| Pesticides in your food, working long hours, stifling your | | | | an exercise CD or video. But do it! |
| emotions, air pollution: what do all of these things have | | | | 3. Step into the Light. |
| in common? They all contribute to you health (or, I | | | | Get outside into the sun-preferably during non-peak |
| should say, ill-health) as a woman. Infertility rates, the | | | | hours (before10am or after 2pm). It's been proven that |
| early onset of menopause, irregular menstruation, and | | | | sunlight helps to harmonize your hormones and relieve |
| cancers of the breasts and reproductive system are | | | | PMS. Enjoy time in Nature. She has a lot to teach us |
| consistently on the rise. Never before in history has the | | | | about being simple. |
| collective fate of women's health been so precarious. | | | | 4. Supplement. |
| But there's hope. The answers dangle all around us. | | | | If your hormones need more support, take "Vitex" |
| We just need to reach for them. So, today, I'll tackle | | | | (also known as "Chaste Berry"). It's an herb to gently |
| one aspect of women's health: Pre-Menstrual | | | | harmonize the female hormonal system. I take it and |
| Syndrome, also known as PMS. The reason why I'm | | | | swear by it. Try ΒΌ tsp. of the liquid extract first thing |
| choosing to talk is that I feel that it is the first domino | | | | in the morning for 1-3 months to get back on track. |
| that goes down before the rest of them tumble. | | | | 5. Eat Clean & Green. |
| Another way that you can think of PMS is as a | | | | You are what you eat, ladies! Load up your diet with |
| warning bell. What I mean by that is if you experience | | | | dark, green leafy vegetables (I try to eat something |
| PMS symptoms, that's a clear message from your | | | | green with EVERY meal), whole grains, fresh fruits, |
| body that your hormones are out of balance. | | | | legumes, and healthy fats and oils. Cut out all the "white |
| PMS is the first signal. And you better listen to it! During | | | | stuff"-white sugar, white flour, and, in my opinion, dairy |
| an ideal month-when you're exercising, resting, eating | | | | (at least most of it). Not to mention lots and lots of |
| well, being creative, and expressing your emotions-you | | | | water. Invest in yourself and buy organic. It costs more, |
| won't have any PMS. That's right: zero. Zilch. Now, I | | | | but remember, food is your medicine. If you want your |
| don't mean that your life needs to be perfect. Ups and | | | | body to be healthy, you can't be putting poisons |
| downs are inevitable. But how you relate to the | | | | (pesticides) in it 3X/day! |
| tragedies and the triumphs does matter. When you | | | | 6. Remember Cycles. |
| DO have PMS (think cramps, bloating, migraines, lower | | | | This is a big one-and an important part of what I teach. |
| back pain, food cravings, breast tenderness, irritability, | | | | You have to let your body and moods move through |
| and moodiness) your periods will be off -and, down the | | | | their natural cycles. Rest at night and be active during |
| road, so will your whole hormonal system at large. One | | | | the day. Rest during menstruation and be active at |
| day this could exacerbate menopause or lead to more | | | | other times of the month. Being the energizer bunny is |
| serious problems. | | | | the direct route to burn out. Take time to notice the |
| So what to do? Well, I'm a big fan of simplicity. My | | | | moon and look at the stars. |
| own journey to healing (I'm only teaching this stuff from | | | | 7. Express Yourself. |
| experience friends), I've found that LESS is MORE. So, | | | | Your reproductive organs, at whatever age you're at, |
| if you want to take your health into your own hands, | | | | are your "Creative Organs." Write in your journal. Let |
| here are 8 easy ways to get started right now: | | | | yourself create! Write, paint, dance, sing, collage, sew, |
| 1. Breathe Deeply. | | | | speak your mind and your feelings. Remember what |
| When you're under stress or rushing around, most | | | | you loved to do as a child and do it! Keeping it inside |
| likely you're also holding your breath. Get into the habit | | | | only puts a lid on your femininity. It gets trapped and |
| of pausing throughout the day to check in with your | | | | stifled-and then no wonder problems arise. |
| breath. Take deep, full breaths. Let your belly be soft | | | | 8. Turn Yourself Upside Down. |
| and full. | | | | Yoga does amazing things for your hormones-and |
| 2. Get Moving. | | | | your overall health-as a woman. I swear by it. Yoga |
| How often do we hear that we need to exercise? It's | | | | poses remind your body how it was designed to |
| true! You have to get in motion, get circulation and | | | | move and flow-and getting upside down every now |
| energy flowing. Stagnant energy creates illness. If it's | | | | and again is one of the very best to regulate your |
| hard for you to get motivated by yourself, get | | | | hormone. |
| together with a friend, hire a trainer, take a class, get | | | | I hope these help! |