Too many women see the hormone therapy decision as an either/or, yes/no decision. It is important for you to know that you don’t necessarily have to choose between traditional HT and alternatives. Think of your perimenopausal support as a smorgasbord. You get to choose what appeals to you at the moment and leave what doesn’t.

Every day more and more studies are showing how effective modalities such as dietary change (in particular, a low-sugar diet), food supplements, exercise, and herbs can be in supporting a woman through her menopausal transition. Though some doctors still don’t know about these approaches and may not mention them to you, they often work as well or better than hormone therapy (HT). They can also be used in addition to hormone therapy, to reduce dosage levels, side effects, and potential risk.

As a first step, it is important to define the goals you hope to achieve with hormone therapy. Contrary to the message conveyed by pharmaceutical marketing efforts, HT will not give you a means of moving backward, of denying the aging process and keeping yourself young forever. In fact, to do so would be counterproductive to your physical, emotional, and spiritual health. If you are determined to deny that you have passed middle age, HT cannot put you at peace with that fact.

However, a personally tailored program—with or without supplemental hormones—can help reduce physical symptoms and health worries so that you can focus your energies on finding your creative passions, which in and of themselves can stoke the flames of your life force. Hormone therapy can help mask the heart palpitations and irritability often associated with perimenopause. And it can also promote healthy sleep (especially when natural progesterone is used). But hormones cannot resolve the underlying relationship problems (and ensuing high levels of stress hormones) that may be crying out for your attention.

Becoming an Active Partner in the Decision

For our mothers and grandmothers, the decision to take HT (or not) was very often a passive one, made by their doctors (or husband or best friend), with their own involvement limited to “being good patients.” Or they decided by not deciding and simply let time go by. In those days there were very few HT preparations available, so the choices were only two: yes or no.

Until very recently, the potential benefits were too often clouded by side effects from the wrong type of medications or fear of long-term consequences. As of the late 1990s, less than 20 percent of American women used hormone therapy, and those who did often discontinued it within six months. [Hammond, C. B. (1994). Women’s concerns with hormone replacement therapy—compliance issues. Fertil Steril, 62(suppl. 2), 157S–160S.]

Today, many women (and their doctors) are more confused than ever about hormone therapy. Part of this confusion arose because early reports on the Women’s Health Initiative study seemed to indict all hormone therapy. In fact, the women in the original 2002 WHI study were on the same dose of only one type of HT—namely, Prempro. And the 2006 analysis of the WHI data showing a decreased risk of heart disease in women who started taking it early is a silver lining in a dark cloud. But there are still a lot of unanswered questions, plus the irrefutable increased risk of breast cancer with Prempro. One thing is clear: We need far more research on the role of hormones, particularly bioidentical hormones in low dosages.

At the same time, we also need to remember that medicine will always be an art, not an exact science. In the early 1990s, science seemed to indicate that the majority of postmenopausal women would benefit from hormone therapy. Some were even dismissed from their doctor’s office if they questioned that belief. Then the pendulum swung all the way in the opposite direction. Now it’s coming back to center. In addition to the question “Do I want or need hormone therapy, at least for right now?” we also have to ask: “What kind? What strength? What route of administration? In what combination? For what reason? For how long? At what risk?”

The number of options can be intimidating at first, but in the end you’ll feel much better about your HT decision if you’re armed with facts, know your options, and are willing to listen to your inner guidance as well as to your doctor’s advice. And although I discourage using HT as a means of numbing oneself to what is happening in body and mind during perimenopause, there is nothing to be gained from suffering. Given the range of formulations and dosages now available—as well as the many alternatives to HT—you can create an individual treatment program that supports you through the change, rather than helping you deny that it is happening.

Adapted with permission from The Wisdom of Menopause (Random House, 2012). You can purchase The Wisdom of Menopause on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble or at a bookstore near you. Click here to read an excerpt.

To learn more about Dr. Northrup and her work, go to www.drnorthrup.com or follow her on Facebook and Twitter, and by listening to her weekly Hay House Internet radio show Flourish!

This information is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent any disease. All material in this article is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise, or other health program.

Kristi Anderson, Corrective Exercise Specialist par excellence, demonstrates a new foam roller exercise she has come up with, which she has found incredibly helpful for women.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Fragrance is the problem child ingredient of traditional beauty products. Wild and wily, these molecules of scent can wreak havoc on your skin by causing contact dermatitis, a seriously red and itchy rash, or other allergic reactions like a headache or asthma. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), fragrance is the biggest cause of cosmetic contact dermatitis. It’s up there with nickel and poison ivy, which most people know how to avoid.

But it can be hard to steer clear of something that’s in scores of products, from skin care and hair care to makeup and perfume, of course. An equal opportunity player, fragrance is added to drugstore brands and department store ones alike to connote luxury or brand unity or cover up what skin-care ingredients might smell like without it. (Medicinal with a hint of cold cream is not very sexy.) Here are few more facts we’ve sniffed out about this potentially vexing ingredient.

“Fragrance” is a catch-all term on the list of ingredients, making it hard to know exactly what’s in your skin-care product

FRAGRANCE GETS A FREE PASS ON LABELS

For consumer clarity, beauty companies have to use the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) when listing what’s in a product. This standardized book of ingredient names means that lavandula angustifolia (lavender extract) is always lavandula angustifolia, regardless of whether a company thinks theirs is better, exotic, or magical.

But fragrance gets a free pass under the law—it’s the only ingredient that’s allowed to hide under a cloud of rose petals and doesn’t have to say what it really is. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) exempts it from having to be more specific, even though it might contain synthetic, preservative, or allergy-provoking substances that you might want to know about. That can be a big problem for New Yorkers who pride themselves on knowing what exactly goes into their food or face creams.

FRAGRANCE: A COMPLICATED COCKTAIL

Although fragrance looks like it’s one ingredient on the label, it’s more likely a blend of many ingredients, confirms the AAD, which says about 5,000 fragrance molecules are used in heavy rotation. Cosmetic companies may use as many fragrance-forming ingredients as they like—and still “fragrance” takes up just one spot on the label. Suffice it say, it can make it hard to figure out exactly what you’re allergic to.

Intelligent Nutrients names every ingredient in the bottle. All companies could do this instead of using “fragrance” to hide the ones that worry us.

AN OUTDATED LOOPHOLE

Why does the FDA give fragrance this label-listing loophole? It was originally developed to protect a company’s proprietary perfume blend or trade secrets, under the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act of 1966. In other words, it protected Coty and Chanel No. 5 from copycats.

The regulation designed to conceal ingredients from the eyes of corporate competitors now does the same for a cosmetic consumer who might be inclined to scan the label for parabens, petroleum by-products, and synthetics.

FYI: Companies can choose to disclose their ingredients without giving away the specific amounts and the formulation process—and some do. After all, chocolate, sugar, flour, and butter doesn’t make the exact same cake.

HOW TO AVOID SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCE

The solution? (Other than lobbying the FDA to change this, which some groups are doing, by the way.) Look for beauty products that plainly state what’s scenting it: On the back label, “fragrance” should be followed by a list of ingredients in parentheses.

Or look for a product that uses essential oils instead of “fragrance (parfum).” Many brands, including Dermalogica, now do this.

And Intelligent Nutrients practices what’s probably the most reasonable solution: The company doesn’t use the term “fragrance” at all. Instead it just lists every single ingredient on the label regardless of what its purpose is. Companies that use synthetics could do this, too.

BEFORE YOU REACH FOR “FRAGRANCE-FREE” PRODUCTS

You might be totally tempted to scan the beauty counter for “fragrance-free” products at this point. Not to be a buzzkill, but that’s probably not enough. All kinds of companies use the term, and not in the same way.

“No synthetic fragrance” reads this stamp REN developed for its products

Companies that don’t use any chemicals or synthetic fragrance molecules—just plant and flower extracts or essential oils—might call their products “fragrance-free,” like REN, a natural skin-care brand.

But companies that use scent-masking chemicals, so your product smells no more or less than milk, will also claim to be “fragrance-free.” Neutrogena is a good example.

Good to know for sniffing out your beauty product labels.

As a psychiatrist, I am clearly familiar with the psychodynamic issues underlying eating disorders, and I see psychotherapy as a vital part of treatment. At the same time, I would like to share my experience with observing and treating some of the biochemical underpinnings, hastening recovery and helping to maintain it as well.

Many years ago, a psychologist who specializes in eating disorders began to send me her clients because she had heard that antidepressant medications worked for these patients. I had by then shifted to a more holistic approach, so I told her that before I prescribed antidepressants, I wanted to try some more natural methods. I had discovered that in many cases of eating disorder, there is an underlying biochemical issue – a combination of food sensitivity, blood sugar imbalance and nutrient deficiency. She agreed, her patients cooperated, and we had some excellent, medication-free results. This encouraged me to continue on this natural path as I have to this day. Here are some of my discoveries, as well as subsequent research by others in this growing field.

Food Sensitivity
We crave the foods that we are sensitive or “allergic” too. Not a typical allergy with hives or stomach aches, these sensitivities are intolerances, often inherited, and show up in any number of ways – for example, depression, inability to lose weight, eating disorders, tinnitus, unexplained aches and pains–many, many others. The very foods we crave will create the most symptoms and are the most damaging. In fact, food cravings are similar to an addiction to alcohol. As you withdraw from the foods you’re addicted to, you begin to have withdrawal symptoms and the craving begin. And if you happen to be addicted to wheat or baked goods, you can never get enough of them, so you binge on them, despite your best intentions to the contrary. People addicted to grains may drink excessive amounts of grain-based liquor or beer and can become alcoholics. They’re sensitive to and addicted to the alcohol, but it’s the grain-base that is causing the problem. They can even feel “drunk” after eating cereal or baked goods. Not so different from your regular carb-binger, except the target is alcohol instead of refined carbs.

Nutrients
It’s not just a matter of willpower. In order to break the addiction cycle, in addition to avoiding the undesirable foods, you have to supply the body with a good, supportive nutritional program of healthful food, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Then, the cravings will often simply go away! It’s quite remarkable; with a nutrient rich diet, and good vitamin and mineral formula, you can stop the cycle. In fact, once the diet and nutrients are in place, the cravings and addictions will often just fall away. Remember that nutritional supplements are not a substitute for healthy food, but a supplement to restore missing ingredients and balance biochemistry.

Magnesium is often deficient, and taking it can be very helpful. It’s great, too, for muscle tension, insomnia, and even, heart palpitations. The amino acid glutamine is also useful for reducing cravings. I’ve had former alcoholics (yes, former) say that the glutamine cut their cravings for good; they no longer were battling the desire to drink. They were done for good. Glutamine works similarly with bulimics and binge eaters.

Zinc: Some years ago, researcher Alex Schauss did a study on patients who were suffering from anorexia nervosa. By using a simple test called a zinc taste test, he found that they were zinc-deficient. He then gave them liquid zinc therapeutically, with very successful results. The test consists of the person taking some liquid zinc sulfate solution in their mouth, and if they describe it as having a bad or strong taste, they usually have sufficient levels of zinc. On the other hand, if they can’t taste the solution or if it tastes just like water, then they may have a cellular zinc deficiency, even if their blood levels look adequate. It’s a vicious cycle since zinc deficiency affects taste; so zinc-deficient anorexics don’t taste their food, so are less motivated to eat it. Zinc supplementation has continued to be used in nutritionally oriented settings, including my own practice.

Serotonin: Bulimia and binge-eating is often treated with the SSRI antidepressants such as Prozac, Zoloft and Lexapro They raise brain levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter or chemical messenger in the brain that causes a feeling of well-being and relaxation, and reduces hunger. Rather than using medication, my preference is to prescribe the materials that make serotonin, the amino acids L-tryptophan or it’s relative, 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophane), and there is research to back it.

In her book, The Diet Cure, Julia Ross refers to a study where bulimics were deprived of tryptophan. In reaction, their serotonin levels dropped and they binged more violently, ingesting and purging an average of 900 calories more each day. In another study, adding extra tryptophan to the diet reduced bulimic binges and mood problems by raising serotonin levels. More recently, an Oxford researcher, Katherine Smith, reported that even years into recovery, bulimics can have a return of their cravings and mood problem after only a few hours of tryptophan depletion, concluding that, “Our findings support suggestions that chronic depletion of plasma tryptophan may be one of the mechanisms whereby persistent dieting can lead to the development of eating disorders in vulnerable individuals.”

The herb St. John’s Wort provides another way to raise serotonin levels. I have discussed this along with dosages of tryptophan and other nutrients in my book, Natural Highs.

Thiamine: As we have seen, nutrient deficiencies can aggravate anorexia, and it should be treated with nutrient rich diets. For example, restricting your diet will make you deficient in such vitamins as Vitamin B1 (thiamin). It’s found in foods that people with eating disorders rarely eat — including beans, whole grains, seeds, meats and vegetables. Common signs of thiamin deficiency are loss of appetite, weight loss, constipation, anxiety, chest pain and even sleep disturbance along with depression and irritation. Sound familiar?

Blood Sugar Swings
One mechanism underlying the craving and eating (or drinking) cycle is blood sugar imbalance: low blood sugar sets off the craving. The brain experiences this dip as life- threatening starvation, followed by a frantic search for whatever will raise blood sugar. Just picture our ancestors in the jungle, short on food, and having to hunt for their next meal–or die. We, on the other hand, just go to the refrigerator. The quickest fixes here are sugary foods or other refined carbs such as bread or pastries. And we don’t even burn any calories on our hunt.

Bottom Line: Treat Nutrient Deficiency with Nutrients
I will often order a blood test to see which amino acids are low, and by replacing them, the body (and brain) comes into balance. As a result, the food cravings will often be greatly relieved or even, come to a halt, as noted in the case of glutamine for acute cravings.

There are other natural treatments, as well, for cravings due to food sensitivities. Acupuncture and acupressure has been shown to help, especially some techniques such as NAET that can actually eliminate the food sensitivities themselves.

The point is, instead of simply taking an antidepressant, there are many other ways to approach what at first appears to be strictly a psychological problem. The combination of psychotherapy and a nutritional/biochemical approach is the most useful, and I have successfully treated many patients without resorting to medication at all. Not only does this approach work as well as medication, but in my experience, working with the body’s chemistry rather than introducing more chemicals in the form of medication, is often superior. It’s faster, has none of the side effects, and has many side benefits. I developed Brain Recovery AM & Pm formula to provide many of the nutrients mentioned here and more, to balance amino acids, serotonin, blood sugar, and mood.

Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of and concerned with toxic chemicals in personal care products. However, we don’t only need to know what to avoid, but also what to look for in order to get the best results for you skin. We need equal information on what to look out for as well as what to look for when choosing personal care products that are not only not harming your health but are also good for your body and work on your skin.

Recently we’ve heard a lot about parabens in body products. While it’s true that we need more studies to determine the level of concern and the toxicity level of them and best to avoid until we have more information (you may have heard they cause breast cancer. While it is true that we have found and documented parabens in cancerous breast tissue, there are also lots of other things found in them as well and we can not make the leap yet that they actually cause them), looking for a product without parabens isn’t always the best strategy. The fact is, cosmetic companies are smart. When they realize people are avoiding parabens and it is the latest “buzz” in the industry, they use that to their advantage to increase consumer loyalty, trust and sales. They start advertising products that are “paraben free”. And (mostly) they are. But that isn’t the full story. Often parabens are replaced with other chemicals that are equally bad or even worse for your health. So while it’s a good idea to look for products without parabens, don’t let catchy tag lines suck you in. Make sure you know what’s in there instead and do your research so you’re not getting stuck with something worse!

Unless we educate ourselves, we are powerless against a billion dollar industry that will do anything to sell us the latest miracle cure. Of course everyone will have a different comfort zone in terms of the amount of chemicals they feel comfortable having in their beauty products. It’s just like food. Some people eat only organic, some a combination of conventional and organic and some only conventional. As long as consumers are informed, there is no right or wrong when it comes to choosing body products. In order to make choices that fit within your personal criteria of safety, you need to be educated. Otherwise, you risk allowing chemicals and toxins into your bloodstream and affecting your health without your consent or knowledge. I suggest everyone make their own criteria of what they will or won’t use and be exposed to. To get started, take a look at the list of my top 10 to watch out for.

Here is the list of the top 10 ingredients to avoid from my book “Look Great Live Green“:

1. PARABENS

2. FORMALDEHYDE

3. PHTHALATES

4. DIETHANOLAMINE (DEA) AND TRIETHANOLAMINE

5. DIAZOLIDINYL UREA AND IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA

6. SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE/ LAURETH SULFATE; AMMONIUM LAURETH SULPHATE

7. PROPYLENE GLYCOL

8. PVP/VA COPOLYMER

9. NANOPARTICLES

10. SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCE

Here is a list of the top ten things to look for:

1. Pure butters such as shea and coconut

2. Pure oils such as avocado, jojoba and olive

3. Arrowroot (talc replacement)

4. Essential oils (please note not everything natural is good for you and not everything synthetic is bad. Essential oils are a better choice then fragrance, but still caustic when used too often and in high amounts)

5. Use what you know. Choose ingredients you already know and feel comfortable with. For example, pineapple, oatmeal, honey and salt.

6. Extracts that list what they are extracted in. For example green tea extracted in pure organic grape alcohol or cornflower extracted in glycerin.

7. Colorants from minerals in place of synthetic dyes

8. Non-foaming facial cleansers, non-detergent body cleansers

9. Fragrance free products

10. Powdered products, hard bar lotions and scrubs and product without water that require less preservation.

Tips and tricks

1. Use less

2. Multitask you products (a body oil can also be a cuticle oil, bath oil, hair oil..)

3. Don’t be tempted to buy the new miracle in a jar. Stick with what you know and love.

4. Use what you already have. Smear a bit of your next avocado on your face for a EFA face mask, wash your skin with pure honey, use a drop of olive oil in your bath and on your face, and soak in powdered milk and sea salt.

People ask me all the time when I started getting interested in the environment and organics, health, toxins etc. I really don’t know the answer…I remember earth day as a kid & being amazed by how much we waste, how we harm the planet, and I would say little by little I started making difference choices. They can be tiny ones, like carrying a travel mug and buying as local & organic as possible, to biggies like the materials we used in building our home.

When I was ready to get pregnant I took it all a bit more seriously as I knew my body would be the home for a babe & wanted to make it as 100% natural & organic as possible. We are learning so much, much of it very scary, about the toxins and chemicals of our world and how they effect the health of our children. A new friend of mine just made an incredible film called TOXIC BABY http://bit.ly/qMFdZB) about just this issue, and I just went to an incredible symposium at Mount Sinai hospital (http://bit.ly/r92Q7P) about this.

Now that Liv is in the world, I try to have her world be as natural and organic as possible. Because I still breastfeed that means the foods I eat, the foods she eats, her clothes, both of our skincare, cleaning products in our home, hand sanitizer – you name it! It is always a choice for both the environment, global impact and our personal health.

For me it is always a choice for both the environment, global impact and our personal health. Being organic and fair trade means I know there is less likelihood of Liv having an adverse reaction to something, less toxins for her little body to deal with, and I also love knowing we are supporting something I believe in deeply: helping the world be less toxic, helping communities grow, helping people get what the deserve in terms of treatment and wage.

For me its about consciousness and educating yourself: being aware that every decision counts – clothing, skincare, diapers, food, toys, what is in our homes, all of it. It can feel overwhelming, but really its about the small decisions – like knowing the top fruits/vegetables to buy organic (http://www.foodnews.org/), or with your home, become conscious of cleaning products, little by little making changes. There is so much information now, we are so lucky to know what we know, so kids can be as healthy and chemical free as possible.

Bedtimes

One of the first things I ever heard about helping your babe to sleep, is create a ritual and stick to it. It doesn’t have to be long or complicated, but you want to do something easy for you and easy for them. Starting when Liv was about 3 months old we did this, creating a very simple one of: dinner, one book, bath, massage, milk (and our special momma /babe chat) and sleepy song. I think it has really helped her go to sleep easily and quickly, because the consistency makes her feel safe – even if we are in a foreign place, we try to keep it the same. Even now, 2 years in, it still helps so much, because it helps her have a sense of structure, and if she starts to buck the system, we get to say ‘ do you want to do xyz (next step of ritual) or go right into the crib’ and it helps her to settle down because she really loves all the parts of the ritual now and doesn’t want to miss anything.

Being the A-type gal I am, before Liv was born I got a baby massage book and video, and when she was tiny I took an infant massage class. From the beginning she loved it, and I loved it. I made up a silly song I sing every night, and it relaxes her and bonded us. I love the little twig lavender creme and so does Liv. Now she says “lavender creme? Livia do?” and she wants me to pump it into her hand and she sings the song and massages her own leg with me. Its beyond cute. We also put the Badger night night balm under her nose sometimes if she seems very awake, and in the winter or when she has a cold will put the Badger baby balm on her nose & cheeks, which she loves, I think for her its fancy, like momma makeup. Now I just need to find a organic baby lip gloss for when she wants to take mine. She is like this at not even 2 years old, God help me when she is a teenager!

You won’t see heavy metals like arsenic, lead, and mercury listed on your beauty product labels. But that doesn’t mean your skin care and makeup is free of them. In fact, your best-selling Sephora lip gloss looks to be loaded with arsenic and other known toxins.

A Canadian environmental group recently had 49 popular beauty products tested for heavy metals, and was surprised to find just how many traditional beauty products (ie: chemically formulated ones) contained these “unintentional” ingredients.

Lead was detected in 96 percent of the products, arsenic in 20 percent, and cadmium in 51 percent, according to the Montreal Gazette, which published the report findings.

If these concentrations were found in milk, there would be a nationwide uproar if not a product recall. So why are these toxins tolerated in skin care?

Traditional beauty brands like to say that these ingredients appear in amounts so small they don’t warrant mention on product labels (the FDA agrees), nor do they cause much harm. (Although no traditional beauty brand or the FDA has tested this claim.)

But this small study finds that there are considerably more heavy metals in products than companies have let on. In fact, in the case of Benefit Benetint Pocket Pal Gloss, it sounds out of control.

The popular makeup-bag staple contained the highest lead concentration, “more than 10 times the limit set out in Health Canada’s draft guidelines for contaminants (10 parts per million). Even this limit is nearly 10 times higher than what the US FDA has proved to be technically avoidable, at 1.07 ppm,” says the Gazette.

Considering that lip products are so easily ingested—and that beauty companies have no incentive to test for or declare the presence of these dangerous ingredients in their products—it’s definitely time to treat yourself to a few fastidiously natural lip glosses. And we’re more than happy to recommend some…

For more information about the Canadian Environmental Defence study, visit Environmentaldefence.ca or read the Gazette article here.

Read more: www.WellandGoodNYC.com.

There’s excellent news for America’s largest generation! Just as tens of millions of Baby Boomers move into their golden years, new research reveals that your latest years may be your happiest. Could it be that youth really is wasted on the young? Young people usually enjoy high energy, peak physical condition, and that shiny optimism of starting fresh in life. But are they as happy as their parents and grandparents? A study from the University of Chicago shows that people are feeling happier and happier as they age.

Since 1972, researchers have been asking a cross section of Americans the same question: “…How would you say things are these days—would you say that you are very happy, pretty happy, or not too happy?” Results show that feelings of happiness increase over time. The percentage of people who reported being “very happy” grew along with their advancing age. The University of Chicago survey is one of the most comprehensive studies of happiness ever done in America, and the findings should contribute even more to your happiness quotient. Looking forward to more contentment, satisfaction, and joy can really lighten our steps into the future!

I’m a living example of this principle. My life has grown more fulfilling, more exciting, more rewarding year by year. As we age, we can continue to learn and grow and find ways to make a difference in the world that offer a very deep foundation for happiness. Each stage of life has its own blessings, and though we may lose a little speed with the passage of time, we pick up life skills, understanding, and knowledge that give us more compassion for others and ourselves. We learn to forgive and accept ourselves for the magnificent beings we are. The pleasure we can experience once we allow it is truly incredible!

Getting older is inevitable. But aging is not. If you want to be happier and happier as you age, there’s nothing stopping you.

Forget Your Chronologic Age

Chronologic age is a fairly meaningless number after the age of 30. It’s your biologic age that counts. People who understand how life energy works in the body often have biologic ages that are 20 years younger—or more—than their chronologic ages. My 85-year-old mother is a good example. In May of 2010, she hiked to Mt. Everest Base Camp (18,000 feet high) with hikers half her age. My nearly 60-year-old sister and her husband went along on the trip. She takes no medications whatsoever, instead using nutritional supplements daily. It’s very clear that my mother’s biologic age is far younger than her chronologic age of 85.



The opposite is also true. I routinely see 35-year-olds who look, act, and talk like people far older than them. They tend to hang out with friends and family members who talk the same talk and walk the same slow walk. When I meet such a person, I can practically see them age before my eyes. Although their words, thoughts, and actions are all about deterioration, they don’t understand why their life force is ebbing away.

Note: You can calculate your biologic age by taking the Real Age Test [www.realage.com] by Michael Roizen, M.D. If you don’t like the number you get, it’s fairly easy to change it. That’s right—you can actually grow younger!

Aging Is Not Inevitable

Getting older is inevitable. Aging is not. The process of getting older begins the moment we are born—it actually begins the moment our life begins in the womb! We can’t stop that, but we can influence it dramatically.

Though we really don’t understand what aging is, I have some theories that have stood the test of time. Up until age 30 or so, the “springtime” energy within you is so strong that your body is very forgiving. But around age 30, your lifestyle, including what you eat, whether you exercise, the relationships you keep, and your thoughts and beliefs, catch up with you.

When health-robbing habits catch up with people at about the age of 30 or so, they say, “You see? It’s my age. That’s why this stuff is happening to me. It’s natural.” Nothing could be further from the truth. When you don’t take care of your body, including your mind, emotions, and spirit, it is forced to send you louder signals to get your attention. Headaches, low energy, dull skin, and joint aches and pains are just a few of the many messages your body sends when it needs better care.

Decreased muscle mass and increased fat may be normal in this culture, but these conditions are not necessarily natural—and we needn’t expect them. They are caused by inactivity and the cumulative effects of glycemic stress and insulin resistance, accompanied by a mind-set that expects us to grow weaker as we age. That mind-set is a belief, not scientific truth. I am actually more flexible and fit now than when I was in my twenties!

Get Conscious About Ageism

We live in a culture that is drenched with ageism. We automatically assume that someone is going to become depressed, fatigued, incontinent, asexual, forgetful, and senile. Pharmaceutical companies and gynecologists plant in women seeds of fear that as soon as they go through menopause, their bodies will simply fall apart and waste away unless they are on medication.

When my mother was in her sixties, and around the time she hiked the entire Appalachian Trail and skied around the base of Mount McKinley, her mailbox became suddenly full of ads for hearing aids, incontinence diapers, and aids for failing vision. Over time, my mother figured out how to ignore the constant barrage of negative messages about aging. She also told me that though she doesn’t feel much different than when she was thirty, she is definitely treated differently.

Though many people do decline as they get older, this decline is not a natural consequence of aging—it is a consequence of our collective beliefs about aging as well as our lifestyle.

No More Senior Moments

Do you ever say that you’ve just had a senior moment when you forget a name or a face? If you do, stop it. NOW. I’ve forgotten occasional names for my whole life. I’ll bet you have, too. We all forget things. This needn’t increase with age.

Many women, especially during perimenopause, complain of having a “cotton head.” They can’t seem to balance their checkbook. They forget where they’ve left things. They’re certain that they are experiencing the first stages of Alzheimer’s. This simply isn’t true. Most of the “fuzzy head” that women talk about at perimenopause isn’t aging at all. It’s your inner wisdom telling you it’s time for you to tune in to yourself, your dreams and desires. (For more information, read The Wisdom of Menopause, Chapter 10: Nurturing Your Brain.)



Move It or Lose It

There’s only one reason that you lose muscle mass or range of motion with age: You stop using your body. Period. Physical deterioration has very little to do with age per se. It has a lot to do with being sedentary. You wouldn’t expect your car to start on the first try and then run well if you left it sitting out in a field for five years, would you?
Those who exercise regularly can expect to add at least six to seven quality years to their lives. Besides, it’s really, really fun to be able to move. One of the gifts of the empty nest at midlife is the fact that I can exercise whenever I want to. I actually exercise more now than ever before and am in better shape than I ever have been. I dance Argentine Tango as often as I can, and also do Pilates and weight training regularly. I love to take long walks by the ocean, too.

Create a Happy Future

Engage in creative pursuits and schedule things you look forward to. I often meet very creative people whose minds are so engaged in their work that they’re saturated with life force directly from Source energy. This is one reason why composers such as 70-year-old John Williams seem timeless. Their creative process is Divinely inspired—they’re always being touched by the hand of God—and it rubs off on their physical body.

You don’t have to be a world-class composer to tap into Source energy. Prayer will do it. And so will dance or any other creative pursuit. The key is to open yourself up to be a channel for something new. It’s been said that the first step toward aging is when most of your thoughts are in the past. It’s essential to have something to look forward to and to set goals for the future.

* * *
Remember, youth is a state of mind. You can be young at 90 and old at 15. You get to choose!

This information is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent any disease. 
All material in this article is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise, or other health program.

© Christiane Northrup, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Excerpted with permission.

Christiane Northrup, M.D. is a visionary pioneer and beloved authority in the field of women’s health and wellness. A board-certified OB/GYN physician who graduated from Dartmouth Medical School and did her residency at Tufts New England Medical Center, Dr. Northrup was also an assistant clinical professor of OB/GYN at Maine Medical Center for 20 years. Recognizing the unity of body, mind, and spirit, Dr. Northrup helps empower women to tune into their innate inner wisdom to transform their health and truly flourish. Dr. Northrup is the author of two New York Times best-selling books, Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom and The Wisdom of Menopause. Her third book, Mother-Daughter Wisdom, was a 2005 Quill Award nominee and voted Amazon’s #1 book of the year in both parenting and mind-body health in 2005. In her latest books, The Secret Pleasures of Menopause and The Secret Pleasures of Menopause Playbook, Dr. Northrup outlines the crucial importance of sustainable pleasure as the missing link for creating joyous and vibrant health on all levels after menopause. She has also hosted seven highly successfully public television specials. Her most recent special began airing nationwide June 2010, and is based upon the newly revised edition of Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom. Her work has been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, the Today Show, NBC Nightly News, The View, the Rachael Ray Show, Good Morning America, ABC’s 20/20, and Dr. Oz. Through her weekly Hay House Radio show, Flourish!, her website www.drnorthrup.com , and her monthly e-letter, Women’s Health Wisdom, Dr. Northrup shares cutting-edge information about health and flourishing with women worldwide.

Every year when Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October) comes around, I am saddened and surprised that thermography hasn’t become more popular. Part of this is my mindset. I’d rather focus on breast health and ways to prevent breast cancer at the cellular level than put the emphasis on testing and retesting until you finally do find something to poke, prod, cut out, or radiate. That’s why I’ve renamed October Breast Health Awareness Month. I understand that mammography has been the gold standard for years. Doctors are the most familiar with this test, and many believe that a mammogram is the best test for detecting breast cancer early. But it’s not. Studies show that a thermogram identifies precancerous or cancerous cells earlier, produces unambiguous results, which cuts down on additional testing—and it doesn’t hurt the body. Isn’t this what women really want?

I recently discussed thermography with my colleague Philip Getson, D.O. [www.tdinj.com] Dr. Getson has been a medical thermographer since 1982. As you may know, thermography is a form of thermal (infrared) imaging. Dr. Getson explains how thermography works this way, “It is widely acknowledged that cancers, even in their earliest stages, need nutrients to maintain or accelerate their growth. In order to facilitate this process, blood vessels are caused to remain open, inactive blood vessels are activated, and new ones are formed through a process known as neoangiogenesis. This vascular process causes an increase in surface temperature in the affected regions, which can be viewed with infrared imaging cameras. Additionally, the newly formed or activated blood vessels have a distinct appearance, which thermography can detect.” Heat is an indication that inflammation exists, and typically inflammation is present in precancerous and cancerous cells, too. (It’s also present in torn muscles and ligaments as well as arthritic joints, which thermography can also detect.)

Thermography’s accuracy and reliability is remarkable, too. In the 1970’s and 1980’s, a great deal of research was conducted on thermography. In 1981, Michel Gautherie, Ph.D., and his colleagues reported on a ten-year study, which found that an abnormal thermogram was ten times more significant as a future risk indicator for breast cancer than having a history of breast cancer in your family.

Early Detection

The most promising aspect of thermography is its ability to spot anomalies years before mammography. Using the same data from the ten-year study, researchers H. Spitalier and D. Giruaud determined that thermography alone was the first alarm in 60 percent of the cases of women who were eventually diagnosed with cancer. Dr. Getson adds, “Since thermal imaging detects changes at the cellular level, studies suggest that this test can detect activity eight to ten years before any other test. This makes it unique in that it affords us the opportunity to view changes before the actual formation of the tumor. Studies have shown that by the time a tumor has grown to sufficient size to be detectable by physical examination or mammography, it has in fact been growing for about seven years achieving more than twenty-five doublings of the malignant cell colony. At 90 days there are two cells, at one year there are16 cells, and at five years there are 1,048,576 cells—an amount that is still undetectable by a mammogram.” (At 8 years, there are almost 4 billion cells.)

Today, women are encouraged to get a mammogram, so they can find their breast cancer as early as possible. With thermography as your regular screening tool, it’s likely that you would have the opportunity to make adjustments to your diet, beliefs, and lifestyle to transform your cells before they became cancerous. Talk about true prevention.

Clearer Results, Fewer Additional Tests

To many, it felt like the world was set on its ear when, in November 2009, the United States Preventative Services Task Force said it recommended that women begin regular mammograms at 50 instead of 40 and that mammograms are needed every two years instead of annually between the ages of 50 and 74. Some women felt this was a way for the insurance companies to save money, but I cheered these new guidelines. (For more information read “The New Mammography Guidelines.” The Task Force concluded that the risk of additional and unnecessary testing far outweighed the benefits of annual mammograms—and I couldn’t agree more.

Ten years ago, Danish researchers Ole Olsen and Peter Gotzsche concluded, after analyzing data from seven studies, that mammograms often led to needless treatments and were linked to a 20 percent increase in mastectomies, many of which were unnecessary. Dr. Getson expounded, “According to the 1998 Merck Manual, for every case of breast cancer diagnosed each year, five to ten women will undergo a painful breast biopsy. This means that if a woman has an annual mammogram for ten years, she has a 50 percent chance of having a breast biopsy.”

Thermography is a particularly good choice for younger breasts, which tend to be denser. It doesn’t identify fibrocystic tissue, breast implants, or scars as needing further investigation. It’s also good at detecting changes in the cells in the arm pit area, an area that mammography isn’t always good at screening. Perhaps even more exciting is that a thermogram can help a woman diagnosed with ductal carconoma in situ (DCIS) decide, along with her health practitioners, whether she requires aggressive or conservative treatment. If you’ve ever had an unnecessary biopsy or been scared by a false positive result on a mammogram, please consider getting a thermogram and using it in conjunction with the mammogram to figure our your treatment options.

It Doesn’t Hurt

It’s ironic that the test women are using for prevention may be causing the very problem they’re trying to avoid in the first place! Another reason the United States Preventative Services Task Force reversed its aggressive mammogram guidelines was because of the exposure to radiation. It’s well known that excessive doses of radiation can increase your risk of cancer. And this doesn’t even touch on the harm done to the body from unnecessary biopsies, lumpectomies, mastectomies, chemotherapy, radiation treatment, and so forth.

Thermography is very safe—it’s even safe for pregnant and nursing women! It’s merely an image of the heat of your body.

Unlike a mammogram, a thermogram doesn’t hurt! Just about everyone who’s ever had a mammogram has complained about how painful it is. The first time you get a mammogram can be quite a shock. Who knew a breast could be flattened like that? Well, the pain isn’t in your imagination. The pressure that the mammogram machine puts on each breast when it’s being compressed is equivalent to putting a 50-pound weight on your breast.

The Best Test for You

As with anything, I suggest you let your inner guidance help you in all decisions about your health. If you feel it’s best to get an annual mammogram, then by all means continue with them. Just be aware of the drawbacks and risks associated with the test. One helpful way to assess your risk for breast cancer—which in turn can help you decide how often you want to have mammograms—is to use the National Cancer Institute’s Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool, available online at www.cancer.gov/bcrisktool. After you answer seven simple questions, it calculates both your risk of getting invasive breast cancer in the next five years as well as your lifetime risk, and it compares each to the risk for the average U.S. woman of the same age and race or ethnicity.

You would be surprised by how many women tell me their doctors make them feel guilty for not having a mammogram. Women who just know they have healthy breasts. Don’t be intimidated if you prefer to forgo annual mammography.

Thermography is a better technology for all the reasons I’ve already described. Plus it gives results that are unique to you, time after time. But there are some things to be wary of. Dr. Getson explains, “To be sure, not all thermographic equipment is the same, nor is every center backed by qualified, board-certified physicians who are specifically trained in the interpretation of these images.

Dr. Getson [www.tdinj.com] says that women (and men) seeking to have infrared imaging should consider the following:

1. What is the “drift factor” in the apparatus? Anything over 0.2 degrees centigrade leads to poor reproducibility.
2. What are the credentials of the interpreting physician?
3. The room in which the study is performed should be free of outside light and the temperature should always be at 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit, with a proper cooling system in place.
4. Make sure the images are marked up (doctors call this “stat”-ed) for future comparison.
5. Ask if the studies are read on site or sent by e-mail to a distant interpreter.
6. Be sure that the physician is available to explain and discuss all findings.

Instead of just screening for breast cancer, a thermogram can tell you how healthy your breasts are. It also has the potential to truly detect breast cell anomalies long before mammography can detect cancer, when done properly. This allows you to implement lifestyle changes that can improve the health of your breasts proactively instead of waiting for a cancer diagnosis later. In honor of Breast Health Awareness month, I encourage you to check out thermography for yourself and your loved ones.

This information is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent any disease. 
All material in this article is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise, or other health program.

© Christiane Northrup, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

Christiane Northrup, M.D. is a visionary pioneer and beloved authority in the field of women’s health and wellness. A board-certified OB/GYN physician who graduated from Dartmouth Medical School and did her residency at Tufts New England Medical Center, Dr. Northrup was also an assistant clinical professor of OB/GYN at Maine Medical Center for 20 years. Recognizing the unity of body, mind, and spirit, Dr. Northrup helps empower women to tune into their innate inner wisdom to transform their health and truly flourish. Dr. Northrup is the author of two New York Times best-selling books, Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom and The Wisdom of Menopause. Her third book, Mother-Daughter Wisdom, was a 2005 Quill Award nominee and voted Amazon’s #1 book of the year in both parenting and mind-body health in 2005. In her latest books, The Secret Pleasures of Menopause and The Secret Pleasures of Menopause Playbook, Dr. Northrup outlines the crucial importance of sustainable pleasure as the missing link for creating joyous and vibrant health on all levels after menopause. She has also hosted seven highly successfully public television specials. Her most recent special began airing nationwide June 2010, and is based upon the newly revised edition of Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom. Her work has been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, the Today Show, NBC Nightly News, The View, the Rachael Ray Show, Good Morning America, ABC’s 20/20, and Dr. Oz. Through her weekly Hay House Radio show, Flourish!, her website www.drnorthrup.com , and her monthly e-letter, Women’s Health Wisdom, Dr. Northrup shares cutting-edge information about health and flourishing with women worldwide.

References:

1. M. Gautherie and C. M. Gros, “Breast Thermography and Cancer Risk Prediction,” Cancer, vol. 45, no. 1 (January 1, 1980), pp. 51–56.
2. H. Spitalier et al., “Does Infrared Thermography Truly Have a Role in Present-Day Breast Cancer Management?” in M. Gautherie and E. Albert, eds., Biomedical Thermology: Proceedings of an International Symposium (New York: A. R. Liss, 1982), pp. 269–78; R. Amalric et al., “Does Infrared Thermography Truly Have a Role in Present-Day Breast Cancer Management?” Progress in Clinical and Biological Research, vol. 107 (1982), pp. 269–78.
3. Gotzsche, P. and Olsen, O., “Is Screening for Breast Cancer with Mammography Justifiable?” The Lancet, vol. 355, no. 9198 (Jan. 8, 2000), pp. 129–34; Gotzsche, P. and Olsen, O., Cochrane Review on Screening for Breast Cancer with Mammography, The Lancet, vol. 358, no. 9290 (Oct. 20, 2001), pp.1340–42.
4. Semelka, R., Imaging X-rays cause cancer: a call to action for caregivers and patients, Medscape, Feb. 13, 2006, reviewed and renewed Feb. 16, 2007.

Susan Luck gives her 12 steps to preventing breast cancer from eating organically to supplementing your nutrition to avoiding plastics.

1. Choose your food wisely – eat as organically as possible, and limit animal fats as endocrine disruptors and heavy metals accumulate in the food chain. The higher your animal protein source, the greater the potential toxics load. Choose seasonal and local foods. Fish consumption: Large deep water “fatty” fish like tuna and swordfish may contain high levels of synthetic chemicals and heavy metals, so eat them infrequently. Wild caught salmon and cod are better choices.
2. Avoid Pesticides – if you can’t buy all organic food, try to pick and choose. Certain crops are more heavily sprayed than others. The Environmental Working Group data base (www.ewg.org) offers guidelines on the fruits and vegetables containing both the highest pesticide residues and the lowest. Produce containing the highest pesticide levels include: peaches, apples, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, lettuce, grapes, pears, spinach, and potatoes. Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consuming, or peel them if they are not organically grown.
3. Supplement your nutrition – Take a broad spectrum daily multivitamin, containing essential fatty acids and antioxidants to ensure rich nutritional and support for your body’s optimal functioning. In today’s world, we strongly recommend supporting your body with the essential tools it needs to function optimally particularly when it is challenged on a daily basis by so many synthetic substances. Unfortunately, much of our food supply is contaminated, shipped long distances and lacking the necessary nutrients, even when we think we eat well. Nutrients that have substantial research for supporting breast health include: Vitamin D 3, Cruciferous vegetables including broccoli and watercress, high in glucosinolates and sulforaphane, green tea, curcumin, alpha lipoic acid, and resveratrol.
4. Support your body’s natural ability to detoxify by exercising and sweating on a regular basis. Use a sauna or steam bath. Get regular sleep (you detoxify at night) and drink plenty of filtered water.
5. Consume plenty of fiber found in your whole grains, beans, vegetables, fruits, seeds (flax) and nuts.
6. Drink antioxidant beverages like green tea containing antioxidants that can assist the body to rid itself of toxins. Other researched protective antioxidants include pomegranate, blueberry and raspberry juices.
7. If you are planning on getting pregnant and breastfeeding, be vigilant about chemicals and put your energy into what you can eliminate and become the healthiest you can. Follow guidelines on fish for pregnant women listed at: http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/fishmercury.htm
8. Become an environmental detective – investigate the chemicals in your home, work, and community environments.
9. Know your water supply – Find out whether your local community’s water testing program checks for hormone- disrupting chemicals and heavy metals. Not all household filters work effectively on chemicals and, unfortunately, not all bottled water is checked either. Read your water quality reports. If you drink purified water out of plastic bottles, do not leave the bottles in your car or the hot sun for any length of time; heat activates the molecules in the plastic, which increases the rate at which the polycarbons leach into the water.
10. Avoid using plastics – If you do, the safest plastics are marked with the recycling codes 2, 4, and 5. Never let infants chew on soft plastic toys and never microwave food in a plastic bowl or covered in plastic wrap. A good rule of thumb is that the softer the plastic, the more chemicals. Buy in bulk and store foods in glass jars. Reuse hard plastic tubs. Limit use of plastic bags and cling wrap products. Assess the amount of plastic in your life and try to reduce it by five. For example: Bring a reusable mug to your local coffee stop. Buy a refillable glass or earthenware water jug. Invest in glass food storage containers that can be washed and reused for a lifetime. Use reusable cloth totes for groceries.
11. Exercise your rights as a consumer – never doubt the power of consumer demand. Ask for green products when you don’t see them in your neighborhood stores. If you have a talent for organizing and recruiting people, use it to develop community ordinances regarding the use of chemicals in public places. It took a while to legislate no-smoking areas; hopefully “chemical-free” will not be far away. Encourage our youth to learn more about environmental issues and to pursue research into redesigning our future.
12. Become a community advocate – Support local and federal clean air and water initiatives. Write to your local and state representatives and encourage them to vote for a healthy future. Support elected officials who make a clean environment their priority.

Together, we can create a healthier future for us all.