It’s Entirely Natural - Articles

Do you suffer from the symptoms of menopause? In addition to herbal and pharmaceutical remedies, there are massage methodologies which can help. This article deals with shiatsu’s beneficial effect on women in menopause.

The origins of the practice of shiatsu derive from the full oriental medical system which looks at the human body as a network or series of meridians. These networks allow the positive energy or vital life force (or chi) to flow through it. According to shiatsu practitioners, an individual becomes sick due to the flow of chi or energy becoming sluggish or disrupted in one way or another. This however can be easily remedied. The energy imbalance can be corrected by way of applying pressure to particular points on the body that correspond to a given meridian. This is all good news for women going through menopause, as the practice of shiatsu is an excellent one to try to help relieve your symptoms.

Treating Menopause Symptoms

In order for shiatsu to work at treating the symptoms of menopause, first an accurate diagnosis of the symptoms must be done by the qualified practitioner.

When patient with menopause symptoms experiences ringing in the ears, pain in the shoulder and/or dizziness, shiatsu can address the meridian of the small intestine, which can aid in the health of the ovaries.

Ask the shiatsu specialist to apply pressure to the stomach and spleen meridians if you find yourself suffering from any type of nervous or stomach disorders or if you have a tendency to eat too much because of anxiety and frustration.

The meridians for the heart, bladder and kidneys need to have pressure applied to them if as a menopause patient you suffer from any type of nervous disorders or heart palpitations.

If constant fatigue is a problem or if you suffer from headaches, then you need to look to the triple heater meridian.

If you suffer from constant weight gain or obesity and/or hormonal imbalance then you need to look to the gall bladder meridian for the help you need for relief.

In order for shiatsu to work at treating the symptoms of menopause, first an accurate diagnosis of the symptoms must be done by the qualified practitioner.

If you suffer from anxiety and a great deal of tension on a regular basis then look to the shiatsu technique described below to bring relief:

• First you must find the middle point that exists between the eyebrows and to make it easier for you, this point is to be found directly above where the bridge of the nose is found.
• Apply a circular type of massage technique to this area and count slowly from one to 30 and while so doing make sure to exhale as well as inhale as deeply as you can for maximum benefits.
• Do this once and then repeat the process again. To get as much relief as possible from this technique, shut your eyes and then take the time to pay close attention to both your steady breathing and your heartbeat.
• Do this technique as many times as you feel it is necessary to do.

Choose the type of massage that works best for you whether it be smooth, pulsating or a stroking type of massage. Always go with what works best for you as not everyone will respond well to the same kind.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Massage Therapy.

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Tags: anxiety, fatigue, Massage Therapy, Menopause, nervous disorders, obesity, shiatsu, stomach disorders

With the growing consciousness over the concerns like eating disorders, obesity, anemia, etc., it is high time that people learn about the importance of nutritional food and balanced diet. Nutritional food means that the food contains all the required nutrients in it to keep you going throughout the day. There are a few points which should be considered while eating or planning for a meal.

The most important point is, to plan a meal containing all nutrients. Ideally, a meal should have seasonal vegetables, fruits, white or red meat, and dairy products like, milk, curd, cheese, etc. As, it is not practically possible to intake all types of nutrients in a single meal or even in all three meals daily, you may need to take these remaining nutrients through supplementary food items.

After diet, comes physical exercise. To stay fit, one has to have his body and organs toned and functioning properly, which can be achieved by doing some simple exercises. Basic exercises are of two types; one which is related to heart (cardio exercises), and the other which is to do with other muscles (resistance exercises). Cardio exercises basically improve the inner strength of a person and heart. This also helps a person cope with the stress and odds he has to face everyday. Resistance exercises basically tones and build muscles, which further help, improve a person’s physical work capabilities.

Other than the basic exercises, there are several target specific exercises too. One can follow exercise(s), which are specifically meant for loosing weight. There are also special exercises for breathing problem, back problems, legs and joints, and so on. These exercises not only strengthen you physically, but mentally too.

Besides the above mentioned nutritional steps, it is up to an individual to decide as which type or types of food and exercise combination suits his lifestyle. Once you have understood the required quantity and type of food that you should take, including extra nutrients supplement foods, you are less at risk of nutrition related problem, which includes obesity, fatigue, anemia, and other such problems.

Having a nutritional diet is not only beneficial for your physical health; it directly or indirectly influences your professional life as well, by providing you with the required energy needed. In order to lead a healthy lifestyle one needs to understand, and apply, proper nutrition and exercise.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Nutrition & Health.

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Tags: diet, exercise, fatigue, Nutrition & Health, obesity, stress

When it comes to fast, reliable weight loss supplements, Hoodia Gordonii is the media darling. This ungainly succulent was originally used by the Sans Bushmen of the Kalahari to suppress appetite during times of food scarcity. Because it grows in one of the harshest regions of the world, Hoodia Gordonii comes with an air of mystery as well as weight loss benefits. Although extracts from this succulent can effectively suppress appetite, it has been a challenge to make Hoodia Gordonii readily available.

Hoodia Gordonii is a succulent that grows primarily in Angola , Botswana , Namibia , and South Africa . This plant looks just like a cactus, complete with spines and stem clusters. Because of its large flowers, it is designated as a succulent. Hoodia Gordonii and its related species tend to grow in gravel and shale. They also require the intense desert heat to grow and flourish.

The rights to grow and export this succulent are zealously guarded by the Sans Bushmen, their lawyers, and the African nations in which the plant originates. As an example, Hoodia Gordonii is a protected species in Botswana , Namibia , and South Africa . In many cases, wild harvesting is not allowed, and farming and export rights are severely limited. Currently, it is believed that all Hoodia Gordonii supplements are derived from wild plants.

Although there are no exact statistics on the amount of illegal trade, it is estimated to be very high. Because Hoodia Gordonii is a “dietary supplement” it is not regulated the way prescription and over the counter medication are. Therefore, there is very little that can be done to control purity issues.

Contrary to popular belief, this specific plant is not endangered. There are several other succulents and cactus plants that look just like it. These in turn, are on the verge of extinction. Unfortunately for these other species, the high demand for Hoodia Gordonii causes them to be collected by mistake. Thus, species that have Red List Endangered Species Protection are at more risk than ever before.

Because of the difficulties associated with obtaining licenses to collect and export Hoodia Gordonii, this succulent is a prime target for poachers and other unsavory characters. These criminals have been known to harvest the wrong plants and pass them off as Hoodia Gordonii. This affects endangered species as well as create the potential for plants entering the supplemental food chain that are useless for weight loss. In some cases, these plants may be poisonous to humans, and do much more harm than good.

All of these complexities make extracts from Hoodia Gordonii difficult to obtain. This problem is compounded by the length of time required to produce a mature plant. It takes about five years for Hoodia Gordonii to flower. Before that time, it is not suitable for harvesting. While there may be farms dedicated to commercial growth of Hoodia Gordonii, it may be a few years before they affect the market.

The entire plant is not required for appetite suppression. Rather, it is one single molecule, P57 that creates the desired effect. P57 is found in the flesh of the plant, but not within the roots, spines, or flowers. The rights to all products developed as a result of studying Hoodia Gordonii are also fully under the control of the Sans Bushmen. Unfortunately, P57 is very difficult to isolate from the plant extract. It is also purported to be difficult to synthesize this molecule. It is not likely a cheaper, synthetic product will be created in the near future.

In the area of commercial development, Phytopharm (royalties go to the Sans Bushmen and their lawyers) has held the patent on P57 since 1995. They, in turn, sub-licensed to Pfizer for further development. While Pfizer spent millions of dollars to obtain this sub-license, they soon aborted the efforts to refine Hoodia Gordonii extracts. They were able to reproduce the appetite suppressant qualities from Hoodia Gordonii extract. At the same time, they also found that isolation of P57 from other molecules that cause liver damage was extremely difficult.

There are several prescription drugs on the market (like anti-cholesterol medications) that cause damage to the liver. It is not clear at this stage how the liver damage from the Hoodia Gordonii trials compares to that of trials run on animal subjects during the development phases of many other drugs. After Pfizer aborted the project, Unilever Pharmaceuticals took up the task of developing this dietary supplement, and they are still working on it.

While Hoodia Gordonii is only available on a limited basis, there is no question that it is an effective appetite suppressant. Obesity is a major issue in almost every nation. As manufacturers establish reputable supplies, it is only a matter of time before reliable products become readily available. Until then, care needs to be taken in choosing a Hoodia Gordonii vendor.

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Lucinda Mathers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Herbal Remedies.

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Tags: bushmen of the kalahari, cholesterol, Herbal Remedies, obesity, weight loss supplements

In a society that is increasingly placing standards of beauty upon the youths of our population, people are at more of a risk than ever of developing an eating disorder. Celebrities in television and the media display stick-thin figures which can create a high standard of beauty. This ‘model of beauty’ can lead to many problems with an individual’s self esteem. On the other side of the spectrum, we are dealing with an obesity epidemic that is claiming more and more people in the developed world.

It is important to have a full understanding of the eating disorders which are prevalent in society today in order to be able to catch the warning signs when an individual you know is afflicted. Eating disorders are a mental condition, and while many discount the problem as situational and fixable if an individual desires to be healed, they can be very difficult to overcome. In this article, we’ll be giving a basic overview of some of the more common eating disorders that our culture faces today.

One of the most commonly occurring eating disorders within our society today is anorexia nervosa. Many are familiar with the affliction, in which one suffers from such an intense occupation with their self image that they literally starve their bodies in hopes of attaining a slimmer figure. While dieting and exercise are efficient ways of losing weight, those with anorexia resort to drastic methods for trying to attain a body figure with which they will never be satisfied. Anorexia is marked by a preoccupation with weight loss and a poor self image. In advanced cases of anorexia, women may lose the ability to have a period. In severe cases, the woman can die of starvation.

Bulimia is another eating disorder that permeates our culture today. As opposed to anorexics, which use dieting techniques and weight-loss pills to a high degree, bulimics find solace in ‘purging’. Bulimic individuals usually eat a large amount of food, then retreat to a bathroom in order to regurgitate, or ‘purge’ the food from their system, causing them to lose the nutritional value and calories that the food they consume.

Bulimics may also use laxatives, causing bouts of diarrhea and eliminating the nutritional value that bulimics should be receiving from the food they eat. You may be able to see warning signs for bulimia if an individual binges upon foods that are high in fat and sweets, engorging as much food as possible, then retires to the bathroom in order to purge the foods. Poor self image is also a leading reason why people may become bulimic, and it’s an important thing to note when considering the health of a friend or family member.

These are just a few of the eating disorders that can cause excessive trauma to the body and mind of an individual. If you know someone who you suspect has an eating disorder, you may want to discuss the problem with them with love and compassion, being sure to let them know that you are there for them. In severe cases, you should speak with a doctor in order to determine the best course of action for helping an individual.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Eating Disorders.

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Tags: anorexia nervosa, bulimia, Eating Disorders, obesity

As commonly known to most of us, Anorexia and Bulimia are the most common forms of eating disorders. While this is true to a large extent, Compulsive over Eating is another type of an eating disorder which is slowly becoming very common too. The symptoms are the exact opposite to that of Anorexia and can cause serious damage to ones health. It too is basically a mental problem and has been found to be difficult to surmount. Let us try and understand this disorder more thoroughly.

Firstly, gender is not a bias for those affected by this disorder and therefore both males and females are affected. Recent studies have however shown females being more afflicted. Over eating can be described as going on a food eating binge and literally gorging on food. This binge in most cases is caused by accepting eating as a comfort from mental stress and is followed by a period of guilt and depression.

A person affected continues eating even after they are full and does this regularly every day, every meal. All of us tend to pig out on food at times, but when one overeats every single time, it is cause for worry and also for a check up to ensure you too are not becoming a compulsive over eater.

Some common pointers to one being a compulsive over eater are (a) Finishing your meal well before others and a desire to virtually attack the food on your plate. (b) Eating when not physically hungry that is eating without any hunger pangs or eating just for the heck of it. (c) Eating to a point when you feel distinctly uncomfortable. Every time you get up after a meal you realize you have over eaten but cannot help it. (d) Realizing that you are experiencing the symptoms mentioned above regularly and are yet not able to stop your self.

Although compulsive over eating may not seem like a major problem or serious enough to cause worry, it has a very large number of negative affects on your good health. Heart disease, heightened cholesterol level, type II diabetes and obesity can result from this disorder.

The mental affect of having low self esteem is a major fall out and can have serious consequences. Proper counseling and guidance is required to relieve this mental strain. The best option in case some one you know is affected by this disorder is to make him/her open up to discuss the problem with you or an expert. While discussing such a problem be very serious and use a sympathetic and compassionate manner.

Understand the physical and mental stress the person is undergoing and make sure you do not ridicule him ever. If symptoms are left untreated it can have serious consequences and it is therefore highly advisable to consult a specialist for counseling.

Compulsive over eating is a disorder affecting a large number of people, especially in large towns and cities and we need to tackle such symptoms early.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Eating Disorders.

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Tags: anorexia, cholesterol, compulsive over eating, Eating Disorders, obesity, type-2-diabetes

We are suffering an obesity epidemic in the United States. About 66 million people are classified as ‘obese,’ which means that they have a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 30%. That means that a person’s body is over 30% fat.

Morbid Obesity: An Epidemic

Even more concerning is the number of ‘morbidly obese’ people in the US. One in six, or over 10 million people, is defined in this category. That means that they have a BMI of 40 or greater. When you assume that a healthy person has a BMI of 20 or less, a morbidly-obese person has over twice the body fat of a person at a healthy weight.

We all know that morbid obesity can cause heart problems and strokes. What many don’t know is that morbidly obese people suffer from high rates of diabetes. For the most part, their diabetes emerges because they don’t exercise enough and eat too much.

How the Body Processes Food

The body has a clever way to process the food we eat, as long as we eat in a healthy way. The food we eat is converted by the liver to glucose (for energy) and fat (for fat storage). If the body needs energy, our cells can process the glucose circulating in our bloodstream. As we ‘burn’ those sugars, the body sends signals to the pancreas to produce more insulin.

Our cells absorb the increasing insulin in the bloodstream, which tells them to absorb more glucose. Falling glucose levels stimulate the liver to send more energy to the cells. The liver ‘decides’ between converting more food to glucose, or converts the fats in our body to glucose.

That’s how it works in a well-functioning body.

Our Systems Can Break Down

If we become morbidly obese, this self-correcting mechanism can go haywire. Obese people eat too much food, especially sugars and starches (breads, sugary drinks, candy, etc.). The liver, overwhelmed, pushes too much glucose into our bloodstream. As a result, the pancreas produces more insulin, and the cells end up absorbing both glucose and insulin.

Over time, your cells—brain, muscle, other body cells—becomes oversaturated with insulin. That means that the cells need more and more insulin to evoke the same glucose-absorbing response. This need for more and more insulin stems from ‘insulin resistance,’ or the increasing need of your body’s cells to have insulin in order to function normally.

A good counter to insulin resistance is to exercise. Even if we’re obese, exercise causes the cells to absorb more glucose, and the insulin resistance drops.

Diet and Exercise for the Morbidly Obese

Another way to reduce this problem is to eat less, or eat differently. If we eat fewer starches and sugars, our liver is likely to be less overloaded, and pushes out less glucose. The pancreas is stimulated less to produce insulin, and the cells’ insulin resistance falls.

How about doing both? Even if you retain your body weight, insulin resistance can go down with better diet and exercise. Unfortunately, it is very difficult for morbidly obese people to exercise, and they’re also more likely to eat food that overloads their system, for physical and psychological reasons.

What does insulin resistance do to the body? It narrows the arteries, cutting off circulation in the heart, the lungs, and the extremities. Left long enough, it will permanently damage the pancreas and lead to insulin-dependent diabetes. Diabetes is especially bad for the morbidly obese, who generally suffer from many problems at the same time.

What do you or someone you love do if you suffer from morbid obesity and insulin resistance? Even if you’ve tried to lose weight and can’t, change your diet to reduce sugars. Exercise as much as you can. Your body will grow healthier without any other changes, and your chances of developing chronic diabetes will go down.

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John Lonergan is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Insulin Resistance.

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Tags: diabetes, insulin resistance, obesity

Insulin resistance has reached epidemic proportions in the developed world. Closely associated with obesity, the main causes are too many refined sugars and starches, and inactivity. What is insulin resistance? What causes it, and what can we do to get rid of it?

Although there are certainly pharmaceuticals to deal with insulin resistance, it’s always better to understand the sources of the syndrome and deal with them in a natural way. The good news is that insulin resistance can be reduced or eliminated by a few simple changes to our diet and lifestyle.

How Does Our Insulin-Glucose Cycle Work in a Normal Mode?

Normally, our body produces insulin in response to activity. As our muscles and brain and other cells use energy (through physical activity or brain activity), they naturally absorb more fuel—glucose, for the most part—from the circulating bloodstream. Insulin intensifies this absorption; the more insulin in the bloodstream, the more glucose gets absorbed by the cells.

The pancreas senses this lower glucose level and produces more insulin. That hormone triggers the liver to produce more glucose, and should, in a properly-functioning body, trigger the cells to absorb more glucose. Thus the well-functioning insulin-glucose cycle keeps a balance of insulin and glucose circulating in the body, and adjusts as we are active in order to feed more glucose to the cells.

How Does Insulin Resistance Develop?

Insulin resistance is caused by a combination of two key factors, and made worse by a third. If a person doesn’t exercise very much, their body’s cycle can be pushed awry:

1. The cells don’t take up much glucose, because they aren’t very active (couch potatoes, apply here!).
2. If we eat something, the liver will produce more glucose, which increases the level in the bloodstream.
3. The higher glucose level spurs the pancreas to produce more insulin; the insulin tells the cells “wake up, and take in more glucose!”
4. As the cells don’t need the additional fuel, they cover their ears and say “I don’t believe you, insulin, because I don’t need more glucose.”
5. The result is insulin resistance—cells require more insulin to absorb the same amount of sugars.

Poor diet only makes this cycle worse. The more sugary snacks and refined starches (such as white bread and sugary soft drinks) we consume, the more glucose the liver produces. The liver can’t help it—it can’t convert all those sugars fast enough, so a lot leaks through the system and ends up in the bloodstream.

Seeing all this sugar in the bloodstream, the pancreas produces more insulin, the cells hold their ears and don’t believe the insulin, and insulin resistance gets worse.

What Can We Do Against Insulin Resistance?

The simple answer is: exercise more and eat fewer refined sugars and starches. Neither change needs to be drastic: just cutting out a couple of soft drinks or candy bars between meals can help our glucose levels return to normal. And a brisk walk or even brain activity (no, watching TV doesn’t count) can help the cells to absorb more insulin and glucose. Order is restored to the glucose-insulin cycle.

Oh yes, there is one more think that helps: lose a few pounds. Just 5-10% reductions in body weight can bring us back to ‘normal’ range for insulin use.

So it’s as easy as that? It’s always easy to tell others how to get healthy. But these simple changes in lifestyle will make a huge difference to your chances of developing insulin resistance—and eventually succumbing to Type-2 diabetes.

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John Lonergan is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Insulin Resistance.

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Tags: diet, exercise, glucose, insulin resistance, obesity

Scientists from the National Institutes of Health decided to study the population of Bogalusa, Alabama, in order to draw important conclusions about how that community’s health during childhood, and how those children fared as they grew up.

The first study began in 1982. It included about 16,000 subjects, and measured a great number of variables in order to assess the subjects’ weight, cardiovascular state, diabetic state, blood pressure and heart rate. Most of the subjects were between the ages of 6 and 19.

These patients were then followed in two subsequent visits, one in 1992 and one in 2002. The oldest subject in the data collection is now 38 years old. Although most cardiovascular disease doesn’t appear until one reaches the age of 55, there are already some interesting conclusions one can draw from the data collected in that Alabama town.

It was here in the Bogalusa study that doctors developed what they called “Syndrome X,” or a combination of factors which (1) seemed to go together, and (2) seemed to create problems with heart disease and other circulatory disorders.

Syndrome X consists of four factors: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, overweight or obesity, and insulin resistance. As you might expect, all four tended to go together in the population. If someone had high blood pressure and high cholesterol, for example, they were also likely to be overweight.

The most interesting conclusion from the data was that insulin resistance and obesity seemed to have the highest correlation. The reason for that might be that obesity is a major causative factor for insulin resistance. The medical reason has to do with the mechanism of action of insulin resistance, plus the lack of exercise that particularly befalls the obese person.

The medical reason for the coexistence of obesity and insulin resistance is fairly straightforward: when we eat too much, our livers are overwhelmed, and we pump out too much sugar in the form of glucose into the bloodstream. This higher level of glucose spurs the pancreas to secrete more insulin than it normally would. The increased amount of insulin tells the cells to burn more sugars. Since the cells don’t actually need the sugars in the amount that the insulin is telling them to burn, the cells gradually acquire ‘insulin resistance.’ Put another way, the cells need more insulin to elicit the desired response—to burn more sugar.

If one remains insulin resistant for a longer period of time—say five or ten years—one risks becoming a Type II diabetic. In the past, it used to be true that only obese adults would fall prey to Type II diabetes. Now, however, we are even seeing this affliction among teenagers. The CDC estimated in 2002 that 15% of all teenagers are overweight, as compared to 2/3 of all adults. The more grossly overweight the teen, the more likely that he or she will suffer from insulin resistance, and could contract a lifelong case of diabetes. This disease, formerly unheard-of amongst children and teens, is now growing in epidemic numbers in the United States.

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John Lonergan is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on  Insulin Resistance.

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Tags: bogalusa, cholesterol, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, obesity, syndrome x

PCOS has been until recent years a mysterious scourge of over 10% of women worldwide. PCOS stands for “Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.” Break the term down into its constituent parts, and you understand its meaning:

1. Polycystic means the production of more than one cyst on a woman’s ovaries. In general, these cysts are immature, not resulting in the production of an egg, or ovum, which can be fertilized. There are usually many such cysts at one time.
2. Ovarian means that the syndrome is associated with the ovaries. A conclusive diagnosis can be made by laparoscopic examination of the surface of the ovaries. The physician usually finds cysts that are 5 to 7 times larger than a normal ovarian cyst, generally with a white cap over them.
3. Syndrome means that there are several symptoms which combine to help diagnose PCOS. These symptoms range widely, but can include male-pattern hairiness on the face and the rest of the body, infertility, insulin resistance, overweight or obesity, depression and deepening of the voice.

Many women have gone undiagnosed with PCOS for years because of the multiplicity of symptoms. Some symptoms are congruent with obesity, for example, like insulin resistance and release of testosterone, the male hormone. Others have to do with other forms of infertility—many women are discovered to suffer from PCOS when they and their husbands visit infertility clinics.

The underlying causes of PCOS are not yet proven. This is what makes it so difficult, in some cases, to diagnose PCOS without a definitive laparoscopy. One theory is that women who have PCOS have an underproduction of FSH, or Follicle Stimulating Hormone, from their pituitary gland. A low production of FSH can be tied to a lack of maturity of the ovarian cysts, which in turn lead to reduction or elimination of periods, and the production of many cysts at one time.

If true, the underproduction of FSH by the pituitary may be associated with other pituitary abnormalities, again resulting in a number of symptoms which make diagnosis difficult or confusing.

Just as there are several symptoms and explanations for PCOS, there are also several treatments. The exact treatment protocol depends on the woman, the degree to which the syndrome has advanced, and the subsequent damage that has been done to the woman’s body over a period of time.

In some cases, women will take drugs which stimulate the pituitary to produce more FSH. This provides a direct stimulation to the ovarian follicles to mature, which also reduces the number of them and brings a woman back into normal estrus.

In more severe cases, laparoscopic surgery is recommended in order to manually reduce the number of immature follicles on the surface of the ovaries. This reduction will reduce the overproduction of insulin and testosterone, and reverse the processes of insulin resistance and masculinization that accompany this hormone production.

If the woman’s PCOS has been in place for a number of years, additional drugs may be needed to counteract the effects of heavy insulin production, including glucophage and, in some cases, additional insulin.

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John Lonergan is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on PCOS & Insulin Resistance.

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Tags: Depression, diabetes, Fertility, infertility, insulin resistance, obesity

Diabetes is a scourge on our society. The number of diabetes patients in the US has climbed to an estimated 12-14 million, up from 8 million in 1990. This article will deal with the growth in Type-I and Type-II diabetes in the US, and the effect that diabetes can have on circulatory disease.

The rate of increase is closely tied to the number of obese and morbidly obese people in the US. There are 66 million obese people in the US (obesity is defined as a BMI of over 30%). Nearly a fifth of these people have diabetes today. Left untreated, we can forecast that many with long-term obesity problems will eventually contract Type-II diabetes as a response to long-term problems of insulin resistance.

It’s no coincidence, therefore, that rates of heart disease and other circulatory problems is increasing. What is surprising is, until recently, the rate of heart disease had been declining since the 1950’s. The reason for the fall was primarily due to a reduction in cigarette smoking, from over 60% of the population, to under 25% today.

In addition, we’ve seen an increase in certain populations which are more susceptible to circulatory disease: these maladies are much more common amongst people of Latin American and African-American subgroups. There is a certain correlation between diabetes and circulatory disease. Both African-Americans and Latinos have much higher rates of obesity and heart disease. As those subgroups have grown, so has the overall incidence of diabetes and circulatory disease.

Finally, people are living longer. As we age, we grow more susceptible to circulatory diseases. It is estimated that the number of people in the US over 75 will double between 2005 and 2030.

What is the connection between diabetes and circulatory disease? Cause and effect works in two directions: as we exercise less, we gain weight. With less exercise, we also tend to have higher levels of circulating insulin. These higher levels contribute to an overall increase in insulin resistance from the cells of the body. As insulin resistance increases, the pancreas increases insulin output in order to counteract the problem. A long period of insulin resistance is typically followed by the onset of insulin-resistant Type-II diabetes.

What effect does diabetes have on the circulatory system? Blood vessels thicken throughout the body in response two three factors related to obesity and diabetes:

1. High blood pressure causes a thickening of the arteries
   High circulating LDL and lower HDL ratios contribute to the formation of plaque in blood vessels, which leads to a further narrowing of those vessels
2. Inflammation, which can result from circulating substances such as homocysteine in obese and diabetic patients, leads to higher levels of heart and circulatory disease.
3. The smaller the blood vessels, the greater the damage caused by this thickening and narrowing of the blood vessels. The greatest problem in both diabetics and obese people is with their circulation in the capillaries and their extremities. That’s why we see blindness (as a result of constriction in the capillaries of the eye), neuropathy in the feet and hands, and a reduction in circulation in the brain and heart—all are due to a less-effective circulation and narrowing of the arteries.

Heart disease and circulatory disease are interrelated. It is estimated that 60% of those patients who undergo angioplasty will also need vascular intervention—particularly in the kidneys, iliac, SFA (superficial femoral artery) and femoral-popliteal arteries of the leg. Left untreated, patients are at a much higher risk of heart attacks, strokes, and diabetic foot ulcers.

Diabetes is closely linked to heart and other circulatory diseases. The correlation between the two means that both must be treated in order to improve a person’s morbidity and mortality.

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John Lonergan is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Insulin Resistance & Diabetes.

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Tags: cigarette smoking, circulatory diseases, insulin resistance, obesity, type-2-diabetes