The Model Info Center

If you’ve ever suffered with Thrush, the word ‘Candida’ will be all too familiar. But do you know what it really is, what causes it and how to control it naturally. Candida overgrowth affects both men and women, manifesting in surprising ways, which if left unchecked, can lead to some awful consequences.

WHAT EXACTLY IS CANDIDA?

Candida is a single-celled form of life, a yeast or more accurately a fungus, normally found in your gastrointestinal tract. In the free WellBeing Checklist I offer visitors to my website, you will see the word microforms. Yeasts, fungi, moulds, bacteria and viruses are all examples of microforms. Candida itself, is not a problem; in fact without it we would die. BUT, our modern Western diets lead to serious Candida overgrowth and that is where the problems start because the symptoms of overgrowth range from the mildly irritating to the fatal!

WHAT’S THE PROBLEM WITH MICROFORMS?

Actually their presence would be totally fine if it weren’t for some unwelcome little habits in certain conditions! You see, they feed off the same stuff that our bodies rely on for energy - glucose, proteins and fats. Then after they’ve feasted, they show their gratitude for your hospitality by excreting nasty, poisonous acid wastes into our bloodstreams and inside our cells. Lovely - thanks very much! These wastes are called myco- (meaning fungus) and exo- (meaning bacterial) toxins.

WHAT CAUSES MICROFORM OVERGROWTH?

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

In fairness, Candida and other microforms shouldn’t shoulder all the blame for the damage they do. Sure, symptoms like (deep breath) pain, fatigue, adrenal/thyroid failure, indigestion, diarrhoea, depression, hyperactivity, eczema, asthma, colds and flu, haemorrhoids, arthritis, endometriosis, thrush, ulcers, colitis, lack of sex drive, irritability, hay fever, acne, tumours, hormone imbalances, insomnia, allergies, malabsorption (I could go on but won’t) and that oh-so-common ‘feeling tired and fed up’ all the time are indeed caused by the little critters chucking out their poisons, but they couldn’t do it without our willing co-operation!

Microforms love an acidic body you see. Their idea of heaven is splashing about in their own waste. They don’t like too much oxygen so acid is perfect. So if our diets are largely acid-forming then we provide them with the perfect breeding ground and give them carte blanche to literally eat us alive and cause damage to tissues, organs and processes. As Rudolph Virchow* pointed out, ‘Mosquitoes seek the stagnant water, but do not cause the pool to become stagnant.’

Now at this stage, you are either thinking - ‘yikes, I can relate to that, how do I regain control?’ or you are looking smug and thinking ‘yeah well, I don’t have any of those symptoms so I can’t have a microform problem.’ If you are in the second group, take heed:

If you are not maintaining the right acid/alkaline balance for your body, you may only be in the first stages of microform overgrowth where you have no outward symptoms, but it’s only a question of time before your body will start ‘having a pop’** by throwing out warning signs in the form of symptoms like the ones above.

OK - so now for some good, cheery stuff…

HOW DO I (YOU) REVERSE OR PREVENT MICROFORM OVERGROWTH?

You create an internal environment in which they cannot party! And whether it’s Candida or any other microform, that environment is an alkaline one which can be achieved by diet and, ideally, supplements. As your body alkalizes, the yeasts, fungi, moulds etc stop growing and stop harming you. Any toxins still hanging around can be mopped up by certain fats and minerals and be eliminated from the body. Job done! The Wellbeing Checklist will tell you more about what constitutes an alkalizing diet but if you want a quick rule of thumb to play by - think green - green is good!

The theory of how to do it is simple, but the practice can be challenging. If you suffer with any of the symptoms mentioned above (or suspect that your diet has you headed that way) and want to regain control of your health and wellbeing the natural way, then a wellbeing coach or nutritionist can really help. Your health is the most valuable thing you have and we’re all living longer - wouldn’t it be wonderful to live ‘weller’ too?

*Rudolph L. K. Virchow (1821-1902) A German cytologist who established the law that all cells arise from pre-existing cells. He also stated that pathology was a cellular science (1858), which gave a new emphasis to the explanation of diseases in animals.

** For the benefit of any readers outside the UK: ‘having a pop’ or more accurately ‘ ‘aving a pop’ roughly translated means to complain in an animated fashion! It’s a London thing.

Claire Raikes is a Wellbeing Coach, Speaker and Writer who ‘cured’ herself of a chronic, disabling and potentially life-threatening bowel condition without the use of steroids, surgery or any other traditional medical intervention. She now shares her passion for natural and vibrant health through coaching, speaking and writing about the importance and power of a truly healthy diet.

She publishes a free weekly eZine, In Essence and is compiling an eBook of Healthy Fast Food with 25% of the proceeds going to The Cancer Project, a charity set up by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and nutritionists to educate the public on the benefits of a healthy diet for cancer prevention and survival.

If you have a recipe you would like to submit, visit http://www.LiveInEssence.com for further details.

To book Claire to speak at your event, email her at Claire@LiveInEssence.com.

You wake up one morning and freak outthere’s a lump in your breast. You’ve read all of the stories and seen all of the news reports. The big C word comes to mind. You know that most women who get breast cancer are older than 40 and you are in your 30s. But your mind races to your friends’ faces, friends who have had mastectomies while they were younger than 40…and who had no family history of the disease.

Your insides feel squishy but your heart rate is soaring. You try to calm yourself as, with your hands shaking, you dial your OB-GYN. “I found a lump,” you say. “I need to see you today.” And your doctor, who understands what you are going through, asks you to come in right away.

After seeing the doctor, you are sent for a sonogram or maybe a mammogram, or maybe even both. The lump is solid, but it moves when manipulated by the doctor’s fingers. She is certain it is not a cyst, since it is too solid and the attempt at needle aspiration didn’t work.

The core-needle biopsy comes next. You waver between negative thoughts and positive ones, on an emotional roller coaster. Your friends and family assure you everything will be fine. You wish you could be so certain.

But the call the next day is better than expectedno cancer. What you have is a fibroadenoma, a firm, non-cancerous tumor of the gland. You’ll have to go back to the doctor’s or breast center for repeated ultrasounds, about every six months, to check its status and so the doctors can keep track of its growth rate. The doctors seem to be taking a “wait and see approach”, which you aren’t sure is re-assuring; but you try to convince yourself, if they aren’t worried, you shouldn’t be either.

Over the next few weeks, you search the Net to learn all you can. WebMD says it is smooth, round and painless. You disagree, especially around your period when the tumor downright hurts.

You do more research and talk to more friends. One friend confessed to having surgery twice to remove hers. She said they grew almost golf ball size and were very painful. And according to Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book by Susan M. Love, M.D. (Perseus Books), fibroadenomas “can vary in size from a tiny five millimeters to a lemon-sized five centimeters.” You’re glad yours is on the smaller ender of that scale.

One thing the doctor did tell you was to get off the Pill. It seems the estrogen in birth control pills could make the tumor’s size increase. And you don’t want to take any chances with that. You continue to do research and you feel a little more reassured when you read the line “Fibroadenomas are harmless in themselves, and they don’t have to be removed…” in Dr. Love’s book. That is your plan of attack: only have surgery if it gets too painful or becomes absolutely necessary.

In the meantime, you look for preventative measures, since though Dr. Love writes, “In most cases a woman has only one fibroadenoma; it’s removed, and she never gets any more. But some women do get several over their livesand a few women get many of them.” You don’t want to be one of those women.
Even if preventative measures haven’t been scientifically proven, you figure if it doesn’t hurt you, maybe it will help. You switch to a non-hormone method of birth control. Your doctor suggested cutting out caffeine so you drink decaffeinated green tea, since it is supposed to be filled with antioxidants.

According to the book Breast Health: The Natural Way, by Deborah Mitchell and Deborah Gordon, M.D. (John Wiley and Sons), “Green tea contains high levels of polyphenols, substances that neutralize free radicals associated with cancer, and is a rich source of antioxidants. Green tea protects against breast cancer by preventing initiation of cancer growth.”

You also try to cut out sugars and add more leafy vegetables and soy products. Soy products have been touted for the last decade as containing phytoestrogens (much weaker than the female sex hormone of estrogen.) Scientists at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit demonstrated how genistein, a phytoestrogen found in soy products, inhibits growth of certain breast cancer cells.

You know you don’t have breast cancer, and that fibroadenomas don’t in any way predispose you to cancer, but you are taking precautions. As Dr. Love writes, fibroadenomas are a nuisance, and they can scare you into thinking you might have cancerbut that’s the only bad things about them.”

You know that. So, in addition to the changes you are making in your diet, the biggest change of all is in your attitude. No longer do you take things for granted. Your initial scare and panic has made you realize how much you take your health for granted.

You vow to be better to yourself, to not allow yourself to get so stressed out all of the time. You promise yourself you’ll take better care of your body, maybe get a facial or massage occasionally. To soak in the tub and relax with a good book. To play with your kids and to appreciate your spouse more. But most of all, to count your blessings. You will get through this, and in the grand scheme of things, it may not be that big of a deal.

Jill L. Ferguson is an editor, writer, public speaker and university professor who, like thousands of other women, lived with a fibroadenoma for three years, before its surgical removal in September 2004. Ms. Ferguson’s novel, Sometimes Art Can’t Save You, was published by In Your Face Ink LLC (http://www.inyourfaceink.com) in October 2005.

There are a vast number of cellulite treatments in the marketplace today and with the variety of ingredients contained in them, how do you know which type is going to work? Every manufacturer promises a miracle in the battle against cellulite, but what really will do the best job in eliminating this embarrassing sight?

Cellulite treatments…

Exercise is a first thought to fight back. You can increase firmness and tone muscles, which are positive benefits aside from staying heart healthy, but unfortunately it’s not enough to have a miraculous effect on the visible appearance of cellulite. It’s primary causes have been found to be more of a product of genetics and aging as opposed to how much exercising one does or does not participate in.

The most current solutions until now have been nothing more than topical treatments. Most remedies, primarily in cream form, contain vitamins, herbs, minerals, antioxidants and anti-inflammatories which can help promote blood flow to the affected areas. These creams usually allow the skin to appear softer and smoother, with an overall healthy and dehydrated appearance; however, they are not overly effective in eliminating the cellulite problem and are merely temporary. The damaged contained and fat cells within the skin, only get partially treated. In order to properly complete cellulite treatment, experts say you need to care for the problem internally as well as externally.

Topical treatments also cannot actually penetrate the dermis where much of the cellulite is. Creams and lotions generally reach only the epidermis, or top layer of skin. Many cellulite treatments are primarily unsuccessful because they only focus on the external appearance of cellulite. They are unable to completely fight the damage where it thrives. Dimpling on the surface of the skin is simply evidence of the underlying cause. Basically, a deeper remedy is needed to supplement topical solutions. The fact is, you must reach within to wipe out the damage caused by genetics and aging.

As stated by Murad Skincare experts, “There are nine different avenues by which cellulite and stretch marks can be effectively repaired.” “The more of them that you employ, the more success you will have in reducing, preventing and even eliminating your cellulite.”

Nine Ways of Treating Cellulite

1. Strengthen blood vessels/increase blood flow
2. Encourage the production of connective tissue
3. Stimulate the production of collagen and elastin
4. Attract water to the cells
5. Repair cell membranes
6. Reduce wasted water
7. Prevent free-radical damage
8. Reduce inflammation
9. Promote exfoliation

One maker of an anti-cellulite product called Thermoderm lists some ingredients that they state: “After exhaustive research and testing…found that the ideal formulation required to remove Cellulite consisted of these natural herbs:

• Horse Chestnut fruit - helps circulation
• Dandelion root - supports the liver to process and eliminate toxins
• Parsley - a diuretic that will help eliminate excess fluid from the tissues
• Gingko Biloba - regulates the tone and elasticity of blood vessels, making circulation more efficient.”

There are also secondary cellulite treatments used to reduce dimpling; however, it is important to remember that alone these will do little to reduce overall cottage cheese appearance. They include:

Body Spa Treatments, Body Wraps, Deep-Tissue Massage, A Do-It-Yourself Massage, Dermal Fillers, Electronic Anti-cellulite Devices, Iontophoresis, Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Mesotherapy, Microdermabrasion, Nonablative Lasers, Peels, Skin Brushing and Thalassotherapy.

Again the important thing to remember in the treatment of cellulite is to incorporate factors that help eliminate it from the inside out, not just smooth the appearance of the skin’s surface.

Laurel Tevolitz is an editor of the reduce cellulite blog. Learn more about cellulite treatments at http://reducecellulite.blogspot.com

Male menopause is the result of decreased levels of the male hormone, testosterone. Most commonly, reduced testosterone is reported by those suffering from underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, obesity or high blood pressure. These diseases are common in men over the age of 45.

While some reduction in testosterone levels occurs normally as men age, there are several conditions in which there may be a more rapid decrease. Testosterone production can be interrupted at any age through damage to the testes. The testes make testosterone, and they may be damaged due to an injury, surgery, radiation, infection, or chemotherapy. Testosterone production is mediated by parts of the brain called the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. So if either or both are damaged or not working properly at any age, they do not send the signals required for normal testosterone production to the testes, resulting in reduced testosterone levels.

When testosterone levels drop, men may experience symptoms similar to what women experience when going through menopause. These symptoms include reduced libido, erectile dysfunction, depression, fatigue, and muscle weakness. Testosterone deficiency has also been linked to osteoporosis in men.

Significant testosterone deficiency can be treated with hormone replacement therapy. However, most men experience a very gradual reduction in testosterone levels as they get older, and do not require any treatment. Also, hormone replacement therapy carries an increased risk of prostate cancer, and should be carefully considered. If a decision is made to undergo hormone therapy, the treatment can be administered through injections, oral medications, implants and patches. To treat symptoms such as depression, doctors may prescribe anti-depressants. Because obesity is a major factor implicated in testosterone deficiency, a doctor may also recommend certain lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet and regular exercise.

Menopause provides detailed information about menopause, early menopause, male menopause, menopause and osteoporosis and more. Menopause is the sister site of Chronic Insomnia.

Some pregnant mums have it easy. Yet others have to go through
many hours of labour.

But one thing’s for sure. After the delivery process, many are
just plain tired. In addition, having to breastfeed and nurse a
newborn several times a night can be exhausting.

The new mum today does not have much time to rest and relax
during her confinement period at home. She needs to get back to
work pretty quickly and that means, facing added pressure to
lose weight so that she can fit back to her office wear.

Post-natal massage may just be the solution to her needs. Here
are 6 top benefits of Post-natal massage therapy:

1. Relaxation 2. Stress Relief 3. Relieves aches on shoulders or
neck 4. Hasten the reduction of fluid retention. 5. Help uterus
to shrink to original size 6. Reduce cellulite and help to tone
up the body.

In many parts of Asia, many women before delivery would in fact,
prebook sessions with an Indonesian massage therapist for
post-natal massage. The treatment is a traditional one which has
been handed down several generations and even practiced today.
This treatment involves the use of a massage oil applied to the
stomach and a tummy wrap (bengkung), essentially a cotton cloth
of several metres. The bengkung is used to wrap the body so as
to push up the uterus, clear water retention, wind, spasm,
shrinks the tummy and helps to reduce weight. Post-natal massage
is usually done in the privacy of one’s own home.

For a mother that has delivered her baby naturally, it is
generally pretty safe to go for a post-natal massage. For those
that delivered by caesarian, be sure to consult your
professional massage therapist or your doctor first. Most in
fact, would recommend that you wait a few more weeks before
proceeding with a post-natal massage.

Post-natal massage provides a sense of continuing comfort for
the new mother. The aim of this massage is to give nurturing and
emotional support as well as alleviate the muscle strain of
labor and childbirth. Some post natal massage therapies also
come with a detoxification ritual that rids the midriff of post
birth bagginess.

In some instances, post-natal massage can also bring about a
much shapelier silhouette, compared to the one just before
pregnancy!

My answer is…why not? Now, let’s take define casual clothes for
a moment here. Casual is defined as relaxed, comfortable,
sporty, laid-back and informal. Now, if that’s the case, I don’t
see a problem with wearing casual clothes clubbing. Obviously,
we want to look good when we go clubbing because of the fact
that we either want to attract the opposite sex, look classy or
perhaps keep our image intact.

But I have seen lots of women and celebrities who look
fanta-bulous in casual clothes in clubs too. In fact, what you
can do is flip through some magazines and you’ll soon see that
even celebrities wear casual clothes clubbing. The point is that
we’re comfortable in the casual clothes that we wear and don’t
compromise the way we look.

First off, the casual clothes that you choose to wear to go
clubbing should have nice colors. If you feel like it, wear
something with attractive prints. Perhaps, with a popular saying
or an expressive t-shirt or something. Casual clothes that give
you a personality boost. Casual clothes that gives you character
- no, let me say that again, casual clothes that enhance your
personal character.

As long as you don’t choose casual clothes that are either too
baggy and the casual clothes should make you look neat and
presentable. When you’re wearing casual clothes clubbing,
slippers, sandals and sports shoes are totally out of the
question, regardless of the attire. The belts and accessories
that you have on with your casual clothes will definitely make a
big difference to your clubbing experience. Try a nice little
casual tank top with cropped khaki pants with large hoop
earrings for a change.

You’re not expected to be able to afford the kind of clubbing
clothes that a CEO or royalty can afford but it’s essential that
you invest in good quality casual clothes for clubbing. The
bottom line is your clubbing casual clothes should never be your
gym clothes or jeans. Well, ok, sometimes you can pull it off
with nicely pressed casual clothes with jeans.