Pampering4life Health Tip: Regular or Natural Feminine Products

Often times in my practice I have many women who come to me that experience the discomfort of wearing pads and tampons and many times they are searching for the best one that makes sense to them. I’m usually the one who will lead my patients to going natural to avoid concerns like toxic shock syndrome or allergic reactions with regular tampons or pads.

In my experience the more natural the product is the better the products work with your chemistry. The body always knows!  

Does that mean you can relax and use these products without a care as long as you change tampons and pads frequently? Not necessarily.

Commercial one-time-use products contribute to environmental pollution. The process of growing cotton is pesticide intensive and used feminine hygiene products produce a lot of garbage in the course of a woman’s menstrual lifecycle.

If you still prefer disposable tampons, you can change to tampons made from organically grown cotton, or switch to washable menstrual pads, cups, or sponges, all often available at health stores or online. Reusable products save you money as they last for years and they also decrease the amount of garbage going to the landfill. Because alternative products don’t contain synthetic fragrances, they’re less likely to cause allergic reactions. However, menstrual cups and sponges, like all forms of internal protection, should not be left in the vagina too long.

The average American woman uses up to 16,800 tampons in her lifetime according to Dr. Mercola. He also states that most of the feminine hygiene products are made mostly from rayon, vicose, and cellulose wood fluff pulp and not from cotton. In 1999 the Tampon Safety and Research Act called upon the U.S. Congress to require independent testing of feminine hygiene products and to disclose a list of ingredients used in the manufacturing process. Unfortunately, to date, no tests have been conducted and there’s still no public disclosure of all the ingredients used.

You can always leave your health in somebody else hands but I know you are smarter than that~ Know you options and always remember the body always knows. If you are truly serious about going all natural and organic when it comes to your feminine health I would suggest for you to take a look at a great company that is truly making a difference by providing alternatives for women. This is the same company I recommend to my patients and so far many are enjoying the options and freedom of living without toxicity. Be sure to take a look at GladRags and you decide for yourself.

Today women have a greater choice in feminine hygiene products. But no matter what product you choose, practice good hygiene habits to stay healthy.

Healthy Tips To Keep Healthy During The Fall

With the fall season fast approaching you may want to consider some healthful tips to keep your health and wellness in tip top shape.  One of the first things you may want to consider during this season is to keep yourself nourish with proper nutrients. Fall is a time of year which can compromise your immune system with the weather change. You will want to incorporate plenty of vegetables and fruit that are great sources of vitamins and minerals. Especially vitamins A, C, E, calcium and minerals like selenium, magnesium and zinc which can help to build a much stronger immune system to resist most viruses like cold or flu.

Good Sources of A, C, E

Vitamin A: Liver, green vegetables, carrot, apricot

Vitamin C: Kale, cauliflower, lemon, orange, and grapefruit

Vitamin E: Soybean oil, and seed oils

Exercise
Exercise is important all through the year, but can help you get in shape for the winter months. If you exercise by walking outdoors, it may be time to locate other places you can walk that are protected from harsh winter weather. Indoor shopping malls are great places to walk and often have walkers clubs that offer discounts.

Include probiotics in your diet. Probiotics like kefir help your immune system and gastrointestinal system to stay in proper balance.

Get vitamin D from sunlight. Day time is getting shorter, but try to get enough benefit from sunlight at least 15 minutes a day.

Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated during the fall and winter months will help to keep your skin moisturize

Get outdoors for peace of mind. Often when the season changes and the weather is colder we tend to stay indoors. The crisp air is actually a time to de-stress and get moving.

Drink plenty of tea to warm up for the cooler temperatures. Green tea and black tea contain antioxidants that help ward off diseases during flu season so you can remain healthy and active as the season shifts.

Dress for the season to stay healthy. Proper attire and accessories (hats, gloves, etc.) that cut down on bulk but still allow for warmth make going outdoors during the fall more enjoyable.

How To: Learn To Read Your Food Labels

Many consumers don’t truly look at what they’re eating.  They pick up a box of cereal because it says “natural” or “heart-healthy”, but they don’t really understand the nutrition labels.  This article will teach you tips and tricks to understand food labels. 

 

The top section of a nutrition label typically gives you serving size, calories, and nutrient information.  The bottom part contains daily values (DVs) for 2,000 and 2,500 calorie diets.  This footnote provides recommended dietary information for important nutrients, such as fats, sodium, and fiber. 

 

When reading a food label, start by looking at the serving size.  How many cups or ounces are in a serving?  How many servings are there per container?  This helps you to understand portion sizes.  If you buy a big bag of chips or make pasta with sauce, try to make sure that you’re watching your portion sizes.  Recognize that if you eat half of a large bag of chips, it typically contains multiple portions.  The size of the serving influences the number of calories and all the nutrient amounts listed on the top part of the label.  Pay attention to serving sizes, for it can double the calories and nutrient numbers, including %Daily Values. 

 

Next, look at calories and calories from fat.  Calories show how much energy you will get from a serving of the grocery.  Many people consume more calories than they need, without consuming proper amounts of nutrients.  It is important to remember that the number of servings you consume determines the number of calories you eat, or your portion size.  A general idea is that 400 calories is quite high, 100 is moderate, and 40 is low.  Eating too many calories per day is linked to obesity.  General references on nutrition labels are based on 2,000 calorie diets.

 

Make sure to try to limit Total, Saturated, and Trans fat as well as Cholesterol and Sodium.  Eating too much can increase your risk of certain chronic diseases, cancers, and high blood pressure. Health experts will recommend that you keep your intake of saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol as low as possible. On the other hand, the bottom of the food labels show Vitamins, Calcium, Iron, and Dietary Fiber, which most Americans do not consume enough of.  It is important for us to consume healthy amounts of these because it can reduce risks of diseases and other conditions.  For instance, eating enough calcium can prevent osteoporosis.  Eating a diet high in dietary fiber can help promote healthy bowel function. 

 

The % Daily Values are based on the Daily Value recommendations for key nutrients but only for a 2,000 calorie daily diet--not 2,500 calories. You, like most people, may not know how many calories you consume in a day. But you can still use the %DV as a frame of reference whether or not you consume more or less than 2,000 calories.  The %DV helps you determine if a serving of food is high or low in a nutrient.  For quick reference, 5%DV is low, while 20% or more is quite high.  The %DV also makes it easy for you to compare one product to a similar product as long as the serving sizes are similar.  

Do You Stress Yourself Out?

Stress can do a lot of damage to our minds, bodies, and spirits.  Stress is a normal psychological and physical reaction to the ever increasing demands of life.  According to the American Psychological Association, more than half of all women say they're highly stressed, which is an increase of 25% in the last four years. The #1 cause of stress in the United States is job pressures. 

 

How does stress affect your body and mind?

When your brain perceives a threat, it signals your body to release hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol to fuel your capacity for a response. This has been labeled the "fight-or-flight" response. Once the threat is gone, your body is meant to return to a normal relaxed state. Unfortunately, the nonstop stress of modern life means that your alarm system rarely shuts off.

 

The most common physical symptoms of stress include fatigue, headaches, upset stomach, muscle tension, changes in appetite, and dizziness.  Many people also experience psychological symptoms including irritability, nervousness, and lack of energy.

 

Stress Management: Where to Start

Stress management is a necessary skill these days.  Start with identifying what triggers your stress, whether it is job pressures, events, relationship issues, or financial difficulties.  Then, try to start thinking about ways in which you can reduce your stress levels.  You can start with little things, such as turning your phone on silent or turning the television off when the evening news is distressing.  Always keep in mind that you are not alone, and your friends and family can provide you with help and support.  Going to the gym, yoga, being in nature, meditation, mindfulness, aromatherapy, and tai chi have all been proven techniques to reduce stress.

 

Scents and aromatherapy are also a great way to alleviate stress.  Lavender, for instance, has been proven to lower anxiety levels.  Coconut has been shown to reduce blood pressure, soothing our responses to stress.  Peppermint can reduce hunger levels and food cravings. 

 

Good news:  certain foods have been shown to reduce stress as well. Stress does have the tendency to lead individuals to poor food choices, which can do more damage to your health.  Try eating the following 8 healthy options to reduce the stress in your life:

 

1.       Turkey, which contains tryptophan, an amino acid that boosts serotonin and alleviates stress.  You can add turkey to some eggs in the morning or to your salad for a lunch or dinner.

2.      Spinach, which is a great source of magnesium, a mineral that promotes a sense of calmness.  Choose spinach over other lettuce.

3.      Salmon, which is full of Omega3 fatty acids, which boosts serotonin production.  Omega3s also help promote healthy circulation and inflammation.

4.      Nuts and seeds, which are a great source of Omega3s. 

5.      Oatmeal, which boosts serotonin production.  Oats have a lot of potassium and magnesium as well.  Add some nuts and seeds to your oatmeal!

6.      Citrus fruits, which are a great way to get Vitamin C naturally. Vitamin C helps boost your immune system which tends to weaken with stress.

7.      Sweet potatoes and carrots, which are a great source of fiber and carbohydrates, which boost serotonin production  They are also sweet which may offset sugar cravings.

8.      Don’t forget about a little bit of dark chocolate, which can reduce levels of cortisol and catecholamines.