Are working women at risk of becoming infertile?

The short answer is yes.

Whether or not it is a reality for you will depend on a few things.

What I have discovered in my clinic and from measuring female saliva hormone levels, is that there is often a rise in testosterone in women that work.

It doesn't seem to be the quantity of work either - ie part time, casual or full time, employed or self employed.

So what role does testosterone play in a woman?

It can

- Improve your mood & memory

- Help with muscle mass, strength and stamina

- Assist with the prevention of osteoporosis

- Increase sex drive

- Make the lady feel good.

Some testosterone is good! Too much is not and can leave the lady feeling angry and irritable, suffering oily skin and pimples, growing unwanted facial hair and may cause infertility.

The infertility comes about as the high testosterone seems to promote the growth of cysts on the ovaries. These leads to a condition called Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome. Currently in Australia numbers for this are ... “..One in ten women of childbearing age has PCOS… PCOS leads to high levels of androgens.. " http://www.womanshealth.gov.au

High testosterone can lead to blood sugar problems and wide girths.

Why are working women at risk. I am not sure of the exact cause at this stage. Which is one reason for setting up the www.byebyebridget.com website. I am hoping to gather information about thought patterns, diets and exposure to things that may elevate a women's testosterone levels. Until then, if you work, be mindful to keep your life in balance. Try to find time for yourself each day. Eat well and exercise. Little daily habits that are ESSENTIAL for balanced hormones.

Why relaxing is as good as prozac

Relaxation or "active relaxation" (as I refer to any activity with the intention to make you feel relaxed) is imperative.

Today while thinking about writing this article, I found myself skating aimlessly around the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) website.

I actually thought I would find lots of supporting evidence backing up some theories (perceptions) that I had. But both appear to be a little mislead. I thought we would be spending more time in leisure activities (not the case) and I also thought that women would be participating in greater numbers in sport (not the case)!

According to article 4153 - How Australians Use Their Time, 2006

Feb 21st 2008; We're spending less time playing, sleeping, eating or drinking and instead are working longer!

Recreation and Leisure activities had decreased by 1 hour and 45 minutes per week, from 1997 until 2006! Nearly 2 hours less, spent on the things we love. That really doesn't make sense to me. No wonder we need prozac.

Active relaxation allows the hormones, cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline to settle and for the glands producing these hormones, the adrenal glands, to replenish.

If you don't give your body active relaxation, you end up run down, inflammed (elevated cortisol levels) which leads to other inflammatory diseases, allergy and depression.

Try to find something easy and convenient that you can do for 10 mins every day.

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Ever wondered why women are becoming cranky – present company excluded of course!

It’s due to hormone imbalances….

Stress, over committing, not enough rest, not enough good food.

Read more about it in Beauty and the Beast Within – NOW AVAILABLE!!!

$24.95 with $2 going to Bravehearts Charity

Do you have a war plan to fight the Common Cold?

I have always said (in my optimistic way) that viruses and bacteria will be the death of man-kind. (Unless we just frizzle and burn off the face off the earth in the meantime due to global warming)!

Read this to make sure you have on hand, at least 5 of my recommended preventative actions!

Happy healthy winter, Sam

How to take pills - my 3 secrets

Often I think about the service I offer people and how I improve their lives.

I can inspire, motivate, give hand-outs etc... but essentially as a health coach and naturopath, I rely on people making some major life changes. Tough stuff if you ask me. I think that is why I admire and respect my clients so much. I have the advice but I don't have to go away and try to make it all work and integrate it into my life.

So last night, as I decided to get ontop of some severe back pain (froggy leaps with the personal trainer), I thought I should take some of my own advice and swallow some pills. Good pills. Omega 3 pills. Good anti-inflammatories but I know with the level of pain that I have been experiencing that I need 8 tabs of the omega 3 alone , each day (NB I only use practitioner only products - the same in over-the-counter tablets would be 10-16 ).

So, reluctantly I line up my 4 tablets. Not many when I know some of my clients take 10 + medications and a handful of supplements (and it is you whom I have greatest empathy for)!

They look like horse pills. Big fat suckers laughing at me while I psych-up to swallow them. At this moment, I reflect on my role as a health care professional. How many times have I said "3 tabs twice a day" etc... Some healers and health professionals are against pill taking and I can see why. In an ideal world, we would all slink away to a health retreat like Gwinganna , and allow nature and food to heal us. But in the ugly world of urban society, we rely on a neatly packed pill!

I manage to swallow 2 of the pills. And they must have triggered that tiny but potent regurgitate reflex. Darn - I still have another 2 tablets.

This is when one has to be creative.

These are 3 of the best ways to swallow pills:

1. have with yogurt or icecream

2. put some water or fluid in your mouth. Put the pills in your mouth and tilt your head forward (ie chin toward your chest) and swallow.

3. If the pills are a capsule, open the contents and mix with jam or in a shake

Good luck and if you are ever concerned about taking pills, let your health professional know. There may be other options that we can offer you,

Sam

When butter is NOT better

This morning I went to buy some butter for kid's lunches.

For anyone still confused BUTTER IS BETTER than some chemical sloshed semi solid matter referred to as margarine! But that is not my gripe today.

Today I am disappointed that Butter is not BUTTER any more. For some reason companies are trying to make it more yellow by putting colours in it, thickeners, softners and taste enhancers!

Leave butter as pure butter please. I try where possible to buy from the markets or farmers that make REAL butter, but obviously convenience won this am as did the local milk bar.

I decided Mainland Butter is the best. Cream, water and salt. HOW BUTTER SHOULD BE!

All you other companies have a lot to answer for about shaping people's bodies and contributing to the Australian obesity endemic via chemical and preservative OVERLOAD on our bodies.