• Visit a health care professional for a regular checkup and schedule preventive screenings like mammograms, pap screenings, blood pressure and cholesterol tests, bone mineral density tests, diabetes screening, and more. Check out this chart to see which screenings are recommended for your age.
• Give yourself a break! Spend at least 15 minutes a day doing something just for you (read a magazine, take a bath, take a walk, call a friend, smell the flowers, have a piece of dark chocolate and really taste it). Most importantly, give yourself permission to spend the time. No guilt allowed!!
• Get active – start a regular exercise regimen. It can be anything that you enjoy that gets you moving. And, you can do different things on different days. The more you enjoy it, the more likely you are to stick with it. Exercise has many great benefits: to help balance hormones, prevent unhealthy weight gain, help with weight loss, improve cardiorespiratory and muscle fitness, improve bone health and improve mental function.
• Eat healthy – Eat as many whole foods as possible, avoid processed foods, avoid trans-fat, eat small portions of low-GI foods every three hours, avoid eating refined flour and sugar, avoid artificial sweeteners. Read more here.
• Pay attention to mental health – Get enough sleep and manage stress! These are fundamental to preventing hormone imbalance due to increased cortisol demand or adrenal fatigue
• Avoid unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, binge drinking, not wearing a seatbelt or bicycle helmet
• Avoid and reduce exposure to environmental toxins. Here is one that I have added to the list. Take a look at the cleaning and beauty products that you use on a daily basis. Avoid heavily fragranced cleaning products, air fresheners, body products and cosmetics. Look for BPA-free cans and plastic products.

MediaPlanet published a special Women’s Health publication that ran in the May 16, 2012 edition of the Washington Post. Dr. Stanton was included as one of the expert contributors. She offered tips for finding the right doctor and served as one of the panelists discussing the hormonal changes that occur during menopause.

Check out the Women’s Health publication.

There are three factors essential for keeping your bones healthy throughout your life: adequate amounts of calcium, adequate amounts of vitamin D and regular, weight bearing exercise. Calcium and vitamin D are especially important after menopause.

Foods high in calcium include almonds, dark green leafy vegetables (collard greens and kale), beans (navy, kidney and pinto), tofu, tahini and calcium-fortified cereals. Vitamin D is necessary for the body to absorb calcium. Sunlight is a good source of Vitamin D, but it poses other risks. I recommend taking 1,000-2,000 IU from a supplement.

Physical activity also plays a major role in prevention. Regular strength training and aerobic exercise can improve muscle mass, balance and bone strength. Strength training including the use of free weights, weight machines, resistance bands or even gravity exercises can directly affect your bones to slow mineral loss. Aerobic exercise like dancing and low-impact aerobics, work directly on the bones in your legs, hips and lower spine. Swimming and bicycling are good for your muscles and cardiovascular system. Mix it up to reap the benefits of different types of exercise and to prevent boredom from occurring. Oh, and don’t forget to stretch before and after exercising. It helps increase flexibility, which helps with balance and posture.

A new study reported at this year’s annual Arthritis World Congress (Osteoarthritis Research Society International, or OARSI) showed that a natural remedy — a special mix of the anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving herbs curcumin and boswellia found in Healthy Knees and Joints by EuroPharma  was much more powerfully effective at relieving arthritis pain than the medication Celebrex.

“Wear-and-tear” arthritis (called osteoarthritis ) is one of the most commonly seen conditions afflicting Americans. A staggering 27 million in the U.S. have arthritis, usually in the joints of the knees, hips, neck, lower back, feet or hands. That includes two out of every three people over age 65!

To combat the pain of osteoarthritis, many Americans use over-the-counter and/or prescription Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, Motrin, Celebrex or Naprosyn. And they take a lot of them! Doctors write 70 million NSAID prescriptions every year, and over 30 billion OTC NSAID tablets are sold annually. But these are very risky drugs — they can cause stomach ulcers and GI bleeding that hospitalize more than 100,000, and kill over 16,000, people each year!1

In addition, these drugs dramatically raise the risk of cardiovascular disease. In one major study, NSAIDs doubled the risk of heart attack and tripled the risk of stroke!2 It’s reasonable to estimate that, all told, there are at least 30,000 unnecessary and largely preventable U.S. deaths from NSAIDs every year. Unnecessary, because natural remedies and other drugless treatments have been shown to be far more effective than NSAIDs at treating arthritis — and are far safer and cheaper, too!

Arthritis Study

The study was conducted by researchers on 28 people with osteoarthritis, who were divided into two groups. One group took Celebrex (100 mg, twice a day). The other group took a twice-daily dosage of 500 mg of an herbal combination containing a special, highly absorbable mix of curcumin and boswellia, which is sold in the U.S. under the name Healthy Knees and Joints (by EuroPharma).3

The researchers took measurements at the beginning of the study, and then after 12 weeks, of joint pain, joint tenderness, range of motion, crepitus (a crunching sensation in arthritic knees), and walking distance without pain. After 12 weeks, the difference in pain relief between the two groups was amazing.

Results Show Herbal Better Than Celebrex

At the beginning of the study, 79% of the people taking Celebrex were in moderate to severe pain. And after 12 weeks 50% of them were still in moderate to severe pain.

Now compare that to the folks who took Healthy Knees and Joints. At the beginning of the study, 86% of them were in moderate to severe pain — but after 12 weeks, only 21% were still in moderate to severe pain.

The bottom line is that taking the herbal remedy, as compared with taking Celebrex, helped many more people move from moderate/severe to mild pain!

The herbal remedy also worked far better than Celebrex in lessening joint tenderness, slightly better than Celebrex in increasing walking distance, and just as well as Celebrex in improving range of motion and crepitus (a crunching sensation in arthritic knees).

I think it’s flat out insane that doctors are continuing to prescribe deadly NSAIDs when all-natural, safe, lower cost, and more effective alternative treatments like Healthy Knees and Joints are available.

To read more about my four-step natural treatment for arthritis, please see Arthritis Pain — Effective Natural Therapies.

References
1″Gastrointestinal Toxicity of Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs,” Wolfe MM, Lichtenstein DR and Singh G, New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 340, Number 24, pages 1888-1899.

2″Cardiovascular safety of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: network meta-analysis,” BMJ 2011; 342 doi: 10.1136/bmj.c7086 (Published 11 January 2011)

3″Clinical evaluation of a herbal formulation, Rhulief® in the management of knee osteoarthritis,” Anthony, B and Kishakedath R, study presented at the 2011 World Congress of OARSI (Osteoarthritis Research Society International).

Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, is medical director of the national Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers and Chronicity, author of the popular free iPhone application “Cures A-Z,” and author of the best-selling books From Fatigued to Fantastic! , Pain Free 1-2-3—A Proven Program for Eliminating Chronic Pain Now, the Beat Sugar Addiction NOW! series, and Real Cause, Real Cure. Dr. Teitelbaum does frequent media appearances including Good Morning America, CNN, Fox News Channel, the Dr Oz Show and Oprah & Friends. He lives in Kona, Hawaii. Web site: www.EndFatigue.com

The list below describes many of my springtime favorites. They can usually be found in many stores year-round. However, when they are at their season’s peak, they reap the most nutritional benefits and are more economical as well.

Artichokes – Low in calories, artichokes are also high in fiber, iron, potassium, magnesium, folate and vitamin C.

Asparagus – At their peak from March through June, asparagus is high in fiber and a good source of iron, B vitamins, and Vitamin C. To retain freshness and nutrition place them in cool storage, but the soonest you eat them after buying, the better. I love to roast asparagus in the oven with a drizzle of olive oil and sodium-free lemon pepper.

Blueberries – The typical harvest season for blueberries begins in May. Blueberries pack a potent bunch of antioxidants, fiber and vitamin C while low in calories. Try to go for organic since blueberries are the Dirty Dozen list of fruits and vegetables with the most pesticides.

Peas – English, sugar snap and snow peas are all at their peak from April through July. Like most legumes, peas are high in fiber and are a good source of plant protein. Nutritional benefits vary depending on variety, with English peas providing more B vitamins and zinc, while snow and snap peas offer more vitamin C. Peas make a great side dish, but are also great in salads, stir frys, even dips.

Radishes – An excellent accoutrement to salads, radishes are low in calories but pack a vitamin C punch.

Strawberries – these juicy berries are an ideal mid-morning snack or guiltless dessert as they are packed with fiber and just 1 cup meets 100% of your daily Vitamin C needs. Also on the Dirty Dozen list, it’s worth picking up organic strawberries.

Glucagon promotes the release of stored glucose from the liver and the release of free fatty acids from your fat store. Therefore, this hormone actually breaks down fat. Since glucagon counterbalances insulin, they aren’t present at the same time. The pancreas either is releasing insulin in response to sugar or releasing glucagon in response to protein foods. However, neither is released when nonstarchy vegetables and fats are consumed. The ratio between insulin and glucagon determines whether food is used as building materials and fuel or stored as fat. A higher proportion of glucagon means that more food is used as building material or fuel.

A high carbohydrate diet will cause people to overproduce insulin and not enough glucagon. You can heal your metabolism and encourage glucagon to burn fat by balancing your insulin. When you eat natural fats and adequate amounts of protein, eliminate refined carbohydrates and exercise, you naturally increase your levels of glucagon, which encourages your body to use nutrients as fuel and building blocks for muscle and other important tissues in your body and to not store them as fat.

The following factors increase glucagon:

• Diet low in sugar and low blood sugar
• Exercise
• Increased blood amino acid levels (eating protein)
• Protein foods

 The following factors decrease glucagon:

• Free fatty acids in the blood (from too much sugar)
• Frequent meals
• High blood sugar
• Insulin
• Refined carbohydrates in diet
• Sedentary lifestyle

It’s possible that toxic exposure is as big a contributor to obesity as poor diet and sedentary lifestyle. Understanding the best way to keep your detoxification organs healthy and to overcome problems associated with exposure to high levels of toxic environmental chemicals will help with weight loss. With simple lifestyle choices and utilizing some appropriate nutrients, you can keep your detoxification organs working well and increase your body’s ability to remove toxins. Common symptoms of toxin buildup in your body include headache, fatigue, muscle aches, asthma, allergies, skin disorders, and chronic infections.

Your body has four main detoxification organs: the kidney, the liver, the skin, and your gastrointestinal tract. Each of these has a different ability to break down the toxins and to detoxify medications. These abilities are based on your genetic makeup but are also modified through your diet, lifestyle, and environmental exposures.

Detoxification is mainly accomplished in two phases in your liver. In phase I, enzymes change the toxic compounds or medications into intermediate metabolites, or compounds. This is the first line of defense, and if it’s not functioning well, you’ll have toxic buildup in your body. In phase II, other enzymes convert the intermediate metabolites created in phase I into molecules that dissolve in water and can easily be removed from your body. This is where the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract come into play. Your skin, the fourth detoxification organ, is the body’s largest absorptive organ. It lets water, minerals, medications, and toxins in and out of the body. Its main goal is to protect the body from invaders, let in water to maintain hydration, keep you cool by sweating and remove toxins.

There are many nutrients you can take in supplement form to aid detoxification, and those are listed in chapter 12 of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Hormone Weight Loss. Some common nutrients like herbs, green tea, vitamin C and B vitamin complex can make a big difference in the health of your liver. Saunas and steam baths and colon hydrotherapy are also good ways to detoxify your body.

IN JUST 10 MINUTES A DAY GET INTO THE BEST SHAPE EVER!

With our lives being busier than ever, many of us simply don’t have the energy to get to the gym. Aging and stress reduces our natural production of HGH resulting in weight gain, sagging skin, and loss of muscle tone – especially around the waist, arms, buttocks and thighs. But the great news is….in just 10 minutes a day, you can improve how you look and feel – faster than ever before with age-defying whole body vibration technology – in the privacy of your own home!

Compared to traditional training methods such as weight lifting, aerobics or jogging, vibration plate technology achieves BETTER muscle toning, weight and inch loss results in FAR LESS TIME and with LESS EFFORT!

Affordable BODY VIBRATION PLATE THERAPY is Used by Celebs, Models & Rock Stars including: Madonna * Courtney Cox * Elle MacPherson * Mark Wahlberg & Claudia Schiffer, Professional and Olympic athletes, doctors and astronauts, to name a few! And now it’s affordable so everyone can enjoy the benefits.

How Does a Vibration Plate work?

Simply stand or sit on the whole body vibration plate for JUST 10 minutes a day and squeeze each muscle group for 60 seconds each to quickly reduce fat, inches, and toxins, help balance hormones, uplift mood, reduce stress, increase bone density, reduce cellulite, improve overall well-being, and much more! Scroll down for my raid toning & inch loss exercise routine.

Check out the extensive list of benefits below.

Using a “BODY Vibration plate machine” JUST 10 minutes a day…

• is equivalent to jogging 5 miles on a track — Jogging uses only 50 -70% of the muscle fibers! But standing or sitting on body vibration plate utilizes almost 100% of the muscle fibers. –Fat cells are dormant, but with rapid body vibration, the fat “drops” and quickly firms, sculpts, tones, and defines muscles far FASTER than most other conventional exercises
• Body Vibration Machines are used by Olympic and professional athletes. Astronauts use body vibration machines after space missions to help re-build muscle and bone loss
• In just 2 weeks, see muffin tops and inches around the waist reduce AND experience toned stomach muscles FASTER than doing crunches or sit-ups
• The vibrations help QUICKLY reshape the arms, hips, waist, abdomen and legs.
• Can help tighten skin on the body, face – even helps tone facial muscles!
• Reduces and smoothes dimply cellulite by enhancing collagen production & promotes lymphatic drainage to improve the skin’s texture and tone
• Chiropractors recommend vibration therapy to help prevent bone mineral loss
• Excellent for preventing Osteoporosis
• Increases Human Growth Hormone output by up to 361%, thus helps rejuvenate the body – a safe option to costly HGH injections
• Enhances metabolic rate and increases energy and wellbeing
• Reduces stress and decreases cortisol production (stress hormone) to help tone the tummy or middle-aged spread
• Helps uplift mood and sense of well-being
• Helps balance hormones whether post-baby, PMS, or menopause
• Can help reduce menopausal issues such as irritability, mood swings, hot flashes and night sweats
• Helps reduce insomnia and increases libido
• An excellent choice for those with fibromyalgia or asthma
• Can increase muscle strength up to 50% in as little as three weeks.
• Promotes blood circulation and helps strengthen immune system
• Increases joint mobility and helps stimulate body’s natural stretch reflex

Vibration Plate Therapy is THE ULTIMATE solution for busy women and men on the go! Below I’ve noted a very effective weight loss and muscle toning routine that I perform.

For your first workout begin by drinking a large glass of water. Set the timer to10 minutes and set the vibration to level 10, 15, or increase to level 20 if you have been exercising regularly. As you get stronger and more lean, increase the vibration level every few days or every week. Once you reach level 30 or 35, you may remain there or increase gradually if you want even more vibration. After over one year of use, I remain at level 35. It’s plenty of vibration for me I continue to achieve excellent results. Below I’ve noted my favorite exercises…..

Stand on the plate with knees slightly bent, while holding the arm straps up. Tightly squeeze the bicep muscles of the arms for 60 seconds. Engage the stomach muscles, holding them in while doing all exercise for faster tummy toning.

Watch the timer on the LCD screen. After 60 seconds, move to the next position.

• Next, stand with knees slightly bent and do a pelvic tilt while holding and squeezing the bum muscles tight for 60 seconds.
• Next, hold a deep squat position and squeeze thigh muscles for 60 seconds. Be sure to engage your stomach muscles while holding ALL positions to provide even faster stomach toning.
• Next, stand with feet hip width apart, stand on toes, squeeze calves, legs, bum and hold tummy in at the same time for 60 seconds.
• Next, step off the plate and hold a lunge with one leg resting on the vibration plate, holding the lunge for 60 seconds. Hold stomach in at the same time. Then repeat the lunge position on the other leg, squeezing and holding the position for 60 seconds. Hold stomach in at the same time.
• Next, sit on the vibration plate with legs straddled apart, toes pointed, and squeeze leg muscles tight. This helps reduce cellulite on back of thighs and tones the legs quickly. Engage stomach and sit tall to reduce muffin tops at the same time. Within two weeks of daily use, your muffin tops will have noticeably decreased.
• Then hold an abdominal crunch pose for even faster tummy toning results.
• Roll onto one side of the thigh and squeeze. This addresses cellulite/saddle bag areas. Roll onto the other side of the thigh and repeat.
• Lay with tummy on the plate and legs and arms extended out. Point toes and fingers while holding tummy in and squeezing bum and legs tightly for 60 seconds.
• Next, hold a push-up position and feel the vibrations up the arms, down the back and down to the tummy. Hold stomach in while doing this exercise too. There are so many positions you can hold so you never get bored and you’re constantly working your muscles, burning fat, reducing inches, balancing hormones, and more.
• You can even do push-ups or squat repetitions if you’re in good shape to begin with. As you get stronger, you can incorporate more gym exercises on your vibration plate machine and even increase the time to 20 minutes for 20 positions. SEE more exercises in the User Manual. And be sure to drink a big glass of water before and after your workout!

Order our new 2012 model with heavy duty 500 Watt Motor, 60 levels, a one-year parts warranty & Free S&H in the USA for JUST $299 at www.HollywoodBeautySecrets.com

As one of Dr. Stanton’s loyal newsletter recipients, please enjoy Louisa Free Do-It-Yourself Beauty Videos at www.YouTube.com/user/BeautyGuru/videos

I have spent several years consulting with skin care manufacturers looking to create new cosmetic formulations. In fact, one year ago, I helped create a very popular face cream, called De-Aging Solution. It contains the maximum percentage of EGF allowed in a topical formulation, along with antioxidants and super hydrators. It’s designed for women with sensitive, mature, dry or menopausal skin as well as for those who prefer skin care products that are free of parabens, fragrance, color, peptides, or retinol. EGF helps regain lost volume in the face, increases elasticity, hydrates, smoothes, and thickens thinning, mature skin.

De-Aging Solution is a “sensitive skin”, alternative EGF cream that offers more hydration and antioxidants to protect, nourish and repair the skin; and it’s priced at just $46.95 at www.hollywoodbeautysecrets.com. That’s 3 x less than what many doctors charge for EGF creams. Apply De-Aging Solution onto clean face, neck, around eyes, and tops of hands both morning and evening. Mention Dr. Stanton’s newsletter when you order and I’ll include some free skin care samples in your package.

De-Aging Solution with EGF, Antioxidants & Super Hydrators is for dry, sensitive mature skin and is free of peptides, parables, fragrance color and retinol.

Phthalates are currently being studied as anti-androgens. This means that they work against hormones like testosterone. Low testosterone is connected to weight gain and decreased muscle mass in women and men. Studies have shown that the U.S. population has a chronic exposure to numerous phthalates. The studies have linked the chemicals to birth defects in boys, reproductive problems in men, and thyroid problems in both men and women. Low thyroid means lower metabolism with an increased chance for weight gain.

The immune system is affected by phthalates. They create an increase in inflammation in the body because of cell damage and hormone imbalance. This inflammation can also be associated with illnesses such as allergies, asthma and contact dermatitis. In addition, the increase in cortisol demand created by the inflammation causes an increased risk of belly fat, weight gain, and severe hormonal imbalances.

Now that we’ve discussed some of the problems these chemicals can cause, let’s cover a few options you can use to spring clean your home without toxins. Essential oils, derived from plants, are incredibly versatile: antibacterial, antifungal, wonderful air fresheners and excellent cleaners. In chapter 12 of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Hormone Weight Loss I outline the different essential oils and their specific household uses.

It is also possible to make your cleaners at home with a minimal amount of energy, effort and cost while significantly reducing your family’s toxin exposure. A basic shopping list includes baking soda, distilled vinegar, organic liquid dish soap, hydrogen peroxide (35% food grade from a health food store), borax, lemons, spray bottles, white vinegar and essential oils. Chapter 12 also includes some recipes for making your own cleaners, and I’ve included one example for you below. An excellent source of organic dish soap and other organic cleaners is the Vermont Soap Company.

I would suggest that you throw away air freshener sprays and plug-ins; they’re loaded with phthalates. Instead, freshen your home naturally with essential oils, organic candles, potted plants and fresh cut flowers. You can mix an essential oil with distilled water and put it in a spray bottle to spritz on your carpet, drapes and linens for a fresher-smelling room.

Glass cleaner:
½ cup distilled white vinegar
2 to 3 drops lemon oil
Distilled water

Put the white vinegar and lemon oil into a 32-ounce spray bottle. Finish filling the bottle with distilled water. Shake to mix ingredients, and use.