Balance Your Hormones for Optimal Health

Hormone imbalances are becoming more common among women in their 30's and after 40, the odds of unpleasant menopause-related symptoms are greater today than ever before. Here is what can help you restore your hormonal balance and health. 

• Diet: limit carbohydrates, and eat plenty of fresh vegetables with lean protein
• Exercise: exercise that has a relaxing effect, such as yoga or gentle aerobics, helps to restore balance.
• Toxins: avoid them in food, skin care, and household products. Look for BPA-free plastics and cans.
• Stress Management: get enough sleep, manage schedules to avoid unnecessary stress, and allow time for activities you find relaxing. 
• Chaste Berry: also called vitex, the herb, is used to relieve PMS, irregular periods, and menopausal discomfort
• Isoflavones: these are plant sources of estrogen that increases levels of the hormone throughout the body. 

Try these suggestions, part 2 coming soon!

Circuit Training

People are moving away from commercial gyms to Recreations Center's, home gym's, and Condo facilities. Most of these locations are fitted with preset circuit machines. You can still get a great workout with free weights. Here are some tips: move quickly from exercise to exercise, get creative, perform reps to failure at 25 to 30 on each move, and have fun.

Take Care of Your Brain

Although the brain is only 2 percent of the body's weight, it uses a whopping 20 percent of its oxygen supply, as well as 20 percent of blood flow. Feed your brain daily with oxygen from exercise, healthy essential fatty acids, and at least 64oz of water daily. 

Encouraging Healthy Children

Not getting enough physical activity has been shown to cause weight gain in children. Encourage children to play at least 30 to 60 minutes a day. Go for family walks or bike rides. Play sports or join a boy's and girl's club. Walk instead of riding in a car.

Limit TV and video games to no more than one hour a day. Remove the TV from the child's bedroom. Jump rope, dance skate, or play Frisbee with your child. Take your family to the park or pool. 

Exercise to Boost Your Immunity

Adding 30 minutes per day of brisk walking (walking at a pace that makes it hard to carry on a conversation) will have a profound impact on boosting your immune function. Science has repeatedly shown us that getting regular exercise will improve our overall immune function. 

The impact on our immune system is two-fold: increased immune cell production and stress reduction. Stress is one of the leading causes of a weakened immune system. 

Diet for the Season

According  to the David Foreman, RPh., N.D. diet plays a large role in immune system support. One way to boost your immune system is to avoid sugar and other white foods like pasta, bread, cake, and honey. These type foods make your immune cells ineffective at fighting off disease for extended periods of time. Dairy should also be avoided because it thickens mucous, which can lead to infection. 

Instead, a diet high in fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, fish and lean cuts of meats can help your immune system function properly. 

Lose Weight the Right Way

I have to give Jordin Sparks a round of applause. She went about her weight loss the right way. She made it a lifestyle change. She lost 50 lbs in 18 months, which is the right amount of time to loose 50 lbs if done safe. She broke it down into three phases. No starvation nothing extreme. She focused on mixing exercise and cardio for workouts. She controlled her food portions and did not snack mindlessly. When she did snack it was something healthy like apple chips, berries, and Greek yogurt. One of the biggest things i noticed is that she maintained a positive attitude and look for quick results. Another hand clap for Jordin Sparks. Great Job!