Archive for the ‘Women’s Interest’ Category

We’ve all heard about menopause.  We’ve all heard about the symptoms that some women experience: hot flashes, dry mucous membranes, insomnia, anxiety, depression, decreased libido.  We typically associate these symptoms with decreasing levels of hormones: mainly estrogen and progesterone.  While this is true, it is not the whole story.  Our hormonal system is complex, and while we usually think of “hormones” as our reproductive hormones there are several others, all of which have important functions in the body.  When we are thinking of menopause relief we have to look at hormones beyond those of the reproductive system.

The main hormonal system I want to bring to your attention is that of the adrenal glands.  These small glands sit above our kidneys and are comprised of two main sections.  The outer section produces two main hormones important to this discussion: cortisol (2, in figure) and DHEA (3), both are derived from cholesterol (1).  In general, cortisol is active during stress and DHEA is active during relaxation.  More specifically cortisol increases our blood sugar, stores fat around the belly, suppresses the immune system, decreases inflammation and inhibits proper thyroid function.  DHEA, on the other hand, regenerates tissue, restores our energy, improves our mood, increases immune function and builds bone and muscle.

As you can see in the figure, DHEA leads to the production of sex hormones (4).  During and after menopause (5), when the ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone, the adrenal glands step up to take on this job.  BUT, when we are chronically stressed (which is common in our fast-paced, North American society), our adrenal glands are too busy producing cortisol. In fact, your body will choose to produce cortisol over DHEA in the face of chronic stress! This is compounded by a natural decrease in DHEA with age.  Don’t get me wrong, cortisol is an important hormone.  However, when it is chronically elevated at the expense of DHEA then it becomes a problem.  Without DHEA, we cannot produce our reproductive hormones after menopause.  Our menopausal-induced reproductive hormone deficiency is made even worse by our chronic stress!

What does all this jargon mean for your menopausal symptoms? I hope I have made it clear that stress relief is an important part of menopause relief.  Give your adrenal glands a chance to support the normal hormonal pathways. The adrenal glands LOVE routine and the best ways to support them include:

  • maintain steady blood sugar levels.  Eat a small meal containing fiber and protein every 2-3 hours.
  • get adequate sleep at the right time – go to bed at 10 pm in a completely dark room.
  • exercise regularly.
  • avoid stimulants, including sugar and coffee.
  • practice deep breathing, meditation or yoga.
  • consume adequate essential fatty acids, minerals and protein.
  • see your local Naturopathic Doctor for the perfect treatment plan to suit your menopause relief needs.

It is important to support our adrenal glands all the time as they have a big job to perform.  However, it is especially important to support them as we age because their job gets even bigger!

Naturopathic medicine is a safe, effective and natural approach to you and your family’s health.  Naturopathic doctors can and will empower you to live a healthy lifestyle while treating and preventing disease.  Find more information on the services I offer at Arbour Wellness Centre at Nanaimo Naturopathic Doctor.

Just as we were taught to read and write and all about fire and water safety so it should be that we must learn to protect ourselves.  I consider my Martial Arts training a real life skill.  It seems inconceivable and foolish to me that my woman friends have no clue how to protect themselves in the event of an attack nor do they think it’s important enough to learn how.   This is a skill, in my opinion, that should be taught to every child and in particular to girls. 

When I was pregnant with my daughter I remember thinking how am I going to let this beloved child of mine out of my site.  I wondered how I was ever going to let go and let my child walk to the bus stop or go to the park with friends or do any of the many things that young teens want to do without parental supervision.  How could I allow these things without worrying frantically about safety?  I know anything can happen these days but the fact that she was trained in Martial Arts allowed me to breathe far more easily than I would have otherwise. 

I am so thrilled that my daughter, also trained in Martial Arts, was brought up with this skill.  She has never known any different than being able to protect herself.  It is second nature to her.  When she reached the age where her and her friends wanted to walk to a park or to a store her friend’s parents would always ask if she was going.  If the answer was yes then they were allowed.  If not, they were not allowed to go.  It amazed me that these parents relied on my daughter to exhibit common sense and the ability to protect while they never considered ensuring their kids learned these skills.  These parents were always generous in their compliments on my daughter’s common sense and her Martial Arts abilities but somehow they never considered this for their own kids.

A comment that I hear over and over at the dojo (karate school) is in regard to the teenage karate students.  The comment is inevitably what great kids they are.  Not only are they keeping physically active while they are learning to protect and defend themselves but they are learning life lessons in respect, morals and self discipline. How many of our children have positive real life role models?  The Sensei (teacher) and the instructors at the dojo are terrific role models for kids.  The kids meet with these role models on average 3 to 4 times per week.  What better place could they be spending time?

For adults, there is no better way to keep in shape while we learn to protect ourselves.  Many of the adults that I know at my dojo joined the program because their children were already students.  For me this was also the case.  In fact, my husband was feeling so left out while my daughter and I continually discussed and practiced our Martial Arts training that he too became a student.  Shotokan Karate has proved to be an incredible bond between ourselves and our daughter.  We are a Martial Arts family and I wouldn’t want it any other way.  Watch for my blog on Adults Avoiding Injury In Martial Arts.

How many of us woman can say with absolute conviction that we feel empowered?  Do you walk about your community with a confidence and an awareness?  Do you feel strong, capable and even courageous? Are you strong, both mentally and physically?

Have you reached levels of fitness that you didn’t know you were capable of? Are you always learning new and challenging body movements and mental skills?  If you can answer yes to all of the above chances are you are a woman enjoying the benefits of Martial Arts training. 

My Martial Arts training empowers me in my day to day life as you will see from the following story and remember that it is empowering for a woman to know that she doesn’t always have to “be nice and polite”.

I had to meet up with a friend to exchange some paperwork.  We met outside of a local Library.  I parked behind her and went up to her car.  She was standing with her driver door open and we were talking.  I was very aware, the whole time we were talking, of a man pacing up and down the sidewalk on the other side of our cars.  Then I became aware of a young man approaching us from the other direction.  He came up and asked us how we knew his name, which of course we didn’t, it was simply his opener.   My friend started to engage in a conversation with this young person who was wearing a hoodie and had his hands in his pockets.  He said he was hungry and could we help him out.  I told my friend to get in her car it was time to go.  She kept talking to this young man and told him she always helps out the poor and homeless by delivering goods at Christmas time etc.  I was very insistent that she get in her car immediately as it was time to go and he kept trying to engage her in more conversation and he was getting agitated with me because I wouldn’t engage.  I told her again to get in her car, practically having to push her in, and lock her door.  She was trying to be nice and polite all the while not knowing that his buddy was on the other side of our cars and also not knowing or even wondering if he was concealing a weapon inside his pockets where his hands were.  She finally got in her car and the young man was still trying to extract some monies or whatever from us while the other man who I believe was with him was on the other side of our cars.  I walked back to my car keeping my eye on them both and got in and locked the door and we both drove away.  If I hadn’t had marital arts training I might have been very frightened and even engaged in conversation “to be nice”.  That situation may have turned out much differently.  Because of my martial arts training I took charge and I was mentally preparing myself for anything that might happen while also quickly disengaging.

I have been a student of Shotokan Karate for 5 years.  I started at the not so young age of 42.  The only regret I have is that I didn’t start earlier in my life. 

If you are looking to become a more empowered and fulfilled woman then give Martial Arts a try.  Watch for my next blog on “Martial Arts is a Life Skill for Women