Eating Wisely for Hormonal Balance or Perimenopause Preparing for the Change

Eating Wisely for Hormonal Balance

Author: Sonia Gaemi

From the first signs of puberty until well after the onset of menopause, women are acutely aware of the role hormones play in their lives. Most women suffer, at sometime in their lives, from some debilitating physical or psychological symptoms directly related to hormone imbalance. The most effective courses of treatment for these problems, further research indicates, start with changes in diet and lifestyle. The typical Western diet-high in processed foods, rich with animal fats, and lacking important plant-derived chemicals called phytohormones-might fail to provide women with the support they need for healthy hormonal function.

This book, written by an educator and nutritionist with considerable experience studying the food habits of many cultures, provides readers with a complete, easy-to-follow program for making eating choices that can lead to better health through hormonal balance. Based on an insightful new approach to eating called the Food Wisdom Pyramid, this program describes how the flavors and colors of foods indicate the presence of certain phytohormones that may help balance and regulate one of the body's most complicated systems. Drawing on memories from her world travels, cases from her private practice, and her own life experience, the author gives women practical advice on how to use their own senses to know what foods their bodies need. The program includes a section of delicious recipes, along with tips for shopping, meal planning, and eating well while traveling.

Solutions for PMS, menopause, weight problems, mood swings, stress, insomnia, low sex drive, and other hormone-related symptoms

Nutritionist and international educator Sonia Gaemi offers women this step-by-step program of food solutions to support their hormonal systems. Readers will learn how food choices can increase metabolism, balance blood sugar and insulin, and cleanse the body of toxins. The program stresses food choices rich in antioxidants and phytohormones that can boost the immune system, reduce stress, and slow the effects of aging.

· This is a complete, step-by-step program of sensible and healthy eating advice designed especially for women

Books about: Talespin or Cultural Consumption and Everyday Life

Perimenopause--Preparing for the Change: A Guide to the Early Stages of Menopause and Beyond

Author: Nancy Lee Teaff

During the five to fifteen years leading up to the actual onset of menopause, it is common for women to begin to experience bewildering symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, irregular menstrual cycles, sleep disorders, and what some describe as "PMS all month." Perimenopause--Preparing for the Change was the first authoritative book to help women understand this important stage of their lives. In this fully revised second edition, Nancy Lee Teaff, M.D., offers updated information on what perimenopause means, and how to diagnose it; perimenopause and sexuality, fertility, and pregnancy; medical treatments and natural alternatives; pros and cons of hormone replacement therapy (HRT); and wellness--stress relief, weight control, exercise, diet, and nutrition.

Table of Contents:

Foreword
Preface
1. Perimenopause: Preparing for the Change
What Is Perimenopause?
When Will Perimenopause Occur?
The Life Cycle of the Ovary
The Egg Count
Medically Induced Menopause
How Do You Know If You're in Perimenopause?
Reverse Puberty
Diagnostic Tests for Perimenopause
An Overall Health Evaluation
Your Medical History
Why Should You Care?
2. Fertility and Infertility
How to Tell If You're Ovulating
How to Get Pregnant
An Infertility Consultation: What to Expect
Infertility Treatments
High-Tech Pregnancies
How to Stay Pregnant
How Not to Get Pregnant
3. Symptoms and Solutions
How Bad Will the Symptoms Be?
HRT: The Umbrella Treatment
Symptoms of Perimenopause
Hot Flashes
Night Sweats and Insomnia
Poor Memory and Loss of Concentration
Menstrual Irregularity
Mood Swings
Declining Libido
Vaginal Dryness
Urinary Incontinence
Headaches
Joint Aches and Back Pain
Dry Skin, Wrinkling, and Itching
4. Hormone Replacement Therapy
Natural vs. Medicated Menopause
What Does HRT Do?
HRT: A Process of Trial and Error
How Much Is Enough?
What Are the Risks?
How Many Hormones Will I Have to Take?
Will I Still Have Periods?
Dosing Regimens
Continuous Estrogen
Cyclic Estrogen Plus Cyclic Progestin
Continuous Estrogen Plus Cyclic Progestin
Continuous Estrogen Plus Continuous Progestin
Continuous Progestin Alone
Types of Estrogen
Premarin
17b-Estradiol
Estrone Conjugate
Tamoxifen and Other SERMs
Methods of Administration
Pills
Patches
Vaginal Creams
Vaginal Rings
Injections
On the Horizon:New Methods of Estrogen Administration
Types of Progestin
Testosterone Replacement
On the Horizon: Tibolone, the Combination Pill
The Pill
Is HRT Forever?
5. Natural Remedies for Menopausal Symptoms
Nutritional Supplements
Soy
Flaxseed
Vitamin E
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Herbal Supplements
Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga Racemosa)
Dong Quai
St. John's Wort (Hypericum)
Ginkgo Biloba
Mexican Yam
Valerian
Garlic
Kava
Ginseng
Hormonal Supplements
Melatonin
DHEA
A Symptom-by-Symptom Guide to Natural Remedies
Hot Flashes
Vaginal Dryness
Insomnia or Night Sweats
Osteoporosis
Heart Disease
6. Risky Business: Heart Disease, Osteoporosis, Alzheimer's, and Breast Cancer
Heart Disease
Osteoporosis
Building Better Bones Now
Alzheimer's Disease
Breast Cancer
Advice for Women with Family Histories of Breast Cancer
Advice for Women with Personal Histories of Breast Cancer
Cancer Screening
The Bottom Line
7. Wellness: Weight Control, Diet, and Exercise
Weight Control
Do Hormones Affect Weight Gain?
How Fat Is Fat?
Muscle Mass: The Missing Component in Weight Loss
Exercise
Types of Exercise
Exercising for Weight Loss
How Does Exercise Counteract Calorie Intake?
Walking
How Am I Supposed to Work This All In?
Some Commonsense Precautions
Diet
How Many Calories Should You Eat?
High Protein vs. High Carbohydrates: What to Believe?
Understanding the Dietary Pyramid
Portion Size
Restaurant Eating
Make Changes Gradually . . . and Permanently
8. Nutrition, Detoxification, and Stress Relief
Step 1: Increase Your Antioxidants
Vitamin A/Beta-Carotene
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Phytochemicals
Calcium
Vitamin B6
Iron
Step 2: Cut Fat
Step 3: Eat More Fiber
Detoxifying the Body
Eliminating Alcohol
Eliminating Caffeine
Eliminating Nicotine
Stress Relief
Techniques for Managing Stress
Attitude
9. Finding the Right Doctor
Schedule a Consultation
Is This the Right Doctor for You?
Top 10 List of Insensitive Physician Comments
What to Expect During an Office Visit
If You Opt for HRT
When Is It Necessary to See a Specialist?
10. Psychology, Sexuality, and Perimenopause
Does Perimenopause Cause Depression?
Are Mood Swings Worse When Menopause Is Abrupt?
Is It All Hormonal?
Plastic Surgery
Talking to Your Partner
Frequency of Sexual Activity
Physical Changes in the Genitals
How to Combat These Changes
Will Your Sex Life Be the Same?
11. Talking with Other Women
Benefits of a Support Group
The Women's Stories
Claudia
Annie
Amanda
Lynn
Debbie
Peggy
Rituals of Perimenopause
12. Perimenopause: Have It Your Way
Patient A
Patient B
Patient C
Patient D
Patient E
Sources
Glossary
Index