Gut Health, Hormones, Gingivitis, Magnesium
In This Issue:
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- Sunshine and Gut Health
- Women’s Hormone Balance
- More About Magnesium
- Prevent Gum Disease
You’ll Find More Fascinating Health Posts my Facebook Page –
facebook.com/HealItAll/ – and lots of great recipes in my
Whole Foods Plant-Based, Gluten Free Diet & Recipes Group
Message from Bernadette Wulf
Greetings!
Guess what I’ve been up to lately – making fuzzy felt critters with nothing but loose wool and felting needles. I find it to be very therapeutic.
I’ve always loved creating three-dimensional art, so needle felting is definitely my idea of fun… as long as I don’t poke my fingers. Those needles are sharp!
BTW, if you are interested in felting, check out your local farm sanctuaries or humane, no-kill, sheep farms that sell ethically harvested wool. The sheep need to be sheared anyway when the weather gets warm, so you won’t be harming any sheep.
What’s Going On?
I don’t know how it is for you, but I feel like lots of changes are in the works right now. Maybe it is the ending of the year/decade, or all the recent and upcoming planetary aspects, but it feels like time to let go of the old and welcome in the new – even if we are not yet sure what that new will be.
For me it feels a bit like life is standing still. It’s not a bad feeling. Life is pretty nice just the way it is, but I have a feeling things are about to change – maybe in a big way, or maybe in lots of small ways. Time will tell!
This month we have a fascinating article about how sunshine can improve gut health, some great tips on navigating menopause and other times of female hormone fluctuations, healing gum disease, and yet another reminder about the importance of magnesium in our daily diet.
Wishing you the very best for the Yuletide holidays and the coming new year. I wonder if we will be stepping into our own version of the Roaring 20s, or creating new ways of solving all the problems we face on planet Earth. Whatever the future holds, I’m sure it will be very interesting – and, though we may have a bumpy ride ahead, my sense is that a positive outcome is in the works.
I would love to hear what you want to read about. Feel free to send your requests, suggestions, questions, or any sort of feedback. I always appreciate hearing from my readers – Please do not reply to this email, but use this link Email Bernadette to contact me.
To your health and happiness!
Bernadette Wulf
HealItAll.com & Plant Based for Life
Sunshine and Gut Health
What if you could improve your gut health just by lounging in the sunshine? Turns out that actually seems to be possible. I would love to see more studies about this, but it seems that sunshine can enhance our nutrition almost effortlessly. From naturalhealth365.com:
After the UV radiation sessions, all women saw improvements in their serum vitamin D levels. But the women who were deficient in vitamin D prior to the sessions also developed better balance and diversity in their gut microbiomes. In fact, their gut health improved to match the women who had been supplementing with the gut-healthy vitamin for three months!
This evidence, the authors conclude, “[suggests] the existence of a novel skin-gut axis that could be used to promote intestinal homeostasis and health.”
If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, this might not be the best time of year for sitting outdoors with much of your skin exposed, but remember this for those upcoming sunny days. Sometimes it’s the simplest things in life that have the most positive impact!
Read more about sunshine and gut health – https://www.naturalhealth365.com/sunlight-exposure-gut-health-3180.html
Women’s Hormone Balance
Are your hormones out of whack? Hot flashes, weight gain, brain fog, insomnia, aching muscles, and night sweats are all symptoms of hormone imbalance that can be common during menopause. Though some claim that it is “normal” to experience all these symptoms, the truth is that many women in other parts of the world do not experience them at all.
In countries where women eat mostly vegetables and complex carbohydrates, and much less fat and animal products, menopause tends to be uneventful. Animal products contain natural hormones from the animals as well as those that are fed to them for faster growth. Both can upset the delicate balance of women’s own hormones, so even “natural” pastured meat and dairy can be problematic.
It is important to avoid eating out of plastic containers that contain hormone disrupting phytoestrogens. In fact, environmental toxins of all kinds can also adversely affect hormone balance.
Another issue you may want to consider is your weight. Menopause seems to be the one time that gaining a little extra weight can be a positive factor. It seems that putting on an extra ten pounds is nature’s way of keeping hormones balanced during the change of life. Sticking to a weight loss diet might be one of the worst things you can do while you are trying to avoid the typical menopause symptoms.
Of course, nutrition is always very important. Here are some important nutrients you will need to consider for ideal hormone balance – from thewholejourney.com:
Vitamin C
Fatigue can be a huge issue during this time of transition. A water-soluble vitamin, which is known to support the immune system (as well as the adrenals and HPA-axis), vitamin C is essentially the backbone to collagen production and necessary for mitochondrial health (also known as energy production).
Magnesium
[ ] Magnesium is well known for its benefits of muscle relaxation but is needed for so much more.
Magnesium also supports:
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- Adrenal and thyroid health
- Estrogen detoxification
- Glutathione production
- Production of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin
[ ] When choosing a magnesium supplement, we recommend glycinate or magnesium oil.
B Vitamins
B6, B12, niacin, thiamine (B1), pantothenic acid (B5), biotin, and folate (B9) are essential for energy, mood, and cognitive function. [ ] we typically recommend a high-quality B complex. Buyer beware, as not all B vitamins are created equally. We want them in a methylated form so that our body can fully utilize and reap the benefits.[ ]
Vitamin E
This fat-soluble vitamin serves as both a vitamin and an antioxidant, which supports our brain, hormones, and heart. A 2007 study showing the benefits of vitamin E looked at a control group of menopausal women taking vitamin E for a period of 4 weeks. The results show a significant difference in the reduction of hot flashes in the group of women taking vitamin E when compared to those who were not. [Fresh sunflower seeds are the best source of vitamin E that I’ve been able to find. Include them daily. – Ed.}
Read more about balancing women’s hormones – https://thewholejourney.com/holistic-menopause-treatment-101
More About Magnesium
Magnesium is one of the most important nutrients of all, yet it is often deficient, particularly in people who do not eat plenty of leafy greens and beans.
Unfortunately, studies note that about 50 percent of the people in the United States and Europe get far less than the recommended amount of magnesium. It is important to know that magnesium levels in soil are lower than they used to be. Plus, the use of chemicals such as fluoride and chlorine in water make magnesium less available. In addition, daily use of sugar and caffeine also deplete magnesium supplies within the body.
A high-stress lifestyle can also lead to magnesium deficiency, contributing to heart disease, high blood pressure, migraines, PMS, calcium deficiency, anxiety, muscle cramps, or even type 2 diabetes and poor memory.
Best sources of magnesium are dark leafy greens, beans, seeds, dark chocolate, whole grains, nuts, avocados, and bananas. Top recommended magnesium supplements are magnesium glycinate or Calm brand unflavored magnesium (not the calcium/magnesium combination).
Read more about how to get your magnesium – https://thenutritionwatchdog.com/top-7-benefits-of-magnesium
Prevent Gum Disease
Gum disease or gingivitis is no laughing matter. It can not only cause loss of teeth, but can also contribute to heart disease. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent and even cure it. Here are a couple of tips to get you started – from naturalhealth365.com:
Vitamin C can both prevent and reverse gum disease. One study involved subjects suffering from periodontal disease who normally consumed only about 25-30 mg of vitamin C each day. Provided with an additional 70 mg of the vitamin, they showed marked improvement in gum health after just six weeks.
According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vitamin D is also associated with decreased risk of gum disease. [ ]
Those exhibiting the highest blood levels of a vitamin D metabolite were less likely to show signs of gingivitis. It’s thought that vitamin D’s anti-inflammatory effects help to decreases susceptibility to gum disease.
Antioxidants and probiotics can also help fight gingivitis. Click here for more tips on preventing and healing gum disease – https://www.naturalhealth365.com/signs-of-gingivitis-3207.html
New Earth Ambassador & Faery Emissary
Sharing Health, Wealth & Faery Magic to Uplift the World!
What I love best is creating opportunities for people to tap into the New Earth reality — a reality of harmony, cooperation and prosperity for all. I call it the New Camelot!
I still recall the thrill of discovering how to break through the confusion and angst of living in the old 3D Matrix. That’s when I realized I had found something far more valuable than money or worldly “success.”
So now I spend my time creating courses, blogs and tools to support the citizens of the New Camelot in their ongoing quest for more vital health, abundant wealth and the magic of the faery realm (which is woven into the fabric of the New Camelot like silver threads of wonder).
I am also passionate about protecting Nature, educating people about a healthy whole plant foods diet, artistic creativity, connecting with the faery realm, Celtic and Arthurian lore, writing, painting and gardening.