Monday, March 14, 2011

Endometriosis part two

How can I get the word out on all these great alternatives to surgery? This maybe my new challenge. 
Natural Treatments for Endometriosis
Reduce Chemical Intake
Although earlier studies in women were conflicting, there is increasing evidence that chronic exposure to the environmental chemicals dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is associated with an increased prevalence and severity of endometriosis.
One way to reduce intake of these chemicals is to cut back on animal fat, especially high-fat dairy, red meat, and fish. Dioxin and PCBs both accumulate in animal fat and it is our main route of exposure.


Interestingly, studies on diet and endometriosis also support this.
For example, an Italian study examined data from 504 women with endometriosis and found an increased risk with a high intake of red meat and ham. Fresh fruit and vegetables were associated with a reduction in risk.


Vegetables and Flaxseeds
There is evidence that a group of plant chemicals called flavones can inhibit aromatase, the enzyme that converts androgens to estrogens. Good food sources of flavones are celery and parsley.

Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, and bok choy, contain compounds called indoles, which appear to improve estrogen metabolism.

Flaxseeds are high in lignans and fiber, which have been found to be beneficial for estrogen-related conditions.
Progesterone Cream
Alternative practitioners sometimes recommend progesterone cream. Progesterone is thought to slow the growth of abnormal endometrial tissue. Although it's not considered a cure, it may improve symptoms such as pain during menstrual periods and pelvic pain. There haven't been any studies on progesterone cream for endometriosis, so we don't know for certain about the effectiveness or safety.

Progesterone cream is derived from either soy or Mexican wild yam. A molecule called diosgenin is extracted in a lab and converted to a molecule that's exactly like human progesterone and added back to the cream. Some companies sell wild yam cream, but unless it has been converted in a lab it is useless, because the body can't convert wild yam to progesterone on its own.


Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, and anchovies. They are also available in fish oil capsules, which may be the preferable form because good brands contain minimal amounts of PCBs and dioxins.

Several studies
have found that omega-3 fatty acids may be beneficial for people with endometriosis. For example, an animal study by the University of Western Ontario found that fish oil containing two specific compounds, EPA and DHA, can relieve pain by decreasing levels of an inflammatory chemical called prostaglandin E2. Researchers also found that fish oil could slow the growth of endometrial tissue.

See chart-
http://www.dietaryfiberfood.com/fats/omega-3-fatty-acid-epa-high-foods.php

Stress Reduction
Cortisol is a hormone involved in the stress response but is also needed to make other hormones such as progesterone.

Herbs and nutrients that alternative practitioners commonly recommend for stress reduction include:
B vitamins
Vitamin C
Zinc
Magnesium

Ginger Tea
Ginger tea may relieve the nausea that can occur with endometriosis.

Orac values see:


Endometriosis and pregnancy. Endometriosis can cause infertility for many women. Aggressive treatment good nutrition for prevention and relief of pain increases the ability to become pregnant.


REFERENCES

Alternative medicine
A dr. that uses alternative treatments and info on those treatments

Nutritional information

Acupuncture for endometriosis



Herbal Remedies by Amanda M. Crawford



Amanda M. Crawford, author of 'Herbal Remedies for Women' recommends the following nutritional supplements daily for women suffering from endometriosis:




vitamin B complex (containing 2 milligrams B-6)
use as directed on label
folic acid
150 micrograms
liquid potassium (taken in recommended doses)
3 times a day
flax seed oil
start at 1/8-teaspoon doses; increase to 1 teaspoon per dose or more as tolerated
vitamin E 8-1 0 milligrams alpha-TE (alpha tocopherol equivalent)
may use 200-600 IU (up to 1,200 IU maximum)
magnesium
400 milligrams
calcium
800 milligrams
vitamin A
800 RE (retinol equivalent); may use 5,000 IU (up to 50,000 IU for four months or less)
vitamin D
10 RE; may use 400 IU (up to 1,000 IU maximum)
vitamin C
300 milligrams (up to 1 0 grams)
evening primrose oil (for GLA - Gamma-Linolenic Acid)
eight 500 milligram capsules per day for six to ten weeks, if women can afford this dose (most effective)




Pregnancy and endometriosis

Hypnotherapy treatment

Treatment considerations

Foods to avoid

Below see an example of a healthy meal that supports the body to delay or live a better life with Endometiosis:
Eating Healthy Template                        
          creating a healthy meal for endometreosis
This meal is very similar to the meal for kidney’s as the two organs function together (kidney and reproductive) on the energy chart.

              There is evidence that a group of plant chemicals called flavones can inhibit aromatase, the enzyme that converts androgens to estrogens. Good food sources of flavones are celery and parsley.
             
              Fish oil containing two specific compounds, EPA and DHA, can relieve pain by decreasing levels of an inflammatory chemical called prostaglandin E2.
              Researchers also found that fish oil could slow the growth of endometrial tissue.
              Flaxseeds are high in lignans and fiber, which have been found to be beneficial for estrogen-related conditions.
             
      1.   Design Your Meal. List pH (+4 to -4) Value Next to Each Food/Beverage
             

PROTEIN
4oz wild caught salmon 29.14g with parsley and seasoning of choice
Total fat
 Salmon 15.21 spinach 0.47g broccoli 0.55g romaine 0.22g cucumber 0.14g Bell pepper 0.17g celery 0.17g carrots 0.23g onions 0.26g  tomato 0.59g green tea zero  flaxseeds 6.59g olive oil 216g per serving total=315.84g

CARBOHYDRATE
 spinach 6.75g broccoli 8.19g romaine 2.65g
Tomato 8.35g bell pepper 5.92g celery 4.38g onions 13.81g
Carrot 12.37g   green tea 0.2g flaxseeds 6.64g cucumber 2.87g
Total=72.13g
Saturated fat
0.62g flaxseeds   2g per tablespoon olive oil
Fiber
             
             
             
             
Raw and / or
 Green
 spinach 4.32g broccoli 4.68g romaine 1.90g
tomato 1.98g bell pepper 1.84g celery 2.04g carrots 3.66g cucumber 0.8g Onions 2.88g  green tea zero flaxseeds 5.41g
Total=29.51
             
Tomato, green pepper, onion, celery, green cucumber
 green spinach, green romaine, green broccoli, carrot,
Romaine lettuce,  celery, spinach, bell pepper
SMALL BEVERAGE
Green tea
DESSERT              
(IF APPLICABLE)
Any fruit ( eaten three hours after consuming meal)
PREPARATION METHODS
                
             
             
Wash and prepare salad foods and toss lightly in a bowl
Dress with flaxseed dressing, season to taste
Flaxseed dressing made from flaxseed, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic, olive oil, sea salt, seasoning to taste
7 minute quick Broil salmon

             
              Healthiest foods recipes-  Flaxseed dressing page 515 Quick broil salmon page 481
             
             
      2.   Nutrient Analysis
             
Which Mitochondrial Energy Nutrients are found in your meal? (List the food source as well)     
               
               

Nutrients Required

             
             
              B2- spinach, Romaine , broccoli, celery, tomatoes
              B1- romaine , spinach, tomatoes, celery, broccoli
              B3- salmon
              B5- broccoli, tomato
              Alpha-Lipoic Acid- broccoli, spinach
              Glucose- foods with carbohydrates
              Phosphorus- salmon, garlic
              Magnesium-spinach, romaine, green bell pepper, celery, cucumber
              Pyruvate- formed from glucose
              Acetyl coenzyme A- conversion from B5
              Acetyl L-carnitine- from amino acids and lysine- salmon
              Phosphorus- salmon, flax seeds
              Magnesium- spinach, salmon, broccoli
              Sulfur-broccoli, spinach, tomatoes, parsley, garlic
              Copper-spinach, tomatoes
              Coenzyme Q 10- salmon
              D-ribose-spinach, broccoli
             
             
             
List 4 additional nutrients found in your meal and the food they are most abundant in.
 1. Spinach- vitamin k 888.5mcg                                                                                              
2. Carrot- vitamin A 54,317.4 IU                      
3. Bell peppers- vitamin C 174.8mg                 
4. Spinach- vitamin B6 0.4mg   

3.   pH Analysis


Alkalizing Total
With organic correction +5
34
Alkalizing Number
34
Acidifying Total
-3
New Denominator
37
Alkalizing Number
37
Alkalizing Percentage
92%


Bell pepper +2  tomato -2  onion +2  romaine +3  carrot +2   broccoli +4  celery +1    green tea +2  cucumber +3 flaxseeds +2  salmon -1 garlic+2  olive oil +2  parsley+4 all organic +5
     
     
4.   ORAC Values. List Top 5 to 8 ORAC Values for your meal.
Oxygen Radical Absorption capacity

Food
ORAC
Food
ORAC
1. Romaine lettuce
963
5. Bell peppers
710
-2. broccoli
890
6. Olive oil
1150
3. celery
500
7. spinach
1260
4. Carrot
9. Green tea
11. flaxseeds

666
1253
19,600

8. Tomato
10. Cucumber
12. garlic
195
214
5,346


5.   List the estimated total number of Fiber, Calories, and Refined Sugar in your meal.


Fiber (grams)
29.5
Calories
709
Sugar (grams)
0
Sugar (teaspoons)
0


Calories- lettuce 16, spinach 41, celery 19, broccoli 44, carrots 53, bell peppers 25,  olive oil 100,  tomato 38,  green tea 2, cucumber 14, 4oz. wild caught salmon 262, flaxseeds 95.33 total= 709

What type of exercise and how many minutes of exercise will it take to completely burn off this meal?  race walking- 1 hour and 30 min                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

6.   Food Combining

Which foods in your meal combine well so as to optimize digestion?
 No starch with the protein, greens to help digestion          primary nutrients to support cells will work the body at it’s highest level  foods to support the reproductive organs                                                                                                                                                                                                           

7.   Energetics.  Which Organs Are Affected By Your Meal and what is the expected outcome on the emotional state and the body?  Select the top 2 Organs.


Organ
Kidney / urinary bladder
Emotional Output
Trust, anxiety, worry
Associated Tissues Affected
Ears, reproductive, urine, semen
season
winter
Climate / direction
Cold / north
Tissues Affected

taste
Bones
salty
Smiley Face or Frowny Face
  smile!



Therapies to relieve the pain of endometriosis can include walks, meditation, life style change, message, or any stress relieving therapies.  Stress is a big factor in the pain related to this disease. One would want to participate in some form of cardio activity for no less than 30 minutes per day and no less than every other day.

Endometriosis

Do to the problems with blogger today, this is part one of this post.
Here is a topic that is of importance to women. It needs to be covered here as nutrition does play a part.
What is endometriosis? It is simply the inner lining of the uterus growing on the outside of the uterus and internal organs. Although  this sounds simple, it is not a simple problem. it is in the form of purple growths that interfere with the function of the bladder, kidney, and reproductive organs and others. It takes over much like cancer but does not directly kill you but does disable your life. It can cause damage to other organs by inhibiting their function such as kidneys and therefore failure can cause other illness leading to death. Reproduction is often impossible with many cases.

The following information I have read on Endometriosis shows sadly there is no known cure. Many years ago I myself suffered from this problem. A hysterectomy was the only option to my long painful years of suffering. Learning to manage the pain and disability is the key.

   Nutrition affects us so greatly that we need to start upon conception and continue as our bodies grow to change our diet to meet our need.
This includes nutrition for families that have a history of endometriosis. I never knew before this class how much animal fat affects this disease due to PCB’s. I never thought of animal fat in relation to anything but cholesterol.
  More health care professionals have accepted Endometriosis as a real disease and the “all in your head” attitude seems to have taken a back shelf. Women no longer except mid-evil ideas and fight for their right to be healthy. This is obvious by all the information out there today. 
  Learning about progesterone and estrogen, how it effects the body would have made me think twice about having the surgery I had so many years ago. This is something that should be known that surgery is not the only alternative to the pain and suffering of this disease. Many foods provide estrogen and I never knew this before this class. I only thought of soy and did not know of the harmful ways soy is prepared.
Herbal and alternative treatment is now available and no longer looked at as far out medicine. This information was not available when I fought this disease and was not offered in my area. I am excited to offer these treatments as an alternative, wanting to help many in letting them know this is an option.
   Understanding our chemical intake, environmental, nutritional  and how it affects us in women’s health has been a treat to learn. 
   Cortisol has a direct effect to endometriosis due to stress. It is necessary to make hormones.

   Understanding  energetics and the Ph of our bodies affects endometriosis

Friday, March 4, 2011

Prepare your planting!

Victory gardens have been going strong among the country folks but now urban gardens are taking a whole new look. People want foods they trust and the taste of real food. Here is an interesting site about gardening in 1920's-1960's

http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe40s/crops_02.html

People thought that they were doing their part for the country back then and they can recapture that same feeling for their families today. Growing the gardens of the past with the knowledge of the present will bring rewards beyond measure.

This is a great video on the old fashioned garden but take note of the push for insecticides. We are smarter today.
http://www.archive.org/details/victory_garden   
It does give great ideas for the early garden and the late garden. My friend Donna in Cape Cod has already sprouted in doors her tomato plants. She is so more organized than myself.

Insecticides change our DNA, have long term connections to illness, and are told to us in mounds of lies that there is no long term residue. Did you know that 95% of the crops grown in America are non organic? The nutrient level is so low that is why we eat and are so hungry so we eat larger and larger portions.

I know we have discussed this before but now is garden time and it is time to review our awareness of the dangers of pesticides. Keep in mind the following:
1. Many pesticides have heavy metals.
2. Non organic foods had higher protein, but although organic has less proteins the quality of the proteins was higher.  Isn't that why we eat for the quality?
3.  If there is more nitrogen in the ground than plants can handle the excess is accumulated as Nitrates. This is dangerous especially to children and the elderly. The health dept. will condemn the use of your water if Nitrates are too high.
4.When nitrate fertilizers are added  the soil plants absorb even more toxic metals.
5. Animals studies show that reproductive and immune function is severely effected by pesticides.

Remember to look again at the Monsanto's movie about our foods and the lies we are being told.

stand up for yourself even if you can only container garden in your area. Anyone can do it and you do not have to be a great gardener. Your local nursery will help you to be a success and there are lots of organic info out there. So go for it! Even if it just a couple tomato plants or an herb garden. You owe it to your health.

Let me know your garden plan. This months Martha Stewart has a beautiful story on a lovely garden in New England. It shows what you can do over time. Do not forget to visit the blog http://my50syear.blogspot.com/
Donna has done a fabulous job of living in the 1950 home front mode and her gardening tips are worth reading. Read her blog from the beginning you will not be disappointed. She will be sharing about her garden and chickens soon. Thanks and good luck in the garden!