Tag Archive for: mood disorders

Benefits of Progesterone

Benefits of Natural Progesterone

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Benefits of Natural Progesterone 

I suffered until my 30’s with horrific mood swings, anxiety, hot flashes, insomnia, heavy flow, bloating, and weight gain. These issues can cripple women at a time in our life when we should be our most productive and confident. I would miss work for 1-2 days a month because I couldn’t leave the house. My flow was so intense, my cramps were unbearable and it would flare my IBS! Not only did I not leave my home, some days, I barely left the bathroom. It was miserable.

You may have researched and discovered an overwhelming number of products available to you, as well as an abundance of “social advice.” Making the best choices for your body is something that should never be done without professional help to understand what your body is really in need of. Organic progesterone cream is a natural way to better balance the hormones in your body.

Progesterone is a hormone that has multiple roles in your body. It affects every tissue in the body. These include the uterus, cervix, and vagina, the endocrine (hormonal) system, brain cells, fat metabolism, thyroid hormone function, water balance, bone cells, and energy production, to name a few. Though referred to as a sex hormone, progesterone conveys no specific secondary sex characteristics and as such cannot be called a male or female hormone.

Why does Progesterone Cream Work so Efficiently?

Progesterone cream is a highly fat-soluble compound exceedingly well absorbed when applied onto the skin. According to hormone researcher David Zava, Ph.D., progesterone is by far the most lipophilic, or fat-loving, of the steroid hormones. It circulates in the blood, carried by fat-soluble substances such as red blood cell membranes. It readily filters through the saliva glands into saliva where it can be measured accurately. Only 20 to 30 percent of progesterone in the body is protein-bound and is found in the watery blood plasma where it can be measured by serum or plasma blood tests. However, only 1 to 9 percent of this progesterone is available to the body for use. That is why saliva testing is a far more accurate and relevant test than blood tests in measuring bio-available progesterone. This saliva testing is something we would highly recommend and utilize in our practice to accurately identify how much progesterone cream you would use.

Why is Natural Progesterone Necessary after Menopause?

The fall of progesterone levels at menopause is proportionately much greater than the fall of estrogen levels. While estrogen falls only 40 to 60 percent from baseline on average, progesterone can decline to nearly zero. Furthermore, irregular periods in premenopausal women can cause low progesterone levels on and off throughout the premenopausal years. Even a woman with low estrogen levels can have estrogen dominance symptoms if she does not have any progesterone. We can also have excess estrogens because of what we are exposed to through pesticides, plastics, industrial waste products, car exhaust, meat, soaps, and much of the carpeting, furniture, and paneling that we live with indoors every day. All these factors increase the risk of having imbalanced hormones.

Benefits of Using Natural Progesterone

Here is a list of areas of your health supported by using natural progesterone:

  • Helps protect against fibrocystic breast disease
  • Helps use fat for energy
  • Natural diuretic
  • Natural anti-depressant & calms anxiety
  • Prevents cyclical migraines
  • Promotes normal sleep patterns
  • Facilitates thyroid hormone function
  • Helps normalize blood sugar levels
  • Helps restore normal libido
  • Normalizes zinc and copper levels
  • Restores proper cell oxygen levels

Over the years I have learned how important it is to use premium products that are in as pure and organic forms as possible to receive the most benefit. One of my favorite brands is Organic Choice Progesterone cream. Organic Choice is made with and without phytoestrogens. Register for my free dispensary of 20,000 products and I’ll provide a discount for you as well.

How to Use Progesterone Cream

Applying this cream once or twice a day can be a simple solution to helping your hormones rebalance. We recommend using it about 30 minutes before bedtime as it provides a relaxing effect that may help you fall asleep. The amount will vary based on your hormone levels but most women can safely start with 20mg. For menopausal women, use it for 25 days each month and take a 5-day break. For pre-menopausal women, use on days 12-26 of your cycle.

By choosing Organic Choice Natural Progesterone cream, you are deciding to help your body in the best way possible to help you with the many issues women face.

Please contact us if you would like more information on hormone testing options to know if your body would benefit from a natural progesterone cream.

 

Beating Seasonal Affective Disorder

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Beating seasonal affective disorder naturally is possible. As I write this, the weather is cold and gloomy and a steady rain is falling. Don’t even get me started on the fact that it gets dark at 4:30 p.m. now.  I just want to curl up and nap on the couch with my blanket and my puppy dog. Do you find yourself struggling as the days are shorter and you are exposed to less and less sunlight?

It is not unusual to experience some changes in energy levels as we move into fall and winter. However if you find that your symptoms are pronounced and you are having trouble functioning, you might be suffering from seasonal mood imbalances or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Symptoms for SAD vary greatly and can include:

  • Feeling sad or depressed
  • Oversleeping
  • Appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates
  • Weight gain
  • Tiredness or low energy

One cause for mood imbalances is a decrease in serotonin, a neurotransmitter or brain chemical, that is responsible for the overall sensation of well-being, as well as regulation of the sleep-wake cycle.

Yet another cause can be a Vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is not really a vitamin at all but a group of steroid-like substances that we can make from cholesterol if we have adequate exposure to sunlight. In the wintertime, we often don’t get enough exposure to UVBs from sunlight in such a way that we have the opportunity to make enough Vitamin D. A lack of Vitamin D3 can therefore lead to depressive symptoms, as well as compromise our ability to absorb critical minerals like zinc, magnesium, calcium, iron, and phosphate.

Let me share safe methods to help you conquer the blahs and blues.<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Verilux-HappyLight-Adjustable-Brightness-Countdown/dp/B07TBCFL6B?crid=2DMM9BMHKNO1G&keywords=verilux+happy+light&qid=1671823151&sprefix=verilux%2Caps%2C111&sr=8-6&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.006c50ae-5d4c-4777-9bc0-4513d670b6bc&linkCode=li2&tag=berenewedwell-20&linkId=70b4ce8214c06e93a127834de91aa767&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B07TBCFL6B&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=berenewedwell-20&language=en_US" ></a><img src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=berenewedwell-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=B07TBCFL6B" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

Sun lamps or light therapy. One natural method for achieving balance is by using light therapy that contains full-spectrum 10,000 lux intensity. 10,000 lux is the recommended light intensity to reset your circadian rhythm and improve your well-being. Research has shown that infrared light is effective in increasing the production of serotonin, that feel-good brain chemical we discussed earlier. I own a Verilux HappyLight and use it 30 minutes per day first thing in the morning in the fall and winter. You may not want to use it later in the day or evening as it may disrupt sleep.

Vitamin D3 Have your Vitamin D levels tested so you know the appropriate level of supplementation.  We offer several options from vegan, to easy to take liquid or capsules of Vitamin D3. In addition, please keep in mind that if you eat fish and eggs, you can get some of the vitamin D that you need from clean, wild-caught (not farm-raised) fatty fishes like salmon, or mackerel, and the yolks of eggs from pastured chickens that haven’t consumed genetically modified feed. However, with severe Vitamin D deficiencies, food may not be enough to bring your levels up to balance your body.

Fun, Sweaty Activity Some call it to exercise but I like to keep it fun! Do something physical daily that makes you happy like tennis, walking, golf, riding bikes, or restorative yoga. Even 15 minutes of walking per day can have a positive impact on your emotional health along with the many physical benefits.

Essential Oils  There are so many oils that I use to help calm or lift my mood. Here are some of my favorites and I encourage you to use multiple oils together for a powerful synergy.

    • Uplifting mood – Orange, Grapefruit, Lemon, Frankincense
    • Destress – Lavender, Bergamont, Lemongrass, Frankincense
    • Motivation and energy – Peppermint, Rosemary, Basil, Melissa

Eat Whole Clean Foods – When I switched to a predominantly organic diet, my health status improved dramatically. Moving away from toxic, packaged processed foods wasn’t serving my body or my mind. It is worth the extra money to invest in your health upfront by choosing organically grown food. Grabbing an organic apple, pear, or carrot will not only feed your body and mind but detox it at the same time. You’ll digest better which creates a healthier gut. You’ve probably heard the gut-brain correlation, well it’s true. Regulating gut flora with whole, clean foods is a positive step toward building a solid foundation for health and preventing SAD and many other diseases.

Are you impacted by seasonal mood imbalances? If so, what have you found that helps? We’d love to help you save money on high-quality healthcare professional-grade supplements. Check out our wellness store to shop 16,000 products with over 350 brands.