Maca Powder: The Perfect Food For Hormone Imbalance, Anxiety, Energy, Sleep, And Libido

Maca comes from the brassica (mustard) family, similar to turnip, cabbage, and watercress. This superfood was first used by the Incans who grew this hearty plant high in the Andes Mountains of Peru.

The Incans valued maca, which they commonly called Peruvian ginseng, for its incredible sources of vitamins, minerals, proteins, fiber, carbohydrates, tannins and amino acids, as well as a number of complex alkaloids and up to 20 essential fatty acids, along with numerous other phytochemicals.

I really think that you’ll be amazed when we tell you that the Incan imperial warriors regularly ate maca prior to battle to help increase their “fighting spirit,” strength, stamina, and libido. Although relatively small, this vegetable was so potent that its use was restricted mainly to royalty and their court. Incans respected the value of this plant so much they even used it as a form of payment.

Even today, many athletes and even bodybuilders still use maca to help build their strength, stamina and overall performance.

But, ladies and gentlemen, you should know that maca has another, lesser known benefit that researchers are only beginning to understand. This potent vegetable has the ability to balance hormones, which makes it invaluable for both men and women in various stages of life.

According to the experts, maca is especially good for women during menopause. Take a look at the article below and find out more about this.

Maca for Women

1. Regulates Hormonal Imbalances

First of all, you should know that maca is considered to be an endocrine adaptogen. Maca doesn’t contain any hormones, but it does contain the necessary nutrients to support normal hormone production within your body.

One of these nutrients is DIM (Diindolylmethane), a phytochemical that is found in many cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, brussels sprouts, and cabbage. DIM has been found in numerous studies to greatly improve hormone balance (both estrogen and testosterone) in both men and women.

Maca is also effective against some forms of cancer. A recent study has revealed that maca can help to normalize hormone levels by working with your endocrine system.

For women, maca can be a lifesaver, especially when most conventional options typically involve synthetic forms of hormones that are proven to be dangerous, even causing such things as ovarian cancer, stroke, and asthma, among other things.

Bottom line – maca provides the nutrients your body needs to naturally produce its own hormones to effectively restore balance. The conventional hormone treatments introduce synthetically made chemicals that can wreak havoc on your endocrine system. Hormone regulation is vital as these substances are responsible for virtually every process in your body.

2. Reduces Symptoms of Menopause

As we said, maca can help you balance your hormones, which means that it’s extremely helpful for women to reduce the typical symptoms associated with menopause.

A recent study has discovered that maca can help to alleviate the negative physiological and psychological symptoms experienced by women in perimenopause, such as the frequency of hot flashes, the incidence of night sweats, interrupted sleep, nervousness, depression, and heart palpitations.

The lead researcher said:

“It appears that Maca-GO may act as a toner of hormonal processes, leading to alleviation of discomfort felt by perimenopausal women, hence, its potential use as non-hormonal alternative to HRT program.”

Another study revealed that for women, maca is able to successfully restore hormone balance. The researchers have concluded that the changes in hormone levels was accompanied by a substantially-reduced feeling of discomfort associated with menopause.

Unfortunately, many women complain of “brain fog” during menopause, which has been linked to fluctuating hormones levels. Maca can improve this type of memory loss and it’s a potent neuroprotective agent, which makes it a potential treatment to help prevent or slow disease, and possibly, even in the case of injury, halt or at least slow, the loss of neurons.

3. Lowers Cholesterol Levels

You should know that maca is loaded with plant sterols, including sitosterol, campestrol, ergosterol, brassicasterol, and ergostadienol. According to the experts, these chemicals are essentially the equivalent of the cholesterol found your body.

These sterols help to form the cell membranes in plants. YES, there are different types of plant sterols, but they all have a similar chemical structure and have been shown by researchers to help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol in humans as well as combat three of the most common types of cancer.

4. Lowers Glucose Levels

Study has revealed that after just two weeks, subjects who took maca experienced significantly improved glucose tolerance, and lowered levels of glucose in their blood.

5. Reduces High Blood Pressure

Study confirms – maca can significantly inhibit the hypertension relevant angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE).

Maca for Women… And Men?

– Reduces Prostate Size

As we said, this super healthy powder is very beneficial for men as well. Study – a specific type of maca (red maca) can suppress prostatic growth and even reduce prostate size, which makes it a valuable tool for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a problem older men often face.

A group of experts have revealed that maca may be as potent as finasteride (a popular drug used to treat BPH) in reducing prostate size.

– Increases Fertility

Maca can also be a potential treatment for male infertility, especially if it is a result of lead exposure. Maca can effectively improve sperm production and motility.

Source: www.InTheHouseOfHealth.info

11 Reasons Why You Should Consume Beetroot Every Day!

Beetroot is one of the healthiest vegetables in the world. It’s a nutrient-dense super-food packed with essential nutrients. It’s a good source of vitamin A, B vitamins, vitamin C, iron, potassium, manganese, fiber, copper, zinc, selenium, phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium. It’s also packed with powerful antioxidants like flavonoids, phenolic acids, carotenoids, betalain, and anthocyanin.

Although available all year round, this root vegetable is sweetest and most tender during its peak season, from June to October. It should be consumed raw and uncooked as cooking might destroy most of its nutrients.

11 Reasons Why You Should Consume Beetroot Every Day:

– It may help dilate and relax your blood vessels

The naturally-occurring salt called nitrate found in beetroot is converted to nitric oxide in your body. Nitric oxide may help dilate and relax your blood vessels, boosting your blood flow. The amino acid called betaine found in this vegetable may help prevent the build-up of homocysteine in your blood, preventing circulation problems.

– It may help improve your skin health

Beetroot contains folate, which’s one of the B vitamins important for skin health. It may help stimulate re-pigmentation of white skin patches of vitiligo and prevent skin cancer. Beetroot is also a great source of vitamin C that may help clear your blemishes, even out your skin tone and give it a natural glow.

– It may help enhance your liver health

Beetroot is a unique source of betalains – a kind of phytonutrient, which has potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and detoxification properties. This root vegetable acts as an excellent liver cleanser and may help support proper liver function. With the help of compounds like glycine and methionine, it may help prevent fatty acids from building up in your liver and improve your liver health.

– It might help prevent cancerous tumor formation or reduce cancerous cell proliferation

The betanin (a form of betalain) found in beetroot might help prevent cancerous tumor formation and reduce cancerous cell proliferation. It might have the power to prevent the formation of prostate, skin, lung and breast cancer. Beetroot juice, when consumed along with carrot extract, might aid in the treatment of leukemia.

– It may help relieve constipation

This root vegetable is high in dietary fiber that may help stimulate the nerves in your intestines and improve your body’s ability to digest food. The high dietary fiber content may add bulk to your stool and relieve constipation.

– It may help alleviate menstrual pain and menopause symptoms

Menopause and menstruation are known to cause an influx of hormones. But, the phytochemicals found in beetroot may help balance your hormones and stimulate the production of estrogen, minimizing your monthly rollercoaster.

This super-food is also packed with iron, which may help prevent iron deficiency, reduce irritability and fatigue. Also, it is a good source of folate (vitamin B9), which may help regulate menstrual periods.

– It may help boost your mood and improve your mental health

Beetroot possesses tryptophan, an amino acid that may help promote feelings of relaxation and well-being. The betaine found in this root vegetable may help induce the metabolization of body chemical SAM-e that’s a natural anti-depressant. Beetroot may help improve blood flow to your brain, enhance cognitive function, and prevent dementia.

– It may help enhance your muscle strength and boost your endurance and stamina

Beetroot may feed your muscles with increased iron-rich blood flow, magnesium and nitrites. The nitrate content found in this vegetable turns into nitric oxide, reducing the oxygen cost of low-intensity exercise while improving the stamina for high-intensity exercise. This means that drinking beet juice may help increase your muscle strength and boost your endurance during a workout.

– It may help prevent oxidative stress-induced changes, decrease your glucose levels, and elevate your insulin sensitivity

The antioxidant called alpha-lipoic acid found in beetroot may help prevent oxidative stress-induced changes, decrease your glucose levels, and elevate your insulin sensitivity. The alpha-lipoic acid may also help alleviate the symptoms of autonomic neuropathy and peripheral neuropathy.

– It may help improve your respiratory health

This vegetable is packed with vitamin C, which’s a potent antioxidant that may help boost your immune system.

Vitamin C may help support proper function of your white blood cells that are your body’s primary line of defense against foreign bodies, improving your respiratory health.

– It may help reduce your blood pressure

Beetroot juice may help reduce both your diastolic and systolic blood pressure. The nitrates found in beetroot may help dilate and relax your blood vessels, increase your blood flow, and reduce your blood pressure.

12 Ways Your Body Tries To Tell You That Your Liver Is Being Damaged

The liver which is located in the right upper quadrant of your abdomen is the largest solid organ in your body. It is protected by the ribs and responsible for many function in your body system. Simply put, you cannot live without your liver.

With that being said, it is important for you to take care of your liver the best way you can. Another thing you also need to know is the early symptoms of liver damage so you can prevent a more advance health issue.

12 Early Symptoms of Liver Damage

When it comes the liver, there are many different kinds of disease that can affect the health of your liver. Each of it has its out signs. Some of those disease are hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, fatty liver disease, and cirrhosis of the liver. Unfortunately, the early symptoms of liver disease are non-specific and tend to be easily overlooked. If you experience any of the symptoms below, the best option for you is to visit your medical expertise and ask for further examination.

So here are some common early symptoms of liver damage:

1. Disruption in the Stomach

Nausea and nausea can be a symptoms of various disease including food poisoning, migraines, motion sickness, vertigo, early pregnancy and depression. It can also be a sign of kidney problems and also liver damage. People who suffer from early liver damage may feel nauseous continuously. It can happen due to the decrement in liver’s ability to cleanse the body from toxins.

Another two factor that can also cause this condition are ongoing metabolism and changes in digestion. If this condition still remain after a few days and you cannot figure out the reason, then you better go visit your doctor.

2.Feeling Fatigue and Weak Most of the Time

While feeling tired and weak may be caused by lack of sleep and rest, it can also be a sign of liver damage. The damage in your liver will require the body to work harder which also mean you will need to have more rest.

When the function of your liver got disrupted, its ability to remove toxins from your body will decrease and cause the increment of toxins in your bloodstream. So if your fatigue doesn’t go away after you have enough rest, you definitely need to seek medical advice as soon as you can.

3.Loss of Appetite

Damage in the liver will cause a reduction in the bile production. Bile responsible to help fat digestion and when your food isn’t digested properly, it may resulted in loss of appetite and a drop in body weight. If this condition happened for a long time, consult to your doctor to get further examination.

4.Problems with Digestion

Liver plays an important role in digestion process because it produce bile. The bile helps the small intestine to process and absorb nutrients better. Damage in the live can lead to dyspepsia and diarrhea.

Some other digestion problem that may occur when the bile is not produced properly are fatty food intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, abdominal bloating, alcohol intolerance, constipation and gallstones.

5.Changes in Color of Your Urine

Normally, when you drink enough water the color of your urine should be bright and more transparent. However, if your urine is still dark in color after your drink enough water, then it may be the early sign of liver damage.

The elevated level of bilirubin in the bloodstream can cause the urine to look brown, amber or orange in color. The amount of bilirubin in the bloodstream may raise because liver is unable to get rid of the bilirubin so it is excreted through the kidneys.

So, though dark color in your urine may also be a result of dehydration, taking B vitamin supplements, side effects of antibiotics, enzyme deficiencies, urinary tract infection, or kidney abnormalities, you better consult to your doctor if the problem remain after some period of time.

6.Alteration in Stool Coloration

Malfunction in the liver will make the amount of bile becomes insufficient and cause alteration in stool coloration. If the color of your stool usually brown, it may turn into clay colored, pale yellow, or gray. If this only happens occasionally, there is nothing you should be worry about. However, if you experience it more than a few times, then you need to consult to your doctor.

7.Jaundice

Jaundice is a yellow coloration to the skin, tongue, fingertips, and eyes as the result of increasing bilirubin in the bloodstream and bodily tissue which normally will be excreted in the bile. This condition cause the skin becomes yellow. Jaundice can also be a sing of problem in the pancreas or gallbladder. If you experience it, you need to consult to your doctor immediately.

8.Changes in the Abdomen

The feeling of pain, cramping, or bloating in the lower part of the abdomen can mean that you have ascites and malfunction in your liver. Ascites is the condition where fluid has built up inside the abdominal cavity. This may happen when there is damage to the liver of liver cirrhosis.

Liver disease may cause high blood pressure in the arteries and veins of the abdomen. Visit your doctor immediately once you notice this symptom.

9.Retention of Fluid

Damage in the liver can lead to retention of fluid, especially in the ankles and feet. This condition is similar to ascites, the difference is the fluid buildup in the outer tissues in the lower extremities. Fluid retention can also be a sign of hormonal imbalance, kidney problems, heart failure, and lymphatic disease.

10.Problems with The Skin

Liver deficiency can cause the skin to be more sensitive, itches, flakes and becomes hypersensitive to touch. You may see some bruises on your skin and notice that your veins become more visible. If the problems with your skin happens because of the liver damage, then you need to identify the problem get proper treatment. Because moisturizing your skin will not help unless the actual issue has treated.

11.Pain in the Abdomen

You may feel pain in the right upper quadrant of the rib cage where the liver is located. When the liver is malfunctioning, the affected area may fell painful and tender.

12.Diarrhea, Constipation, or Intestinal Bleeding

The liver plays an important role in the production of the clotting factors. So when the liver damaged, you may suffer from bleeding of intestines which is associated with diarrhea or constipation.

If you experience any of the above symptoms, you need to seek for medical advice immediately. However, please remember that this is not a full list of liver damage symptoms. Some other signs like imbalance sex hormone where men can develop breast, and both men and women suffer from loss of libido may also occur.

Don’t forget to adopt health eating habit since what you eat can greatly affect the health of your liver.

14 Symptoms Of High Blood Sugar And Which Foods Reduce It

Having increased blood sugar levels does not always imply that you have diabetes. This is only one of the many diabetes symptoms.

However, increased blood sugar levels should be taken very seriously because it can lead to complications which may or may not cause diabetes.

This is why it is very important to diagnose hyperglycemia on time in order to reverse it to prevent serious complications.

THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO SPOT HIGH BLOOD SUGAR, AND WE’D LIKE TO GIVE YOU 14 OF THE MOST COMMON SIGNS OF HIGH BLOOD GLUCOSE.

THEY ARE:

• Feeling an unquenchable thirst throughout the entire day

• Nerve issues

• Recurring infections

• The slow healing of wounds and cuts

• Impotence

• Constantly dry mouth

• A frequent need to urinate, and this particularly during the nighttime

• Feeling fatigued on a regular basis

• Feeling a constant, unsatiated and unexplainable hunger

• Itchy and dry skin

• Too much abdominal fat and weight gain

• Blurry vision

• An inability to stay focused

• Discomfort in your stomach

But don’t fret if you recognize yourself in these symptoms. Even if it turns out you do have high blood sugar, it doesn’t mean you are also diabetic (though admittedly, it is one of the symptoms).

HERE IS HOW TO REDUCE ANY HIGH BLOOD SUGAR SIGNS USING A FOOD LIST BASED ON THE GLYCEMIC INDEX.

GI FOOD LIST

You may have heard that the glycemic index (GI) is a type of scale where carbs are classified based on the level at which they raise one’s blood glucose levels aka their glycemic response.

The scale ranges from 0-100, the higher the food is on the list, the more it brings one’s blood sugars to spike. And, of course, this goes both ways: the lower it is, the healthier and safer it is to eat.

High glycemic foods which are best-avoided range from 70 and anything above this number. Some common examples are rice cakes, white bread, popcorn, corn flakes, glazed donuts and baked potatoes.

Up next, we have those who belong to the moderate glycemic group. These foods are all right to eat, albeit best to do so in moderation.

Their number ranges from 55-69. Such foods are, for instance, brown rice, oatmeal, honey, mac and cheese, pita bread and white rice.

NOW COMES THE BEST GROUP OF THEM ALL, THE FOODS WHICH LANK LOWEST ON THE GI SCALE AND THOSE WHICH ONE SHOULD IDEALLY CONSUME MOST OF.

They range from 0-54, and don’t worry, there are plenty such foods, so you will never be at a shortage of choice on what to eat when it comes to lowering your high blood glucose.

Some of the most popular examples include: hummus, yellow onions, eggs, broccoli, grapefruit, walnuts, cherries, cashews, butter beans, apples, kidney beans, spaghetti, tomato juice, oranges, bananas, carrots, green grapes, peas, pineapple juice, turkey sausages and many more!

Consume more of these foods, and you’ll be reducing your blood sugar levels in no time. Stay healthy, dear readers.

Deep Vein Thrombosis Causes, Symptoms & 5 Natural Treatments

Deep vein thrombosis is a result of a blood clot formed in a deep vein, in most cases, in the thigh, lower leg, or pelvis.

There are several risk factors which contribute to the development of this condition, and, it can be manifested by subtle symptoms or no symptoms at all.

If it is left untreated, the blood clot might detach from the initial location and travel through the bloodstream to other body areas, causing a pulmonary embolism.

These are the risk factors:

Deep Vein Thrombosis Causes and Risk Factors

– Pregnancy

– Genetic factors

– A cancer history

– A sedentary lifestyle

– Being overweight

– Being older than 60 years

– A history of heart attack or stroke

– Menopause and hormonal changes

– A history of cancer

– Smoking and drug use

Moreover, these are the deep vein thrombosis symptoms:

– Pain and tenderness in the area

– Difficulties walking and moving

– Red, warm and swollen skin around the affected area

– Scaling or ulcers in the clot area

Here are some natural ways to treat this condition:

1. Exercise

Sitting for longer periods of time during the day makes you prone to deep vein thrombosis, so you should start exercising on a daily basis,  in order to boost blow flow and maintain a healthy weight.

2. A Healthy Diet

A healthy diet is a must in the treatment of deep vein thrombosis. You should focus on whole foods, foods rich in magnesium, potassium, and vitamin K, and increase the intake of green leafy vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, avocados, sweet potatoes, and bananas.

Moreover, these foods and herbs also have potent natural anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory properties:

– Raw honey

– Green tea

– Fruits and vegetables rich in Vitamin D and Vitamin E

– Spices and herbs, like oregano, turmeric, garlic, cayenne and ginger

– Evening primrose oil

– Vinegar

– Omega-3 fatty acids

3. Compression Stockings

Compression stockings relieve the pain and swelling in the affected area and reduce thrombosis symptoms at bay by lowering pressure and applying moist heat.

4. Stop Smoking

Smoking might lead to deep vein thrombosis symptoms, so you should find an effective way to give up this unhealthy habit.

5. Check Your Medications

This condition might also be a result of certain medications, like blood pressure medications, hormone replacement drugs, birth control pills, and cancer treatment drugs and blood pressure medications, so you need to consult your doctor in order to be sure that your medications won’t cause such adverse effects.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms That Most People Ignore

Unfortunately, we often neglect the signs our bodies send to indicate some kind of internal imbalance, so nutrient deficiencies are often left untreated, and might be the main cause of our health issues.

One of the most important vitamins for our overall health is B12, as it plays a role in the red blood cell production, nerve health, and the bonding process of nucleic acids to proteins.

Thus, its insufficient amounts in the body often lead to severe adverse effects, like irreversible nerve damage.

Therefore, it is of high importance to know the most common symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency:

– Vision loss

– Shortness of breath and heart palpitations

– Weakness, fatigue, vertigo or lightheadedness

– Pale or yellowing skin tone

– Muscle weakness, a pins and needles sensation, numbness, and walking difficulties

– A smooth tongue

– Digestive issues like diarrhea, constipation, appetite and taste loss, frequent gas

– Poor mental health such as memory loss, depression, mood swings

Additionally, the following are at the highest risk of vitamin B12 deficiency:

Vegans and vegetarians

This vitamin is found in animal proteins, so if you follow a plant-based diet, you might be at an increased risk of vitamin B12 deficiency, so consider optimizing its levels via supplementation.

Those age 50 or older

Over the year, the body loses its ability to absorb vitamins from food, so people older than 50 should take vitamin B12 supplements.

Perimenopausal, pregnant or lactating women

The symptoms of perimenopause are similar to the ones of a B12 deficiency, and the lack of this vitamin in the case of pregnancy has negative effects on the baby.

Also, lactating women, in particular, vegan breastfeeding mothers, need to optimize the levels of B12 as its deficiency might lead to negative effects on the baby, such as anemia, developmental delays and even failure to thrive.

Patients with disorders such as Graves’ disease or Lupus

The cells in the body in the case of autoimmune disorders attack the tissues of the body instead of foreign bodies, and this reduces the ability of the body to absorb essential vitamins.

People wits compromised absorptive ability of the digestive system

People who take acid-reducing medications, whose with a bacterial growth or parasites, heavy drinkers, the ones who take acid-reducing drugs, and patients with pernicious anemia, atrophic gastritis, a thinned stomach lining, Crohn’s disease, or Celiac disease are at a high risk of vitamin B12 deficiency.

Natural prevention of vitamin B12 deficiency 

This deficiency can be prevented by following a well-balanced diet rich in poultry, eggs, seafood, dairy, and meat. Vegans or vegetarians should focus on vitamin B12-fortified grains, and take natural B12 supplements.

This will boost the vitamin B12 levels in the body and prevent serious health issues and ailments.