Monthly Archives: March 2016

Why You Need to Use Awesome Menstrual Cups

Guest Post with Tara Bruley.

Robyn: You and I bonded over a love of PERIODS! Can you share your story of how you got into the period biz with Be Prepared. Period.?

 

Tara: As young girls dream about their futures, I’m not sure how many of us envision getting into the period biz. I was certainly not one of them! Believe it or not, I considered going into corporate law. Can two career paths get any more different?

I started Be Prepared. Period when my daughter was a tween. As she approached the age of puberty I wanted to be able to provide information that would empower her. When I was growing up, all of the medical jargon they threw at me in health class grossed me out – I wanted her to  feel good about the changes to come. When I searched for resources, I came up empty handed.

 

I spoke with other parents of young girls, and found that they were facing the same challenge. Little did I know this pursuit would lead me down the road to helping ladies of all ages to have problem-free periods. Our idea for the Be Prepared 1st Period Kit was born!

 

Robyn: You believe strongly in the usage and availability of natural menstrual hygiene products. Can you share what exactly those are, and how we can get them?

 

Tara: I’ve built a whole website trying to answer that question,  and I’m not done yet! Ladies today are so lucky – we have more feminine care options available to a wide market than ever before. For far too long, there were only two options to your average woman: pads or tampons. Now we have organic and natural versions of those classics, as well as menstrual cups, cloth pads, and sponges.

It can be challenging to find the whole variety of options available to you at your local grocery store. I believe that ladies should be able to have the opportunity to choose the right products for their bodies, with clear and easy to understand information. To assist that goal,  we’ve built an online store with one of the biggest selections of healthy feminine protection available, tied in with a resource section to help you  decide which one is best for you.

 

Robyn: What’s so important about using cleaner menstrual hygiene products like menstrual cups? Will using them really make an important impact?

 

Tara: They are significantly  healthier for you and the environment!

One of the greatest personal benefits is a reduced risk for Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). There has never been a reported cases of TSS in women using organic cotton tampons or menstrual cups. TSS is very real concern – I urge all ladies, especially moms with daughters, to educate themselves and sort out fact from fiction.

 

Another plus is reduced exposure to chemicals. Many women have found that simply by switching to these healthier options, cramps, yeast infections, vaginal irritation, and even flow have been reduced. Who would’ve thought your go-to period protection could be contributing to your suffering? Yikes!

When it comes to the environment, the global impact of choosing one of these alternatives is huge! The average woman in North America will use over 17,000 pads or tampons in her lifetime. Given that 90% of the materials in conventional pads is made from plastic, you can imagine what this is doing to our landfills. Not to mention all the tampons and applicators that end up in our oceans and on our beaches  – yuck!

 

You can greatly reduce your footprint by choosing reusable menstrual cups, cloth pads, and sea sponge tampons, or simply by switching to products made from natural and organic fibers which biodegrade.

 

Robyn: Which product do YOU use, and why?

 

 Tara: Thanks to my beloved sister-in-law, I use a menstrual cup. Well ahead of the trend, she has been using the Softcup for over 12 years, and suggested that we carry them at BePreparedPeriod.com. While I was already a fan of alternatives, specifically organic tampons, this is what opened the door to reusable options.

 

It took a while for me to wrap my head around using a product that seemed so different from my usual go-to, but after I mustered up the courage it was love at first use. Don’t get me wrong – there was a bit of a learning curve! If you’re interested in learning more about using this great product, check out our free Menstrual Cup 101 series – it’ll answer all your questions so you can decide if they’re right for you, too!

Beyond the personal and environmental benefits I already mentioned, I absolutely love that I can often wear it all day, changing it at once in the morning, and again at night. The freedom it gives me from worrying about carrying products, or being near a bathroom, allows me to almost forget I’m on my period.

 

Life uninterrupted by periods…that’s the way it’s supposed to be!

 

Robyn: What other words of wisdom can you share about menstrual health, hygiene and being a woman?

 

Tara: I can honestly say that the personal transformation I’ve experienced while creating BePreparedPeriod.com has been one of the most surprising and rewarding of my life – though it can’t top motherhood! I never imagined in a million years that an idea which sprouted from a desire to help my daughter through this stage of her life, would become nothing less than a mission to help all women to have better periods.

 

I’ve also learned so much about myself through this process! I’ve learned more about my own body, allowing me to appreciate it for all that it does. I’ve been able to tie my passions for natural living, and helping others, into a mission that is changing lives.

 

I’ve learned that to truly make the difference I want to make in the world, the world must get past the stigma around period talk so that information like this can be spread freely without shame or embarrassment. On top of that, I’ve learned that ladies need to set the tone so that men can feel equally as comfortable with the topic of female health.

I’ve learned that a large majority of women struggle on a monthly basis with their cycles,  unaware that there are options that could help them. I’ve learned that for girls to grow up to be empowered women they must understand and feel comfortable in their bodies – this starts with being prepared for puberty and the changes to come.

 

I’ve learned how something as seemingly simple as feminine hygiene can have such a huge effect on our bodies and the planet.

 

One of the most exciting things I’ve learned is that through years of struggling to bring about change, us ladies are beginning to band together in a Period Revolution! The world is about to change, information is starting to flow – and that’s just the first step. One of my favorite quotes by Mahatma Gandhi is so true, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Be Prepared. Period is about sharing the information that I’ve learned along the way, to help you and the ladies in your life live in a world where you are empowered with good health choices, and confidence in your feminine body.

 

Why You Need to Use Awesome Menstrual Cups | The Hormone DivaTara Bruley is the founder of BePreparedPeriod.com, a website designed to be a one stop shop for all things menstrual. Her mission is to empower ladies of all ages have a healthier, better period by providing numerous resources, including with one of the largest online selections of traditional, organic, and eco-friendly products, a library of helpful articles, the PeriodTalk forum, informative newsletters, and fun videos. Connect with Tara on her website, Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter.

Download the Better Your Period Action Guide from Be Prepared. Period. for FREE here!

Actually Conquer Your Endometriosis With a Good Immune System

 
March is Endometriosis Awareness Month. Discover what endometriosis is and enjoy my other endo-related posts!
 
Endometriosis is a condition which affects up to 10% of women. The most common symptoms are pelvic pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, digestive difficulty and infertility. The most common treatments for Endometriosis include the birth control pill, and surgery known as a laparoscopy.
 
This sounds like a whole pile of yuck! 
 
Many natural remedies exist to help balance and reduce endometriosis without the harmful side effects of medication and surgery. 
 
One of the main aspects (besides your sex hormones, of course!) to focus on when balancing endometriosis naturally is to have a good immune system. And I don’t just mean fewer colds and flus, or less allergies. I mean a rocking immune system that can rid your body of more serious problems, like having endometrial tissue outside of the uterus! 

 

What Does My Immune System Have to do with Endometriosis?

 
So many ways!
 
Firstly, endometriosis is associated with other immune-modulated chronic diseases like cancer, autoimmune disease, asthma and cardiovascular disease. After years of poor immune response and rampant endometrial tissue, you are more at risk for these diseases later on.
 
Secondly, inflammation in the body is a sign of immune participation. While short-term inflammation is a good thing- meaning your body is ‘cleaning up’ the mess of pathogens like viruses and bacteria, being chronically inflamed is bad news for your immune system. The sucky pain and super heavy flow often seen in endometriosis cause you stress. I totally get it! The problem with elevated stress is that it creates even more (unnecessary) inflammation. This could lead to other issues like inflammatory bowel disease, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, Hashimoto’s thyroid disease, lupus and multiple sclerosis.
 
Solution? R.E.L.A.X. (more on that below)
 
With chronic stress and inflammation from an immune response comes elevated prostaglandins (hormone-like substances that assist in contraction of smooth muscle aka your uterus). These guys gather for a party in your peritoneal fluid (aka liquid in your abdominal cavity) and increase your levels of pain.
 
Lastly, having endometriosis lesions or cysts means your immune system is chronically activated, as it tries to fight tissue in the wrong place at the wrong time. So, more inflammatory chemicals and growth-factors for the misplaced tissue abound. 
 
 The Ultimate Endometriosis Checklist | The Hormone Diva

Conquering Your Endometriosis with a Good Immune System

Now for the juicy stuff!

 
Beyond a nutrient-dense diet loaded with veggies, protein and healthy fat and an active lifestyle, here are some ideas for supporting your immune system to balance endometriosis:
 

Pau D’arco + Astragalus

Two of my favourite medicinal herbs for endometriosis, they both work on the immune system. 
 
Pau D'Arco | The Hormone Diva
 
Pau D’arco is the inner bark of a tree from Central and South America. It has a very mild flavour, and so lends itself well to tea. Pau D’arco is fantastic for endometriosis for a few reasons. It modulates the immune system, it a potent liver detoxifier and is very anti-microbial. 
 
 
Astragalus
 
Astragalus on the other hand is a root that is both energizing and toning to the system. One of the best immune-helper herbs, it is generally taken for 3 to 6 months to build the immune system. Astragalus works very well in tincture form. 
 
 

Vitamin D

Vitamin D isn’t truly a vitamin, but acts very much like a hormone. We all know it because we get it from sunshine, but most of us don’t get enough time in strong sunlight to have enough. It has been suggested that having adequate levels of vitamin D can prevent hormonal issues like endometriosis. Not only this, it boosts mood and overall supports our immune system. A general dose of 2,000IU is helpful for most. Higher doses are even more useful, but I recommend either getting your blood levels checked or asking your natural healthcare practitioner for advice before taking more. 
 
 

Vitamin C

A rat study has shown the benefits of high vitamin C intake for endometriosis. What they found was a significant reduction in the volume and weight of endometrial cysts with the use of vitamin C. Beyond this, vitamin C is generally extremely useful for reducing inflammation and the duration of colds and flus. A dose of 2000mg-5000mg per day is fine for most people. If this gives you loose stools, back off 1000mg each day until it stops. This is your maintenance dose.
 
 The Ultimate Endometriosis Checklist | The Hormone Diva

Stress Reduction

As we talked about at the beginning of this post, stress increases symptoms of endometriosis because is exacerbates inflammation and the immune response to endo tissue. Anything and everything you can do to reduce stress will be helpful for your endometriosis. Put YOU first! Here are a few examples:

 

 
 

Do you consider your immune system when balancing your endometriosis? How have these or other remedies impacted you? Please share in the comments!

 

The Ultimate Endometriosis Checklist | The Hormone Diva
 

The Ultimate Blissful Meditation to Balance Your Hormones

Guest Blog by Helen Kaselov.

 

Having imbalance in the hormonal system is very common when you have endometriosis or other pelvic pain. In the yogic tradition the hormones are called the “Guardians of the Soul”. They effect us so much. Our physical health, our emotional health and our well being. There are many ways to help your hormones to get into balance again. Doing yoga, breathing exercises & meditations are some tools that I find very helpful.

When you do yoga it helps you not only to feel good in your body, but it also helps to lower your stress hormones and to balance other hormones that are important to feel vibrant.

So I want to share this wonderful meditation that helps to balance your hormones. It is a meditation that balances the endocrine system and the nervous system. Start with 3 minutes and increase over time.

 

 

Instructions:

  • Sit in Easy pose with your legs crossed (or on a chair)
  • Sit with your spine erect and straight.
  • Bend your elbows and place your hands in front of your chest at heart level, 5 cm (2 inches) out from your chest, the palms facing the chest. The left hand closest to the chest and the right hand on top of the left hand. The tip of the thumbs touch each other.
  • Focus on third eye-point (the point in between your eyebrows).

Breathing pattern: 

  • Inhale long and deeply and as you have inhaled you hold the breath in for 10 seconds.
  • Slowly exhale and as you have exhaled you hold the breath out for 10 seconds.
  • Inhale again and continue in this rhythm for 3-7 minutes.

If you find it difficult to hold the breath for 10 seconds you can start with 5 seconds and increase over time.

Here´s a video you can watch.

 

 

A Meditation to Balance Your HormonesHelen Kaselov is a yoga teacher and yoga therapist and the founder of Healing from within with yoga & food (former Yoga for Endometriosis & Pelvic pain). Helen has a history of severe endometriosis and is today helping women with endometriosis, PCOS, uterine fibroids and other pelvic pain online, with yoga, nutrition and other lifestyle changes. Using yoga both as a tool in different kinds of healing programs, pain management, yoga has become the foundation in her work. “Yoga can help you in so many ways: Physically, mentally, spiritually and as a personal development tool.” Visit www.endoyoga.com to learn more.