Question for Gosia

[hawaiigal]

Hi Gosia

I recently read a post of yours which I cannot locate now regarding bananas having a hormonal effect and contributing to hot flushes in menopause.

I am 48 and perimenopausal. I have been raw for 6 months now and in the last month have been getting several hot flushes during the day and waking up 2-3 times at night drenched in sweat...so I have been looking for relief!

I have an understanding of progesterone deficiency and considered that may be a problem - I have just started using a natural progesterone cream but have not noticed any difference yet - its been about 4 days now...I have also been taking Maca powder for the last 5 weeks and have noticed a huge increase in energy and i feel calm, centered and just plain happy..but still getting those flushes :(

In the last 5-6 weeks I have started including fruit in my diet - I was just having all greens and vegies and nuts....i was trying to lose weight so I wanted to keep my sugar levels down...I am now happy with my weight and have been eating LOTS of bananas - 5-10 a day...I love them...I have cut back after reading that elusive post of yours (wish I could find it again) and today I have had NO bananas -

As you say you have been through the menopause and seem quite knowledgeable regarding this I wonder if you can repost your thoughts on bananas and any other items I should perhaps avoid? also other information that may be of help to me and others going through this stage of life.

Aloha

[RawTruth]

Hawaiigal -

I'm not Gosia, but I hope you don't mind me jumping into your thread. I have been using a natural hormone cream (prescribed by my natural M.D. and made by a compounding pharmacy), but, since hearing Dr. Teresa Dale and reading her book, Revitalize Your Hormones: Dr. Dale's 7 Steps to a Happier, Healthier, and Sexier You, I'm being weaned off of the cream and will be following Dr. Dale's methods which result in your own hormones being revitalizing (thus, the book's title - LOL) using homeopathy, diet, exercise, and skin brushing. She has devised her own saliva tests and other measurements, in addition to having proved by much testing/research that even the natural creams cause what little hormones we still have to cease producing. This isn't a good thing, obviously. But, she's had much success in getting them to kick in again. And, I, for one, would much rather have my own body produce them than use another form, no matter how "natural" it's supposed to be.

Here is a link to her book information. I was excited to see that it's available by e-book, also. I bought it when she spoke at a local, amazing bookstore called The Bodhi Tree. She actually had a free workshop. "Free" is not a concept that most authors and/or publishers seem to embrace!

http://www.josseybass.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0471655554,descCd-tableOfContents.html

Anyway, best of luck with this. I definitely know what you're going through. There are a number of us here on this board who are at that stage in our lives. I'm continuing to challenge myself to see it in the best possible light, though, sometimes it's daunting; the wisdom and grace that we've hopefully acquired by now just isn't as valued in our culture as the youth and hard body flash is! Ah well, WE know how great we (still) are! ;)

[hawaiigal]

Hi RawTruth

thanks for your reply - it is good to know I am not alone with this! It is hard to wade through all the information - alot of it conflicting. I am glad I found this lifestyle before I started getting symptoms as I am sure I would be alot worse off than I am now. 6 months ago I was so puffy and for two weeks out of the four I would go up a dress size and just felt lumpy, heavy and awkward..I sail through that time now. Just gotta try to tone down these flushes!

I understand there are alot of progesterone creams that are not worth the effort although I have been assured that the one I have is in a class of its own - pioneered by Dr Peat and based in a vitamin E oil. Iwill give it some time.

What type of homeopathic remedies do you use? Is Maca mentioned in her book? I think my diet is the best it has ever been - I exercise daily and also skin brush before showering.

Although age has its drawbacks i.e finding work, losing your looks and having to work hard at maintaining weight etc...I feel so much more of a whole person now (thanks to raw) than I felt in my teens, 20's or 30's and wouldnt trade my feeling of awareness and knowing that has taken so long to acquire for youth - the best is yet to come!

Faye

[Revvell]

Hi Faye,

I'm not Gosia either yet, hun!!! "losing your looks and having to work hard at maintaining weight"??? Puuuuuuulllleeeeeze!!!! :D I'm 56 and get more compliments now than I've had since my twenties! My husband and I went shopping for corsets last week and after I came home he went back to the shop to pick one up and he was so excited at what the manager of the store had to say about me. (He likes to know others see me as he does). At a club we go to, one woman told me she just wanted to let me know she thought I was beautiful. My response was "I guess you see beauty differently than I". A woman passing by said: "You need to look in a mirror". Well, I've never considered myself beautiful ( facially) yet, obviously others think that I'm looking good AND none of them have added ~ "for your age". So! I don't feel we "lose" our looks, I feel they transform into something other ~ which, upon one's perception could be a heightened state of beauty.

As far as maintaining weight, I noticed that being vegetarian, I was gaining weight as I aged. Having gone raw, no problem. My focus is on what I enjoy mostly ~ fruits and veggies and nuts when my body would like them.

I do so much agree with feeling so much a whole person though and would not trade how I was/felt in my 20's, 30's OR even 40's! And my 40's were GOOD! :)

Re: menopause. I went through the hot flushes for awhile ~ over the past year or so ~ occasionally even now. They were pretty intense for a bit yet, rather than taking any kind of creams, or doing anything else, I chose to enjoy the transition. When one comes up, I notice, I check out where I'm feeling sweaty, hot; I've even put my hands on certain parts to feel if the outside feels as hot as the inside. If necessary, I remove my husband's body from mine (while sleeping) and any blankets/clothing; by this time, it's over and .... back to "normal".

My flushes only lasted ~ maybe 10-30 seconds at most. Not a big deal. I guess they figured I wasn't getting upset with them so stopped ~ mostly. If/when they come around, I welcome them as a guest. I'm in a life's transition and enjoying the ride.

I WILL wait for Gosia's response here on 'nana's though. Have you searched her posts for your answer?

Revvell





Although age has its drawbacks i.e finding work, losing your looks and having to work hard at maintaining weight etc...I feel so much more of a whole person now (thanks to raw) than I felt in my teens, 20's or 30's and wouldnt trade my feeling of awareness and knowing that has taken so long to acquire for youth - the best is yet to come!

Faye

[Carlene]

Faye,

To help balance my hormones, my naturopath put me on chaste berry tree and primrose oil. I faithfully supplemented with them for three months and have now stopped, but between that and all the things I've been doing to get ready for going raw I seem to be balancing out. From what I've read about chaste berry tree, it doesn't work by increasing or decreasing any one hormone, but works to allow your body to balance itself which to me sounded better than trying to figure out how much of what I needed and artificially adding it. I am with Revvel though when it comes to riding them out if you can. Women have being going through menopause since the beginning, why is it now such a hard thing for us to transition through. It's got to have something to do with the way we eat, lack of physical exercise, and how far from the earth we have ventured.

Hey Revvel: What's with the corsets? Sounds juicy.

[Revvell]

Hey Revvel: What's with the corsets? Sounds juicy.

Carlene,

Oh yeahhh! I'll send you a URL where you can see me one NYE in a black dress with corset if you wish. It was sooo much fun trying them on. The woman who helped us was so cool!

I like the "juicy" part. :) Yup! I ammm! ;)

Revvell

[hawaiigal]

LOL you have me wondering about "corsets" too!


Revell - thanks for your reply. You are so fortunate to receive such great compliments to your looks - you are obviously treating your body with the respect it deserves. I like what you said about enjoying this transition time. The worst of it is for me is the night sweats which last about 10 minutes and very uncomfortable followed by chills - so i am wide awake 2-3 time during the night...if it wasnt for these I think I could embrace them in a loving manner but right now I just dont love them so much! butI will try a more loving approach when they wake me and see if that helps..

Since I have been raw my body/mind has changed so much and it has only been 6 months I feel I am looking and feeling better than I have in 10 years - it is almost a process of growing younger and it is exciting to contemplate turning 50 in 2 years time and how I will feel/look then. Power to Raw!

Carlene Chaste Berry sounds similar to Maca with its effect on the endocrine system...I am just starting to learn all the ways that plants/vegies/fruit etc are affecting my system and "weeding" out the ones that cause upset which has me thinking that I am either eating something that is triggering this response or I am NOT eating something my bodies needs...hence looking for more info on Bananas...I guess because it is such a personalised journey - the only way you can figure this one out is by listening to your body?

Thanks ladies

[Revvell]

O.k., did it. Click on my name here and it'll take you to my profile where I've uploaded (downloaded? *shakes head* I dunno) a pic from NYE in a corset. :)

Revvell

[Gosia]

it wasn't me who wrote that post! I am 41 and have not been through menopause yet. Also, I do not believe that bananas, or any other type of fruit, would have a bad effect on a woman. On the contrary. I firmly believe that a raw diet, high in fruit and greens, and low in fat, is the best one can do for their body. We can see wonderful transformations of people on raw diet, but, even more remarkable, of those who follow 8:1:1, natural hygiene. My two favourite examples are Nora (http://www.rawschool.com) and Jamie (http://www.ringlet.org), who both look amazingly healthy. Check out their photos. For example, compare pictures of Jamie on average raw diet (which includes all sorts of foods, such as dehydrated, for example) and those of her on 8:1:1 (mainly fruit and greens), there is a big difference betweeen the two! Nora has now got a forum (http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Rawschool/), also http://www.vegsource.com/talk/raw/ is a forum where you can learn about 8:1:1.

If I was a poet, I would write an ode to fruit. But I am not. So, I simply say that fruit is the ultimate food, your life on fruit can only get better.:)

Now, as far as me and bananas, I eat them daily, 5-10 easily. We buy about 12 kgs of bananas every 2-3 days. And, I would not change that!

Summarizing, I do not believe that you should cut on bananas, or any other type of fruit. Remember to eat your fruit ripe (e.g. bananas should be spotty). Eat plenty of fruit and plenty of greens (a BIG bunch daily), and you will be fine. And, if you ask me what I recommend, then it is definitely 8:1:1, natural hygiene! No need for any therapies, your body will heal self, once you remove the cause, and provide your body with the proper diet, as well as proper amounts of exercise, sunshine, sleep and rest.

By the way, my diet consists mainly of fruit (all day), greens (in the evening). I have some nuts/seeds in small amounts. I avoid frozen/dehydrated foods.

All the best,
Gosia.

[Carlene]

Goshia, thanks for the great resources. I've added all three to my favorite's list. I am really leaning towards Dr. Grahams 8:1:1 idea also.

Revell, nice picture, you look beautiful. But...coud you breath?

[hawaiigal]

Sorry Gosia - I found the post and it was by Basia on the Living Foods forum - oops..

Thanks for the information on 8-1-1 I will be checking more into that. I havent had a banana for two days and its made no difference so the good news I am going out to buy a nice big bunch! I miss them :)

Much Aloha

Faye

[Revvell]

Revell, nice picture, you look beautiful. But...coud you breath?

LOL. Yeah, and it feels REAL good when it's removed. :)

Revvell

[RawTruth]

a pic from NYE in a corset. :)NYE -- what/where's that?

[RawTruth]

I call the hot flashes "energy surges" which I heard somewhere, but I can't remember where right now. They would last several minutes and were excruciating. I do know that there is a wide variety in the severity ... or mildness ... of symptoms among different women.

I personally feel that vigorous physical exercise (in addition to healthy eating) is the key to going through menopause as our bodies were intended to. Not that I'm doing it like I should! But ... soon.

[Revvell]

Ummm, New Years Eve. :D



NYE -- what/where's that?

[BDraw]

Hi! I'm new here, but want to recommend the book by Nina Shandler -- Estrogen - The Natural Way She recommends flax seed (freshly ground) daily and soy. I never did the soy, but do the flax seed. I'll be 50 (ICK - not real excited, but working on it) and experienced hot flashes a year or so ago. Now if I really try, I might be able to remember a few, very few, warm flashes. Is it the flax, or am I blessed and don't really have any problems - yet. Who knows, but you might want to check out her book. It is not raw, but it is full of good information. And this lady really had problems with hot flashes!

Hope you find your answer.

Blessings! BD

[hawaiigal]

Hi BD

thanks for the referral to the book. I have always avoided soy as I have heard that it plays havoc with your hormones eeek.. so many different opinions out there..

I have been working at welcoming my flashes with love and sending love to every part that I am aware of during their duration. As opposed to gritting my teeth and wishing it would be over soon...it seems as though they are not as severe and last for less time??

Its interesting and I am even starting to enjoy the experiment. A time to truly connect to my body. Being supportive.. I feel my diet is so good now and I exercise a whole lot more than I ever have - so I am trying to come to terms with thefact that there must be a sound reason for them to be occuring in the first place. Just wish I could figure out what that reason is!

Faye

[Revvell]

I started flushing about 2-3 years ago ~ at 54 y.o.a. ~ and "tried" soy. Made them SO much worse! Could be the added gmo's? Who knows? Thing is, now, being raw, making my own soy, eating flax crackers, LOTS of fruit, I feel good (da da da da duh!) :D

Hoping you find the answer for you.

Revvell