(December 11, 2008) — Scientists have demonstrated that sugar can be an addictive substance, wielding its power over the brains of lab animals in a manner similar to many drugs of abuse. Researchers found profound behavioral changes in rats that, through experimental conditions, have been trained to become dependent on high doses of sugar. Lab animals that were denied sugar for a prolonged period after learning to binge worked harder to get it when it was reintroduced to them. They consumed more sugar than they ever had before, suggesting craving and relapse behavior. … > full story
Problems managing polycystic ovarian syndrome? It may not be due to lack of willpower. Instead, you could be Insulin Resistant, a root cause of PCOS. Scientists at the National Institutes of Health, Stanford University and other research centers have clearly identified the existence and effects of Insulin Resistance, a biochemical condition that can cause excessive weight gain and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.
PCOS and Insulin Resistance
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a hormonal imbalance linked to the way the body processes insulin after it has been produced by the pancreas to regulate blood sugar (glucose). Insulin Resistance could be caused by:
Over time, the above factors have damaged the complex ability of the body’s cells to properly utilize insulin to convert glucose to energy. This process creates Insulin Resistance.
Insulin Resistance vastly reduces the insulin sensitivity of cells, which impairs the processing of glucose through the cell wall for conversion to energy. As a result, glucose remains in the blood stream, causing elevated levels of blood sugar, which are sent to the liver. Once there, the sugar is converted into fat and stored via the blood stream throughout the body. This process can lead to weight gain and obesity, key factors in creating PCOS, which is also referred to as Polycystic Ovarian Disease or PCOD.
Insulin Resistance can also cause PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) is by raising insulin levels in the blood stream. Unhealthy lifestyles and genetic conditions can lead to the pancreas overproducing insulin. This excess insulin stimulates the ovaries to produce large amounts of the male hormone testosterone, which may prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg each month, thus causing infertility. High levels of insulin also increase the conversion of androgens (male hormones) to estrogens (female hormones), upsetting a delicate balance between the two and having a direct effect on weight gain and the formation of cystic follicles or ovarian cysts.
Symptoms of PCOS
The symptoms vary widely from woman to woman. Because the symptoms vary so widely and not all women display all the symptoms, doctors very often misdiagnose PCOS. This became an issue of critical concern after a study in 2000 found that women suffering from PCOS have a higher risk of coronary heart disease.
polycystic ovaries
irregular or completely absent periods,
Hirsutism (excessive facial or body hair),
Alopecia (hair loss),
obesity,
acne,
skin tags (raisin-like growths on the skin),
Acanthosis Nigricans (brown skin patches),
exhaustion or lack of mental alertness
decreased sex drive.
high blood pressure
high levels of LDL “bad” cholesterol
atherosclerosis, which occurs when fatty deposits called plaque cling to the interior walls of the arteries, leading to blockages that can cause heart attacks or stroke. Not only do PCOS sufferers have higher rates of plaque buildup but those over 45 have thicker deposits of plaque.
up to 40% of women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome have either impaired glucose tolerance or Type 2 Diabetes by the age of 40.
Posted by : Goral Gandhi, MSc, Laboratory Director, Rotunda – Center for Human Reproduction (Pvt) Ltd, full article
When the leaves fall, do your airways constrict and sinuses congest? Do your throbbing headaches prevent you from enjoying the fall colors? I remember when my eyes would tear up so badly that a film would cloud my vision and cover my contact lenses. It’d make everything from driving to reading difficult. So, I’d wear my glasses, wipe my eyes and hope for the best. That is, until infection set in.
What if you’re allergic to grasses? Don’t worry, for most people Shaklee’s alfalfa isn’t allergy causing because we only use the leaves, not the stems of the plant. Also, we only use mature alfalfa leaves so the root systems go deep into the soil. Why is this important? When you take our alfalfa, you get the trace minerals found deep within the earth which can raise your immunity.
Take acidophilus to thin intestinal mucas. Much of the immune system effectiveness is in the intestine.
Hydrate with purified water to thin the mucas and avoid infection.
Avoid mucas producing foods like dairy.
If congested, irrigate the sinuses immediately. This removes excessive thick mucas, kills infection and reduces inflamation.
