Free Secrets to be a Healthy Women

Free Tips and Secrets for Women who want to live a healthy life

Tuesday, February 9th 2010


Morning Sickness, Pregnancy,
posted @ 4:36 am in [ healthy women - pregnancy ]

Here’s something you may not be aware of… 75% of pregnant women experience morning sickness!! Generally, it is something that women experience in the morning (hence the name) but of course, morning sickness can be experienced at any time of the day! These few tips may help you, and enable you to spend more time planning for your new and beautiful new baby!

1. Have you given time to think about what it is that triggers you in the morning. It could be the smell of coffee or a greasy breakfast being cooked by your partner. When you are aware of it, you have every right to ban it being around as you start the day. The others within the family can make the adjustment to help you to begin the day without that awful sickness.

2. If it makes you uncomfortable and unwell, then don’t force yourself to eat a large breakfast. It is better that you have small snacks of food that you enjoy and are able to hold down.

3. It is worth your while to have some small snacks beside your bed as an empty stomach can often make you feel sick. It may just be some small dry biscuits or any small amount of food which will stop that nauseous feeling.

4. If you are vomiting, then it is good to remember that water alone will not be enough. You will need some sort of sports drink to get your electrolytes back in balance. Make sure that you do not become dehydrated by sipping some drinks. It is wise not to gulp down your drinks as this may trigger the nausea.

5. It is wise to avoid spicy or acidic foods.

6. Generally it is good to stay away from fatty foods. There are exceptions with this one. Some women say that it actually makes them feel better. However, this is generally the minority.

7. It is effective for some women to eat protein to stave off that nauseous experience. Try this and see if it helps you. Each woman’s body is different and will react differently, but it is worth knowing about as this has definitely helped some women in regard to morning sickness.

8. As an added hint, try ginger and peppermint. Even without morning sickness these can help in ordinary stomach upsets. Therefore, it is worth you giving it a try if you’re experiencing morning sickness.

9. Certain pregnancy minerals and vitamins, especially those with considerable amounts of iron can give you an upset stomach during pregnancy. My suggestion is that you take them while drinking a tea and eating a small snack.

10. Acupuncture has been helping some women with morning sickness.

11. Some women have chosen hypnotherapy for help with morning sickness. This may or may not be for you.

Overall this is advice that you may chose to use. Hopefully one or more will be of assistance to you in managing in the best way possible your pregnancy and morning sickness.


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Thursday, December 24th 2009


Causes of Missed Periods Other than Pregnancy.
posted @ 10:57 pm in [ Missed periods ]

Guess what? There are reasons other than pregnancy which can cause a woman can miss her period.

Missing your period may indicate that you have an illness or infection. On the other hand it may be that you are very stressed. This can definitely affect your immune system, cause you to lose sleep and can create a situation where your body is producing hormones that are stopping you from menstruating. However, this is not a lot of cause for concern as once your body has healed of the illness or the reason for the stress has subsided, you will discover a return of your normal menstruating cycle.

Certain changes in medications can cause a loss of your period. For example you may just have changed your oral contraceptive and in this case your cycle can be affected until your body adjusts to the different hormone levels. These days, there are contraceptives available that will stop your period altogether. Perhaps it is that your gynaecologist has prescribed this for you. This is normally something that would be discussed with you when you visit your doctor, but in case it hasn’t, it is good to be aware that this could be a cause of your missed period.

Believe it or not, your body weight can cause you to miss your periods. It is true that the hormone levels of an overweight person can be affected, and so in this instance it may be necessary to lose weight to re-establish normal hormone levels. In contrast to this, some-one who is underweight may also experience lost periods. The reason for this is that body fat is part of the process of regular periods and thus it follows that if you do not have enough body fat, then you could miss your period. The medical terminology for this is amenorrhea. The solution is an obvious one. It is necessary to gain weight. Lost periods can also occur in athletic women as they work-out regularly and thus have a lot of muscle, and next to no body fat.

An added reason for miscalculation may be as basic as having miscalculated It is common for most women to have a cycle of 28 days, but this is not certainly the case for everyone One good gauge is for women to be aware of when they are in ovulation and thus you can expect your period to be two weeks after that time.

If you are in the category of a slightly older woman, then you may have missed your period because of menopause and or perimenopause. At this time it will be quite usual to miss periods until at one time you will discover that your periods stop altogether. Because a woman gets to a stage in her life where she can no longer have babies, there will be a change in hormone levels, and a resulting cessation of her periods. At the time of perimenopause, periods may stop and start for a while as well as being irregular. A rule of thumb is that a woman will no longer get her period if she has not had a period at all for 12 months.


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Tuesday, October 20th 2009


Menstruation and Heavy Bleeding.
posted @ 10:56 pm in [ Menstruation and heavy bleeding. ]

Depending on your age, Menstruation and bleeding can alter quite considerably. If you are aware of what are the causes of heavy bleeding as well as what are the differences in bleeding, then you are more equipped to deal with this properly. So in the following paragraphs, I will outline some of the causes of heavy bleeding which will hopefully make you more informed.

You may be a young adolescent who has just started getting her periods. It is known that this is a time when it will be more likely that bleeding will be heavier. Sometimes side issues, such as low blood pressure, can occur and this needs to be dealt with by a physician.

Also as women age, it is normal that heavier bleeding occurs. In particular, the last few years of menstruation, this can be quite common.

Thirdly, heavy bleeding can be as a result of varying hormonal levels in the female body, depending on various factors such as mood, health and age.

After a woman has had a baby she will often experience heavy bleeding. This is known as lochia and is the woman’s body’s way of cleansing out the uterus and enabling it to return to its former size. It can be distressing as it is often accompanied by cramping and clots. Even though it is normal, it is still worth speaking to your physician about it.

Also, if you use an IUD, you could experience heavy bleeding. Some of the latest IUDs will actually lessen your monthly bleeding, while at times they can cause bleeding to increase. As well, some IUD’s create a situation where your period lasts for longer. Depending on the method chosen to prevent, an IUD can increase and lengthen your period.

Sometimes though heavy bleeding can indicate the presence of certain diseases or health problems and call for prompt consultation with your doctor.

One serious platelet disease called von Willebrand’s disease causes heavy bleeding. This can be accompanied by secondary symptoms such as nose-bleeds or blood in the stools or urine.

Also, other diseases such as Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), cervical polyps and sometimes lupus can cause you heavy bleeding during periods.

It is very important to mention these two following types of cancer which can result in heavy period bleeding. These are Cervical cancer or endometrial cancer and can be detected by a regular pap test. For this reason alone it is important to arrange for these check-ups with your physician.

In other words, heavy bleeding may be part of a normal change that occurs in a woman’s life, or it may be an indication of something more serious which needs urgent attention from a physician.


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Tuesday, September 15th 2009


Healthy Women and Urinary Tract Infections.
posted @ 11:55 pm in [ healthy women and urinary tract infections. ]

An often not discussed, but fairly common problem for women is urinary tract infections or otherwise named UTI’s This can in fact be quite a serious problem for women. It is true that UTI’s are a serious health problem and millions of people suffer from this each and every year. It is known that this infection is the second most common infection in the human body and it is more likely that women will suffer from UTI’s than will men. Figures show that twenty percent of women develop a UTI at least once in their lifetime.

If one were to investigate the whole urinary system you would know that, the kidneys and bladder are an vital part of human health. For instance, the kidneys take away excess liquid and other wastes from the blood and change it into urine. As a result, a stable balance of salts and minerals is maintained in the blood.

As well the kidneys also play an important role in producing a hormone that is partly responsible for the formation of red blood cells. A number of channels between the kidney and the bladder serve to remove the waste products from of the human body.

As a rule, urine is sterile and thus cannot cause an infection. However, occasionally there are bacteria that make their way into the urinary tract system and once there they can multiply quickly. When bacteria multiply, an infection is created. It is true that an infection can begin in any section of the urinary system. The official name for an infection in the bladder is called cystitis.

As a rule, the urinary system is beautifully designed so that severe infections will mostly be prevented. This happens because the ureter and bladder prevent urine from backing up into the kidneys and the urine and as a result of this flow bacteria are removed from the body. Nevertheless, it is still possible that a person can still develop an infection.

It is helpful for women to be aware that if they had three urinary tract infections, then they will develop more. Figures show that 90 percent of these women who have suffered three infections will most likely get another one within 18 months. If you are a woman who has had several urinary tract infections, then you can request that your physician prescribe low dosage antibiotics that can be taken up to half a year at a time. It is also possible for you to take a single dose of antibiotic after intercourse or take a small amount of antibiotics when symptoms occur. The best thing for you to do is speak to your physician about it.

Another alternative to going to the doctor’s or physician would be to purchase a dipstick. These are now available to purchase over the counter. It is found that these dipsticks detect 90 percent of all urinary tract infections when used with the first urine sample after waking.

There are certain actions which a woman can take which will reduce the risk of having another one within a short amount of time. A simple, but important action is making sure you drink a large amount of water each day. Another important thing to remember is to urinate whenever you have the urge, do not hold it in for long periods of the day. Make sure you wipe from front to back after using the toilet. As a result bacteria will not move from the anus area to the the vaginal area and as a result into the urinary tract system.

Another recommendation is to shower instead of taking a bath because water in the bath tub stays too long around your urinary system and as a result can spread. An extra precaution you can take is to cleanse the genital area before you have intercourse. This minimizes the amount of bacteria which will enter your system.

Certain soaps, douches and feminine hygiene products can irritate the urethra area. It is good to be aware of this as you may need to no longer use them.

Pregnant women should know that UTI’s need to be treated immediately these infections can result in premature delivery of the baby as well as high blood pressure. Certain antibiotics are not to be used during pregnancy which makes treating urinary tract infections a little more difficult. Education about this can lead to us all being much healthier women.


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Friday, September 4th 2009


Know Your Ovaries and How They Function.
posted @ 4:05 am in [ Healthy women and ovaries ]

It is amazing how often women do not really have a knowledge of their own bodies, even though it is quite important to do so. Many surveys reveal that the health care that women receive from their doctors is not as satisfactory as the health care that men are able to be given– there is a lot more understood about how illnesses affect men and concerning men’s health than about women’s health concerns. Thus it is vital that as a woman you need to be knowledgeable in your health care and be able to communicate effectively with your doctor as well as asking appropriate questions – and in some cases, expect something to be done. If you educate yourself about your own body, then you will be able to communicate with your doctor in a much more meaningful way.

We tend not to give much thought to learning about our ovaries even though it is really helpful to understand how they work. It is not necessary to have great medical knowledge when it comes to learning about your ovaries. These few tips will help you to gain a better knowledge and you’ll know more about your body and how your ovaries are an important part of your overall health.

If you look at a diagram of the female reproductive system, it is not difficult to see the ovaries. Ovaries are oval in shape and they are at the top of the fallopian tubes, one on each side of the uterus. Mostly women have two ovaries – one on each side – even though it is quite common that women have only one ovary, having either been born that way or having had one removed as a result of a health concern such as cancer. Despite the fact that ovaries are quite small, they play an important function in fertility.

It is understood that the main process that occurs in the ovaries is ovulation. Basically, described simply, the ovaries are the storage facility for your eggs. Your ovaries are the spot that your eggs mature after which they are released each month through the process of ovulation. A single ovary holds about 400,000 follicles, and each one of these follicles have the possibility of developing into fertilizable eggs. During your menstrual cycle, as a result of your estrogen levels decreasing and then the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels increasing, there will be about 10 follicles which develop into properly formed eggs. After this, an increase in estrogen levels causes one of the eggs (which is still within a follicle) to cling to the inside edge of the ovary. When the follicle and egg reach that spot, the ovary and follicle each open and the egg travels down the fallopian tube. When the egg is sent into the fallopian tube, pregnancy can occur at any point until the egg reaches the uterus.

As a result of the ovaries playing a vital part in fertility and the menstrual cycle, it can be that difficulties within the ovaries can cause women many problems. Certain women find that ovulation is painful and even has many symptoms which are similar to PMS and menstrual cramping. Some women often have to endure more severe PMS and periods than do other women and as a result their monthly cycle can definitely interfere with day to day life. Women who have ovulation pain need to be aware that their doctor has medications which can assist them.

Ovarian cysts and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) are two other ovarian related health issues.
The first one mentioned, the ovarian cysts, is a mostly benign growth that develops on the ovaries.
On the other hand PCOS can both be the results of actual cysts and can be the result of hormones. Whether or not cysts are present PCOS patients suffer different health problems, from mood disorders to diabetes and weight gain.

It is important to note that PCOS is not always easy to diagnose but if you feel this is a problem that you are experiencing then it is worth your while to go into your doctor with a record of all of the symptoms that you are experiencing. This alone can be a reason for developing a better understanding of your ovaries.


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Tuesday, August 25th 2009


Getting pregnant and contraceptives.
posted @ 5:51 am in [ contraceptives - pregnancy ]

Perhaps this may not be so in your experience but there is no doubt that surprise pregnancies can be either exciting or devastating.  We derive the name “surprise pregnancies” because, as is fairly obvious, they are that way because they were not planned. Sometimes this may occur when you are  not ready or properly able to care for a baby. You thought you were doing everything correctly by using birth control, but some-how something went wrong. What was it?

Often one could cite  many reasons why you might have become pregnant, and the following will mention six main reasons why your contraceptives might not have worked.
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One of the main problems regarding almost all contraceptive failures are about the improper use of the chosen method. Quite often  it is difficult for women to remember the contraceptive or perhaps it was just something that was forgotten in the moment. Either way, pregnancy was the result.

It is very important that instructions for contraceptives have to be adhered to very strictly. One example of this is that the pill has to be taken at the same time everyday and if there is a cycle to it, it needs to be taken in the exact cycles. As with all medications, contraceptives have instructions and to prevent failure, it is vitally important to read and follow the instructions exactly.  Other contraceptives such as condoms, have basic instruction such as never reuse them; use them properly and check for good condition. As well other contaceptive methods such as diaphragms or cervical caps need to be placed properly into your cervix area and have to have good coverage of your cervix. There are instructions for IUDs, it is important to follow your doctor’s recommendations, advice and it is very important to visit all the required checkups set by your physician’s reception.

Another huge problem is consistency. It is very important to be consistent when using your contraceptive. There is no doubt that you take your chances if you only take the pill on days you remember. One definitely has to take the pill on all days or at least on days of the cycle. Contraceptives must to be taken or used on all days. It is true that there are only a few days that the female body is not fertile and those are very difficult to determine, contraceptives need to be taken as written down in the instructions as well as remaining consistent.

Another reason for contraceptive failure is the broken condom. Broken condoms make up for a small percentage of all surprise pregnancies, but are not as uncommon as you might think. Even though condom makers test their condoms for a great stretch. Nevertheless they can be used improperly or come in contact some sharp object so that it breaks. This isn’t such a common reason for failure, but nevertheless it is one reason.

A fourth reason why that contraceptive you used failed is the use of other medications that might interfere with the contraceptive. Certain drugs and medications can change or reduce the contraceptives power. This mostly happens with certain antibiotics and particular herbs. It is always wise to be aware of what you take or what else you might have to use to prevent pregnancy when having intercourse.

The next relates to ignorance. People believe that they cannot get pregnant while they are having their period. However this is not so. There is no doubt that if  you have unprotected sex while having your period, you can become pregnant.

Finally, another big group of surprise pregnancies comes from nursing moms. That‘s correct. It is a well-known myth that you cannot get pregnant while nursing. But as with so many myths it is not totally true. Nursing does produce certain hormones in the female body that reduce the fertility and it is less likely to get pregnant.  However this does not act  like a contraceptive and getting pregnant is what could result if you do not use proper contraceptives.


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Tuesday, August 4th 2009


Healthy Women and the Menstrual Cycle.
posted @ 7:15 am in [ healthy women and menstrual cycle ]

Life is full of "waxing and waning", "ebb and flow" and healthy women need to tune in to their bodily awareness and understand that it is no different with her menstrual cycle. It is very evident that we experience times of  needing to passive or active, and this will sometimes co-incide with hormonal changes occurring within the body. A woman may or may not need to rest more at the time of your menstrual cycle. The main thing is that she learns to tune into her body's signals and respond accordingly.  Hormone balance can definitely affect how energetic a woman may feel, how emotional she becomes, how well she can concentrate and how she manages in everyday demands of caring for children or work demands. It is my observation that all of this is a major quality as it is evidence of a woman's uniqueness, and if understood correctly, adds to a woman's strength. It depicts the fact that women have the ability to flow with the demands of life, to act in a nurturing and intuitive fashion, and thus need to honour the changes occuring within their body as a reflection of this.

Hormones of course play a major part, and when out of balance can produce numerous problems such as PMS (premenstrual syndrome), heavy periods and fertility issues. Thus we need to address ways of keeping our hormones balanced and one way can be a natural approach by using appropriate herbs. 

Today there are a number of gynaecologists who are trained both medically and as naturopaths who would be willing to assist in recommending various herbs which help balance the hormones so that a woman can lead a better quality of life. Seek advice and work out whether the following amazing herbs would be of use to you.

1.Pulsitta. Certain dried parts of this beautiful flower are used as a tincture can relieve premenstrual tension, inflammation and pain in the ovaries, and suppressed periods amongst other things. NOTE: Never use this plant as a fresh plant though as it is poisonous. As mentioned before though, seek advice of a qualified herbalist as this herb, used correctly, can have amazing benefits.

2.Wild oats, vervain and chamomile… great for relieving tension anxiety and depression.

3. Fluid retention and bloating..    burdock and dandelion leaf.

Numerous other herbs are extremely helpful. It goes without saying, that lifestyle can significantly affect how your body works. For instance, it is a well known fact that sugar reduces the ability of the body to transport hormones around the body as well as having the affect of reducing nutrients, in particular, Vitamin B.

This is but a brief overview, with the intention of encouraging all women to know and appreciate their own body's functioning. Correct education, lifestyle and nutrition adds to their ability to be successful professional women, mothers and friends.  Educated understanding of the menstrual cycle contributes to the liklihood that women will indeed be healthy and honored.


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Friday, July 31st 2009



posted @ 5:52 am in [ WomenHealth ]

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Tuesday, July 28th 2009


Menopause and empowered Healthy Women.
posted @ 7:44 pm in [ healthy women during menopause ]

Have you ever thought of menopause as a time for empowering and being healthy women? It is now likely, and quite possible that women live for 35 to 40 years after menopause, so in many ways it can be quite liberating and indeed "the best years of a woman's life." Why not be one who is enjoying what is often referred to as the springtime of one's life?

The key to anything is understanding, and in regard to menopause it is no different. Historically menopause has so many negative connotations.. but thankfully now that millions of women are part of this "category" these old beliefs are being challenged and heading in a new and healthy direction.

As a woman, understand that change is happening to your body. In the period leading up to menopause, you are experiencing a time when ovarian function is altering, and instead of viewing it as "losing something", you can view it as moving towards a path of greater empowerment.This period of change can last up to thirteen years and can prove quite a challenging time. Advice can be conflicting with questions as to whether or not to have hormone replacement therapy or just to take a natural approach to this. It is crucial to "know yourself"; to listen to your inner guidance; to be very compassionate towards yourself, and to be aware of your personal needs. 

In her book "Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom" Christine Northrup refers to a quote by Farida Shaw. To me, it expresses it perfectly.. "Like an electrical charge, menstruation and the ebb and flow fo energy is an 'alternating current.' During menopause, the flow of energy becomes intensified and steady, like a 'direct current'. We are charged with energy to the degree we have opened ourselves to the wisdom of the Crone." This direct energy is a form of empowerment but definitely needs directing. After all, isn't it at this time a woman seeks a new and fresh identity? Compassion is required for any woman who has experience 'hot flushes' but isn't this itself evidence of a greater surge of power within. There are many qualified and competent practitioners both natural and medical who can work with you as you become sensitive and aware of your changing needs. The main thing to remember is that it is your body and you need to listen both intuitively and physically to your needs.

One piece of advice is that I have is that you are unique and special and that there is no-one else who can fill the role that you do, so let us all be healthy women bringing about a long-needed empowering change in the area of menopause.


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