Alternative Menopause Remedies can include coconut water and colour therapy… how far would you go to stop hot flushes?

Here at Stratum C, we are always researching menopause related subjects to find out the latest news and views on how to treat menopausal symptoms, so that we can share our wisdom with you other menopausal ladies. From bird poo facials to vegetable supplements, we have read about the many, sometimes slightly strange, ways we may be able to relieve the seemingly persistent side effects of menopause.

New in today’s findings, some suggestions about how your in take of coconut water, or aloe vera juice (which I can imagine tastes interesting) may help to relieve hot flushes. This was just one suggestion in a list of several unusual ways to find relief from the menopause.

According to a recent article on an American news website (link below), these unusual practices could help to make you feel better. Tips include:

– painting your bedroom blue, as blue is a cool colour and is psychologically calming, therefore encouraging your brain to assume you are in a cooler, calmer environment.

– Japanese fruit – ‘Umeboshi’ – similar to the apricot, is supposed to be good for hot flushes, mood swings and headaches when eaten.

– adding antioxidants and herbal supplements into your diet, which you may say is not that unusual, but it is also not proven to actually make any difference specifically to menopausal symptoms as far as we know (though antioxidants are supposedly a good part of any normal diet).

– A triple daily dose of 4oz Aloe Vera juice mixed with water or fruit juice, or alternatively coconut water, is supposed to help with cooling the body and is apparently good for your liver, though it is also stated that the ‘dosage’ required depends on the person and it is not an exact science.

All these weird and wonderful remedies are worth a try if you are suffering with hot flushes and nothing else is doing the trick. Hot flushes seem to be the worst and least treatable symptom for many women going through ‘the change’. Aside from a recently FDA approved drug, there doesn’t seem to be much else we can do other than experiement with natural remedies and see if mother nature deals us an ace. If you prefer the natural way, then these alternative therapies may be for you, whilst others may wish to stick to the regimes they already have in place.

If you have any tips to share with other like minded ladies, please comment below or visit our forum. You can also find us on facebook by searching Stratumc. Just remember that before you make any big changes to the way you treat your symptoms, always talk it over with a health professional first.

To read the full article referenced above, click the link below:

http://www.cantonrep.com/article/20131025/NEWS/310259926/10112/LIFESTYLE

Australia has banned all sun beds to reduce skin cancer deaths

Earlier this week, it was announced that the Queensland government were banning all commercial sun beds to try and prevent more people from getting skin cancer. Since then, other Australian states have piped up saying that they too wish to support the movement, and it looks as though all commercial sun beds will be banned across the country by 31 December next year.

Research has shown that there is a highly increased risk of skin cancer due to the use of sun beds, compared to those who have never used one. Tests also showed that if you start young, as in before the age of 35, you are 87% more likely to develop melanoma.

Skin cancer is a highly under rated cancer, as many ignore the warnings given by health specialists that advise to protect your skin from the sun at all costs. According to Cancer Research UK, cases of melanoma have doubled in the last decade. The Australian ban was encouraged by other countries that have also banned solariums including Brazil and California. In the UK, only under 18’s are banned from using them, though I wonder if this is enough or if they should be banned altogether considering the damage they can do? Would you use a sun bed knowing the risks could be fatal? Or are you a regular sun bed user who has never had any issues? Follow our thread on Facebook – ‘Stratumc’

For more information on the dangers of sun beds, visit www.sunsmart.org.uk.

To read the recent full article from the Daily Mail, click on the link below:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2473198/Australia-bans-sunbeds-state-bid-slash-deaths-skin-cancer.html

Human evolution to blame for menopause

If you have ever wondered why humans seem to be the only creatures to suffer from menopause, now there is an answer.

A professor at the University of Calgary has been carrying out some research on the menstrual cycles of our close relatives, apes. And she found some rather interesting results. She confirmed that although their ability to conceive withers during old age, they are still able to reproduce right until the end of their lives.

It is thought that over time, as humans have come to live for longer, our eggs have not adapted and we somehow outlive the life of our ovaries.

The research also showed that apes stop sharing food with their young after they stop breast feeding, whereas humans continue to feed and care for their children for many years after breastfeeding ceases. Therefore conclusions were also drawn that suggest female humans develop menopause to give them a break from reproducing and concentrate on the survival of their offspring.

I’m not sure if I would prefer to simply carry on reproducing! But I guess evolution has a way of working things out and evolving in a certain way for good reason… well, I would like to think there is a logic somewhere for the sake of my sanity!

To read the full article from the Huffington Post, click the link below:

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/10/23/menopause-evolution_n_4152113.html#slide=761008

Scientists uncover an immunity defence mechanism in patients with Psoriasis

Science is a fascinating thing. All the time, scientists and doctors make medical advances that help to prolong the life of the human race, and make it as healthy as possible. Recently, a skin specific study was carried out in Germany, that may help to relieve symptoms for many sufferers of the persistent skin condition, psoriasis. Though, the researchers surprisingly stumbled upon some game-changing results when they discovered a secret power in our immune systems, an antiviral protein name interleukin-29.

Thousands of people across the States and the EU suffer from skin complaints such as atopic dermatitis (eczema) and psoriasis. For years these complaints have been treated with creams and such, and it is well known that these types of ailments are classed as ‘viral’ infections, meaning that they cannot be treated with anti-biotics and it is up to your body’s immune system to fight the infection.

Researchers at the University of Medicine in Berlin have discovered that patients suffering from atopic dermatitis, produce less anti-viral proteins than patients that are suffering from psoriasis, which means that they have uncovered a new functionality of the immune system. In psoriasis patients, there is a certain type of anti-viral protein produced that is not present in atopic dermatitis patients, called interleukin-29.

The researchers claim that this discovery could help to create new treatments using the interleukin-29 protein, to treat ailments like psoriasis, but also other viral chronic inflammatory diseases, such as certain lung conditions where viral infection is a factor. This is fantastic news for the world of medicine, and even better news in the world of science, showing that the human body will never fail to surprise us.

To read the full article, click the link below:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131002092257.htm

Hot Flushes Extinguished

Hot flushes are a problem for many menopausal women, never subsiding, ever worsening and seemingly getting in the way of everyday life. For years, many have pondered over finding a solution and thus far, no one has been all that successful. Until now. Doctors in the US may have stumbled upon some new drugs that, once distributed, will help to extinguish hot flushes and help regain a little normality for so many women who are going through ‘the change’.

It is estimated that as many as 2 million women are currently entering menopause, the figures reflected by the ‘baby boomers’ all reaching the appropriate age. Menopause brings many unwanted symptoms, most of which can be alleviated, but hot flushes have always been a thorn in the side of the women sufferers and the doctors trying to help them.

The FDA is said to have recently approved the drug and according to researchers, the drug will not only be effective for hot flushes, but could also help to prevent postmenopausal osteoporosis.

According to the news article below from ‘Dallas News’, Dr. JoAnn Pinkerton said, “This is a very promising time for women who suffer from hot flashes,” who took part in the research involved with creating the new drugs. The findings were presented to the North American Menopause Society yesterday. Let’s just hope that the drugs become available in the UK and even globally too, and this could be the answer to so many hot flush sufferers everywhere. Let’s keep our eyes peeled to see what happens!

http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/2013/10/hot-flashes-are-no-laughing-matter-for-menopause-society-doctors.html/

Sex or Food? Why not have both?

I’m not talking about at the same time…! But more specifically would like to share with you the facts about food that can help you to make the most of your sex life, and improve your skin, moods and general health and well being.

Every woman knows that menopause is inevitable, but the more we learn about it, the more it horrifies us. From wrinkly skin to vaginal dryness, our peers don’t really paint a very good picture of what to look forward to in our 50’s. What we need to remember is that there is a light at the end of the dry and wrinkly tunnel and I would like to share with you some simple steps you can take that will send you on the road to living a fulfilled and healthy lifestyle.

During menopause, the changes in your hormones can often have a detrimental effect on your sex drive. But you shouldn’t let it get you down. There are several benefits from changing your diet that have been linked to increasing your craving for intimacy as well as satisfying your cravings for naughty nibbles.

One of the biggest, yet simplest, lifestyle changes you can make to improve your libido is your diet. A good place to start is to look for foods that contain the essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals that are vital for staying healthy during menopause, and that can also help you find your mojo.

Some delectable ingredients to get your teeth into, that are tasty and rich, but won’t give you that guilty feeling after you eat them, include: salmon, watermelon, dark chocolate, asparagus, oysters, blueberries, pumpkin seeds, garlic, avocado, and peanuts to name a few. These foods contain a range of good vitamins, minerals and essential fats (not like saturated fats but natural fats that your body needs to survive) that will keep you stay healthy and give you that added stamina for some extra curricular activity with your partner.

For the sweet tooth, blueberries, which are full of antioxidants and vitamins A, C and E, improve your skin and also help to build your immunity. They also improve circulation, encourage better blood flow. For the savory fan, salmon is full of omega oils, which can boost sex drive, brainpower and also improve your complexion. These are just a couple of the possibilities of the tasty foods available, to read more, click on the link below and find out how a spectrum of different delicious possibilities can help you make dinnertime and bedtime that little bit more interesting, but also keep you looking and more importantly, feeling young day-in, day-out.

http://www.health24.com/Diet-and-nutrition/Nutrition-basics/10-foods-to-boost-your-libido-20120721

Linda Barker is the new face of Stratum C Menopause Skin Care

Stratum C is the new range brought to you by Forme Labs Ltd. Based on research by Professor Ian Hamley at Reading University, Stratum C products contain a combination of 6 different peptides that work together to generate natural collagen production in your body, which in turn reduces wrinkles and makes your skin look and feel younger. The range is especially effective during menopause as this is the time when your body stops producing it’s own collagen and needs a helping hand. It is integral to take extra care of your skin during the 5 year period from the start of menopause, as this period of accelerated aging can cause deep wrinkle formation.

Stratum C have recently had fantastic feedback from a celebrity user, who has said that Stratum C is “…my secret beauty tip for staying younger, looking and feeling great into my fifties.”  TV presenter and interior designer Linda Barker has spoken of the challenges of going through the Menopause.

Famous for her healthy diet and lifestyle, Linda has been careful to ensure that she researched the best approach to this time of life.

“One of the big surprises was the impact of Menopause on the skin.  I didn’t realise that hormonal changes didn’t just affect moods, hot flushes and weight but that also my collagen levels would drop dramatically leaving my skin dry, weak and dull.

With my television career I want to protect my skin during the menopause from wrinkles and excessive ageing.  Who wouldn’t?  I found Stratum C and was impressed that it was created just for menopausal skin so it contained all the ingredients that I needed.

It even has a breakthrough technology allowing my own skin to increase its collagen production leaving my skin feeling hydrated, plumped and rejuvenated.  What surprised me most was that I chose Stratum C for the science but the cream and serum are some of the most luxurious, rich and lovely feeling face creams I have ever used.  For less than £1 a day, this cream delivered great results when I needed it most, I’d say it’s my secret beauty tip for staying younger, looking and feeling great into my fifties.” – Linda Barker.

To read more about Linda Barker and Stratum C, please visit www.stratumc.com.

New Science proves menopause does not mean you cannot conceive

Doctors in Japan and the US have made a breakthrough discovery that it is possible to conceive AFTER menopause. One baby has been born using this procedure and another is said to be on its way.

The doctors have made it possible for women to have children, after they have already experienced a natural menopause. The procedure is said to be “a technique to ‘reawaken’ the ovaries” in women who have experience early menopause due to having insufficient ovary functionality or “running out of eggs”.

This fascinating new technology could be a “game-changer” in the future of medical innovations and has the potential to bring motherhood to hundreds of women who have been unable to have children previously.

To read more about the article from the BBC, click on the link below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24332772

If you have had trouble conceiving or have experienced an early menopause, you can find help and support by visiting the NHS website and also The Daisy Network for people to contact and useful information.

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/menopause/Pages/Prematuremenopause.aspx

http://www.daisynetwork.org.uk