My hormones are making me crazy!

Every woman will experience a change in hormonal balance from puberty to menopause.  One major difference is how the changes manifest as symptoms.  Some women experience debilitating cramping with menstruation, while others may not.  Menopausal symptoms can vary wildly as well, but traditional treatment for these symptoms seems to be the same regardless of the symptoms.  This can be thought of as getting an oil change for a problem with your radiator.  Both issues can cause your vehicle to not function properly, but the cause or source of the problem is not being addressed properly.

Symptoms associated with hormonal imbalances are:

-         -      Inability to Lose Weight                      -     Hot Flashes                                  -    Hair Loss

-        -       Fatigue                                                 -     Trouble Sleeping                         -    Dry Skin

-         -     Anxiety                                                 -     Depression                                  -    Night Sweats

-         -      Facial hair growth                                -     Breast Tenderness                       -    Irregular Bleeding

-         -     Water Retention                                    -     Heart Palpitations                       -    Vaginal Dryness

-         -      Loss of Sex Drive                                 -     Headaches                                  -    Breast Lumps

In 2002 and 2004 two government-sponsored trials were conducted to investigate traditional hormone replacement therapies (HRT).  Both trials were stopped early because the health risks exceeded the health benefits.  The participants had an increase in breast cancer, blood clots, and/or stroke.   

Another option, many women choose as a solution, is to undergo a hysterectomy.  I, personally, am not a fan of removing parts of my body in order to resolve symptoms.  Surgically removing organs rarely resolves all of the symptoms, and can still result in the need for long-term drug therapy.  Hysterectomies performed at a young age can lead to a lifetime of other chronic health problems; osteoporosis, early menopause, cancer, heart disease, headaches, blood clots.

There are safer alternatives available that thousands of women are utilizing.  The key is to identifying the underlying cause, which when identified can tell us the most effective treatment option.  The underlying factors that can cause these and other health problems include:

-         -     Stress and its effects on the balance of your hormones

-         -     Nutritional deficiencies

-         -     Undetected nerve damage

We are hosting a FREE lecture on April 19^th at 6:30pm, at my office in North Charleston.  You will be able to get more information regarding Balancing Hormones Naturally.  Please feel free to bring a friend, but spots are very limited.  Contact us today to reserve your spot, 843-225-2550 or on our website.  

I want you to live your sweetest year yet!  

Dr. Angela Tharnish

Get your greens

It's time to think further than the lettuce!

When it comes to salads, for me anything goes.  Steak and ground sausage are two of my favorite toppings for a dark green bed of spinach.  If you're trying to add more vegetables to your diet, making a salad into a meal can be as simple as reaching for leftovers.  

Chicken is a common addition for salads, but don't get stuck in only one type of preparation.  Leftover chicken breast from dinner the night before?  Cube it, toss it with your favorite seasoning (garlic, lemon pepper, etc), and a drizzle of olive oil.

One of my favorite salad creations as of late has been a southwestern inspired theme.  I take cooked ground sausage, bell pepper, corn, avocado, and put it with organic spinach.  I use orange juice (yes, juice) as the dressing, and finish it with a sprinkle of garlic and cilantro.  I'm hungry just thinking about it!  I will often crumble corn tortilla chips on top for a little salty crunch.  This salad came about by assessing the leftovers in my refrigerator and getting inspired.   I've used juice and fruit in other salad concoctions before with great results.  Pineapple chunks with spinach, dried cranberries, and almond slices is another favorite of mine.  

I encourage people in my nutrition lectures to take ingredients (preferably low fat, high nutrient content) that they like and mix and match to make their perfect combo.  If you feel like you need a protein to make a meal, add it to the salad.  You'll feel fuller sooner, allowing you to eat less, than if you had eaten the protein by itself.  Plus you'll be getting all of the added benefits of the vitamins and minerals in the vegetables. 

Here are a few guidelines you should follow:

- Choose organic produce based off of the Dirty Dozen list.  Read more here
- Avoid dressings, including low fat dressings.  Try olive oil, juice, or vinegar instead.
- Avoid loading the cheese on your green salad.  It adds fat, and can block some of the absorption of the vitamins in the greens.
- Don't add your dressing until you're ready to consume the salad.

If you would be interested in attending a nutritional lecture at no cost to you, or if you have any questions email me, drtharnish@gmail.com.  

Yours in health and wellness,

Dr. Angela Tharnish
www.charlestonpainreliefcenter.com
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Get Moving!!

After over 10 years of working with people to improve their health, one of the most common hurdles I still see is how to build more activity into their day.  So many people I meet with are stuck thinking that they have to exercise for a hour to get any benefit from it.  This simply is not true.

Think of it this way; you want to take a long weekend trip, and you want to pay cash for it.  You start saving $50/month in order to reach a final goal to pay for the trip.  You still plan the trip even though you don't have the ability to pay for the trip right away.  You "bank" or save the money to reach your end goal.

Exercise can work the same way.  Physiologically you can benefit from "banking" your exercise by breaking it into manageable chunks.  You don't have walk 3 miles or lift weights for 30 minutes in order to reap the many benefits of physical activity.  All you have to do is to get moving for 15 minutes, at least two times per day.  If you can fit in more 15 minute sessions, even better!

In our physical medicine practice we see may people who are stuck in a very dangerous rut.  It hurts them to move, so they stop doing most physical activity, which only compounds and makes their problems worse.  I have encouraged patients to start small.  Do laps around your backyard or in your driveway.  The point is to get up and get moving!  Our bodies were made to move, not sit.  Sitting is literally detrimental to your health, especially the health of your spine.

If you don't feel like you can even walk without pain, sit and stretch your legs out in front of you (then make sure to call me for a consultation because that's not normal!).  Get your body moving as much as you can without pain.

Get out there, and get moving!

Wishing you all the best,

Dr. Angela Tharnish


www.charlestonpainreliefcenter.com

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