Women health in XXI century

      Women's health is a growing concern. Whether you are a younger woman coping with menstrual problems or a woman experiencing issues related to menopause, there may be some convenient solution to help solve some of your problems. Shaklee has the best solutions for both problems in GLA Complex, Menopause Balance Complex and Menopause Balance Complex Cooling Lotion.

      Menstrual Issues

      Menstrual issues may be solved by using Shaklee's GLA Complex, which is designed to promote menstrual health with a combination of Borage oil, Sunflower seed oil and Vitamin E to reduce inflammation and provide for healthy hormonal balance.

• Borage oil contains both linolenic acid and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) which helps to form certain types of prostaglandins that promote healthy hormonal activity during the menstrual cycle. Production of the right type of prostaglandin may help to ease and promote healthy blood flow and reduce PMS symptoms. Borage oil is higher in GLA than many other plant products and is readily absorbed making it an ideal ingredient in young women's health supplements.

• Sunflower seed oil is high in omega fatty acids which may help to reduce inflammation. It is also high in lignans, linolenic acid and other phytonutrients which promote all over health and may help to balance mood, important in women's health issues related to the menstrual cycle.

• Vitamin E natural concentrate (d-alpha tocopherol) is known to be a highly active antioxidant which helps scavenge free radicals which may contribute to stress and body damage. Most women are deficient in Vitamin E and taking a quality supplement with vitamin E may help promote young women's health by reducing the symptoms of PMS and improving skin appearance which may be a particularly troubling portion of the menstrual cycle.

      Menopausal Issues

      Menopausal symptoms may be reduced with Shaklee Menopause Balance Complex supplement containing Black Cohosh, Flaxseed, Soy and a Proprietary Blend of Dong Quai, Red Clover and Licorice extract all designed to replace waning hormone levels with natural phytosterols which may reduce some of the more troubling symptoms of menopause. Menopause Balance Complex Cooling Lotion may be applied to the skin to naturally protect against temperature fluctuations which contribute to night sweats, hot flashes and difficulty sleeping. The cooling lotion contains a blend of Black Cohosh, Evening Primrose, Flaxseed and Soy in a moisturizing base of highly absorbable Jojoba oil.

• Black Cohosh is the primary ingredient in most women's health supplements for those dealing with issues related to the onset of menopause. Black Cohosh has been proven to reduce symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes. It may also help with other symptoms such as insomnia, irritability, and mood imbalance. It is high in phytoestrogens which act to naturally supplement waning hormone levels during and after the onset of menopause, making it an essential part of a woman's health regimen.

• Flaxseed, both extract and oil are known to be high in healthy essential fatty acids. Omega fatty acids have been shown to promote the health of many body systems including heart, brain and joints. It may help to reduce bad cholesterol, protect against memory loss and reduce inflammation which may contribute to conditions such as arthritis, all common women's health issues for those nearing menopause.

• Soy has been shown to contain isoflavones, which also act as phytohormones to promote health in women. Phytohormones may protect against diseases such as cancer and may reduce some symptoms of menopause.

• Dong Quai has long been used in Asia to treat conditions of women's health problems including those related to menopause. It has been called "female tonic" because it has a mild estrogenic effect important in the treatment of menopausal symptoms.

• Red Clover is known to be high in phytoestrogens and other plant-based sterols which may reduce symptoms of menopause. It has been used as a women's health supplement for many years to reduce occurrences of hot flashes and night sweats which are a particular problem for many women.

• Licorice Root is thought to balance the hormones by acting as a phytoprogesterone. This may help to restore the natural balance of estrogen and progesterone which are both important in the maintenance of women's health.

• Evening Primrose oil and extract have been used to promote healthy sleep during menopause. This is particularly important as many women complain of insomnia and frequent nighttime awakenings. Sleep difficulties are common both due to hot flashes and night sweats but also due to an inability to relax. Evening primrose oil provides women's health benefits by reducing menopausal symptoms and promoting relaxation.

• Jojoba oil is highly absorbable and promotes moisture retention when applied to the skin. It is the best vehicle for creams as it allows for better absorption of other ingredients while acting as an excellent moisturizer, important for ageing skin.

      Believe it or not, these are the kind of questions that scientists and doctors have actually researched. Given that the average woman uses about 10,000 sanitary products during her lifetime, it makes sense that researchers and women are giving serious consideration to their menstrual management methods.

• Sanitary pads: Sanitary pads, also known as sanitary napkins or menstrual pads, were one of the earliest forms of feminine hygiene and are still widely used today. Offered in various lengths and absorbency levels, pads are often preferred by women on light-flow days or for when they might be spotting between periods. Some women combine a tampon with a pad for extra The disadvantages associated with sanitary pads are that some women find the product uncomfortable or find that it isn't suitable for certain types of physical activity.

      In one study evaluating women's use of tampons or menstrual pads, the researcher found that while most women used tampons, women younger than 41 were far more likely to use them. She also found that even tampon users still pop on a pad, often wearing one along with tampons, and that about one in four women in perimenopause (ages 48 to 54) use tampons and/or pads between their periods.

• Tampons: Tampons, which have been around since the 1930s, are the most popular choice of feminine protection for women younger than 41, according to a prominent study. Women often choose tampons for greater physical freedom during their period. Like sanitary pads, tampons are also offered in various sizes and levels of absorbency. It is recommended that women change tampons at least every four to eight hours, using the least absorbent type to manage the menstrual flow. Tampons are not recommended in between periods. Some women may remember the connection between superabsorbent tampons and an outbreak of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) in the 1980s, but these "hyper absorbable" tampons were taken off the market and the incidence of toxic shock syndrome plummeted. However, there is some evidence that women who use tampons may have an increased risk of urinary tract infections.

• Menstrual cups: Menstrual cups have been around as long as tampons but currently are not as widely used by women in the United States. There are two types of menstrual cups: The first is a soft, flexible, disposable cup that resembles a diaphragm. The second is a bell-shaped cup made of rubber (latex) or silicone that can be reused after thorough cleaning. Both types of menstrual cups are designed to collect menstrual fluid—rather than absorb it—for disposal later.

      Some women prefer menstrual cups because they are a tampon alternative that can be safely worn up to 12 hours. One study found that women had to change the menstrual cup, on average, 2.8 times less frequently than when using tampons or pads, and that it leaked 0.5 times less often. Another study found that women who used tampons and had "average-to-heavy" menstrual flows were more likely to use a menstrual cup, as were women over age 40.

      Women also say they like menstrual cups because they don't contain any chemicals, bleaches or fibers that could cause sensitivity or allergic reactions. Also, the soft, flexible menstrual cups can be worn during intercourse, making the experience a little less messy for women and their partners.

      For some women, period cups are more difficult to insert and remove than tampons but these difficulties can be solved with education about a woman's own body and insertion techniques. Also, one of the main disadvantages women mentioned in the survey was the need to clean the reusable cups, which is easily overcome by using a disposable menstrual cup.

      No matter what feminine hygiene option you choose when menstruating, make sure to wash your hands before and after adding or changing your product of choice to prevent infections.

      With all the choices for feminine protection, it's important that women are educated about their options so that they can better manage their menstrual cycle — rather than being managed by it.