Archive for August, 2009

Increase HDL Cholesterol? What’s The Big Deal?

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

You know how important it is to watch your cholesterol levels. After all, doctors tell us they are a good indicator of how healthy your heart is. You need to keep a close eye on your total cholesterol to make sure it doesn’t reach dangerous levels, increase HDL cholesterol and make sure it doesn’t get too low, and track your LDL cholesterol to make sure it doesn’t get too high. It can sure get confusing at times.

Thankfully, there’s a way to cut through all the confusion. Here is a brief explanation of what HDL cholesterol actually is, why it is important, and five tips on how to increase HDL cholesterol so that it stays in the high and healthy range.

HDL cholesterol — the “good” cholesterol

There’s been so much talk about cholesterol in the media it’s easy to get the impression that “cholesterol” is a dirty word. That’s not the case at all. Cholesterol plays a very important function. It’s found in all body cells and is implementable in the formation and building of these cells. It also plays a crucial role in producing sex hormones. Cholesterol is constantly flowing through your bloodstream attached to proteins called lipoproteins.

There are two different types of lipoprotein. One is called low-density lipoprotein or LDL. It’s the one that transports cholesterol throughout your body and deliver it to vital organs. However, if you have too much cholesterol, all of the extra continues to flow through your bloodstream. After a period of time, the LDL cholesterol gets smaller and becomes oxidized. That makes easier for the molecules to enter arterial walls and cause trouble. The trouble starts when these LDL particles build up in the lining of your blood vessels and cause plaque. Plaque hinders the flow of blood through your heart and causes coronary artery disease. That’s why LDL cholesterol has received such a bad rep — it’s called “bad” cholesterol.

High-density lipoprotein, or HDL
, on the other hand is the “good” cholesterol. It takes care of the extra cholesterol traveling through your blood by picking it up and delivering it back to your liver. The liver then disposes of it. If your HD level is high enough, you’ll have less “bad” cholesterol circulating in your blood.

Not only does HDL take care of the bad cholesterol it also has other protective properties. HDL helps fight dangerous free radicals, decreases inflammation, and also aids in keeping your blood from forming clots. With HDL being such a powerful lipoprotein, it’s easy to see why it’s so important to make sure yours stays in the high and healthy range. As a matter of fact, high HDL cholesterol can reduce your chances of dying from coronary artery disease.

How to increase HDL cholesterol the natural way

When you consider the dangerous consequences associated with using popular statin drugs to lower total cholesterol, choosing a natural supplement makes perfect sense.

Pre-lipid™ and Pre-lipid+™ are specifically formulated to treat cholesterol before it reaches the disease state. In other words, these powerful supplements treat the predisease state.

PreEmptive Meds, a pre-disease therapeutics company, formulated Prelipid on the principle of intervention within the predisease state
. It’s completely safe, completely natural, and is a combination therapy that can effectively lower your cholesterol levels by 30-40 points. If your cholesterol is within the predisease range of 200-239, you owe it to yourself to find out more about Prelipid™.

At only $9 per week, it’s much more affordable than prescription meds. As a matter of fact, you’ll save 70% of the cost.

To get more insightful information about Prelipid™, simply visit this website.

Arthritis Herbal Remedy – An Alternative Solution For Arthritis Pain

Sunday, August 23rd, 2009

We’ve all witnessed the debilitating effects of arthritis. Images of gnarled swelling, deformed fingers… elderly people barely able to walk because of pain and stiffness in their joints… it’s a painful sight. Unfortunately, for most people there is no way to get around the pain and inflammation of this widespread and debilitating disease. According to the CDC, approximately 70,000,000 people will succumb to arthritis.

Arthritis is a degenerative disease and affects most people over the age of 50 in one way or another, as they grow older. Unfortunately, it is also a chronic disease and it is extremely difficult to get rid of. One stricken, many people suffer with arthritis the rest of their life.

The problem with mainstream arthritis medication

The body produces substances called cyclooxygenases (COXs) and COX -1and COX-2 are the most important. COX-1 produces Prostaglandin E-1, which causes pain and inflammation but also plays a role in protecting the stomach lining. COX-2 produces PGE2, a substance that causes pain and inflammation, but it does not have a role in protecting the stomach lining. Most non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, Advil, Aleve, etc. block both COXs. While they relieve pain and inflammation, they can cause varying degrees of gastric ulcerations, perforations or obstructions in 1/3 to almost 1/2 of patients taking them. That’s why substances that selectively inhibit COX-2 without interfering with protective act specs of Cox-1 are preferable.

The problem with prescription COX-2 drugs is that they are biochemically engineered and have been shown to cause serious cardiovascular effects including heart attacks and death. They also cause kidney failure especially in those susceptible individuals.

The good news is there are alternative solutions.

As with many diseases, adopting a healthier lifestyle based on sound nutrition can significantly lower the probability of developing arthritis.

•    Many common foods are actually natural arthritis remedies. They include black strap molasses, spices such as cayenne pepper and turmeric, apple cider vinegar, and pineapple to name a few.

•   Vitamins and minerals such as manganese, calcium, copper, magnesium, glucosamine, MSM as well as linseed oil and Echinacea are also effective natural arthritis remedies.

•    Simply enough plain water is also a natural arthritis remedy. That’s because it lubricates the joints, which allows ease of movement and less stiffness.

•    As difficult as it may be, simple exercise such as walking and especially swimming can help remedy arthritis symptoms.

•    There are also herbal remedies that have proven useful in treating the symptoms of arthritis. They include devils claw root, feverfew, and ginger. They all have anti-inflammatory properties and help achieve reduction in pain and swelling.

But perhaps the easiest and most effective way to treat arthritis symptoms is with a natural, plant-based supplement.

PreArthros™ and PreArthros+™ – powerful natural supplements to treat arthritis

PreArthros™ and PreArthros+™ is a 100% safe and natural plant based COX-2 inhibitor. It selectively inhibits COX-2 while preserving the stomach-lining protective function of COX-1.  PreArthos also has cardiac and gastrointestinal protective properties.  The natural ingredients found in PreArthos have no reported negative effects on the kidneys.  That’s why PreArthos and PreArthos+ are the perfect solution for effective and safe relief of inflammatory pain and for enhancing the use of joints.

The cost is completely affordable.  At $9 per week, you’ll safe up to 70% of the cost of most prescription drugs.

If you’re currently suffering with arthritis, chances are you want to take the best possible measure to alleviate the pain and inflammation.  You can find extremely valuable information about PreArthos right here.

Supplements For Fibromyalgia – 5 Things You Should Know Before You Choose Traditional Treatment Instead

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

Have you been searching for a “magic pill” for your pain?

Many suffering from fibromyalgia believe there is simply no real relief. If that sounds like you, you’ll be excited to know there IS help available. The best part of all is that it has absolutely nothing to do with relying on potentially dangerous medications to take care of your agonizing symptoms.

Fibromyalgia is actually an arthritis related illness. Even though it doesn’t cause the same type of problems as arthritis — joint inflammation, tissue damage, inflamed muscles — like arthritis, it does cause substantial pain and fatigue and can be extremely debilitating, as you’re undoubtedly aware.

And even though today doctors understand fibromyalgia much better than they once did, they still typically rely on many different kinds of medications to treat the symptoms. These medications include anticonvulsants, antidepressants, pain relievers, and sleep aids. Why is this a problem? All of these have potentially harmful side effects.

Anticonvulsants

Anticonvulsants typically used to treat seizures also help with pain management. However the FDA reviewed 11 anti-seizure medications and found those taking these drugs had almost twice the risk of suicide or suicidal thoughts.

Antidepressants

Antidepressants such as serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors are sometimes prescribed to alleviate fibromyalgia pain. Tricyclic antidepressants as well as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are also prescribed. This may sound like a good thing because often depression is part of the problem of having fibromyalgia. You would think that taking antidepressants would lead to better sleep, less fatigue, and a general feeling of well-being.

That may be true in some cases; however, some depressants are known to actually increase depression and fatigue. Even worse they may lead to aggressive or even psychotic behavior – not to mention those taking depressants actually run the risk of suicide.

Pain relievers

A pain reliever may seem to be the obvious choice for dealing with fibromyalgia. However, prescription pain medication is often addictive and also carries the possibility of many other side effects such as heart palpitations, digestive problems, muscle weakness, hallucinations, and urinary problems.

Sleep aids

Lack of sleep is a big problem for people suffering from fibromyalgia. Aside from the obvious fatigue, without proper sleep the body can’t heal or rest from daily activity. For that reason sleep medication is often prescribed. The problem is some people become physically or emotionally addicted to sleep aids. Even more, dependence on sleep aids may thwart the body’s ability to produce certain chemicals that naturally aid in pain relief and mood stability.

Change in lifestyle

Of all the traditional approaches to treating fibromyalgia perhaps this one makes the best sense. Exercise is known to be a natural antidote for pain and is also a mood enhancer. Practicing yoga or relaxing techniques help as well. Of course, lifestyle changes will not completely alleviate the pain you may be in but at least you won’t have to worry about the harmful side effects of drugs.

With all the possible negative side effects of all these medications, why take the risk? Especially when there is a totally effective and SAFE alternative.

Natural supplements for fibromyalgia

PreArthos™ and PreArthos+™ are natural botanical formulations that work collectively to reduce inflammatory pain. Not only that, they also contain plant-based substances which serve to protect the cardiovascular system. These natural substances are easy on the stomach and won’t harm the kidneys at all.

PreArthos™ and PreArthos+™ has been used successfully by hundreds of doctors in treating thousands of patients for over two years. And with fantastic results. These two supplements have been shown to lower pain and inflammation on an average of 80%.

PreArthos™ is completely affordable at only $9 per week. You can find out more about PreArthos™ and PreArthos+™ right here. There IS help for your fibromyalgia. Don’t spend another day worrying about how you’re going to manage your pain.

Side Effects Of Statins – 7 Dangerous Facts Your Doctor May Not Have Told You About

Monday, August 17th, 2009

If you’re a male or female with a cholesterol level of 180 or more, chances are you’ve been diagnosed with high cholesterol and your doctor has recommended a statin drug to treat the problem. But were you told about the dangerous side effects of statins?

Statin drugs are sold under the name of Lipitor, Zocor, Mevacor, Vytorin, and Pravachol, to name a few. Once started, more than likely you’ll have to be on these statin drugs for a lifetime, in addition to a low-fat diet.

There’s no doubt that statins are very efficient in lowering cholesterol. As a matter of fact they do a very good job of it. However, there is a price to pay. In addition to lowering cholesterol levels, statins have been shown to cause some very serious side effects – side effects your doctor may not have told you about.

Below are seven dangerous facts about the side effects of statins you need to know.

1. Muscle Pain

Perhaps this is the most common side effect of statins — muscle pain and weakness. This condition is called rhabdomyolysis and is caused when a nutrient called Co- Q10 is depleted from the muscles. This muscle pain and weakness can be very debilitating. At times the weakness is so severe that patients can barely walk and the pain can be almost paralyzing.

2. Neuropathy

Neuropathy is pain, weakness, and tingling in the extremities. Most commonly neuropathy occurs in hands and feet. Not only is this worrisome, but often permanent damage occurs.

3. Heart failure

In studies of patients taking statin drugs who died due to heart failure, the results showed that more than likely the problem was due to interference with production of Co-Q10. All muscles need this nutrient to function properly and the heart is no exception. When deprived of Co-Q10, the heart simply cannot function.

4. Decrease in cognitive abilities

There have been cases reported in medical literature of patients who show signs of cognitive impairment after taking statin drugs. As a matter fact, some studies found that as much as 15% of all patients on statin drugs suffer from cognitive impairment. The severity can range from “fuzzy” thinking to full-blown cases of short-term amnesia. Imagine being in the prime of your life and suffering through a decline in your ability to think remember, and reason.

5. Cancer

Despite reports that statins may actually prevent the onset of cancer, in studies with rodents statins have been proven to be a cancer-causing agent. Perhaps the reason this correlation hasn’t been made in humans is because cancer takes a long time to develop. However in some clinical trials, female patients showed an increase in breast cancer rates. Another study showed that skin cancer increased as compared to patients who were not taking statin drugs.

6. Depression

Studies have found that women who have low cholesterol are more prone to depression than women who have normal or high levels of cholesterol. Other studies have shown that men who take statin drugs to lower their cholesterol levels have increased rates of suicide. The theory is that a low cholesterol level can actually cause emotional or mental disturbances.

7. Dizziness

Statins are reported to lower blood pressure, which may possibly lead to dizziness in some patients. This problem is especially worrisome in the elderly who are more prone to falls.

Are there any benefits to statin drugs?

So, what about the benefits of statin drugs? There seems to be a general consensus among physicians that the benefits of statins carry more weight than the dangerous side effects. They cite instances where it is believed that statin drugs decrease the risk of coronary deaths as compared to those patients who were not taking statin drugs. However, other researchers believe these case studies are statistically insignificant.

A safe alternative to statin drugs

Obviously, the decision to take statin drugs to lower your cholesterol is not one to be taken lightly. Certainly, the dangers of a high cholesterol level are real and need to be addressed. The good news is that there is an alternative to potentially dangerous statin drugs.

Natural supplements could be the answer for you. Cholesterol supplements such as Pre-lipid™, are 100% natural, safe, and contain eight botanical formulas that decrease cholesterol and treat inflammation in the arteries. As a matter of fact, Pre- Lipid™ cholesterol supplement lowers cholesterol levels 30 to 40 points on average.

Preemptive Meds – intervention in the pre-disease state

PreEmptive Meds Prelipid™ cholesterol supplement is an intervention strategy for cholesterol levels that lie within the pre-disease range (200-239). If prevention occurs within this range, cholesterol can be lowered before it gets to dangerously high levels, preventing the dire consequences of high cholesterol. This early intervention philosophy is the cornerstone of PreEmptive Meds.

Once only sold to physicians, Prelipid™ is now available to the public. And at only $9 a week, you can save up to 70% of the cost of prescription drugs.

If you’re interested in treating your cholesterol the natural way, you can find out more about Preemptive Meds’ Prelipid ™ and how this natural supplement can lower your cholesterol with absolutely no dangerous side effects. Just visit this website to find out how you can begin lowering your cholesterol now.

Prediabetes – Understanding The Risk

Friday, August 14th, 2009

According to the American Diabetes Association, 54 million people in the United States have prediabetes. Are you at risk for developing this predisease?

In order to understand your risk for developing prediabetes, it’s impotant to know how your body processes blood sugar or glucose.

Your body depends on glucose for energy. As a matter of fact, you must have glucose in order to develop muscles and other tissues. Glucose comes from the food you eat and also from your liver. After a meal, glucose enters your bloodstream. Your pancreas supplies the insulin necessary for the glucose to enter your cells and do its job.

When your pancreas releases insulin, it lowers the glucose level in your blood stream. Once this happens, your pancreas automatically slows down the release of insulin.

Glucose is manufactured and stored in your liver. If it’s been a while between meals and your insulin level is low, your liver releases stored glucose so that your blood sugar level stays in a healthy, normal range.

However, with prediabetes, the above process doesn’t work as smoothly as it should. Glucose doesn’t move into your cells. Instead the sugar stays in your bloodstream. The reason this happens is because for some reason, your pancreas isn’t manufacturing enough insulin or your cells become insulin resistant. This may be due to extra abdominal fat and lack of exercise.

Who is at risk for developing prediabetes?

Here are some risk factors for developing prediabetes. If you have them, you may be a candidate for prediabetes. They include:

Being overweight. The more fat you have — especially belly fat — the more likely your cells are to become resistant to insulin.

Lack of exercise.
The more physically active you are the better control you have over your weight. Also exercise uses glucose for energy and also makes your cells more success to success to pull to the effects of insulin.

Family history
. If diabetes runs in your family your chance of developing prediabetes rises.

Age.
As you get older, especially older than 45, you’re more likely to develop prediabetes. That could be because most people become more sedentary and put on extra pounds as they get older.

Race.
Hispanics, blacks, Asian Americans, and American Indians run a higher risk of developing prediabetes.

In addition to the above symptoms, people who have high levels of “bad” cholesterol, low levels of “good” cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high triglycerides, often have a resistance to insulin.

How to substantially lower – or even eliminate – your risk

PreCrea™ is a completely natural supplement specially formulated for people who currently have prediabetes or higher than normal glucose levels. Designed by PreEmptive Meds, a predisease therapeutic company, its formulation is based on the philosophy that fighting disease in its early stages (or prediease stage) is critical to prevent the development of full-blown disease. PreCrea™ gets to the root of the problem before diabetes has a chance to develop fully.

Clinical studies show that using PreCrea™ to treat prediabetes actually lowers blood glucose levels 20-30 points. As an added bonus, a weight loss of 15-20 pounds is entirely possible – which also contributes to getting the predisease state under control.

Don’t gamble with your health – or your life. If you are prediabetic right now, or you are at risk for developing prediabetes, you can find knowledgeable information about PreCrea™ here.

The True Cost of Chronic Disease

Thursday, August 13th, 2009

Right now, chronic disease accounts for 7 of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States and affects the quality of life of over 130 million Americans each year. As well, 75 cents of every dollar spent on health care in the US in 2006 was on people with one or more chronic illnesses. That translates to $1.58 trillion of taxpayer’s hard-earned money. And while these numbers are indeed alarming, what is more astounding is that up to 90 percent of chronic diseases are actually preventable.

Many chronic diseases are caused by a simple lack of proper nutrition. Sadly, 3 out of every 4 Americans are now overweight, with 33 percent considered obese. Given these numbers researchers also predict 1 in 3 children born in 2000 will develop diabetes (33 percent of all boys and 39 percent of girls). Add to this a general lack of regular exercise and other poor lifestyle choices we make on a daily basis and it’s not surprising the US ranks only 24th on the list of the world’s healthiest countries. In fact, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the average life expectancy of a US male born in 1999 is only 67.5 years. Females rank only slightly better, averaging 72.6 years.

This rise in chronic disease accounts for close to 75 percent of the overall increase in health care spending in the last two decades. And statistics show the majority of current spending goes to treat people with one or more chronic conditions. Presently, 96 cents of every Medicare dollar is spent on people with chronic illnesses. As well, 83 percent of every Medicaid dollar goes to treat people with chronic illnesses. As bad as these numbers are, they only begin to touch on the indirect cost chronic disease has on our economy.
Millions of work days are missed every year due to illnesses, which ultimately affects our ability to effectively compete in the global market. According to a 2007 study, chronic diseases such as cancers, diabetes, heart disease and stroke, indirectly cost businesses and the economy, through things like absenteeism, lost productivity and substandard work efforts, a whopping $1 trillion a year.

Chronic illnesses account for 99 percent of all doctor’s visits, 92 percent of all in-patient hospital visits and 79 percent of all home health care visits. As well, 82 percent of all prescriptions are written for chronic illnesses.

If we continue along the same path, this scenario is only expected to get worse. By 2023, researchers predict chronic disease to rise by 42 percent, affecting over 230 people throughout the US. Cancer rates are expected to soar 62 percent; diabetes is predicted to rise 53 percent and cases of heart disease are expected to increase another 41 percent. And by the year 2015 (a mere 6 years from now) an unbelievable 75 percent of all Americans are expected to be obese, a huge risk factor for chronic disease. When all is said and done, researchers predict if nothing is done to halt this trend now, chronic disease will ultimately cost the U.S. economy over $4.1 trillion a year by 2035.

The irony of the situation is that we already know the majority of chronic diseases are indeed preventable. We don’t have to sit back helplessly and watch as our family and friends fall prey to things like diabetes and heart disease. We can take steps now to assure our health. Prevention has never been more important than it is right now.

Nutrition is probably one of the most important factors in whether you will eventually succumb to chronic illness. Proper diet and nutritional support through clinically proven vitamins and supplements are key factors. Studies repeatedly show that simply making these nutritional changes alone can significantly decrease your risk of chronic illness. In fact, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates diabetes rates can be cut by as much as 80 percent when dietary changes and other simple behavioural changes are made. Heart disease rates could drop another 80 percent while cancer rates could drop by as much as 40 percent.

Right now, thousands of doctors across the US are using clinically proven nutritional supplements as an effective preventative measure against chronic illness such as diabetes, heart disease and arthritis. As studies show, when it comes to chronic disease, the best intervention is prevention and considering the grim outlook for today’s Americans, there is no better time than now to assure you remain healthy long into the future.

Prediabetes – Understanding The Symptoms

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

You go through your day and find yourself making several trips to the water fountain. Not only that, you’re visiting the restroom more frequently. Even though you’re eating the same amount you usually eat, you find you’re extremely hungry. Or perhaps without dieting, you’ve somehow managed to lose weight. You’re more tired than you’ve ever been, your vision is fuzzy, and sometimes you have frequent infections or a sore that is won’t heal.

What’s going on? If you’ve experienced any of the above symptoms for a period of time, you could have a condition known as prediabetes.

If you’re prediabetic that means your blood glucose is higher than it should be. It hasn’t reached the level that classifies you as type 2 diabetic, but still you are at risk. That’s because the dangerous consequences of frank diabetes may have already started. The bad news is that if you don’t do something about it, in as little as 10 years you could find you have full-blown diabetes.

The good news is that full-blown diabetes can be preempted or significantly delayed. While doctors have always known about pre-disease such as prediabetes, today they are definitive guidelines to make the determination. In prediabetes, the fasting glucose level falls within the range of 99-126. Greater than 126 indicates diabetes.

Treating prediabetes

It’s been said that diabetes may be one of the worst diseases you can have. The unsettling fact is that more and more people are developing this disease — as a matter of fact it’s almost an epidemic in America. The dangers associated with full-blown diabetes include heart disease, kidney failure, sexual dysfunction, and blindness. What is so disturbing is that these complications can actually start developing in the prediabetes stage.

Perhaps one of the best modes of treatment is lifestyle modification. That means you should eat healthy foods, exercise more, lose excess weight, and take any necessary medication.

Natural supplements for prediabetes

PreEmptive Meds, a predisease therapeutic company, offers PreCrea™ — an all natural, twice-a-day herbal supplement specifically design for people with prediabetes or higher than normal blood sugar levels. The doctors at PreEmptive Meds realize the importance of fighting disease as early as possible. By integrating lifestyle changes with supportive therapies it is possible to prevent serious disease. Their natural supplements treat predisease – which in turn prevents chronic disease. Most pharmaceutical drugs are indicated for full-blown disease. By that time the disease is usually irreversible.

PreCrea™ is 100% natural, 100% safe, and has been used by hundreds of doctors to treat thousands of patients in the pre-diabetes stage. As a matter of fact, blood sugar is lowered 20-30 points with PreCrea™. Not only that, an added benefit is that many patients report a weight loss of 15-20 pounds.

Now this potent supplement is available to the general public. If you feel you’re at risk for developing diabetes, or you already have some of the symptoms, insightful information about PreCrea™ is available for you right here. Don’t wait until diabetes has had a chance to set in. Find out how you can naturally and effectively treat prediabetes with PreCrea™ now.

How To Choose Cost Effective Supplements

Monday, August 10th, 2009

There is no doubt natural supplements, vitamins and herbs are less expensive than prescription medications, but even these more natural alternatives can quickly become expensive when you start taking more than one at one time.

One of the reasons people turn to natural medicine is because of its holistic approach to health and wellness. Natural medicine looks to treat the whole body and not simply the symptoms of a specific disease. Proponents of natural health believe the body will naturally seek to restore internal balance, healing itself when faced with illness or disease, a state known as homeostasis. Natural remedies are therefore used more as a means to support this process than an actual cure for symptoms that result from a diseased state. Each remedy serves a specific purpose whether it be to boost immunity or to support the organs for example, so it is common when someone is facing an illness that they are prescribed more than one remedy. The problem however, is that while each of these remedies may in fact be useful and even highly effective, when you must take them each 2-3 times a day, it can become not only overwhelming, but also expensive. It is at this point, that many people simply opt to go back to a medication that is geared to relieving symptoms. Despite the risk and the inevitable side effects most medications come with, they are usually easier to deal with than having to remember to take numerous supplements several times a day.

For those who don’t give up and continue to look to the natural approach, some will opt for combination supplements. These products offer remedies that contain numerous ingredients geared to treating a much broader range of issues. While in theory, these supplements may be easier to take simply because you no longer need to take an array of different pills to achieve the same result, the problem then becomes the efficacy of the product itself.

Clinical studies are typically done to determine not only the actual effectiveness of an herb for example, but also the most effective dosage. The therapeutic properties of each herb will be examined, and the specific medicinal chemicals analyzed to determine the safest manner in which to take (or not take as the case may be) the remedy. So, when you buy a product, hopefully it contains the exact ratio of therapeutic ingredients so the remedy works as it should. While you would think this would be the case of all natural supplements, the truth is, it is still a very unregulated industry so in many cases, there are no real laws that state a product must contain the ideal ratio of medicinal ingredients. This is especially true in the case of “all in one” remedies.

When herbs are combined, they can either help or hinder each other. While each herb may have specific therapeutic properties, when they are combined with other herbs, these same chemical properties can be enhanced or in some cases, cause adverse reactions. It becomes even more important therefore in cases of combined remedies, that the herbs used have not only been tested individually, but that they have also been tested together. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, which is why you will often hear about products that have been suddenly pulled from the shelves because people have had severe reactions.

There is no question the most cost effective way to take natural supplements is in these combined formulas. Taking this type of remedy can significantly reduce the overall cost of treatment. The trick however, is to find a product that has also been clinically tested to work synergistically within the body. Each herb and or nutrient must be tested to determine its effectiveness and safety when used in that specific formula. So, before you purchase a combination product, do a little research yourself to see if the company has also done their research. In the end, it can save you money and ultimately make the difference in whether or not the product will be effective.

For more information about clinically tested and proven all natural supplements, visit: http://www.predisease.com

Menopause Treatment – Understanding Your Options

Saturday, August 8th, 2009

Hot flashes. Sleepless nights. Ugly mood swings. The “change of life” certainly brings does bring about changes, doesn’t it? The problem is most of them are changes women can do without. As a matter of fact, many times they are so unbearable women will do just about anything to get rid of them, including taking medication. The problem with that is that synthetic hormones, those usually prescribed by doctors, come with their own set of perils.

Synthetic menopause hormone therapy can lead to bloating, blood clots, sexual dysfunction, stroke, and the risk of cancer
. Because of this frightening list women who decide to try hormone treatment usually do so for a short period of time and take the lowest dose possible. Once their symptoms disappear or become more manageable, they stop taking the drug.

For some women synthetic hormone therapy isn’t even an option. Women who have had breast or uterine cancer, have a history of blood clots, have liver or heart disease, or problems with vaginal bleeding are not candidates for this type of therapy.

Perimenopause

Even women who have not fully entered menopause have worrisome menopause symptoms and seek relief. Perimenopause is when women began their transition into menopause and lasts 2 to 8 years. Usually menstrual irregularities begin sometime in the 40s, however, some may start noticing changes in their mid-30s.

During this time women experience menstrual irregularities, hot flashes and insomnia, irritability or depression, vaginal and urinary problems, and decrease libido. Even though medication is often prescribed to treat the symptoms, it’s important to understand that menopause is not an illness. It’s a natural stage of life where women’s ovaries stop producing estrogen. This causes her reproductive system to slowly cease functioning.

A natural alternative to synthetic hormone therapy

Natural hormones contain products derived from plants. The body actually recognizes them as being a natural substance and will therefore readily utilize the product. The side effects seen with synthetic hormones do not exist when natural hormones are used. Even better, natural hormones deal with more than hot flashes, water retention, or insomnia. They combat many of the different symptoms menopause can bring about.

Why take a chance, even for a short while, on a synthetic hormone that carries such risks as cancer and heart disease? Luckily, there is an alternative, one that many authorities believe to be superior to synthetic hormones.

Preemptive Meds’ PreMenora™ eases symptoms safely and naturally

PreMenora™ is an all-natural supplement based on a formulation that contains 10 botanicals acting together to relieve the symptoms of perimenopause. Doctors from across the United States and Canada have recommended treatment with PreMenora™ so women can find relief from their symptoms without having to resort to synthetic hormone therapy. That way you can have your symptoms in control before the onset of full-blown menopause.

With PreMenora™ hot flashes, night sweats, bloating, insomnia, vaginal dryness, tiredness, and irritation decrease up to 80%. Libido, attentiveness, memory, and bone and joint health increase.

Now you have a choice. If you’re suffering through the symptoms of perimenopause or you are already in menopause, you don’t have to rely on dangerous synthetic hormones. PreMenora™ is 100% natural and safe with no known side effects. And it’s extremely affordable at only $9 per week, which is less than many prescription co-pays.

You can find out more about PreMenora™ by visiting this website.

Natural and Safe Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms

Thursday, August 6th, 2009

Every woman will experience menopause at some point during her lifetime. While it is a very natural phase of a woman’s life cycle, it can also bring with it some uncomfortable and in some cases, serious, symptoms. Right now, it is estimated 6,000 women reach menopause every day in the US, that’s about 2 million women every year.

Menopause is essentially the time when a woman ceases to have a menstrual cycle. As a woman ages, her estrogen levels naturally decrease and her ovaries slowly stop producing eggs. A woman typically reaches this menopausal state between the ages of 35 and 50, although in 10 percent of cases, doctors are now finding women do not experience changes in their menstrual flow.

Prior to menopause, women go through a stage called perimenopause. During this time, a woman’s body begins the transition into menopause. Typically, perimenopause lasts anywhere from two to eight years, plus another year following her final period. Estrogen levels rise and fall at irregular intervals during perimenopause. A woman’s menstrual cycles may increase or shorten, and she could begin to have menstrual cycles in which she doesn’t ovulate, so she would be unable to become pregnant during this time. For the most part, a woman will start to notice signs of impending menopause sometime during her 40s, although in some cases, a woman may actually enter this cycle during her early or mid-30s. According to the North American Menopause Society, the average age for perimenopause is actually 47.5 years.

As a woman goes through this natural change, her body also undergoes a myriad of changes brought on by the gradual loss of ovarian function. This action triggers dramatic shifts in four hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle: estrogen, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH). These hormonal changes can bring about numerous symptoms, which include a slowing of her metabolism, often resulting in weight gain, a loss in bone mass and strength, mood swings, fatigue, insomnia, forgetfulness, irritability, headaches, hot flashes accompanied by heart palpitations and dizziness, increased sweating, muscles aches and pains, water retention, vaginal dryness, a loss of muscle tone and changes to her breast size, shape and firmness and even depression. Not all women will experience every symptom and some women may experience more intense changes than others depending on a combination of her genetic makeup and lifestyle.

Post menopause typically brings some relief to symptoms. Once the body has completed the menopausal cycle and a woman has not had a period in over one year, symptoms tend to subside, although there are serious health risks linked to decreased estrogen levels. Post menopausal women are at higher risk for heart disease, osteoporosis, breast cancer and ovarian cancer for example. In 2000, there were 45.6 million postmenopausal women in the US, 39.9 million of which were over 51. According to the International Menopause Society, over half of all women over 50 will experience a bone fracture caused by osteoporosis. As well, menopausal women are 33 percent more likely to develop Alzheimer’s, a condition in women researchers are now linking to menopause.

By 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 1.1 billion women will be over the age of 50. This being the case, it is currently suggested a woman will actually spend 33 – 50 percent of her life in post menopause, so it becomes increasingly important she starts to take care of her body now, especially during the time leading up to post menopause.

Conventional medicine tends to look to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as a way to treat menopause. Synthetic estrogen and progesterone are typically used in an attempt to even out declining hormone levels. In many cases this therapy may reduce climacteric symptoms such as flushing, insomnia and sweating and osteoporosis but many women on synthetic estrogens may suffer from irregular vaginal bleeding and studies now show there is an increased risk of breast cancer and/or endometrial cancer when using HRT.[1] Other studies suggest HRT also dramatically increases a woman’s risk of heart disease and thrombosis especially in women who start the therapy years after menopause.[2]

As studies continue to uncover the risks of HRT, many women are now turning to natural HRT and menopause relief. Studies repeatedly show there are many herbs, vitamins and supplements that can help provide natural relief from vaginal dryness, hot flashes and other bothersome symptoms of menopause without the risks associated with synthetic HRT.

Saraca indica, for example, is a herbal menopause treatment shown to decrease symptoms of menopause through its natural steroidal properties. Shatavari, also known as asparagus racemosus, is a widely used herbal treatment for menopause. It is essentially considered an aphrodisiac or fertility enhancer in women and has beneficial effects on the female reproductive system during menopause. This natural herbal remedy also has considerable cooling effects on the body, which makes it an effective natural treatment for hot flashes.

Another helpful herbal treatment for menopause is actea racemosa or black cohosh. This natural treatment is widely used in Germany as a natural treatment for hot flashes, depression and sleep disturbances often experienced during menopause. Ashwagandha (withania somnifera) is a very popular herbal remedy for menopausal symptoms such as insomnia and mood swings. It is also known as Indian Ginseng. Other helpful herbs include bacoppa monnier (brahmi), Celastrus paniculata (jyotismati), Cyperus rotundus (Xiang fu), Centella asiatica (Gotu Kola) and aloe vera. There is also increasing evidence that nutrients such as calcium, vitamin D and wheat germ are effective natural treatments for menopause, especially for bone loss associated with decreased estrogen levels.

Today, women have more choices than ever when it comes to treating menopause symptoms. Evidence clearly shows synthetic HRT is increasingly dangerous and any benefits are far outweighed by the risk associated with this type of treatment. Natural remedies are just as effective for most symptoms and are clinically proven safe. When looking for a natural herbal treatment for menopause, look for a supplement that incorporates a variety of herbs and nutrients that will treat a wide range of symptoms. It is also important to find a supplement that uses the proper ratio of therapeutic properties of each specific herb so that it can be effectively assimilated by the body.

For more information about natural herbal treatments for menopause, visit: www.premenora.com.


[1] Koukoulis GN. Hormone Replacement Therapy and Breast Cancer Risk. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2000;900:422-8.

[2] British Medical Journal, 2007; 335: 239-44