Inositol is a fundamental part of every cell. It combines with many other nutrients to perform a great variety of functions. Inositol can aid in reducing blood levels of cholesterol, reverse nerve damage from diabetes, help breakdown and redistribute body fat, maintain proper levels of the brain’s neurotransmitters, relieve depression, reduce obsessive/compulsive disorder (OCD), lower blood pressure and even help prevent hair loss.
How can one nutrient do so much?
Because it’s an essential part of how cells communicate with one another.
The role of D-chiro-inositol in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
DCI is used during insulin signal transduction, the body’s response to insulin. If DCI is deficient, insulin resistance can develop. There is evidence that women with PCOS do not make enough DCI and many women with PCOS are insulin resistant. This deficiency leads to too much testosterone and the symptoms of PCOS. In clinical trials, adding DCI as a supplement has been shown to address this deficiency and reduce the symptoms of PCOS. Glucosmart
If you have elevated insulin levels, or elevated androgen levels, ask your doctor about this supplement
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The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional.
You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment.
Want a better menopause than your mom had? Here’s a simple, easy tasty tip: start eating food and herbs that work with your body’s estrogen production now! Phytoestrogenic food and herbs help your body avoid dramatic crashes in estrogen levels that have been linked to more intense hot flashes and other menopause symptoms. Every day eat herbs and foods that can ease the effects of your ovaries’ irregular declining estrogen production during your menopause transition years.
Millions of American women suffer from hot flashes during menopause, but not many realize that diet can have a lot to do with it. During menopause, women are undergoing hormonal changes that can disrupt sleep, stress them out and make them tired, three things also associated with weight gain.
Willpower goes down the tube when people are stressed and they will not do all the good things they should do be doing like eating properly and exercising.
It all can add up to the muffin top effect: that shift of weight to the abdomen that makes clothes fit poorly, if at all, and that stresses out a woman every time she gets dressed.
Everyone does not want to take hormones as they are going through menopause. Many people do not want to be on a handful of supplements for that matter. I have developed suggestions to help women incorporate recipes into their diet, that contain hormone and mood balancing properties.
Some examples:
*Flaxseeds are estrogenic, and contain essential fatty acids that are good for skin.
*Horny goat promotes healthy libido.
*Lavender is a calming, relaxing herb.
*Snack bars fortified with soy phytochemicals for hot flashes in menopausal women
There are two main types of phytoestrogens – and some foods have both: (1) isoflavones (cooked beans (e.g. yellow split peas, black turtle beans, red kidney beans and red lentils), whole grains, leafy greens (cooked parsley, nettle, cabbage, broccoli, kale, mustard greens, collards, lamb’s quarters, seaweeds and rhubarb stalks, tofu) and (2) lignans (flaxseeds and other edible seeds, whole grains, seaweed (alaria, dulse, hijiki, kelp, kombu, nori, wakame), fruit & berries)
Try to incorporate some of the following items into your diet. They are all mentioned in my upcoming e-book "Why is my Head on Fire", which includes recipes and supplement ideas for women trying to make the transition naturally. We want this to be a smooth transition.
Check back often, as I update this blog as new products emerge.
Beneficial phytoestrogenic herbs include borage, evening primrose oil, licorice root, nettles, fennel, red clover, black cohosh, vitex, false unicorn root, elder, fenugreek seeds, dandelion, Honduran sarsaparilla, kudzu root, Lady’s Slipper, Liferoot, passionflower, sassafras, sweet briar, verbena. (If you decide to experiment with these herbs, do your research because some of them can promote excessive bleeding during menstruation.)
Other phytoestrogenic foods include apples, berries, dried beans, lentils & chickpeas, carrots, cherries, flaxseeds, garlic, grapefruit, onions, peas, dried sea vegetables, sweet potatoes, oats, pears, rice bran, sesame seeds, whole grain rice and oats, extra virgin olive oil, and many other fresh fruit and veggies.
What oatmeal can do for you: Organic Flax Oatmeal
Lower cholesterol
Keep you full longer and thus keep hunger pangs at bay
Help to keep your bowel clean
Stabilize blood sugar levels
Rich in E vitamin- an antioxidant that removes free radicals responsible for premature aging
Lavender is particularly effective for symptoms which may go hand-in-hand with menopause – such as stress, anxiety, muscular and rheumatic pains, digestive disorders and has even been shown to smooth out mood swings and depression. Best of all, aromatherapy is a proactive, natural and non-invasive way to enhance the body’s natural ability to balance, regulate, heal and maintain itself.
The American Psychiatric Association's Handbook reports that "80% of smokers desire to quit smoking, 35% attempt to quit every year, yet only 5% of smokers are successful in their unaided attempts to quit".
Symptoms associated with nicotine dependence will begin shortly after occasional use, often prior to becoming a full time smoker. When a person wishes to Quit Smoking, dramatic changes in the brain rival the magnitude and duration of similar changes seen during withdrawal from cocaine, heroin and amphetamines. Many want to Quit Smoking but find it difficult to call it a day.
There are several herbs with a traditional reputation for helping people quit smoking. These herbs exert varying effects that will ease the process of smoking cessation. Most of them can be found in either dried bulk, capsule, or liquid extract form. Follow the directions on the label for use. If using dried herbs, use them only to prepare tea, and never smoke them as a replacement for tobacco.
Female Balance Ultimate
Black cohosh: Is commonly used by women to help them stay balanced during their monthly cycle. However, it is also known to be a safe sedative that relieves nervousness and anxiety, which makes it useful for the irritability, restlessness, and nervousness associated with quitting smoking.
Korean ginseng: Is one of the most popular herbs in the world for stimulating energy and helping the body to deal with stress. This property enables ginseng to help alleviate the fatigue and anxiety related to quitting smoking. Ginseng is known to help reestablish balance in the body’s systems, which can be helpful to smokers as their bodies adjust to the absence of nicotine.
Valerian: One of the premier sedative herbs used to aid people with anxiety, stress, and insomnia. Valerian also acts as a muscle relaxant. Valerian is clearly one of the herbs of choice in smoking cessation to deal with the issues of insomnia, restlessness, and anxiety.
Motherwort: Has properties that enable it to act as a sedative, inducing tranquility in times of anxiety associated with quitting smoking.
Red clover is also an expectorant and anti-spasmodic, aiding to increase mucus productivity and clear out the lungs smoking damage. The expectorant properties make coughing more productive and more increasing the removal of tar. The tar in cigarettes, among other chemicals, builds up in the lungs over time as cigarette smoke is inhaled, decreasing lung function.
Damiana: This herb is more often used by women for increased desire, but it can also help relax. It may also help with depression, and is considered generally safe for healthy individuals.
Octocleanse
According to the American Lung Association, cigarette smoke contains more than 4,800 different chemicals, many of which can compromise optimal health. Secondhand smoke also presents a health hazard for thousands of people each year. This strategy is for smokers who want to cleanse the body and temporarily ease their desire to smoke.
Peppermint
Many smokers experience nausea and even vomiting while quitting smoking due to nicotine withdrawals. This nausea can be alleviated with peppermint tea or peppermint essential oils. Peppermint is well-known for relieving nausea but is also great for promoting relaxation but can also have an anesthetic and pain-relieving effect on the body as well.
Hyssop: Has the ability to help with clearing mucus congestion in the lungs associated with COPD. It also has been known to alleviate the anxiety and even hysteria that is sometimes associated with smoking withdrawal.
PriVita
This formula contains ingredients that may help with the withdrawal symptoms of smoking. It also contains antioxidants to help fight the damage that nicotine inflicts on the lungs.
Peppermint: Has a relaxing effect on the muscles of the digestive system, combats flatulence, and stimulates the flow of bile and other digestive juices. The volatile oil in peppermint acts as a mild anesthetic to the stomach wall, which helps alleviate feelings of nausea. If smokers are having headaches associated with digestion, peppermint may help. Peppermint also eases anxiety and tension.
Astragalus has proven its antioxidant availability, and it also helps cleanse the body of nicotine, making it a great alternative medicine treatment for smoking cessation.
Turmeric (Curcuma longa). West Coast herbalist Kathi Keville, co-author of Aromatheraph: A Complete Guide to healing Arts tells of chronic smokers who took turmeric daily as part of a research project at the National Institute of Nutrition in Hyderabad, India. Those who took turmeric eliminated three to eight times more carcinogens form their bodies as smokers who took no turmeric.
Researchers believe that the polyphenols, particularly EGCG, found in green tea may help to offset oxidative damage seen in the lungs of a smoker. Cigarette smoke contains multiple compounds that can damage healthy lung tissue - not to mention many of these compounds are known cancer causing agents. Because EGCG and the other polyphenols in green tea function are antioxidants, they may help to reduce lung damage from smoking.
Herbalith
contains Valerian, Hops, Passionflower, tryptophan, Theanine and Lithium
Many smokers say that stress triggers them to pick up another cigarette. Not only are smokers nicotine dependent, but smoking has an "obsessive compulsive" component. This formula has calming herbs like Valerian, Passionflower, and Hops. This formula also contains a small amount of Lithium and L-tryptophan. In one study, Obsessive-compulsive patients with symptoms resistant to clomipramine were treated by lithium or L-tryptophan augmentation. The improvement noted supports the hypothesis that increasing serotonergic neurotransmission ameliorates obsessive symptoms. Nicotine depletes the adrenal glands and neurotransmitters in the brain. Herbalith is a neurtransmitter balancing formula.
Passion Flower- Nervousness, anxiety, and tenseness are one of the main symptoms of quitting. Passion flower is popular with smoke cessation because it will reduce stress and calm your nervous system. There has also been multiple studies that confirms the linkage between passion flower and a dramatic lessening of stress.
L-tryptophan, is one of the 23 essential amino acids in humans, which is used for protein synthesis. It is a precursor to niacin (a vitamin used in lowering cholesterol), melatonin ( substance we produce which helps regulate the sleep and wake cycle) and serotonin ( a chemical which has been shown to improve depression). Tryptophan supplementation has been used as a sleep aid. One of the reasons we always feel relaxed after drinking a glass of milk or eating a turkey sandwich, is because both milk and turkey are high in L-tryptophan. Along the same line of thought, it is believed that L-tryptophan can play a role in assisting smoking cessation due to its relaxing properties. This hypothesis is based on the concept of connecting serotonin transmission to cigarette craving and smoking behavior.
L-theanine: a natural amino acid found small amounts in green tea and certain mushrooms. As a supplement, it crosses into the brain and completes against exciting neurotransmitters—this directly competes with nicotine. L-theanine has a wonderful calming effect with little potential for side effects and is a perfect adjunct for smoking cessation. It also improves focus and concentration. It does not cause sedation during the day, but does improve natural sleep at night. Because theanine is metabolized by the same pathways as other amino acids in the body, there appears to be little risk of tolerance and dependence.
Damiana: This herb is more often used by women for increased desire, but it can also help relax. It may also help with depression, and is considered generally safe for healthy individuals.
Schisandra soothes lungs; eases coughs.
Turmeric (Curcuma longa). West Coast herbalist Kathi Keville, co-author of Aromatheraph: A Complete Guide to healing Arts tells of chronic smokers who took turmeric daily as part of a research project at the National Institute of Nutrition in Hyderabad, India. Those who took turmeric eliminated three to eight times more carcinogens form their bodies as smokers who took no turmeric.
Rhodigandha
This product contains Ashwagandha and Rhodiola, two powerful adaptogens.
Aging, smoking and disease promote cellular degeneration, or the breakdown and death of cells, and this can be particularly dangerous when the cells in question are those in your brain. However, you can defend yourself — a study from the September 2001 issue of “Phytotherapy Research” found that ashwagandha supplementation significantly reduced the rate of cellular degeneration in the brain.
Giving up smoking can be very stressful and the adrenal glands are your main anti-stress organs. Rhodiola and the B-complex (especially vitamin B5) offer excellent adrenal support.
To help reduce the free radical damage generated by smoking, a good daily antioxidant complex is recommended. Rhodiganda contains Pomegranate, Bilberry, Acai, and Blueberry, which are excellent antioxidants.
I have noticed Rhodigandha really helps my clients with stress, especially as they stop smoking. Its effects are subtle but unmistakable. And luckily fast acting! You don't have to wait a month wondering if it will work. People usually notice it within days.
Green Cell Therapy
The blood is made acid by smoking and it is important to bring alkalinity back into the system. Green foods such as wheatgrass, barleygrass, and alfalfa can help with this process. Cigarette smoke releases poisonous heavy metals, including cadmium, into the system and Milk thistle and green foods can offer heavy metal detoxification and general liver support. Green foods and trace minerals also help to stabilise blood sugar, reducing the inevitable sugar cravings.
Nicotine Free Cigarettes were developed to act as an aid in helping smokers stop smoking and BREAK the nicotine addiction and behavioral habits that are associated with smoking, such as drinking coffee, tea, cocktails and stressful situations. Control the nicotine intake and effects, and the habits associated with nicotine can also be controlled and eliminated.
Herbs to quit smoking fall under different classifications.
* Some remedies to stop smoking address the smoker’s lungs, work to help smoker process the effects of smoking on the lungs. (Octocleanse)
* Some smoking cessation herbs work on the feelings of anxiety & depression that quitting may cause. (Female Balance Ultimate)
* Other smokers require herbal remedies to battle the insomnia that may follow quitting. (Herbalith)
* Still other herbs to quit smoking address the actual physical habit of smoking; so offer substitutes for the physical, psychological aspects of smoking. (Herbal Cigarettes)
* Finally, some stop smoking remedies work on helping the body correct cancer; heart disease promoting effects of smoking. (Privita)
These ideas can be used alone or in combination depending on your needs.
For women, Female Balance Ultimate in the AM, and Herbalith in the PM could be used, with Octocleanse or Green Cell Therapy added to hasten elimination of the toxins.
For men, Privita in the AM, Herbalith in the PM, and Octocleanse or Green Cell Therapy to hasten the elimination of the toxins.
For smokers who need help sleeping or help with appetite, try 1-2 Rhodigandha and 1-2 Herbalith nightly.
For smokers who have high cholesterol or fear weight gain, try the Octocleanse, Green Cell Therapy, and Rhodigandha combo.
The herbal cigarettes can be added for additional support.
The statements and products shown on this website have not been evaluated by the US Food and Drug Administration.
These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Those seeking treatment for a specific disease should consult a qualified integrative physician prior to using our products if possible.
