each morning, before you get out of bed. Using this method may not be effective if you suffer from thyroid irregularities.
The egg is only viable for 12 hours. The sperm can survive for around 3-5 days in the female reproductive tract. So there is no real use in waiting until the day of peak fertility to have sex. You are best to start trying at the first sign of mucus change. Please note here- if your partner has low sperm count, it is best to ‘save’ ejaculation until the most fertile time so the highest amount of sperm are available for fertilisation.
2 Eat more antioxidants- every 120 days, the reproductive cells renew. Why not try and have the healthiest sperm and egg available to fertilise? This blog has a great explanation on how epigenetics work. Antioxidants are not only essential to producing happy, healthy sperm & eggs, but also to help protect them as they make their journey to fertilisation. Studies have shown women who have high intake of fruit & vegetables tend to have more antioxidants in the fluid surrounding the reproductive organs. Some good food choices are: Pomegranate (fresh or juice), Acai, Chia seeds, Watermelon, Dragonfruit, Pineapple, Berries, Tomatoes, Avocadoes, Parsley, and Kale. (Aim to make half your plate raw food and rainbow in colour!)
3 Sleep more, and stress less- the nervous system governs all other systems in your body. If you are constantly in a stressed state, your body thinks it needs to run away from a big bad wolf/job/person. It prioritises the muscles and brain, and takes the blood flow away from digestive and reproductive organs. The body thinks ‘no way are you going to ovulate if there are so many big bad wolves around!’. There is cortisol and adrenaline floating around in your bloodstream from being so stressed during the day, you might fall into bed exhausted, but you can’t sleep. You feel fatigued no matter how much sleep you are getting, because you simply aren’t getting true rest day or night. If this is you, some changes need to be made. See below.
4 Practice mindfulness-
A lot can be said for positive thoughts and visualisation. I have been pleasantly shown many times the amazing calmness a few long, deep breaths can bring. If you can find time to stress/think about anything, you have time to be mindful and breathe!
Take the time for you whenever you get the chance. Each time you sit down to eat, take the time to chew your food, taste it, feel it, take notice of it, breathe. Each time you get into your car, turn off the music and breathe. Take notice of your heartbeat as you feel your belly and lungs fill with air and life. As you exhale, let go of worries about the past and future, and simply be in the present moment.
There are many yoga classes available in your local area, which will almost always begin and end with some form of conscious, mindful breathing and meditation. Make the effort for yourself and those who you share your life with.
The 3rd, and final blog post of this series on fertility will focus on functional pathology, and how one might benefit from having their hormones tested.
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