TheFATladyBlog

National Women's Health SEXperts Agree:Good Sex Reduces Heart Attack Risk

Five national experts on women's health issued a unanimous verdict and a simple set of guidelines that make good cardiac sense:

Good sex reduces a woman's risk of heart attack!

Bad sex increases a woman's risk of heart attack!

Dr. Hilda Hutcherson took it one step further ... for the woman who does not have a partner, and for the woman who has a partner who does not "get it" ... girlfriend, just do it yourself!

(The Health Panel for Not Your Mother's Menopause featured (left to right)  Hilda Hutcherson, MD, Donnica Moore, MD, Patricia Allen, MD, Beth Baughmann DuPree, MD, and New York Times health columnist Tara Parker-Pope.)

Bill Clinton Leads Anti-Obesity CrusadeTo Create A Healthier Generation

President Bill Clinton is shown at left with children in Harlem during a recent event launching a campaign to reduce childhood obesity levels. The former President's Clinton Foundation is partnering with the American Heart Assn. in an effort to curb and reduce obesity. President Clinton says that he wants to make sure all children are healthy and reverse the growing rate of obesity in the United States. Today, more than twice as many children – and almost three times as many teens – are overweight as in 1980, according to a trimmer, more fit Bill Clinton. The foundation site has an excellent video (48 minutes) that is excellent, educational. viewing. The clip features Bill Clinton, Republican Governer Huckabee of Arkansas (who recently lost 110 pounds), educators, and leaders of the AHA.

The foundation will work with educators to expand students' horizons about making good lifestyle decisions, eating good nutrition, and exercising. It will encourage schools to remove vending machines from elementary schools or stock them with healthy snacks instead of the unhealthy fare many machines now offer. The group will also launch initiatives to drive food companies and the fast food industry to offer healthier choices. They point out that food industry growth is in the healthy food market.

Weight Loss, Bone Health, Memory;I Get Lots Of Nutritional Support

No talk about scratchy feet, sore shoulders, or tipping scales at awful numbers today. Here is a list of the supplements that I am taking, with links to ingredients and additional information. Now we're getting scientific and technical!

MSM This product may be the one that is responsible for the improved skin tone that I referred to yesterday. This is described as a pharmaceutical-grade form of Methylsulfonylmethane. The MSM formulas are enhanced with an exclusive blend of vitamin C and antioxidants. Research demonstrates potential to offer nutritional support for the immune system, help promote a healthy digestive system, make skin appear softer and feel smoother, provide nutritional support for healthy skin, hair and nails, and assist in supporting healthy connective tissues underlying the skin.

Bone health is a major concern for women. I'm 53 and approaching menopause (they tell me, but no clear sign of that yet). This product also contains also contains special standardized extracts of some of the world's foremost traditional female herbs: chaste berry, licorice and dong-quai. These rare botanicals contain natural compounds (phytoestrogens) which can help to promote a woman's optimum hormonal balance. It is the first women's bone-support supplement to provide isoflavones from the miracle soybean and the Chinese kudzu vine. One daily dose contains the equivalent of 6 oz. of tofu, which is twice the average intake of Asian women and is 60 times the average American daily soy quota! Makes sense to me!

Weight loss formulary helps cut carbs, boost metabolism, and control appetite.

Antioxidants and nutrients supplied in handy packets is the foundation of the system. This product contains 157 vitamins, minerals, and anti-aging phytonutrients imported from 28 countries,

Ginkgo biloba extract formula that contains the added power of three unique herbs, vinpocetine, bacopa monniera, and huperzine A, all of which will help brain function at its peak, and enhance alertness, mental agility, and recall.

Digestive enzyme supplement provides research-recommended enzymes from 100% pure plant sources. It contains all of the enzymes your body needs to digest every type of complex carbohydrate, protein, tough vegetable fiber and fat you eat.  It increases the body's ability to absorb vital nutrients,  helping gain the most benefit from food and nutritional supplements. The pure plant enzymes naturally and safely ease the digestive process. I will testify to that personally. I could post a long, descriptive blurb about regularity, but how much do you really need to know about this blogger?

CoQ10 for cardiovascular health. This product also contains natural vitamin E, aged garlic, and capsicum extract, all of which help to regulate cholesterol levels.

Cholesterol health nutrients from this company win kudos that I have personally heard, so I'm taking this one as well. Scientific studies show that a combination of the other key nutrients in this product (niacin, vitamin B6, folate, and vitamin B12) helps to maintain normal blood levels of homocysteine. (Homocysteine is a known risk factor in the health of the cardiovascular system.)

Himalayan Goji Health Secret No More!Clinical Studies Document Results

I've added a new ingredient to my regimen, Himalayan Goji berry juice. There is additional information at The Goji Book. Here are some of the medical facts about Goji:

* Allergies - Drink 2-4 oz. daily
In a study of Goji Berry reported in the Journal of the Beijing Medical University (1992), it was noted that Goji reduced antibodies associated with allergy-type reactions, by promoting CD8(+) T-cells and regulating cytokines. Goji Berry has also been reported to be a useful treatment for psoriasis.

* Anti-Aging - Drink 2-4 oz. daily
Goji's unique LBP polysaccharide complex has been found to be powerful secretagogue (a substance that stimulates the secretion of rejuvenative human growth hormone by the pituitary gland). Zhang (1993) studied the role of Goji's unique LBP polysaccharides in fighting peroxidation, a primary cause of premature cell death. Dr. Zhang and his team measured the changes in the electrical parameters of cell membranes after incubating living cells in a solution containing dangerous free radicals for six hours. They observed that the deadly effects of free radicals on the cells can be prevented and reversed by incubation with LBP polysaccharides.

* Arthritis and Inflammatory Conditions - Drink 4 oz. daily
The inflammatory free radical most often implicated in arthritis is known as the superoxide anion. One study in China found that the ingestion of Goji resulted in a remarkable 40 percent increase of this extremely important anti-inflammatory enzyme.

* Cardiovascular Health - Drink 4 oz. daily
The accumulation of lipid peroxides in the blood can lead to cardiovascular disease, heart attack, atherosclerosis and stroke. Our blood contains the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) to fight against lipid peroxidation, but levels of SOD decrease as we age. In a clinical study, Goji Berry consumption was accompanied by a remarkable 40 percent increase in SOD levels, and a decrease in lipid peroxides of an impressive 65 percent.

* Diabetes (adult-onset) - Drink 2 oz. twice daily
Goji has been used in China for the treatment of adult-onset diabetes for many years, as it is said to balance blood sugar and insulin response.

* Hypertension (high blood pressure) - Drink 3 oz. daily
The effects of Goji polysaccharides (LBP) on endothelial function were observed by Jia YX et al (1998) in China. Their results showed that the increase of blood pressure in the hypertensive rats could be prevented significantly by the treatment with Goji LBP.

* Obesity - Drink 2 oz. in the morning, 2 oz. in the afternoon
The Goji Berry has also been tested as an anti-obesity drug. Patients were given a tea made of the berries each morning and each afternoon. Results were excellent with most patients losing significant weight. In an animal study, it was shown that Goji polysaccharides enhanced the conversion of food into energy, and reduced body weight.

Obese Americans Wear A Big Bulls EyeFor Heart Disease, Diabetes, Cancer

More than half of the American adult population is overweight or obese, with numerous health problems—heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, gastrointestinal problems Experts estimate that 40 percent of all cancers are directly related to unhealthy eating.

I've been dodging those bullets and inviting the Grim Reaper for years. So, what took me so long to get started on this trek? Just a notion one day that "enough is enough, already." I want my healthy life back. And I have to take it back myself.

One of my weaknesses has been the inclination to reach for a food or snack that adds pounds and inches and no nutrition. I finally removed those foodstuffs from my fridge and pantry, that there are no unhealthful temptations in my kitchen any longer--just lots of fresh fruit and wholesome, nutritious foods.

I'm expecting my delivery of vitamins and supplements today. There's a faint feeling of Christmas in the air (despite the 90s heat and humidity) as I wait for the UPS man. I hope that you have a great, healthy day!