Hormones are chemicals which is produced by your body to regulate various functions. They do so by sending important messages and signals to various organs and tissues. When they work harmoniously, your body behaves in a predictable way. But if there is too much or too little of any one hormone, then imbalance occurs and you can begin to feel that something is wrong. Wanted pregnancies don’t happen, the discomfort of PMS makes the days before menstruation very difficult, or menstruation may occur irregularly or not occur at all.

You need to balance your hormones to eliminate female hormone imbalance symptoms. Progesterone deficiency is the most cause of having female hormone imbalance symptoms in lots of cases. During menopause, your ovaries stop ovulating, and the monthly production of natural progesterone ceases.

Hormone imbalance and hormone imbalance symptoms are caused by the primary hormones becoming out of balance. And you should know this hormone imbalance comes from changes in the reproductive cycle in women and fluctuations in hormone levels.

Symptoms of hormone imbalance are caused primarily by the incorrect relationship between progesterone and estrogen levels in the body. The two female hormones, estrogen and progesterone, exist in a delicate balance. Variations in that balance can have a dramatic effect on your health, resulting in symptoms of hormone imbalance. The amounts of these hormones that the woman’s body produces from month to month can vary, depending on factors such as stress, nutrition, exercise and most importantly — ovulation or the lack of ovulation.

A woman’s inability to ovulate or release an egg often causes female infertility. Failure to ovulate is usually rooted in hormonal problems. Fortunately hormonal imbalances are not hard to detect and treatments are straightforward and relatively effective.

The ovaries produce many hormones. Chief among them are estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. The ovarian hormones estrogen and progesterone interact to coordinate a woman’s menstrual cycle during her reproductive years. The brain produces the hormones follicle stimulating hormones (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) which trigger hormone production from the ovaries. When any of the hormones coming from the brain or the ovaries are imbalanced, symptoms may occur.

Imbalances are most common in puberty and menopause, but imbalances can happen at any age. Several conditions are well known to be associated with hormonal imbalance including: polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, breast disease, and menstrual irregularities.

A diet high in estrogenic foods like meat and poultry products that are not organicly raised and have high levels of residues of hormones and other drugs. (Note: Many modern day livestock producers use grain that is geneticly modified and treated with pestisides to ensure a profitable outcome. This practice, though profitable to the farmer, is detrimental to human health, not to mention what it does over time to the health of the livestock.)

You can regain your hormonal balance naturally and holistically, right from the comfort of your own home. Our Personal Program draws on natural remedies that have proven successful for over 100,000 women to date. The program is tailored according to the level of symptoms you are experiencing. And we have a special plan if you’re trying to get off HRT.

Hormonal imbalances can be present in women of all ages, with symptoms usually becoming apparent in a woman’s late twenties through to her forties. In addition, most women experience symptoms of a hormonal imbalance during the premenstrual stage of their monthly cycle.

Potassium represents 5% percent of the total mineral content of a human body, even though only about one litre is found in the body at a time. Potassium is found in our bodies both inside and outside cells and is a very important mineral required every day to stay healthy. More than 98% of the body’s potassium is intracellular. The body easily absorbs potassium, but nearly 90% of it is excreted through the kidneys and bowels. Thus, potassium is a natural diuretic and is important for the elimination of body wastes, such as water and sodium.

Potassium is a primary electrolyte, it is a great alkalizer, and important for maintaining pH and water balance.

Benefits of potassium:

1. Along with other minerals such as sodium, chloride and calcium, potassium helps in normal cellular function, such as transmission of nerve impulses, digestion, healthy muscle contractions, proper cardiovascular functioning (heartbeat irregularities are normally a sign of potassium deficiency), and helping the body to convert glucose into glycogen (the body’s stored form of energy).

2. Potassium helps promote healthy cardiovascular health. It is strongly believed that potassium has the ability to pump sodium out of the body’s cells and reduce body fluid.

3. Potassium, along with sodium, helps to regulate blood pressure. Increasing potassium in the diet may protect against hypertension in people who are sensitive to high levels of sodium.

4. Potassium also affects blood vessel tone as well as the way blood vessels react to the flowing hormones, thus affecting pressure within blood vessels.

5. Potassium therapeutically assists in the treatment of alcoholism, acne, alleviating allergies, promoting the early healing of burns.

6. It also helps with problems such as congestive heart failure, chronic fatigue syndrome or kidney stones.

7. Potassium plays a vital role in cellular integrity by regulating the transfer of nutrients into the cell.

8. Potassium also attracts oxygen to tissues, helps correct positioning of vital organs. Potassium deficiency indicates that probably albumin, sugar, sodium, and chlorine are also in short supply or not being properly absorbed.

9. Potassium helps proper functioning of the adrenal glands. It helps support healthy sugar balance in the body.

Deficiency of potassium –

The kidneys excrete excess potassium from the body, and deficiencies are rarely found in people on a normal balanced diet. A deficiency may result in fatigue, cramping legs, muscle weakness, sluggish reflexes, acne, dry skin, mood swings and irregular heartbeat.

A shortage of potassium in body may cause a fatal condition known as hypokalemia, resulting from diarrhea, increased diuresis and vomiting. Hypokalemia can occur in people with a chronic disease or due to aging process. Deficiency symptoms include muscle weakness, ECG abnormalities, decreased reflex response, congestive heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia and respiratory paralysis.

If the fluid and electrolyte balance is not restored, the risk of heart failure increases.

Potassium deficiency increases acid levels in the body, lowers the natural pH balance, causes problems with the formation of connective tissue. Kidney diseases (such as acute renal failure), diabetes can also cause fluctuations in the levels of potassium. Many medications such as diuretics, cortisone, prolonged use of aspirin, and laxatives also cause depletion of potassium.

Dietary sources of potassium:

Eating a variety of foods that contain potassium is the best way to get the required amount. Individuals who eat a balanced diet do not need potassium supplements. Foods, which are rich sources of potassium include turnips, whole grains, molasses, fish, citrus fruit, apple cider vinegar, bananas, avocados, yoghurt, tomatoes, poultry, oranges, apricots, potatoes (especially their skins), leafy green vegetables such as spinach, lettuce; and meat. One large orange will supply one with 250 mg of potassium, one-eighth of a person’s daily need. Dried apricots contain more potassium than fresh apricots.

Steaming of foods helps to retain nutrients that are lost through other cooking techniques such as boiling (loss of about 50% of potassium content). Steaming results in only a 6% loss of potassium.

Recommended Daily Allowance of potassium:

There is no recommended daily allowance (RDA) for potassium, but it is advised to get between 2,000-3,000 mg per day. The range of intake for children is 780 to 1,600 mg per day.

This is not difficult, and most people meet this requirement on their own through a normal diet. In general, nutritionists recommend reducing salt intake and ensuring adequate supply by increasing the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables in the diet.

If one is into bodybuilding, he must increase the potassium intake, since potassium is needed to maintain muscles in good form, and also because potassium is lost from excessive sweating and urine.

Symptoms of high intake of potassium:

Excessive potassium can be toxic and will affect the heart. This is a problem especially when one is suffering from some problem such as kidney failure. Irregular heart beat and muscle fatigue is sign of toxic potassium levels. In healthy people, the kidneys in the urine excrete excess potassium.

Who requires extra potassium?

People who require potassium supplements include:

# women on oral contraceptives,

# chronic alcoholics or drug abusers,

# smokers

# people undergoing stress

# athletes

# people doing strenuous exertion,

# anyone suffering from any degree of mal-absorption syndrome

# people with eating disorders, especially bulimia and anorexia..

Having a baby means lot of works to do. From changing diapers, feedings and odd sleep patterns can leave even the most organized parents exhausted and absentminded. Amid the multitude of new things parents must learn about taking care of their new baby is oral hygiene. Most dentists and pediatricians agree that parents should make dental care a priority, even during the first months of a baby’s life. By starting good oral hygiene practices early, parents will be training their children to continue these beneficial routines into their adult years.

Oral Hygiene for Babies with No Teeth
Everyone has harmful bacteria in their mouths, even babies. Parents can help reduce some of these bacteria by gently swabbing the baby’s gums with a wet cloth after feedings. This will not hurt the baby’s gums; rather, he will probably enjoy the sensation.

Oral Hygiene for Teething Babies
Babies begin the teething process when the teeth begin to pierce through the gum line. Once the baby teeth begin to show, parents should start gently brushing all areas of the teeth and gums with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush two times each day.

Babies and Fluoride
When babies are small there is no need to use toothpaste, water will do. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children age 2 and younger use fluoride-free toothpaste. Using fluoride toothpaste before a child has learned to adequately spit it out after brushing can lead to a condition called dental fluorosis.

What is dental fluorosis, it is a permanent condition that occurs when a child is exposed to an overabundance of fluoride during the tooth enamel forming years. The result is either baby teeth or adult teeth that have mild to severe tooth discoloration, such as lines or spots, or irregularities on the surface of the teeth, such as pits.

Babies and Dentist Visits
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children be scheduled for a first dentist visit by the time they turn 1 year of age or when the first tooth comes in. Some dentists begin actual dental exams and cleanings on children when they turn 3 years of age.

Prior to and in-between dental visits, pediatricians check the teeth and gums of their young patients during well-visits. If there are visible problems or if the doctor or parents have concerns about the state of the child’s dental health, it may be recommended that the parents schedule a more in-depth examination by a pediatric dentist or family dentist. Such situations might include:

* Injury to the teeth
* Tooth discoloration
* Tooth sensitivity
* Atypical growths in the mouth

Effect of Baby Bottles and Pacifiers on Teeth
Babies should never be given bottles of milk or juice as a way to fall asleep or as a “security” item that is used throughout the day. Allowing babies and children to continually have these types of liquids on the teeth for prolonged periods can easily lead to tooth decay. Baby bottles should be discouraged around the child’s first birthday.

Pacifiers, when continually used after age 3, can create a bad bite or misaligned teeth. It is advisable to stop the pacifier and thumb sucking habit as soon as possible to alleviate these potential problems.

A normal menstrual period lasts from 2 to 7 days. The normal cycle patterns can range from 21 to 35 days.When bleeding occurs that is not fraction of the usual cycle; periods are longer or heavier than normal; occurs flanked by period; time between periods is longer than usual; or there is an absence of periods, this is called abnormal or irregular uterine bleeding.

There are a variety of causes of abnormal bleeding, but the most common is a hormone imbalance. At both split ends of the menstrual life of a woman, periods may be irregular.
The menstruation is distinct as monthly discharge of blood from the uterus of non-pregnant woman from the period of teenage years to menopause. Read the rest of this entry »

Since the 60s, smoking women has continued growing : the proportion of smokers rose from 10 to 22% in 40 years on the 15 million smokers in USA. The women smoke more and more and earlier. The first cigarette is usually taken between 14 and 16 years. Within 10 seconds cigarette smoke passes from the lungs to the brain, carrying so much faster than would intravenous injection of illicit drugs. Smoking cigarettes send some 4,000 chemicals to the body.

Tobacco and gynecological disorders

Smoking decreases the secretion of estrogen. It may therefore be responsible for menstrual disorders with irregularities and pain. There is also often a change of tone of voice, which becomes hoarse, and an increase of hairs. Menopause occurs 1 to 2 years earlier than average among smokers. Hot flashes are more intense and the risk of osteoporosis is increased. Tobacco also promotes the development of precancerous lesions of the cervix.-women health Read the rest of this entry »