mahamarewes

Sunday, December 17, 2006

What Are Usual Symptoms Of Menopause

Do You Need to Prepare for Menopause?

by Alicia Simpson

You’re probably asking, “Is there really a way to prepare for menopause?” The answer is yes and no. It’s not like you can go to your calendar and write “menopause” on September 22, 2025. It’s not that easy, although most women sure wished it was; however, although we may not know the exact date that menopause will begin, we can prepare for it by being informed and learning as much as possible about the subject.

From the time of your first period until your 40’s, your ovaries produce estrogen in response to monthly follicle maturation. Both estrogen and progesterone are responsible for the monthly menstrual cycle and both are produced using male hormones. During her reproductive years, a woman’s ovaries produce more estrogen than testosterone. As menopause nears, the estrogen level declines while the male hormone levels stay about the same. Lacking former levels of estrogen to counteract them, hair growth on the face and oily skin may begin to crop up during the years right before menopause in some women.

As Age Reach 40, Changes Happen

A woman is born with approximately one half million eggs. Over time, that number decreases as some are reabsorbed back into the ovarian lining. As a woman ages get older, the number of eggs available for release also diminishes. As a result, from about age 40, a woman’s period will begin to change.

In her mid-40s a woman becomes perimenopausal. The period of time from perimenopause to postmenopause can take 5 to 10 years. A full decade before you become menopausal, changes are happening in your body that begins to set the stage for the transition from reproductive to nonreproductive states. Up to 50% of women are beginning to experience hot flashes in the two-year period before cessation of menstruation. Menstruation at this time is also likely to be erratic. During this period a woman is considered to be perimenopausal.

As soon as you begin noticing changes in your menstrual cycle, especially if you’re in your 40’s, you should consult with your gynecologist, who will probably want to run a battery of tests. One of the tests your doctor should perform is a blood test that will check your hormone levels.

But change is certain. There is no predicting your own passage through menopause; it may be long or short, bumpy or smooth. Nor can you foresee the time when you will begin it.

Whenever and however menopausal changes appear, it can be valuable to have information beforehand and while you’re experiencing menopause. Studies have shown that women who are prepared to take charge of their own health care tend to do best through the menopausal passage. Information can function as your survival kit as you negotiate your way through this very important change in your life.

Alicia Simpson is a mother and housewife who experience menopause. Her new guide book: "Menopause without Stress" is to tell women that menopause is part of life you cannot avoid. Visit her Website MenopauseWithoutStress.com at http://www.menopausewithoutstress.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alicia_Simpson

Symptoms Of Pregnancy Or Menopause Women Over 40

Breast Cancer- Top Ten Things Every Woman Should Know

by Nathalie Fiset

Breast cancer is a reality many women will have to deal with. Statistics show that one woman out of nine will develop breast cancer in her life. Whether it be a dear friend, a close family member or herself, every woman will be touched by breast cancer in one way or the other. Breast cancer accounts for about 30% of all cancers.

Every woman should be aware of the risk factors and change those she can to lower her risk of developing breast cancer in her life.

Women who are not active physically, smoke or consume a lot of alcohol are at higher risk to develop breast cancer.
Women who have their first child at a later age or have never given birth are at higher risk to develop breast cancer.
Women who had their first period at an earlier age (less than 12 years old) are at higher risk for breast cancer.
Woman who have close family members who had develop breast cancer are at higher risk for themselves.
Women who are older. The further a woman advances in life, the higher her probability of developing breast cancer.
Women who experience a late menopause (after 55 years old) have an increase risk of developing breast cancer.

There is hope however and certain measures have proven to help reduce the risk of developing breast cancer for a woman. It is recommended to exercise regularly, lose any excess weight, lower alcohol consumption and stop smoking. It is also proven that women who breastfeed their babies are at lower risks to develop breast cancer.

Certain measures, by finding breast cancer at an earlier stage can lower the complication rate and morbidity associated with this condition. The two most recommended measures are to do a mammogram exam every two years after the age of 50 (or earlier if a woman has risk factors) and doing a breast self-examination. It is also recommended for a woman to visit her doctor regularly. One has to know that about two thirds of breast tumours are found by the woman herself upon doing her self-examination.

Many organizations and industries have joined forces to push back breast cancer and one can only encourage them by donating time or money for this worthy cause. There are many researches on breast cancer conducted worldwide and it is expected that the near future will see the decline of this devastating affliction.

Dr Nathalie Fiset is a family doctor and a certified hypnotherapist. For more information go to: http://www.bestmenopause.com http://www.drnathaliefiset.com or http://www.a-1hypnosis.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathalie_Fiset

Progesertone Cream Made Symptoms Of Menopause Worse

Uterus Cancer: How Dangerous is It?

by Nilutpal Gogoi

WHAT EXACTLY IS UTERUS CANCER?

Endometrial cancer is the most common type of uterus cancer. It is so termed as the cancerous cells abnormally develop in the endometrium lining. It is also known as the cancer of the uterus or uterine cancer.

UNDERSTANDING CANCER

To understand cancer, we must first know that this ailment begins in the human cells. The cells are the primary unit of life. Cells combine to form tissues. Tissues come together to form organs. Cancers are malignant tumors. Tumors are masses of extra tissues. Tumors are formed when unnecessary extra cells are formed in our body. Actually new cells (the basic unit of our life) are born as per the body requirement and after the old ones die. But the malignant or cancerous cells keep on forming and constitute tumors or growths. They also spread abnormally fast. Tumors can also be non-cancerous or benign.

MALIGNANT UTERUS CANCER CAN BE LIFE-THREATENING

Uterus cancer can spread (metastasize), to the surrounding nearby blood vessels or nerves. And, from one lymph node, uterus cancer can affect other lymph nodes. Even the bones, liver, and lungs can be affected. Doctors give the newly spread tumor the same name as the mother tumor has as their characteristics remain identical.

CAUSES OF UTERUS CANCER

There is still no unanimity among the medical specialists as to the exact causes of uterus cancer or uterine cancer. Nonetheless, there is agreement among them that uterus cancer cannot spread from one person to another. In other words, uterus cancer is not contagious. Mentionably, though uterus cancer generally happens after menopause, yet it can take place as menopause starts.

TYPES OF UTERUS CANCER

There are different types of uterus cancer. You would be surprised to know that cancerous cells of the uterus at times spread to the lungs. This is not lung cancer but uterine cancer that has metastasized (spread). This 'distant' ailment is treated as uterus cancer. Another typical form of uterus cancer is uterine sarcoma. It develops in the myometrium (muscle). There is another uterine cancer that starts in the cervix region.

SYMPTOMS OF UTERUS CANCER

The most common symptom of uterus cancer is profuse bleeding from the vagina. Many have the misconception that such abnormal vaginal bleeding is symptom of menopause and do not pay adequate attention to it. This is wrong! Such vaginal bleeding can begin only as a watery flow having just a streak of blood. But slowly more and more blood flows along with it.

IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONS

Immediately consult a gynecologist the moment you see any or some of the following symptoms: Pain in the pelvic portion; pain while urinating; pain during intercourse and/or abnormal vaginal discharge or bleeding. Of course, these signs can be due to factors other than those related to uterus cancer. Hence, seek expert's advice without delay.

THE RISK FACTORS

The confusing fact is that many women having uterus cancer risk factors do not develop this ailment. On the other hand, there are umpteen cases of women not having the risk factors contracting uterus cancer. Nevertheless, the risk factors do help in the early diagnosing of uterus cancer. Here is an overview of the risk factors that may aggravate into uterus cancer.

Age factor: First, uterus cancer has been found to take place among women in the 50 plus age group.

Race: White-skinned women get uterus cancer more than, say the African-American women.

Endometrial hyperplasia: Second, many women after crossing 40 years suffer from endometrial hyperplasia. Though it is basically benign (not cancerous), yet it can sometimes develop into cancer. Endometrial hyperplasia happens due to the increase in cells uterus linings. The common signs of endometrial hyperplasia are bleeding in the post-menopause phase, bleeding after successive periods, and menstrual periods that are heavy. Physicians generally recommend progesterone (hormone treatment) or hysterectomy (uterus removal) to check endometrial hyperplasia from degenerating into cancer.

Colon cancer. Women suffering from colon or colorectal cancer that is inherited also may develop uterus cancer. Colon cancer affects the colon in the large intestine or/and the fag end portions of the rectum prior to the anus.

HRT: Third, women undergoing HRT (hormone replacement therapy) also have risk of contracting uterus cancer. HRT controls menopausal symptoms, prevents bone thinning (osteoporosis), and also reduces chances of stroke or heart ailments.

Prolonged use of hormone: Prolonged use of the female hormones estrogen sans progesterone can lead to uterus cancer. It is always advisable to combine the use of both primarily because progesterone acts as a potential uterus shield.

Over-exposure to estrogen: Women entering puberty early or reaching menopause late or those who have not borne any children remain exposed to estrogen for a long period. They too suffer a high risk.

Use of medicines having estrogen: One such commonly used medication is Tamoxifen. It is prescribed as a preventive measure against breast cancer. But long-time use of estrogen can lead to over-exposure to estrogen.

Obesity: The primary reason why obese women develop uterus cancer more than their thinner sisters is simple. Our body manufactures certain percentages of estrogen within the fatty tissues.

Diabetes BP: Since obesity is also linked with diabetes, the diabetic women may also have uterus cancer. Similar is the case with women having high blood pressure (BP).

DIAGNOSIS OF UTERUS CANCER

The ideal diagnosis for uterus cancer can constitute one or a combination of the following tests. They are the biopsy, Transvaginal ultrasound, Pap test, and Pelvic exam.

Biopsy: In biopsy, a tissue sample is removed from the lining of the uterus. This is a simple process and is done in the doctor's clinic itself. However, in complex situations, the patient may have to undertake the D&C process. This D&C (dilation and curettage) operation is a day-long affair. The tissue is examined by a pathologist for the probable presence of various cancerous conditions like hyperplasia and cells. In the post-biopsy stage, the patient may experience cramps and also have bleeding from the vagina for some time.

For the patient's knowledge: The patient needs to clarify certain positions with the doctor prior to going in for biopsy. These are about (i) the biopsy type she may have to undertake and the reason(s) why she should go for the test; (ii) The approximate time biopsy would take; (iii) Would she have to be anaesthetized; (iv) Whether biopsy be painful? (v) The risks and after effects of biopsy; (vi) And, if in the event of cancer being detected what the steps she would have to take and from whom she would get the consultations.

Transvaginal ultrasound: In this test, sound waves of high frequency is aimed at the uterus via an instrument that is inserted within the vagina. The sound echo patterns make a picture. And, the doctor can have a clear idea of the actual state by examining this picture. But, transvaginal ultrasound becomes impossible if the endometrium is too thick. Then, the patient may have to go for a biopsy.

Pap test: In Pap test, cells are collected from the upper vagina and cervix portions. Pathological examination of the cells is done to find out if there are any cancerous or abnormal cells. The problem with Pap test is that it fails to identify abnormal cells within the uterus. Hence the doctors usually collect the cells via biopsy. Nonetheless, Pap test can readily detect the cervical cancerous cells.

Pelvic exam: The Pelvic exam checks the rectum, bladder, uterus, and vagina. The presence of any lumps or alterations in their sizes and shapes are clear indications of the likely presence of abnormal tumors or cancerous cells. The doctor checks the cervix and vagina via an instrument. This implement known as speculum is first inserted into the vagina.

Nilutpal Gogoi is a writer and a freelance journalist having more than 18 years of service in several audio-visual and print media reputed organizations in North East India. He has published more than 1000 articles and a popular adventure book for children. For more information log on to http://www.awellnesshealth.com/ http://www.abouthealthonline.com/ http://www.wellbeingwork.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nilutpal_Gogoi

Psycolgical Symptoms Of Menopause

Ten Secrets to a Happy Menopause

by Nathalie Fiset

Menopause is a passage that happens in every woman�s life. Whether one chooses to live it as an opportunity for renewal and changes or an ordeal is entirely up to us. There is little known tricks and tips that can help every woman live a better and more happy menopause. After all, this period of a woman�s life can be a perfect time to start or continue a fulfilling existence.

Every woman will experience menopause. This period of her life characterized by the end of her menses and other related symptoms does not have to be an unpleasant one, on the contrary. Menopause often happens between the age of 45 and 55 and last anywhere between one to ten years. Some women will experience early menopause due to hormone imbalance or surgical removal of her ovaries.

A woman should always rely on the expert opinion of a competent doctor and/or nurse especially during her menopausal years. Besides assuring herself of competent medical care, there is a list of things she can do to ensure herself of a happy menopause:

1) Menopause is a time to be selfish! After all, most women will have invested so much time and energy to forward their career and family by the time they reach menopause. Taking time for yourself is a nice return of the pendulum and a wise decision. In fact, a happy woman will be able to enjoy more life and participate more actively in other�s life as well. I am giving every menopausal woman permission to be selfish right here, right now.

2) The menopause years are a great occasion to renew friendship or make new ones. There is nothing more fulfilling than spending a �night out with the girls� for a woman in her menopausal years. She has more free time to enjoy those special bonding. It is a known fact that laughter is the best anti-aging cream there is so all those fun nights out will be worth the while.

3) Menopause is also a very good time for a woman to ask herself what she always wanted to achieve but never got around to do. Now that she has more free time, the menopausal woman can ask herself what is left on her accomplishment list that she would really enjoy doing.

4) Menopause is an essential time to review an important checklist: your health. Have you been neglecting your health, eating fast food, sleeping less than you need to, not exercising properly? The easiest will be to book an appointment with your health care provider and make sure that you can re-start exercising. A moderate exercise is always recommended to begin with. Walking is a perfect example of a good exercise you can do daily. You can also get a dog or even better borrow your neighbor�s so you don�t have the burden of taking care of it!

5) In your complete health check, you will need to address if you need supplements like calcium, vitamins. One thing is certain is that everyone needs to incorporate drinking water as a daily habit.

6) Your menopausal years might also be a very good opportunity to travel. You can ask yourself if there is a trip you always wanted to do. If money is an issue, you can get very creative about putting aside the necessary founding and get going sooner than you think.

7) With your children out of the nest, you might end-up with a free room in your house or apartment. Instead of letting this room get crowded with unnecessary clutter why not make it your project to create your �special room�? Again, this project does not need to be costly. With a little imagination, you can put a futon, nice cushions and candles and there you have your perfect room. What will it be: a little reading room? A sewing room? An exercise room? etc

8) Menopause is also a very good time to revive your romantic flame. Whether you have been with the same person for a long time or are looking for your soul mate does not matter. These years can be the special occasion to let love into your life wide open and start enjoying all the happiness you deserve.

9) Menopause is also a good time to revise your personal finances. Are they stable? Do you have enough to go by? Consulting with a financial advisor might be a very wise move.

10) Most importantly, menopause is the best time to pamper yourself and reward yourself for all that you have done so far. It might be a good time to start a great project that you always wanted to do. Such project could be coming on a medical mission and bond with people who have tremendous needs. If you are concerned about finding the money to bring such a project to completion, I can tell you that when I go on medical missions, many menopausal women come along. How did they get the necessary money you ask? They just raised the money or asked their local charity association (Lions, Knight�s of Columbus, etc). Do not worry, you don�t need a medical degree to be very helpful, you just need a big hearth!

Dr Nathalie Fiset is a family doctor and a certified hypnotherapist. For more information go to: http://www.bestmenopause.com, http://www.aperfectharmony.com, or http://www.a-1hypnosis.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathalie_Fiset

Saturday, December 16, 2006

How To Control Symptoms Of Menopause Naturally And Herbally

Menopause - You Deserve To Get Relief from Hot Flashes and Night Sweats

by Evelyn Grazini

It seems like the late 30's or early 40's should be when women can have the time of her lives. The kids are probably gone, or at least a little grown up, and the career choices have been made. Unfortunately, your hormones will soon begin changing and you may soon start gong into menopause. While menopause should be a reason to celebrate (no more monthly cycles), many women experience irritating side effects when there is less of the hormone estrogen in the system. The most common side effect is hot flashes (or hot flushes, as some call them when they cause flushing or redness of the skin).

Only 15% of women do not suffer from hot flashes, for the rest of us, the flashes can last from five to fifteen minutes at a time. Medical professionals have not determined how to tell how long (in months) they will continue. Because the body is trying to compensate to the lower estrogen levels, as soon as it figures out the proper adjustment, the hot flashes will stop.

One way medical science has decided to compensate is with Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), which calls for a prescription of Estrogen pills, or a skin patch, to help estrogen levels go back to where they once were. Unfortunately, once you stop taking the pills, your body has to try to compensate again, and the hot flashes will reoccur. However, it is sometimes possible to decrease the dose of estrogen gradually, allowing the body to adjust more slowly.

But there are there natural alternatives for chemical HRT. And it's sad that less than two percent of doctors even mention alternative therapies (maybe because the pharmaceuticals make more money on the Estrogen Replacement Therapy). Thousands of women have tested natural therapies and agree that they work! There are a few natural things you should consider if you're not ready to put another chemical into your body.

Natural Care for Hot Flashes or Night Sweats

When hot flashes occur at night, you will experience night sweats (or worse yet, cold sweats). In the worst cases, sweating can get excessive and soak bedding and nightgowns. Here are a few things that you can do stay as comfortable as possible.

During the day, dress in layers so you can remove items, and put them back on when the hot flash is finished.
At night, wear cotton underwear and gowns that will absorb perspiration. These keep you cooler than synthetic garments.
Most importantly, start keeping a record of your daily routine and try to determine when you are most likely to get a hot flash. Certain foods or drinks can cause an increase in the amount and severity of the hot flash. Watch out for alcohol (especially red wine), caffeine, sugar, fatty dairy products, salt, spicy foods, saturated oils and monosodium glutamate (added to prepared foods to enhance flavor).
Last but not least, there are some herbs that contain healthy compounds that have proven to be affective. One of the main herbs is Black Cohosh, which is a thoroughly researched herb containing phytoestrogens and is approved by the German 'Kommission E" - a body similar to the FDA. You can find Black Cohosh in the appropriate portions in MellowPause.
In the case of severe menopausal symptoms, it is recommend that MellowPause be taken together with Dong Quai, which has been used for many centuries in traditional Chinese medicine.

In time this too shall pass. Menopause usually ends by the age of 51; but hot flashes may, if you're lucky, end much sooner than that.

Evelyn Grazini is a Health and Wellness Researcher, and the Editor at �911 Menopause,� the site for Free reports on Natural relief methods for menopause symptoms, including hot flashes and night sweats. http://www.911menopause.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Evelyn_Grazini

Symptoms Of Menopause Or Perimenopause

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Learning How to Deal With Menopause

by Nathalie Fiset

Learning how to deal with menopause

A woman�s life is often marked by drastic changes. From adolescence to her menopausal years, women strive to cope up with the remarkable changes that come their way.

According to medical experts, menopause is a very significant time in any woman�s life because this is the time her body goes through a lot of changes. These changes�mostly physical�greatly affect her social, emotional, and intellectual stability. Studies show that when a woman goes through her menopausal years, her feelings about herself and her attitude towards work and life in general changes considerably.

MENOPAUSE FACTS

Menopause is perfectly a natural occurrence in any woman�s life. Unlike before when menopause is dreaded like some sort of disease, medical advances today have proven that a wide range of health care choices can be done to help women cope up with their menopausal stage.

Learning what menopause is all about, what causes it and what are the things that can be done to enhance the quality of life during this phase will help women nearing it understand it fully. Knowledge about it can even teach women how to deal with the phase when it comes.

In medical terms, menopause�meno (menstruation) and pause (stops)�refers to the last menstrual flow in a woman�s life or the end of a woman�s menstrual periods. Medical experts say that menopause is a natural part of aging and usually occurs when the woman�s ovaries stop making hormones called �estrogens.� When the ovaries stop producing estrogen, the estrogen level will drop and will halt monthly periods. Low estrogen levels are usually linked to many uncomfortable symptoms in most women. Since estrogen plays a big role in shaping a female�s body in preparation for various female functions such as pregnancy, it�s loss during menopausal years can create a big impact on a woman�s overall well being.

The climacteric spans of menopausal years are usually dated from early or mid 40s to late 50s to early 60s. The entire phase includes the pre-menopausal years (before menopause), the menopausal climax years (during menopause), and the post-menopausal years (after menopause) or the �Change of Life.� Aside from aging, menopause can also be triggered by surgical removal of the ovaries for any other reasons like illness.

Medical experts agree that about 75 percent of women across the globe report uncomfortable symptoms during menopause and these vary from the most common to the most complicated ones. Studies show that the most common symptoms of menopause include hot flashes and vaginal atrophy or thinning, drying, shrinking and thinning of the vagina. Other symptoms include hot flashes along with sudden and violent waves of sweating, irregular periods, vaginal or urinary tract infections, urinary incontinence or inability to control the flow of urine, redness or inflammation of the vagina, ultimate discomfort or pain during sexual intercourse, visible changes in skin, digestive tract, and hair.

Emotional changes like mood swings and depression are also distinguished during pre-menopausal, menopausal, and post-menopausal years.

In the long run, more serious health risks are related to menopause or the lack of estrogen supply in a woman�s body. These include osteoporosis, heart diseases and heart attacks that can be traced due to being overweight or obesity, blood pressure that is monitored regularly, cigarette smoking, illness such as diabetes, high levels of �bad� cholesterol in the body and a low level of physical activities.

Menopause is usually determined after a woman has visited her physician. After the health history and physical examination has been diagnosed and conducted by the doctor, the appropriate therapy is then recommended to improve the menopausal discomfort. If you are on the verge of menopausal and you�re worried how to deal with it, make sure that you ask for professional help before anything gets worse.

Dr Nathalie Fiset is a family doctor and a certified hypnotherapist. For more information go to: http://www.bestmenopause.com/depression.html
http://www.aperfectharmony.com or http://www.myalpha-power.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathalie_Fiset

Symptoms Of Hormonal Issues In Women Non Menopause

Health and Longevity Secrets of the Okinawans

by Mike Kinnaird

Wouldn�t it be great if we had some really healthy role models? People who live the healthiest happiest lives so that we can look at them with soft focus and say �I want to be like that too�?

Well we can! There are lists of who are the healthiest nations in the world. Who is top of the list I hear you ask? Japan usually tops these lists but actually, above Japan is the little island of Okinawa - �tis only a teeny dot on the world map.

Okinawa is a lush subtropical island in the Pacific Ocean - made famous (at least in my mind) as the home of Mr. Myagi in the Karate Kid :-)

It has more people over a hundred years old than anywhere else on earth (as a percentage of the population).

Well, no-one wants to live to be a centenarian if the last thirty years of their life is spent in miserable declining health eh?

But the elderly Okinawans aren�t. They�re actually incredibly healthy.

What�s fascinating about the elderly Okinawans (the younger ones are not all following in their parents footsteps it seems) is that they�re living the lifestyle that we all know we should be living. And they�re rewarded with the health benefits that we�re told we�ll get if we do the right things.

So, what exactly are they doing? There�s an avoidance of smoking, they�re very active into old age, eat a healthy, low calorie diet based on whole natural foods and plenty of fruit and veg. They get plenty of fresh air and sunshine and don�t drink too much alcohol. No big surprises there then.

Living in the tropics probably does no harm either :-). The diet�s also got a lot of the �essential fatty acids� as well, from plenty of sea food. Nutritionists have really only quite recently become aware of just how important these fats are to our health.

Of all the healthy factors in the Okinawan way of life, I�m pretty sure that it�s the low calorie intake that�s the primary reason why they�re so healthy into old age. Interestingly, the elders practice a cultural control called �hari hachi bu�, which means basically �eat until 80% full�.

Barry Sears also talks about the calorie link with longevity in his book �The Zone Diet� and I�ve read that the zone diet is favoured by a lot of people interested in longevity.

Incredible longevity benefits of calorie restriction have been shown in studies using lab mice. So it seems as though these benefits hold true for us humans too. Come to think of it, how many overweight eighty year olds do you know?

Longevity is a great health indicator of course because the lifestyle factors which mean we live to a grand old age are surely the ones that will give us the best chance of experiencing health from moment to moment.

The Okinawan way of life is protective against the big killers of western societies, heart disease, cancer and strokes. The Okinawans� arteries stay in great shape as they age.

They have low levels of an amino acid that damages artery walls called �homocysteine�. It�s a new risk factor for heart disease and it�s higher in people who don�t get enough folate (e.g. green leafy vegetables). High levels of homocysteine have also been linked to a decline in mental function in the elderly. So eat up your greens!

A laid back lifestyle and good social support systems are other significant factors in the Okinawan success story. Again, no big surprise that these should be beneficial but it�s great to see all these factors at work in one culture.

Reminds me of a holiday in Spain a few years ago. It was so great to see all the old guys out everyday socializing in the sun, in the local tree covered plazas. Just seemed �right�. Spain�s also near the top of that list of longest-lived nations.

Curiously, the women of Okinawa have much less trouble when it comes to the menopause and don�t rely on HRT or other western methods. The soy in their diet is thought to help there, although the question of whether soy is a suitable human food is contraversial.

There�s been a book written specifically about the Okinawan diet if you�re interested. As you�d expect, it�s an extremely healthy diet although I believe with less grain and other tweaks, they�d be living to 120 :-). The Asian countries in general are non-dairy consumers and so the Okinawans naturally benefit from that.

In my view, their diet could be improved even further, but I don�t want to rain on their parade just now and ruin their moment of glory :-)

Before you rush out and buy seaweed in bulk, I don�t think you�d need the Okinawan diet specifically to enjoy its benefits. The lifestyle factors could be adapted to any culture.

So, there you have it. If we get the simple basics right, as the Okinawans do, we give ourselves the best chance of a long and healthy life.

And more importantly perhaps, we can maximize the quality of our lives from moment to moment.

Mike Kinnaird has studied health and nutrition for over 20 years, to overcome long-term chronic illness. Discover the 7 sure-fire steps to beating bad habits and kickstarting your health... To receive your free email mini-guide visit Natural Diets & Healthy Living

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Sunday, December 17, 2006

What Are Usual Symptoms Of Menopause

Do You Need to Prepare for Menopause?

Symptoms Of Pregnancy Or Menopause Women Over 40

Breast Cancer- Top Ten Things Every Woman Should Know

Progesertone Cream Made Symptoms Of Menopause Worse

Uterus Cancer: How Dangerous is It?

Psycolgical Symptoms Of Menopause

Ten Secrets to a Happy Menopause

Saturday, December 16, 2006

How To Control Symptoms Of Menopause Naturally And Herbally

Menopause - You Deserve To Get Relief from Hot Flashes and Night Sweats

Symptoms Of Menopause Or Perimenopause

Learning How to Deal With Menopause

Symptoms Of Hormonal Issues In Women Non Menopause

Health and Longevity Secrets of the Okinawans

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