What Is C Reactive Protein (CRP and hs-CRP)?

by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP

Inflammation is a quickly becoming recognized in conventional medicine as a key component of serious health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Inflammation is the body’s response to infection. Acute inflammation occurs almost immediately after trauma — from a cut or break, to a heart attack. Chronic inflammation is an ongoing process by which tissue breaks down and is repaired over and over, causing scarring or even tissue destruction. Chronic inflammation is common with autoimmune disorders, when the immune system attacks itself.

Detecting inflammation can be tricky, but a marker called C-reactive protein (CRP), is released into the bloodstream by the liver when inflammation is present, and can be revealed in blood tests. Although doctors and scientists are still uncertain about the specifics around when the test should be done or who should have it, most clinicians use CRP tests to monitor acute inflammation or disorders specifically linked to inflammation, such as inflammatory bowel disease or arthritis.

Cardiovascular risk and CRP

Many things can contribute to low-grade inflammation, including stress levels, nutrition, and environmental exposures. The problem occurs when these ongoing factors create inflammation in the body that potentially leads to serious conditions such as cancer and heart disease.

In 2003, the American Heart Association and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (AHA/CDC) published their recommendations on the clinical use of CRP testing. They established levels of cardiovascular risk by assigning CRP values as follows:

Low risk: less than 1.0 mg/L
Average risk: 1.0-3.0 mg/L
High risk: above 3.0 mg/L

But the AHA/CDC also said that these values are only useful as an independent marker for risk of cardiovascular disease and should not be used as a screening tool or to track treatment. It is my experience as a functional medicine practitioner that CRP is a very important marker, especially for preventative intervention. When I have a patient whose CRP is over 1 mg/L, I recommend lifestyle changes to help manage and reduce inflammation. I also recommend an hs-CRP test, or high-sensitivity CRP. This test in my opinion is critical to help determine more accurate CRP levels.

A recent worldwide study revealed that people with high levels of hs-CRP benefit from the use of a common statin drug that can help reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke. My hope is that this study will encourage all practitioners to test for hs-CRP, but instead of simply writing a prescription for a statin, actually investigate and address the underlying causes of inflammation.

If CRP or hs-CRP is elevated, there are many things that we can do to help temper inflammation and the risk of inflammation-related disease before beginning a lifelong course of prescription medication. The first place I check is the digestive system, the seat of a healthy immune system. Simple changes in diet can improve digestion and change CRP levels for the better. There are also anti-inflammatory spices that can be used in cooking, such as turmeric, ginger, and other Indian spices that may help reduce CRP.

Although this is a fairly new path in conventional medicine, inflammation has always been considered a high priority in my practice. For more information about inflammation and natural approaches for reducing it, see my many articles in our Inflammation section.

Arthritis and Joint Pain – Inflammation Could Be At Work

by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP

As a culture, we’ve been conditioned to accept that joint pain and arthritis are natural signs of aging and are to be expected. Many women I talk with accept this and over time when their pain intensifies, they reach for ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help with pain. Many times I’ll see patients who will grow teary when talking about the activities they have stopped – like playing with their grandchildren, dancing, and sometimes even exercise.

Many things can lead to chronic joint pain – we have to remember that pain is your bodies’ way of sending a message – in this case the message is that it needs help. Taking away the pain with a pill is part of a solution, but to really help your body, you’ve got to get to the root cause of the pain.

There are many types of joints in the human body – fixed, hinge, ball and socket and pivot. A joint is how the bones are connected to each other by ligaments. Muscles are attached to those same bones by tendons – and both the ligaments and tendons are surrounded by protective sheaths. Surrounding each joint is a fluid filled protective pocket known as bursae and within the joint the bones have a protective lining made up of cartilage which help the bones move over each other easily. If any part of the joint is compromised – through trauma, injury or inflammation, you will experience pain.

There are many reasons joint pain can flare up seemingly suddenly. Many people look at arthritis as being a culprit. Its estimate that one in five Americans has been diagnosed with a form of arthritis, and there are over a hundred different arthritic conditions, the most common are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis worsens as the day wears on. This type of arthritis can be traced to a breakdown in your joint cartilage, and it’s linked with inflammation. Hips, knees, spine, hands and feet are most commonly affected.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a known autoimmune disease which causes inflammation in the fluid of the joint. It’s different from other forms of arthritis and presents with some identifying features:

  • A hot or warm feeling in the joint
  • Pain lasting through the night
  • The same joint is affected on both sides of the body
  • Stiffness that lasts for over 30 minutes upon waking

Many forms of joint pain involve inflammation – sometimes it’s local and other times it can be systemic. With joints, pain can come from overuse, or injury. If your body is working well, the inflammation will do it’s job to heal – and then will pass quickly. If inflammation persists and moves into a chronic state, there’s investigation to do!

Testing is now readily available for inflammatory markers such a C-reactive protein (CRP) to determine if patients are likely to develop inflammatory conditions. Trace amounts of CRP are present in a healthy body, but we can expect to see an increase in CRP with acute infection or injury. When elevated CRP levels exist for prolonged period of time, it’s a good indication that inflammation is present.

Treating elevated inflammation levels is something I’ve helped women with for many years. I recommend dietary changes and nutritional supplements and find that this combination works not only to alleviate pain, but to lower CRP levels.

[banner id=”single-banner-multi-essentials”]

I see many women who notice joint pain for the first time during perimenopause. Although the relationship between our joints and estrogen is not fully understood, it’s known that estrogen has an anti-inflammatory effect in our bodies. It makes sense then that during perimenopause, when estrogen levels start decreasing, women could feel the effects in their joints. Any imbalance that estrogen has been helping to calm may start rising to the surface.

Many patients report a decrease in joint pain when their hormones return to balance – for others, it’s just once part of the cause of their joint pain. Its quite common for foods to be a factor in inflammation – and the impact on joint pain.

Though many women think of food simply in regard to what registers on the scale, food can be the most effective, cheapest and safest medicine for restoring health. Eating foods which contain nutrients that will not ignite inflammation and which calm inflammation can help with joint pain and so much more! Foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids are a wonderful example.

I have noticed a pattern that many women who suffer from joint pain also have digestive issues. Ongoing digestive imbalances in the GI system (such as leaky gut, dysbiosis and inflammatory bowel disease) have long been associated with allergens and chronic inflammation. An elimination diet or food sensitivity test can help pinpoint food sensitivities.

Foods most commonly associated with inflammation are:  corn and corn products, gluten, yeast, eggs, citrus, and members of the nightshade family – eggplant, peppers, tomatoes and potatoes. Sugar and processed foods can increase inflammation.

I also encourage women to think of the emotional toxins as well. If we think about the terms ‘burning mad’ and ‘fiery temper’ they sound like inflammation, don’t they? Not surprising to me, research has shown a direct correlation between negative emotions and inflammatory conditions. People who are habitually negative release higher levels of CRP than those who have a more positive outlook on life.

The effects of chronic stress on the immune system have been well studied. The hormone cortisol is released when our stress response is triggered – and cortisol acts to ignite the inflammation response – which brings us back to the pain in your joints. It’s a circle which can be stopped.

Once women understand the causes of their joint pain, they can experience significant relief by addressing the issues that most affect them. You can, too!

If you are currently on medication, please don’t stop your medications! You can supplement your current treatment plan with the following helpful ideas:

  • Start at the ground level. Evaluate over-exercise, injuries, your bed, even your work station.
  • Evaluate your digestion. Poor digestion can lead to system inflammation and eventually your joint pain.
  • Keep track of your pain. A daily journal which includes the time of day, what kind of activity you have participated in, diet, stress levels or illness. This may help identify a pattern for you.
  • Eat a diet high in natural anti-inflammatory foods. Be sure to include nutrient rich fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and omega-3s. Adding a high quality multivitamin/mineral and omega-3 fatty acid supplements to your daily routine is recommended.
  • Consider a detox plan. We know that toxicity can add to your body burden and an increase inflammation.
  • Evaluate your stress. Consider stress relief activities. There isn’t a one size fits all stress reliever. Give good thought to what might help you – yoga, meditation, journaling – the possibilities are endless and the results are priceless.
  • Move your body – exercise can help reduce stress, help with weight management and also the symptoms of arthritis. Exercise helps keep your blood flowing – and this will help the tissues surrounding your joints healthy and pliable.
  • Consider alternative therapies – massage, osteopathic care, acupuncture, and psychotherapy are known to help with pain. The same method isn’t  for everybody – one might be right for you.

Please remember that pain is your bodies’ way of asking for help – it’s communicating a very important message to you. Don’t bury this message or push it away – listening to your body is the first step in the healing process.

Balancing Your Omega-3 Fatty Acids – Essential For Health and Long Life

by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP

Many women are concerned about fat. If we think about everything that the media relates to us about the subject of fat, much of it is quite confusing and not entirely true. The patients I see are usually convinced that eating too much fat in their diet makes them fat. However, the truth is that an extremely low-fat diet will not regulate your weight and it will certainly not enhance your health. Truth be told, if you don’t get enough fat in your diet, you will actually be less healthy than if you were to consume healthy fats in your diet.

Luckily our society, in general, is becoming more educated and informed about the importance of fats in the diet, most importantly including omega-3 essential fatty acids into our daily diets. Next time you are at your local grocery store take notice how many times you see the phrase “good source of omega-3” on some food packages. This is not an accident because food manufacturers have discovered that marketing their items as such will help increase their sales. But it’s still confusing because so many do not understand the difference between these good fats and saturated fats which are present in many processed foods.

Research has confirmed that omega-3 fatty acids can have an excellent effect on impacting degenerative diseases, such as heart disease, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and many others. There are anti-inflammatory properties in omega-3 fatty acids and these have shown to have a positive effect for women especially those going through menopause, thus having impact on the preservation of the heart, breast, and bone health, and better yet, it balances their moods.

I know that it sounds too good to be true, but I have seen it in my practice through the years that omega-3 essential fatty acids indeed work wonders. That is why they are considered essential. From your heart to your mind and all the cells in your body, omega-3s are the best kind of fats for your health.

What’s so essential about essential fatty acids?

Many women that come to the clinic have asked “What’s the difference between regular fat and “essential” fat?” The answer is, your body is not able to create essential fatty acids (EFAs), so you have to get them from what you eat. There are two forms of EFAs (omega-3 and omega-6), and they are found in the membranes of every cell in your body!

If we look at the molecular level, EFAs help protect and keep your cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal (GI), and immune systems functioning at their best. EFAs help to insulate your nerve cells and they produce molecular messengers that are part of your central nervous system and your bodies’ immunity.

Listed below are some ways to help you obtain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Please note that there are many foods that have both omega-3 and omega-6, and they are on both lists.

Omega-3 Sources:

  • Canola oil
  • Eggs
  • Flaxseed
  • Hempseed oil
  • Marine microalgae – most algae-based supplements contain docosahexaenoic acid [DHA], but not eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA]
  • Pumpkin seeds
  • Seafood – sources that are both high in omega-3 and low in environmental contaminants include anchovies, herring, mackerel, oysters, sardines, wild salmon and sardines
  • Walnuts

Omega-6 Sources:

  • Borage oil
  • Canola oil
  • Corn oil
  • Eggs
  • Evening primrose oil
  • Safflower oil
  • Soybean oil
  • Sunflower oil

When reviewing the lists above, you may have noticed that olive oil was not on either of these lists. There is a good reason for this and that’s because olive oil has oleic acid (omega-9) and palmitic acid, a saturated fatty acid. Olive oil does not have any omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids. It is still very good for your healthy lifestyle because of its bioflavonoid content. Olive oil is a large part of the Mediterranean diet, which as we all know, is one of he healthiest diets to consume.

The magic balance between omega-3s and omega-6s

So we can differentiate and to be clear, omega-3 fatty acids are usually referred to as “good fats” while the omega-6 fatty acids are called “bad fats.” This is because we have too much omega-6 and not enough omega-3 incorporated into our daily food intake. In general, omega-6 fatty acids favor inflammation, whereas the omega-3 fatty acids counter it. The inflammation then contributes to the diseases that the omega-3 fatty acids are known to help. However, there is an essential healthy balance, and both omega-3 and omega-6 are necessary for optimal functioning of your body. The right ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 actually decreases inflammation.

Click here to read our many informative articles about inflammation.

What is important for long term health and well-being is to balance the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3. Researchers indicate that the best ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 is about 2:1 and 4:1. But a typical U.S. diet has a ratio between 10:1 and 30:1!

This imbalance which is tipped toward omega-6 over the omega-3 fatty acids is generally seen because the U.S. diet is loaded with animal fats (such as corn-fed beef) and corn products, and the diet is low in seafood, seeds, and nuts. In addition, the U.S. diets rely on processed, packaged food, fast foods, and fried foods (high in hydrogenated oils or trans fats). Trans fats are metabolized differently from other fats, and they interfere with the conversion of dietary fats. More and more research is showing the damaging effects of trans fats and I am sure more will come as time goes by.

“Bad” fats cannot be found in nature. These are the artificial trans fats that are created by adding extra hydrogen atoms to produce a soft, yet solid, room temperature product. This in turn helps to prolong the shelf-life of processed foods, such as cookies, crackers, breads, spreads, sauces, fried foods, and snack foods. Trans fats tend to raise the “bad” (LDL)) cholesterol and can greatly increase the risk of heart disease.

I can’t advocate enough to be a smart shopper and read the labels of everything you purchase. If you see “hydrogenated” or “partially hydrogenated” as part of the ingredients, put it back on the shelf and don’t buy it. These food items will never be part of a healthy diet. In addition, federal regulations allow the label to say “zero trans fats,” if the content is less than half a gram per serving. Be sure to read the serving size to determine if has been minimized to a small proportion. Recently the serving sizes were changed to accommodate this change in the labeling.

How omega-3s prevent disease

The beauty of omega 3s is that they make such a profound difference in your health and are also quite affordable and easily accessible. They are so good for us because of the anti-inflammatory properties. Omega-3s have long been associated with prevention and treatment of many illnesses, including:

  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Arthritis
  • Asthma
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Breast, colon, and prostate cancers
  • Burns
  • Depression/bipolar disorders
  • Diabetes
  • Heart disease
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Obesity
  • Osteoporosis
  • Schizophrenia
  • Skin disorders
  • Stroke

It is no surprise that omega-3 fatty acids are one of the most researched topics in the scientific community. They are also one of the most celebrated dietary essentials among people who live a health conscious lifestyle and incorporate whole health into their daily life. The question that remains that is quite baffling is why does the intake of omega-3 fatty acids continue to decline?

Women and omega-3s

I strongly urge you to begin to supplement your diet so it includes omega-3 fatty acids. I’ve recommended the use of omega-3 at the clinic for close to 30 years and many women have had great improvement in their health. Taking omega-3 fatty acids can help is some many areas such as decreasing menstrual cramps, menopausal symptoms, and even breast cancer.

Research has actually found a link between increased menstrual pain and low omega-3 blood concentrations. Menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea) happen when your cell membranes release omega-6 fatty acids, which produce pro-inflammatory eicosanoids. As a result, cramps, headache, nausea, or other symptoms may be present.

Research continues at a rapid rate when it comes to omega-3s and their connection to infertility and premature births. In one study there was an increase in fertility rates with supplements of omega-3. Scientists found that omega-3 supplementation reduced clotting in the endometrial cells that line the uterus, and this improved the implantation rates of fertilized eggs. Alternatively, an imbalance of the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio has been connected to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which can contribute to infertility.

Research has also shown that if a pregnant woman increases her omega-3 intake, her premature birth risk drops by up to 50 percent. In addition, fetal brain development benefits from omega-3 supplementation, and this continues after the birth. A pregnant woman who adds omega-3s to her diet for her infant’s development and health will also decrease the likelihood of postpartum depression. The benefits just keep getting better.

Furthermore, if you have a history of cancer, there is research being conducted about the effect of various types and quantities of fats on tumor growth. Fatty acids have been found to be protective or harmful, depending on the situation. However, an excess of the pro-inflammatory eicosanoids from omega-6 fatty acids can have a negative effect on your immune system, and this could be the reason for increased growth of certain cancers.

The omega-3 metabolites counterbalance those of omega-6s, and researchers are studying ways to use omega-3s to block tumor growth. Studies in animals have shown that a diet that is high in omega-3 can slow tumor growth. People who follow a Mediterranean diet (rich in omega-3 and other phytonutrients) are 56 percent less likely to develop cancer and are 61 percent less likely to die from it. Wow!

[banner id=”single-product-epa-dha”]

Omega-3 fatty acids and menopause

There is even more to the story as it pertains to menopausal symptoms. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to help many of the menopausal symptoms that some women experience. Low blood levels of omega-3s are connected to inflammation, which causes many health issues in menopause, such as osteoporosis, heart disease, vaginal dryness, thinning skin and hair, joint pain, and dry eyes. Omega-3s can soothe the inflammation. Let’s take a look at some specific symptoms that omega-3s can help with:

Hot flashes

Two studies, done in 2005 by Italian scientists, reported a “progressive and highly significant reduction” in hot flashes with the introduction of omega-3s, possibly because of the omega-3 influence on nerve cell membranes or possibly by modulating neurotransmitter function. A diet high in omega-3s is thought to be why Japanese women (whose diets are rich in fish, seaweed, and soy) have fewer adverse symptoms of menopause than American women do.

Osteoporosis

Your bones are always being broken down (resorption) and rebuilt. When resorption exceeds the rebuilding, then the bone mass deteriorates and can cause osteoporosis. There are some omega-6 derivatives that stimulate bone resorption. You can always start to rebuild good bones by having the omega-3 fatty acids counteract the omega-6 fatty acids to prevent and treat osteoporosis. It really is never too late, as I often see with my patients – even in their 70’s.

Mood, affect and memory

Mood, affect, and memory are often times challenging areas, especially as people age. There is research showing the possibility that omega-3s may prevent, and perhaps treat, depression. They may also help people who are struggling with personality and behavioral problems, such as aggression. Scientists have found that people with high omega-3 levels in their blood had more grey matter in the brain sectors that are linked to positive emotions and moods. However, people with mild to moderate depression symptoms showed decreased grey matter in those same areas. There is additional research needed to find out if omega-3s actually cause this phenomenon – however, healthy omega-3 levels can give you a more positive outlook on life and lower your rate of memory loss. Thus far the research is positive when it comes to mood and depression.

Cardiovascular disease

There are women, especially those over 40, whose lipid profiles show a high ratio of triglycerides to “good” (HDL) cholesterol. They are more at risk for cardiovascular disease. Fish oil supplements are high in omega-3 and offer increased protection for your heart and blood vessels by decreasing your triglyceride levels and increasing your HDL. Taking omega-3 supplementation is a good idea if you’re on conventional hormone replacement therapy (HRT), because HRT can increase triglyceride levels to harmful levels.

Lower heart rate equals longer life?

Perhaps living longer is the best result of taking omega-3s. Researcher Jørn Dyerberg, who is known for his groundbreaking work on omega-3s, was first to notice the absence of heart disease among Greenland’s indigenous people. Dyerberg believes that this was directly related to the high dietary omega-3 content of the diet. And the effect of decreasing the number of heartbeats during a lifetime is that the heart beats longer ( that is also why so many recommend meditation to help with cardiovascular issues). These people have a longer lifespan. Initial studies show that DHA is the primary omega-3 fatty acid that lowers heart rate and improves the resilience of heart rate variability. Together these lower the risk of sudden cardiac events that cause death.

Now you know why omega-3 fatty acids are necessary to good health. Let’s take a look to discover what kind of omega-3 is best and how much omega-3 should you take?

How to choose the best omega-3 supplement

The best way to get omega-3 fatty acids in your diet is from fresh sources. However, there are some very good supplements, and you can choose those based on the quality and purity of the product. The best omega-3 fish oils should come from deep-water fish (these fish are generally less polluted) However, oily fish can have high levels of lethal pesticides, dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), or heavy metals (such as lead and mercury), which need to be removed in the preparation process for omega-3 supplements. There are advanced omega-3 extraction and distillation processes that efficiently remove the toxins and impurities and also maintain stability and freshness. If you want to know about the purity, contact the manufacturer and request a certificate of analysis. This will display the results of tests for levels of lead, mercury, and cadmium in each batch.

The American Heart Association daily recommendation is 1–3 grams of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). For some medical diseases, higher doses (up to 4 grams per day) of omega-3 products can be used safely. There are recent studies indicating that higher-dose omega-3 fatty acids can be very helpful to lower high triglycerides. I suggest that you discuss this with your healthcare provider if you plan to use more than 3 grams of omega-3 daily.

At Women to Women, we know your healthy lifestyle is always based on balance, not overabundance. It is best to purchase omega-3 supplements with the following criteria:

  • Look for natural forms that have been purified by molecular extraction, to guarantee that the product does not contain mercury or other pollutants.
  • Look for additional antioxidants.
  • Look for the suggested dose on the label to be sure that it doesn’t suggest more than 3 grams of EPA and DHA per day (see above).
  • Look for both EPA and DHA. They can be interconverted, so the ratio of EPA to DHA is not as significant as quality and amount are, but both should be present. A good ratio is 3:2.
  • Look for the expiration date. Be aware and do not take if they have a bad smell or bad taste, as this could mean that the product was poorly purified, has expired, or has already oxidized. However, a fishy smell does not necessarily mean that the fish oil is bad, it could just be that it did not go through a process to remove that odor.
  • Make sure the product says mercury and lead free. Some manufacturers are not as stringent as need be and do not add this to the labels. You do not want to get Omega-3s at the expense of consuming more toxins.

Women to Women offers high-quality, pharmaceutical grade Omega-3s to enhance your health.  Click here to learn more.

Another way that you can optimize your omega-3 intake is to follow a Mediterranean diet. By eating richly colored fruits and vegetables, virgin olive oil, and fresh fish, you can help your body obtain a healthier balance.

The Women to Women approach for increasing omega-3s

Increasing your omega-3 fatty acid intake will promote better health. From premenstrual syndrome, menopause, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, and osteoporosis, taking omega-3 can help all women reduce inflammation. It will also help you regain the balance that you lost with a diet heavy in omega-6 fatty acids.

Now that you are aware of this essential part of your healthy lifestyle, here are some suggestions to help you reestablish the balance between omega-6s and omega-3s:

Test your omega-6/omega-3 ratio.  If you have inflammation or health risks discussed previously in this article, please ask your practitioner for a fatty acid profile test. Testing will provide an objective number for your starting point.

Transition to Mediterranean eating.  It’s easy to look for simple recipes that are made from fresh whole foods that can be prepared ahead of time. You can quickly have a wholesome meal for you and your family with a chance to relax and fully savor it. When you are shopping, get a variety of brightly colored fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts for quick and easy snacks. Keep your nuts and oils refrigerated. Do not buy junk food or overly processed food.

Supplement your diet daily with high-quality omega-3. If you eat at least two seafood servings a week and you don’t have any health concerns, then 600–650 mg of EPA and DHA per day is probably sufficient. However, if you have issues with your health, you can benefit from a daily dose of 1,000–3,000 mg omega-3. If you choose to take up to 4,000 mg per day, please do so with your healthcare provider’s approval. If you want to use fish oil as a supplement, only choose natural, stable preparations of the highest quality and purity.

Include a high-quality, multivitamin-mineral, complex supplement. Pyroxidine, biotin, calcium, copper, magnesium, and zinc are nutrients that assist with the conversion of omega-3 to EPA and DHA. It’s difficult to plan and prepare meals to get the recommended doses of these nutrients. You can be sure that you are getting adequate amounts by taking a high-quality nutritional supplement.

Women to Women offers high-quality, pharmaceutical grade supplements to enhance your health.  Click here to learn more.

A lesson from the past—balance

In the past, our diet provided omega-3 fatty acids in larger amounts because it was primarily from the earth and the sea. For millennia humankind ate what it could hunt, catch, dig, or pick and didn’t really worry about good or bad nutrition. People only wanted to be full and nourished—their challenge was to find enough to eat. In modern times, we have an overabundance of food choices, and we still have to search and hunt for the finest omega-3 foods and supplements.

There is a lot of research being released about omega-3s. However, please always keep in mind that it’s all about balance. This balance affects things on a cellular level with your omega-3 and omega-6 ratio and the balance of your whole life. There is no supplement or pill that will do away with all your challenges. But if you incorporate good nutrition and a positive outlook toward life, this will let you continue your journey to a long and healthy life.

Inflammation – Is It Affecting You?

by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP

In my time as a practitioner, it’s been interesting for me to watch the changing trends in medicine. At one time there were many who doubted me when I talked about eliminating gluten from the diet – many, many women who took this one simple step saw some amazing changes – their thinking became clearer, energy returned, and pounds disappeared. As a functional medicine practitioner, I’ve been carefully following the research on inflammation – in the past few years there have been studies suggesting that chronic inflammation lies at the root cause of many health issues which women ask me most about – osteoporosis, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease and the skin disorder, psoriasis.

In fact, many of the complaints and diseases we as a culture associate with aging can be attributed to chronic inflammation. Could it be that this is why some 75 year old women need the assistance of a walker and others are able to slip into a pair of sneakers and walk with ease? At Women to Women we’ve been talking to women about inflammation and it’s effects on disease and on aging for a long time. More importantly, we teach women how to identify and control inflammation to maintain good health. The very issues most women are concerned about have root causes in inflammation.

Inflammation can present in so many different ways? How do you know if you have inflammation?

The list below are symptoms which can be associated with low grade chronic inflammation:

  • Skin outbreaks
  • Diarrhea
  • Shortness of breath
  • Body aches and pains
  • Weight gain
  • Swelling
  • Dry eyes
  • Stiffness
  • Congestion
  • Frequent infections
  • Fuzzy thinking

We all need a small amount of inflammation in our bodies to maintain good health – this is known as acute inflammation. For instance, with an allergic reaction or infection, our bodies are programmed to respond, identifying the infectious or dangerous substance and responding to repair any resulting damage. When our bodies are working smoothly and properly, the release of these pro-inflammatory compounds when needed is done easily and efficiently. When the threat has been addressed, anti-inflammatory compounds are released and our bodies return to a balanced state.

When the body’s pro-inflammatory immune cells continue to be stimulated, chronic inflammation arises. When these excess immune cells continually circulate in our systems, they can damage healthy areas such as joint tissue (which could lead to arthritis), blood vessel linings (which could lead to atherosclerosis), pancreatic tissue (which could lead to diabetes), and on and on.

Many women first feel the effects of inflammation during their perimenopause and menopausal years. These times of major hormonal shifts seem to have a profound effect on inflammation for some women. This could explain why women suffer more than men with autoimmune diseases. Estrogen tends to be an anti-inflammatory agent.

At Women to Women, we know that certain dietary and lifestyle changes will help calm some inflammation. There are also a wide range of dietary supplements which can help as well. Omega-3 fatty acids – more commonly known as fish oil – can help calm inflammation. There’s testing available which helps us put each woman’s individual pieces together – helping us develop a plan of care to keep inflammation at bay.

What’s interesting to me is that conventional medicine doesn’t have a diagnosis or test available to determine the cause of chronic or systemic inflammation. Just recently there’s been talk from conventional medicinal world about fish oil. What this means to me is that we’re in the process of a medical revolution – when understanding about certain functions and disease states in the human body is changing.

The good news is that we have much information about inflammation right here at Women to Women. The great news is that we also have solutions. Time proven solutions!

For more information, please refer to our many informative articles about inflammation.

Lupus And Hormones

by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP

Birth control, hormone replacement therapy and more

Hormones are the chemical messengers in the body, and for women diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), these messages may be inconsistent. SLE — the most common form of lupus — is an autoimmune disease causing inflammation which can affect many parts of the body, including joints, lungs, kidneys, skin, and even the nervous system. Because SLE is hormonally-driven and primarily affects women in their 20’s-40’s, birth control options and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) are of primary concern.

The mechanics are a bit complicated. As hormones circulate through the bloodstream, they can be disrupted at any point, essentially breaking down the signal between the brain and the target cells – where specific hormones are intended to do their work. This is important for women carrying an SLE diagnosis.

The question becomes, should women with lupus take birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy? The Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment (SELENA) studies, focused on use of oral contraceptives and on postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy in women with lupus. The researchers’ goal was to determine if exogenous female hormones (or hormones coming from outside the body) may trigger disease activity. The studies showed that estrogen enhances the autoimmune response and androgens and progestins suppress it. The ratios and levels of these chemicals found in the joint fluids and blood of women in the study showed a hormonal connection worth considering.

The good news is, while these studies detected a slight elevation in disease symptoms, they also indicate that women with SLE can tolerate low-dose exogenous hormones with a relatively small risk of mild flare ups. In other words, taking certain hormones can be considered safe for women with lupus, when all the factors are taken into consideration.

Birth control

Contraceptive options for women with SLE depend on the individuality of each patient. Not only does the type and method of birth control matter, but so do medical history and autoantibody test results.

The concern is two-fold for oral contraceptives containing estrogen: lupus flare ups and risk of blood clots (thrombosis). Thrombosis risk may already be elevated in certain instances for women with lupus, making estrogen-containing contraception an inappropriate choice. Progesterone-only alternatives, including the progesterone pill, injection, and IUD, are not associated with an increased risk of blood clots.

Historically, research on the use of birth control pills and lupus produced somewhat contradictory results, but recent studies have shown that low-dose estrogen birth control pills are likely safe for women with mild forms of lupus and who have minimal risk of clotting.

As far as increasing a woman’s risk of developing lupus by taking oral contraceptives, the message is unclear. Data collected in 2009, analyzed 1.7 million women ages 18 to 45, and found a small subgroup of women with a genetic predisposition to lupus, who – when taking birth control pills containing both synthetic estrogens and a progestin — may be more susceptible to the disease. The overall risk is still small, but taking birth control pills with a family or personal history of lupus should be considered before use.

Hormone replacement therapy

Overall, hormone replacement therapy is being used less often due to the potential increased risk of heart disease, thrombosis, and breast cancer. For women with SLE, the risk of blood clots and cardiovascular events is oftentimes already elevated, warranting concern. The issues with lupus and HRT are three-fold.

Although studies show that estrogen therapy for women with lupus, who are also menopausal, does not increase their chance of flare-ups, the reality is the studies used synthetic hormone replacement therapy, which slightly increased the risk of mild to moderate lupus flare-ups. Women with lupus who were taking HRT in the study, were 20 percent more probable to exhibit lupus symptoms, although did not need high doses of steroids or hospitalization for treatment.

Another consideration for women with SLE who experience early and severe symptoms of menopause, and who also take cyclophosphamide – a medication that alleviates inflammatory damage – are at risk for premature ovarian failure (POF). While some clinicians may support the use of HRT to help severe menopause symptoms in women with lupus, it is my experience that natural alternatives may be a better choice for relief to avoid other potentially serious complications.

Finally, women with lupus already have an increased risk of blood clots and heart disease, and the use of conventional hormone replacement therapy is connected to an increased risk of these conditions, even for healthy women. Women with stable, inactive SLE, and relatively low autoimmune factors should only consider low-dose, short-term HRT after making a very careful and informed choice with their healthcare provider.

Theories and controversies

Estrogen is the one of the leading components about why lupus is more common in women than in men. While estrogen is known to be play an important role in the development of of lupus, its specific relationship to autoimmune diseases is not clear. Progress is being made, but the connection between lupus and estrogen is highly controversial. When it comes to the relationship between the immune system and estrogen, healthy functioning requires just the right amount – not too much estrogen, and not too little. The ratios of particular types of estrogen also play a role in autoimmune function. There are multiple factors including genetic variations, toxic exposures, poor food choices, lifestyle stressors and prescription drugs — including synthetic hormone drugs — which may cause impairment.

Clinicians caring for women with SLE often face difficult decisions regarding the use of birth control and HRT. Although it is now generally considered safe, when referring to studies, evidence can seem a bit murky unless the patient has a specific counter-indication to exogenous hormones related to specific medical conditions.

But there are many avenues to explore. It’s important to note that many elements can be controlled. Even if you do have lupus, you can choose to support your internal hormonal balance in the choices you make every day. In addition, you can slowly reset your hormonal balance and lessen your inflammation by eating an anti-inflammatory diet, nurturing your emotional well-being, and exploring other natural alternatives before deciding to take prescription-strength hormones.

Of special interest to us at Women to Women, is that hormone therapy with bioidentical, natural estrogens and progesterone, has not yet been specifically studied in people with lupus, and the impact of this type of therapy is not yet known. But we are supporting efforts to explore these avenues.

Quality of life

Sometimes a woman’s quality of life or long-term health is an issue with a diagnosis of lupus, and the benefits of hormone replacement therapy may outweigh the risks. As an experienced OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner, I carefully weigh the options for SLE patients with both a person-centered as well as a disease-oriented focus. When a woman wants to try a course of HRT, we recommend she have a comprehensive hormone panel, to gauge the levels of all her sex hormones and their various metabolites in her body. With the results of that testing, we can then consider various types of bioidentical HRT, along with supplements that abate inflammation and facilitate estrogen metabolization.

We will regularly meet with that patient in follow-up, to see how well our approach is working for her. Together we keep track and watch for changes in her symptoms and overall well-being, and periodically retest her hormone levels, adjusting her dosage to the lowest effective amount for the shortest period of time needed. All the while, women can continue to gently care for themselves by making daily choices that enhance hormonal balance and restore harmony.

If you want to learn more, please read our articles on lupus. There are many related issues covered in the sections on inflammation, menopause and perimenopause, and phytotherapy for hormonal balance.

What is Lupus?

by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN, NP

  • Lupus symptoms and diagnosis
  • Focus on feeling better

Lupus is a disease that has proven in the past to be quite difficult to identify and control. Lupus is an autoimmune disease which causes chronic extensive inflammation. There are a number of types of lupus, with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) being the most common form, The treatment for Lupus is based on each patient’s own unique case and needs. There are no standard treatment protocols, much is dependent on the symptom composite.

The word lupus means “wolf” in Latin, and erythema is a Greek word for “blush.” Often lupus is distinguished by a noticeable rash on the face. It is thought that the name may have originated from a physician who thought it looked like a wolf bite or wolf fur or at least, that is the general story! Today the rash on the face is better recognized as a “butterfly rash,” as it spreads over the nose, on both sides of the cheeks in the form of a butterfly. The types of the disease can vary from just the skin rash to a much more severe condition which involves a systemic inflammation that can damage major organs, most often the kidneys or lungs.

While I was in school, we saw a number of women with lupus in the hospital, and their cases were quite severe. Many required organ transplants or were dying from the disease. However the good news is while the frequency of milder stages of the disease has increased significantly (its unclear why), the later stages have decreased. For so many lupus patients, the symptoms of lupus can be uncomfortable, but manageable.

In the US, roughly 80–90% of lupus cases are women, making lupus about eight times more common in women than in men. Certain ethnic groups are more subject toward it, and rates of lupus can differ depending on where you live as well. The precise causes of lupus are still a mystery for practitioners, though at least two dozen genes have been discovered which may contribute to the disease, as do many environmental factors. It is an autoimmune disorder so we do know that there are multiple factors that contribute to the issue.

Lupus symptoms and diagnosis as noted by the Lupus Foundation of America

The symptoms are not the same in every person with lupus, and one of the most distressing and frustrating aspects of lupus is that since the early symptoms can appear “mild” to a doctor or healthcare practitioner, women with lupus are frequently labeled as “chronic complainers”. This is unfortunate and due to this these patients are allowed to get sicker before they get their diagnosis. As a practitioner I always shake my head at this— not only because women aren’t being taken seriously enough by their doctors, despite the fact that they have a legitimate illness that can be treated Not listening to a patient’s concerns can have a dangerous outcome and. it just doesn’t have to be this way.

The main problem is there is no simple diagnostic test for lupus. To be given an official diagnosis of lupus, you have to have 4 of these 11 criteria.

  • Malar rash – a rash over the cheeks and nose, often in the shape of a butterfly
  • Discoid rash – a rash that appears on your body as red, raised, disk-shaped patches
  • Photosensitivity – a reaction to sun or light that causes a skin rash to appear or get worse
  • Oral ulcers – sores appearing in the mouth
  • Arthritis – joint pain and swelling of two or more joints in which the bones around the joints do not become destroyed
  • Serositis – inflammation of the lining around the lungs (pleuritis) or inflammation of the lining around the heart that causes chest pain which is worse with deep breathing (pericarditis)
  • Kidney disorder – persistent protein or cellular casts in the urine
  • Neurological disorder – seizures or psychosis
  • Blood disorder – anemia (low red blood cell count), leukopenia (low white blood cell count), lymphopenia (low level of specific white blood cells), or thrombocytopenia (low platelet count)
  • Immunologic disorder –anti-DNA or anti-Sm or positive antiphospholipid antibodies

Abnormal antinuclear antibody

There are numerous blood tests that you can get, the bad news is many of the tests may come back as “normal”, even when you know you are not feeling well this is one reason lupus is often misdiagnosed. However, it is important to get the tests to know where you stand at that moment, and to rule out other problems.

At Women to Women, we highly advise that every woman with lupus or who are beginning menopause to be their own best health advocate. You can start by interviewing different healthcare professionals. Keep a journal of your symptoms, instead of trying to remember everything and bring it with you to your appointments. Then be as precise as possible, and include the frequency, severity and/or dates on which you have flare ups or when symptoms appeared. With this to guide you, your provider and you can both begin a course of action to find the right path for the management of your symptoms or flare-ups, and return your body to a more natural, balanced state.

Focus on feeling better

If I could say just one thing to a woman recently diagnosed with lupus, it’s this: take a minute and set aside the fear and concern about the diagnosis itself. Focus on reducing inflammation, and managing your symptoms inch by inch, or one at a time. Through treating each minor issue, you can achieve the broader, more complete balance to your life again.

An inflammatory imbalance is like a fire in a hearth that hasn’t been watched and is starting to burn down the house. It roars past its original boundaries in the body and, if we don’t intervene, starts to impact all our major systems, including the endocrine, digestive, cardiovascular, respiratory, lymph, and central nervous systems. In time it can contribute to a whole host of conditions, some serious, from heart attack to ulcers to multiple sclerosis to cancer—as well as the accumulation of toxic weight. And it all starts with an overburdened immune system that’s just trying to do its job. Women can manage their symptoms and prevent flare-ups by controlling inflammation and for this, there are several natural strategies to try – read more about lupus in my other articles.

Try to step away from the word “diagnosis” for a moment, just in the same way women at midlife can step away from the word “menopause.” As an alternative, take a few moments and look at your symptoms as separate from any designated condition if you can. As we examine our symptoms instead of the diagnosis, then we can figure out what we need to do to relieve those symptoms— whether it’s detoxification, soothing digestive imbalance, or above all quieting inflammation, when we address any of these factors (or all!) it will help you start to feel the relief you need. For the reason that in the end, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a “wolf” or a “butterfly” — what really matters is that you feel better! Functional medicine looks at the symptoms and begins to unravel the actual causes and they can be many. That is why the symptoms vary so much and that is why the relief can come from understand the actual causes and treating them.

Types of lupus

  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
  • Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE)
  • SCLE
  • Drug-induced lupus
  • Neonatal lupus

For more information on the similarities and differences between types of lupus, visit the Lupus Foundation of America website.

Reducing Inflammation — The Natural Anti-Inflammatory Approach To Good Health

by Marcelle Pick, NP OB/GYN

Preventing or reducing inflammation is all about listening to your body. Here you will learn what increases and what reduces your inflammatory response as your try these natural, anti-inflammatory healthful habits. Remember to try our approach in stages that feel right for you. You’ve got a lot of options for choices to reducing inflammation, but don’t feel overwhelmed – just take the pieces that feel right for you. Here’s what we recommend:

An Anti-inflammatory diet

  • Add essential fatty acids to your diet: Take a daily EFA fish oil supplement high in omega-3s to balance out your diet. Many are derived from fish oil, but vegetarian sources are also available. Just be sure your EFA supplement has been tested and proven free of mercury and other heavy metals — otherwise it can do you more harm than good. Some practitioners also recommend adding an omega-6 supplement called gamma linolenic acid, or GLA, if you have rheumatoid arthritis. These essential fatty acids restore the right amount of arachadonic acid in your blood. Include a small handful of nuts and seeds in your diet daily, especially walnuts and flaxseed, which are good sources of omega-3s. Use olive oil liberally. It’s high in oleic acid, an omega-9, and has significant anti-inflammatory properties.
  • Avoid refined sugar and carbohydrates with a high glycemic load, as well as processed and convenience food as much as possible. Steer clear of known allergens and be aware of increasing food sensitivities. Wheat, eggs, dairy, soy and nuts are the most common dietary irritants. We recommend following an elimination diet (avoiding a substance for two weeks, then introducing it for a day or two) to identify your sensitivities.
  • Eat lots of fruits, vegetables and wild seafood/fish. Despite the health benefits of fish, most species have astronomically high levels of mercury and PCB’s. Severely limit or avoid all Atlantic varieties, and only eat wild Pacific or Alaskan salmon (never farm-raised!). The lower on the food chain the better, so sardines, anchovies and shellfish are still good choices. Add a portion of vegetables to every meal and snacks for their fiber and natural anti-inflammatory compounds. Many herbs (like oregano) and foods like garlic, green tea, blueberries, and ginger contain flavinoids and polyphenols that limit free radical production.

Anti-inflammatory natural supplements

  • Add a high-quality daily multivitamin: Vitamin E lowers levels of CRP in the blood. Vitamin D also has an anti-inflammatory effect. Vitamins C and the B vitamins are powerful agents against free radicals. Supplementing your diet with a good multivitamin ensures you get the right level of nutrients when your body needs them most. To learn more, read our articles on health and vitamins.
  • Other supplements are available for joint inflammation like glucosamine, sulfur, and chondroitin. Ask your medical practitioner about including them in your plan. However, these are felt to act principally on delaying the progression of and are really for alleviating symptoms of joint inflammation, and don’t have as strong an impact on addressing the underlying causes of inflammation, as the do the other steps recommended on this page.

Evoking natural anti-inflammatories

Adopt healthy habits and get some physical activity every day. Fuel your body with anti-inflammatory agents by exercising every day. Start slow with a five-minute walk and build your stamina. We recommend 20-30 minutes of activity, five times a week. Exercise is a great way to counteract stress, especially when combined with deep breathing — as with yoga or Pilates. These exercises are appropriate and great for all levels of stamina.

Go out and play! Find some time to relax. If you live with chronic stress, investigate meditation or biofeedback therapies to learn the relaxation response. Talk therapy is very successful in helping people navigate through their emotional minefields. See our articles about alternative therapies for help. Often your local religious institution or YWCA will advertise support groups or community-building events. This is a great way to begin to sharing your emotional burdens (and we all have them!) with willing listeners.

Get plenty of rest — it’s great anti-inflammatory medicine. You need to sleep between seven and nine hours a night to give your body enough time to heal from the previous day’s demands.

Reducing the causes of inflammation

Break your bad habits. Substances like alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, and marijuana places a heavy burden on your system, so eliminate them or moderate your intake. The fastest way to reduce inflammation is to stop smoking and using stimulants. Try quitting for a week or two and see how good you feel. That will encourage you to quit forever. If that doesn’t work, find a support group or professional help and keep trying until you quit.

Examine your surroundings and make them as “green” as possible. Use natural cleaning products and detergents. Limit your reliance on dry cleaning and air fresheners. Test your air and water and, if necessary, get high-quality filters. Bring in lots of houseplants to help filter air. If you work in a “sick” building, you have the right to object. OSHA has a toll-free number for inquiries: 1-800-321-6742; or go to their website, www.osha.gov.

Practice a gentle detox or cleansing program a couple of times a year. It’’s impossible to completely eliminate your exposure to environmental toxins, so it’s a good idea to periodically detoxify. For more information on how to do this, read our articles about detoxification.

Investigate alternative therapies to deal with pain management. Because of the confusion about the long-term effects of pain medication and steroids, we only recommend using anti-inflammatory drugs for short periods during acute crises. Many people have found significant pain relief through acupuncture, massage, water therapy and other mind-body treatments which reduce pain and inflammation naturally without having to use drugs. For more on this, please read our articles on alternative health care and how to make it work for you.

Pay yourself first 

Calming the inflammation fire is a constant process, much like maintaining our natural hormonal balance. But it can be done if we remind ourselves how quickly inflammation can speed out of control and how important reducing inflammation is for our health. Just as we need to make healthy choices to support our hormones, we need to do the same to sustain the natural checks and balances of our immune response. After all, your body is the only permanent home you have — it only makes sense to heed your inner smoke alarms.

As we learn more, we continue to see that taking care of ourselves naturally is the best way to prevent and correct worrisome health conditions. Our bodies are wonderfully complex and resilient, but they need our nurturing. If we start paying ourselves first by keeping watch over our internal fire, we’ll reap untold rewards.

Reducing Inflammation — The Natural Approach

by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP

Woman Relaxing PeacefulOver many years we have found that preventing or reversing inflammation is all about listening to your body. From that listening you can begin to learn first-hand what increases or reduces your body’s inflammatory response. You can cool your body’s inflammatory response and keep it healthier over time by taking one step at a time, at a pace that feels right for you. This is the approach we have found to be most effective and sustainable over the long term.

You have many options for reducing inflammation. Many of the suggestions we recommend can be implemented on your own. But if you have chronic inflammation, or moderate to severe symptoms of inflammation, we encourage you to work with an integrative healthcare or functional medicine provider to devise a plan that suits your unique needs.

The anti-inflammatory diet

You may want to investigate the comprehensive anti-inflammation diet outlined in my book, The Core Balance Diet. But here are three ways to deliberately counter inflammation in your diet today:

Basket of Fish and Fresh VegetablesEat lots of fruits, vegetables, and wild seafood. Add generous portions of deeply-pigmented vegetables to every meal and snack for their fiber and natural anti-inflammatory compounds. Many herbs and foods such as turmeric, oregano, garlic, green tea, blueberries, and ginger contain bioflavonoids and polyphenols that limit free-radical production in the body.

As for fish, while its health benefits were once beyond compare, many species today contain astronomically high levels of mercury, PCB’s, and other toxins. With that unfortunate reality, we suggest you significantly limit or avoid Atlantic varieties, and eat only wild Pacific or Alaskan salmon (unless organically farm-raised). Because toxins magnify as you go up the food chain, smaller species such as sardines, anchovies, and shellfish are still good choices.  For more information, check out EWG’s Consumer Guide to Seafood.

Add essential fatty acids (EFA’s) to your diet, such as the one formulated by Women to Women. Because omega–3 fatty acids are in shortest supply in our modern diet, we recommend you take an omega–3 supplement daily to rebalance your diet. This is one of the simplest, safest, yet most effective steps you can take to quell chronic inflammation in your body. In our practice we have found fish oil EFA supplements to be most helpful, but if you are a vegetarian, algal sources can be used with good result. Just be sure your EFA supplement has been tested and proven free of mercury and other heavy metals — otherwise it might do you more harm than good.  Click here to find out more about Women to Women’s EPA/DHA Fish Oil Support Formula.

Inflammation Diet Nuts SeedsWe also encourage you to include a small handful of nuts and seeds in your diet daily, especially walnuts and freshly ground flaxseed, which are good sources of omega–3s. Some practitioners also recommend adding an omega–6 supplement called gamma linolenic acid (GLA) if you have rheumatoid arthritis. For cooking purposes our oil of choice is grapeseed oil, and for dressings it’s olive oil, which is high in oleic acid, an omega–9 with anti-inflammatory polyphenols. You can even have the ratio of EFA’s in your blood measured with an EFA profile that evaluates omega–3 levels versus omega–6s versus omega–9s. Remember, when it comes to essential fats, it’s all about balance — read our articles about about fat and cholesterol, the benefits of omega-3’s, and the differences between omega-3’s, 6’s and 9’s for detailed info.

Eliminate certain foods and additives from your diet. I know how hard it can be to say no to the many foods that turn the body’s inflammatory dial up high. Number-one on the list of offenders would be trans fats — hydrogenated oils. Next would be the sugars, refined carbohydrates, and gluten-containing foods that women often crave when their systems are off-balance. These and many other additives and preservatives are well hidden in processed convenience foods, making them very difficult to avoid.

You will also need to steer clear of known allergens, and be aware of increasing food sensitivities as well. Gluten, eggs, dairy, soy and nuts are some of the most common dietary irritants. To help you identify sensitivities that could be causing you problems, follow an elimination diet, avoiding a substance for two weeks, then reintroducing it for a day or two. Yes, it can be tough at first to make changes like this, but the payoff is huge — it can make a tremendous difference in how you feel in a surprisingly short period of time. Tipping the balance — away from pro-inflammatory, toward anti-inflammatory — can take place almost overnight for some women.

[banner id=”single-product-epa-dha-fish-oil-2″]

Causes Of Inflammation

by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP

Systemic or chronic inflammation has a domino effect that can seriously undermine your health. So how does it all begin?

The immune system and the inflammatory response

Inflammation Woman ShoulderMany experts now see inflammation as arising from an immune system response that’s out of control. When you catch a cold or sprain your ankle, your immune system switches into gear. Infection or injury trigger a chain of events called the inflammatory cascade. The familiar signs of normal inflammation — heat, pain, redness, and swelling — are the first signals that your immune system is being called into action. In a delicate balance of give-and-take, inflammation begins when pro-inflammatory hormones in your body call out for your white blood cells to come and clear out infection and damaged tissue. These agents are matched by equally powerful, closely related anti-inflammatory compounds, which move in once the threat is neutralized to begin the healing process.

Acute inflammation that ebbs and flows as needed signifies a well-balanced immune system. But symptoms of inflammation that don’t recede are telling you that the “on” switch to your immune system is stuck. It’s poised on high alert — even when you aren’t in imminent danger. In some cases, what started as a healthy mechanism, like building scar tissue or swelling, just won’t shut off.

Chronic inflammation and its roots in the digestive system

Are you walking around on simmer? Just yesterday I saw Nancy, a patient who has been with me for years. When she first came to see me, her triglycerides were sky-high (in the 400’s!), her cholesterol was elevated, and she was overweight, unhappy and stressed. Her face was flushed and chapped, her lips were dry, and she seemed fluttery and agitated. On the surface she looked like a heart disease candidate, but when I probed deeper I saw a woman on fire from the inside out.

Woman Lab TechnicianCurrently there is no definitive test for inflammation — the best that conventional medicine can do is measure blood levels of C-reactive protein (a pro-inflammatory marker) and the irritating amino acid called homocysteine. I use the high-sensitivity CRP test now available at most labs. Anything above 1 mg/dL with this test is too high in my book. With the older tests a reading of between 2–5 mg/dL was considered normal. (If you’ve been tested, be sure to ask your doctor for the results). Newer ways to assess risk early on for future inflammatory disease include markers such as the apolipoprotein B to A1 ratio (ApoB/ApoA-1). This and other tests are in experimental use and only available through a few labs.

When I first ran Nancy’s tests, I was surprised to see that her CRP levels were normal (this was before the high-sensitivity CRP test was widely available as it is today). This was good news for her heart, since elevated CRP and cholesterol increase your risk of heart disease threefold. But her homocysteine levels were high and all of her other symptoms pointed to inflammation. I prescribed an anti-inflammation diet, essential fatty acids, other anti-inflammatory supplements, and a daily exercise regime (for more information, read our article “Reducing Inflammation – The Natural Approach.”)  When Nancy next came in, her triglycerides were down by 200 points, her skin was clear, and her mood was much better. Later tests revealed her cholesterol had gone down, too.

[banner id=”single-product-epa-dha”]

A year went by, and as Nancy entered a stressful period in her life, she again began snacking on unhealthy food and going for days without exercise. Her cholesterol crept back up and she started having irritable bowel symptoms. After a brief pep talk, she got back on track and today she’s feeling great. When I saw her yesterday she looked like a different person. Her blood tests all looked good and her inflammation was back under control. Nancy’s fires are well-tended now, and I feel confident she knows what to do if they start to flare up again.

Inflammation – Allergies and Sensitivities

by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP

Allergies and sensitivities have increased radically in our lifetime — acute, chronic and subclinical allergies are all up — so much so that by some estimates over 60 million Americans now suffer from allergies, and millions more from sensitivities.

But conventional medicine doesn’t try to explain why. Instead, conventional diagnostics treat each allergy as an isolated issue. Women with chronic allergies are often put on drugs for years, and their conditions rarely improve. And the tens of millions with subclinical allergies and sensitivities are regularly misdiagnosed — even given antidepressants! — or dismissed by their doctors because their symptoms seem mysterious and unconnected.

The reality is that allergies and sensitivities almost never occur in isolation. They are usually accompanied by other health conditions and symptoms, typically appear as part of a broad pattern, and can be readily diagnosed by a skilled practitioner.

This is a very gratifying area of practice for Women to Women because our patients see such dramatic, lasting improvement in their allergies and sensitivities — without drugs! — through an integrative approach to diagnosis and treatment.

So let’s talk about how symptoms of allergies and sensitivities arise, their links to other health conditions, and how to find natural relief. I think you’ll be surprised, and perhaps inspired by how easy it is.

Before we begin: what is an allergy, anyway?

Seen in its simplest form, an allergy is an over-reaction of the immune system, the body’s natural defense system. In short, the body responds as though it’s under attack, releasing antibodies and triggering inflammation, even though the stimulus of the attack (the allergen) is normally harmless.

We view allergic responses in three categories:

  • First is the acute allergic reaction, which may occur rarely or in response to a single allergen (such as peanuts) and can be quite dangerous. (One of my patients broke out in hives after a routine leg wax — it never happened before or thereafter, but was how she discovered she was pregnant!).
  • The second category is chronic allergies, in which women regularly (perhaps in a seasonal cycle) or always show symptoms, sometimes in response to a specific allergen (e.g., dust mites or ragweed), or as the result of an overload of allergens (e.g., women with chemical sensitivities).
  • In the third category, subclinical cases, women may suffer transient, seemingly disconnected symptoms that can be difficult to recognize as an allergic response.

The allergic response engages the body’s inflammatory cascade, and that’s one reason it has such serious health effects. Allergic reactions are recognized as one of the most important causes of illness and disease in America.

Allergies and sensitivities are at the root of many health problems, including respiratory ailments, skin conditions, mood disorders, and gastrointestinal symptoms. And the negative health effects resulting from the mechanism of inflammation can be profound. For more on this, see our other articles on inflammation. In short, neither a chronic nor an acute allergic response is something you should ignore.

Type I allergies and anaphylactic shock

If a certain substance in your diet or environment consistently triggers an acute, measurable immune response, you have what is known as a type I, or immediate-response allergy. Type I allergic responses are what most people (and doctors) refer to when they talk about allergies. Elevated levels of antibodies called IgE’s in the bloodstream trigger a histamine reaction: itchy watery eyes, runny nose, hives, itchy rash, swelling, scratchy throat, wheezing and coughing. Hay fever and some food allergies are type I allergies. The conventional treatment protocol is to manage these symptoms with avoidance, steroids, or anti-allergy medications like Claritin and Allegra.

Another kind of type I reaction is anaphylaxis, which is a rapid, or sometimes delayed system-wide reaction to an allergen. People allergic to bee stings, medication, and common food allergens sometimes have this type of allergic response, with severity ranging from mild to life-threatening. An anaphylactic reaction can start with a tingling sensation, itching, or metallic taste in the mouth. Hives, flushing, wheezing, swelling of the mouth and throat, difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, cramping, a drop in blood pressure, and loss of consciousness are all characteristic of anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock. If you experience any of the above symptoms, get help immediately — go to the emergency room or call 911. Anaphylaxis is a case where conventional medicine is your best option and can save your life.

Type I allergy symptoms usually recede with treatment or removal of the allergen. However, after an anaphylactic episode it is possible to have something called a biphasic reaction, in which symptoms recur two to three hours after the initial attack, which is why most ER doctors will keep you at the hospital for observation.

The problem with conventional medicine and allergy diagnosis

Conventional doctors may test the level of IgE antibodies in the blood during a type I allergic response. If you walk into your doctor’s office with hives, he or she will take the situation seriously and give you either a skin (intradermal) test or a blood test for IgE. Skin testing (scratch test, puncture test, or prick test) involves introducing a very small amount of a common allergen to the skin’s surface or just beneath, and waiting to observe and record any degree of reaction. Skin testing is convenient and results are quickly available, but, like blood testing, its accuracy is somewhat limited.

Once an allergy is clearly identified, most doctors tell people to avoid the allergen or take antihistamine medication for their symptoms. If the allergen can’t be avoided, a specialist may start an immunological protocol known as “desensitization” therapy: progressively higher amounts of the allergen(s) are injected into the bloodstream until the first sign of allergic reaction. The hope is that the body will learn to mitigate its inflammatory response to the allergen with slow but steady exposure.

The trouble with the conventional approach is that it only measures the IgE antibody response. This limits the diagnostics to screening for full-blown allergies, and misses many allergies and most sensitivities. It also treats everyone as if their biochemistry were the same, often offers no real long-term solutions, and skips over the most relevant question — what’s going on inside your body to cause the allergic response in the first place?

I have no problem with this paradigm when it comes to severe, life-threatening allergies (if I were allergic to peanuts, for example, I would never go anywhere without an EpiPen). But it ignores the less serious, but more widespread kinds of allergic response that affect the majority of sufferers — the chronic and the subclinical allergies and sensitivities.

Chronic allergies and the drug culture

The rise in diagnosed cases of chronic allergies has been accompanied by a rapid increase in sales of anti-allergy medications. Allegra, Claritin, Flonase, and a host of others now account for billions of dollars in annual sales.

For many women, these drugs are prescribed at the first sign of an allergy or sensitivity, and women come to depend solely on their pills, drops, or sprays for symptom management. They’re rarely if ever told that there are natural alternatives.

Importantly, women with chronic allergies are usually treated as though the allergen causing the allergic response were an isolated problem. By that I mean that a woman will typically be told that she has dust or airborne allergies, or perhaps a more specific allergic reaction (such as to animal dander), and that she should avoid the allergen and take the medication to control her symptoms. It is very unusual to find a conventional doctor who will explain that the allergen that appears to trigger symptoms is just the tip of the iceberg.

Hidden allergies and environmental sensitivities

If you begin to take note of how certain foods, substances, and environments affect you on a day-to-day basis, chances are you’ll notice a pattern — and increasingly so as you age. Some women find that keeping a diary is a useful first step in “connecting the dots” between their allergens and their symptoms.

Conventional medicine dictates that unless we react to something with stereotypical allergy symptoms, we’re not allergic. When it comes to the inflammatory response underway in your body, this is patently untrue — whether the allergic response is an “allergy” or a “sensitivity” is a matter of degree. If your body is alerting you to a problem in the form of symptoms, you probably have some kind of sensitivity — even if your standard allergy tests keep coming back “normal”.

Hidden allergies and sensitivities are real. Over time these allergic responses compromise your immune system, give inflammation the upper hand, and slowly erode your well-being. Sometimes classified as type IV or delayed-response allergies, these lurking health bombs are often (but not always) food- or additive-related. They are most often associated with different types of antibodies called IgG and IgM, and work on a subtle level, targeting specific organs or body functions. They can cause a ripple effect, with confusing symptoms occurring as much as 72 hours or more after exposure to the allergen. This delayed response is one reason they are more difficult to test for and identify.

Symptoms of sensitivities will sometimes follow a set course, sometimes be cyclical or cumulative, and at other times vary in presentation from person to person — what gives me a skin rash may give you a headache. Even time of onset varies among individuals. This variability has a confounding effect on two fronts: it leads sufferers to tune out the very symptoms they need to heed; and it leads most doctors to dismiss patients with transient symptoms that are hard to diagnose when they can’t detect a pattern.

If you don’t tune in and take measures to alleviate your body’s allergic response, it will eventually up the ante until you have full-blown chronic inflammation. Some may go on to develop multiple chemical sensitivities. The farther you travel down this path, the higher the climb back to wellness. So the first step is to understand what’s going on with your body right now. How big a load of allergens is your body dealing with? And how much support are you giving it?

Common allergens and the toxic load

Every substance on earth that can be eaten, inhaled, or touched is a potential allergen. Whether or not it negatively affects you depends on your individual genetic profile and how well your system is running.

Much is made of the genetic factors in allergies, but often your emotional inheritance, lifestyle, diet, and physical environment are more important, in part because they define the “body burden” your system must detoxify and process on a daily basis.

How allergic you are at any one time relates to how well you process this “body burden”. One reason we often see women come in with adult-onset food allergies is that the older we get, the greater this burden becomes and the less able our bodies are to deal with it.

Even if you eat well and live a healthy lifestyle, you may be inadvertently exposed to numerous chemicals and potential allergens. There are over 3000 chemicals added to our food supply, and more than 70,000 chemicals used for other purposes in North America.

That fresh scent you get from fabric softener or Febreze is all-chemical — when you sniff it, those particles go up your nose and into your lungs. There are dozens of heavy metals, lead among them, and chlorine in our water. Phthalates and VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) are dangerous substances used abundantly in construction and household products, fragrances, and plastics. 

Over the course of many years, all this chemical exposure has a cumulative effect. If you add the other factors so prevalent in the modern woman’s life — poor diet, emotional stress, and hormonal imbalance — it’s a marvel our bodies can cope at all. No wonder the majority of my patients come in with chronic low-grade inflammation! 

Because everyone is different, the range of potential allergens is huge. More than 11 million Americans have a diagnosed food allergy, but countless more have food sensitivities — often to a certain amino acid or food additive. For brevity’s sake, I’ve included the most common categories of allergens and the top contenders in each category in the chart below. But I encourage you to investigate possible allergens further if these don’t apply to you.

  • Food and ingestants:  Dairy, wheat (and other gluten-containing grains), corn, soy, shellfish, eggs, nightshades, nuts, chocolate, caffeine, yeast, medications, sulfites, salicylates, MSG and other glutamates, xanthan and other gums, artificial food coloring and preservatives (BHA and BHT), sorbic and benzoic acid, pesticides.
  • Inhalants:  Mold, pollen, dust, dust mites, animal hair and dander, synthetic fiber off-gases, down, feathers, artificial chemicals, VOC’s, scented candles and cleaning products, perfumes.
  • Contact substances:  Latex, plastics, cleaning solvents, insect bites, chemicals in air, water, cosmetics, sunscreens, shampoos, and other personal care products.

To start lightening your load, the first most effective place to look is your diet. Everything you eat can be supportive or burdensome, depending on your unique profile. Many of my patients have seen marked improvement when they pay closer attention to their nutrition — even those with type I allergies. The idea is to better equip your body to process its toxic load by providing it with the right nutrients, and to minimize the toxic load by eliminating dietary allergens. That way, when a particularly sensitive substance gets introduced to your system, your body can handle it without causing allergic symptoms.

Before you start whittling away at all of the known allergens, let’s take a look at two food items that cause the majority of issues at my practice: sugar and wheat. Then we’ll give you some suggestions on how to start managing your allergenic burden.

Sugar and allergies: the secret saboteur

Sugar is not recognized by traditional doctors as an allergen — after all, goes the party line, our body breaks down all of our food into glucose, or blood sugar — so how can anyone be allergic to sugar?

Although sugar may not register on a standard allergy test, too much sugar (or carbohydrates with a high glycemic value) does invoke an inflammatory response similar to what the immune system mounts to an allergen. How? Well, too much sugar (or even worse, high-fructose corn syrup) places major demands on our digestive system, interfering with absorption of crucial vitamins and minerals. Too much sugar suppresses the immune system, wreaks havoc on the metabolism, and depletes valuable neurotransmitters. The energy rush and insulin spike that you get from sugar creates an imbalanced body chemistry that leads to weight gain, insulin resistance, and loss of appetite control. Confusion, forgetfulness, ADHD, and depression are symptoms that can occur as much as 48 hours after eating excess sugar. Muscle cramping, PMS, joint pain, and fatigue are more common symptoms of a sugar sensitivity that can go undiagnosed for years.

I would say that the bulk of the patients I see have issues that relate to excessive sugar consumption — it’s hard to avoid sugar in our culture. Those who try to avoid it often do so by consuming products sweetened with artificial substances like Splenda, which only adds to your toxic burden. Removing sugar from your diet — without replacing it with chemical sweeteners — can be a very powerful natural remedy for women with allergies.

Wheat, gluten sensitivities, and allergies

It’s estimated that over 90 million Americans have certain genetic variants that make them sensitive to gluten. Remember, hunting and gathering were around for two million years before the dawn of agriculture. And people who descend from cultures dependent on corn, potatoes, rice or other grains often do not possess the genetic snippet (SNP) required to process grains in the wheat tribe. Many of us don’t know we are gluten-sensitive because gluten can cause symptoms that don’t involve the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, like infertility and decreased cognitive function.

Gluten is actually an umbrella term for a family of proteins found within the seeds or grains of wheat, rye, barley, spelt, kamut, and triticale. Gluten sensitivity differs from celiac disease (a genetically inherited condition in which the lining of the small intestine suffers damage if gluten is eaten), but together they make up a large percentage of people who don’t do well with cereal products.

In such cases, the immune system responds to gluten as if it was an intruder in the body, not a food. If you are gluten-sensitive and continue to eat the recommended daily allowance of cereals and grains in the form of wheat and wheat relatives, your body will simmer on a low burn. This will eventually wear down the immune system and disrupt your metabolism, setting the stage for systemic inflammation, weight gain, chronic disease and a snowball effect of other sensitivities.

The irony in this is that our notion of “comfort food” often means a combination of wheat and sugar! Think about what donuts, sticky buns, and cake are made of. But why do we crave the very foods that make us sick?

The allergy–addiction connection

Often people feel better for a short time after they eat the foods to which they are sensitive or allergic. It’s possible that their bodies have grown used to this dysfunctional body chemistry and suffer withdrawal symptoms when deprived. Nature likes homeostasis.

Poor digestion can lead to build-up of a kind of digestive sludge (called ama in Ayurvedic medicine) that interferes with all of your body’s functions. The mental fog and sluggishness that result have an anesthetizing effect: it literally wipes you out and distracts you from your present (now you know what’s behind comfort food). This kind of “food coma” can itself be addictive, like alcohol. And if the sludge isn’t eventually cleared, most people reach a tipping point and have to deal with allergic symptoms.

I also want to mention the emotional connection to food addiction and sensitivities. This is not a proven area of medical theory, but I have seen it over and over in my patients. Perhaps as a child you were prone to spilling your milk. Each time it happened you were yelled at or spanked and your body reacted in kind. Guess what happens when you get older? A glass of milk may put your system in revolt.

In contrast, perhaps the only time you ever felt cared for by your mother was when she set down cookies and milk for you after school. Your feelings of safety and comfort are deeply imbedded in that ritual. We know that emotional pathways can be hard-wired, like grooves in a record, so that these rituals express an unresolved experience — if we can just understand their origin. But that doesn’t mean they’re good for you. Please see our article on emotions and health for more on this topic.

So how do you know what’s happening inside you? Let’s talk about our approach.

Women to Women’s approach to allergies

At our practice, we try to understand all the factors in your life that contribute to your “body burden” and your ability to process it: your diet, your emotional history, your lifestyle habits, your physical environment, and your digestion. This comprehensive approach help us see not just the tip of the iceberg but what’s hidden beneath the waterline as well.

We may begin with allergy testing. As described above, there is the conventional scratch test for IgE antibody response. The radioallergosorbent test, or RAST, is a blood panel that measures IgE directly. While these tests are good at detecting acute allergies involving IgE antibodies, they are not when it comes to allergens that trigger IgG, IgM, IgA or IgC antibodies such as food sensitivities and other non-acute allergic reactions. Certain enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, or ELISA tests, are better at detecting these sensitivities, as they measure both IgE and IgG antibodies.

But in addition to the above tests, we sometimes use a family of blood tests known as ALCAT, which directly measure the allergic response of white blood cells to various panels of allergens. We’ve found ALCAT tests to be excellent indicators of the broad range of antibodies involved in sensitivities that produce delayed allergic responses.

While we pay close attention to the ALCAT test results, we are just as interested in how a patient feels. To really get at the root problem, you have to look at the entire health picture, not just one aspect. Food issues can be a major factor in that picture, but we may need to treat the adrenals or hormonal imbalance as well. Every woman is different, and we customize our approach to her individual needs.

That said, we can say with confidence that almost everyone feels much better when they take steps to decrease their overall body burden — even if they have severe allergies. When my son was younger, we moved into a new house. Within days, he was wheezing and had ulcerations on his eyes. His pediatrician, a practitioner of functional medicine, told me he had asthma. We took up all the carpeting in our new house and replaced it with wood floors. Guess what? His symptoms went away. Now, if he’s careful with his diet and avoids chemical off-gassing, he rarely has an asthma attack or needs to use an inhaler.

Natural allergy relief

Diet. You may be groaning inwardly at the thought of pulling up your carpets. Don’t worry! The first step toward allergy relief is easy — just look at your diet. For a week, keep track of what you eat and how you feel after eating it.

Many of my patients dread being put on a low-allergen diet. If you do too, try this easy elimination diet:  Avoid a particular food entirely for two weeks, then eat a lot of it in one day and look for a reaction. At first many women feel worse when they go off a certain food (especially if they’re allergic or addicted), but if you stick with it for a few days you may be surprised how good you feel. If you are unsure what to cut out, try eating only vegetables and fruit for a few days and gauge how you feel, then reintroduce dairy, wheat, sugar, and other food types one at a time. Many Eastern cultures practice fasting or eating lightly for a few days each month to ward off potential food sensitivities. Alternatively, you may want to try a more progressive, thorough approach with a two-week Quick Cleanse.

Sensitivities can indicate an underlying digestive issue or imbalance. When people are sensitive to certain foods, it’s usually because their GI tracts can’t fully digest the proteins in their food. The undigested proteins pass into the bloodstream and trigger an immune reaction — otherwise known as “leaky gut” syndrome.

A rich multivitamin/mineral complex with adequate essential fatty acids is the cornerstone of our treatment for food sensitivities — this is often enough to correct imbalances and soothe diet-related inflammation. In some cases targeted therapeutic use of supplements is required, as determined on a case-by-case basis.

Digestive enzymes and probiotics can alleviate intestinal inflammation and help restore intestinal function. Overuse of antibiotics, hypersensitivities, and other imbalances will undermine a healthy digestive tract. Replacing valuable enzymes and beneficial bacteria improves the body’s ability to fully break down and down absorb your food. Recent science also supports the value of probiotic supplements that contain “prebiotics” — in effect, food for our good bacteria — for reducing the allergic response. For more information, see our article on probiotics for more information.

Women to Women offers these high-quality, pharmaceutical grade supplements to enhance your health.

Additionally, a gentle detox program can rejuvenate your GI system and soothe inflammation. If you don’t see results, you may need more guidance on how to cleanse your system of inflammatory molecules and restore optimal detox function. Please refer to our articles about detoxification for specific suggestions.

Environmental sensitivities. Another effective way to decrease your overall body load is to clean house. Invest in a good vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. Go through your cabinets and throw out cleansers, creams, soaps, and cosmetics with irritating synthetic chemicals. Buy green building materials, furnishings, cleaners, and laundry detergents. Encase your bedding and choose all-natural fabrics and bed linens. Some natural products, like soy and aloe, can be allergenic — and don’t overlook houseplants.

Chemical sensitivities. If you are becoming more and more sensitive to noxious fumes, air fresheners, perfumes, chemical odors, and other synthetic off-gassing, it’s usually a good sign that your system is on overload. Headaches, dry mouth, sore throat, dizziness, nausea, coughing, and rashes are common symptoms of chemical sensitivity. NAET (Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Techniques) are an effective, noninvasive way to eliminate many sensitivities and allergies. Using a combination of therapies, including nutrition, acupuncture/acupressure, allopathy, chiropraction, and kinesiology, practitioners have successfully desensitized patients so that they can tolerate the offending substances without symptoms.

Emotional burdens. These are often the trickiest to clear. Talk therapy and energy work may help you connect an allergic response with any emotional underpinnings it may have. At the very least, you can determine the areas in your life that add the most emotional stress and limit them, just as you would an offending food. The important thing to remember is that our bodies don’t function in a vacuum. If there’s a symptom, there is usually some sort of emotional root — and vice versa. Please take the time to read our important article, “How Emotional Experience Determines Your Health.”

The key is balance

We talk a lot about balance at Women to Women, and it is especially appropriate when it comes to allergies and sensitivities. The key is to know your body well enough that you’re able to read its signals and respond with support.

If you suffer now from allergies or sensitivities, I want to encourage you to follow the natural anti-inflammatory approach outlined above. So many women have come back to see me completely transformed and revitalized, with renewed energy and stamina, a clear head, healthy digestion, and beautiful skin. You can too!