In the Western world, with so much food available to us, it’s hard to imagine large numbers of us could be potentially deficient in any element of nutrition. And yet 1 in 5 pre-menopausal women in the UK are deficient in iron. Even more ironic is that that one person probably appears to be healthier than the rest of us!

Why is this? Because risk factors for iron deficiency are often the same elements you find in healthy women, so it is hard to identify.

1) Low iron intake. As red meat is still the richest source of iron available to us, vegetarians are at greater risk of suffering low iron intake than meat eaters.

2) Regular periods. The monthly blood loss involved in a regular menstrual cycle is significant and therefore affects iron levels which are stored in our blood.

3) Regular exercise. Research has shown that physical activity has a negative effect on iron stores in the body.

Low iron levels lead to anemia, which has been linked to reduced physical ability and endurance, tiredness, lethargy and fainting. Not what you want as a young, usually energetic female.

So iron levels and the threat of anemia need to be taken quite seriously. If you are a high risk candidate and the symptoms sound familiar then you can easily arrange an iron level test with your practice doctor or GP. If you are diagnosed as iron deficient, then they will prescribe you iron supplements, probably ferrous sulphate. But you will also need to look at your diet and try to add more iron-rich foods in to it. If you are vegetarian, stock up on dark green vegetables including such delicacies as spinach, broccoli and watercress. Snack on dried fruits – figs, apricots and dates – and nuts, particularly Brazil nuts, Cashew nuts and Walnuts. And if you fancy a treat, chocolate and ginger biscuits also have iron! The highest levels of iron are found in red meat, but oily fish also has high levels so if you are a fish eating vegetarian, make sure you have plenty of tuna and sardines.

Unfortunately many people who are prescribed iron supplements do suffer constipation as a result. This is particularly true for pregnant women who are often low in iron and also often more susceptible to constipation. Spatone do an ‘iron water’ that you take with orange juice (don’t try to drink it on its own) or if you prefer a supplement, BioCare produce a Beetroot Extract supplement that has high levels of iron, but in its food form so without any of the normal side effects of iron supplementation. It also has all the antioxidants found in beetroot so there’s an additional benefit there.

Iron deficiency affects 20% of pre-menopausal women and can have a huge impact on your lifestyle. So don’t ignore the issue – get tested, change your diet and supplement if necessary. When a problem is so easy to solve, there’s no argument for doing anything else.

By: Sam J Brookes

Among the many organisms that live in the human body is the yeast Candida albicans, Thrush, which lives in 80 percent of the human population at anyone time. Candida can found on the skin, in the stomach, colon, vagina, rectum, mouth, and throat. Under normal circumstances Candida has no harmful effects but can cause problems when an overgrowth appears in one of the areas mentioned, an overgrowth of this yeast is called Thrush and the medical name for Thrush is candidiasis.

Thrush can become a serious problem if it is not treated, and anyone who thinks they may be suffering from Thrush should seek medical advice at the earliest opportunity.

The telltale signs and symptoms of Thrush?

In the mouth it looks like creamy white patches or small red spots on the tongue, the roof of the mouth (also known as the hard palate), gums or throat. Crusting on the corners of the mouth is also a common symptom of Thrush. Thrush makes it difficult and painful to swallow and can cause chest pain as well as nausea and making food taste different.

A medical practitioner is normally able to to check oral Thrush by checking your mouth and throat though in more serious cases they may examine your throat and stomach with an endoscope using X-rays or visual examination.

Many women suffer from Thrush, in fact it’s been estimated that over 75% of all women will experience candidiasis, a candida yeast infection more commonly known as Thrush, at some point in their lives. The telltale signs of a yeast infection include a thick, cottage-cheese-like discharge along with itching and burning. Some women also notice swelling of the lips which can also be red and tender.

Can female Thrush be prevented?

Normal amounts of yeast are needed for good health so primary prevention of vaginal yeast is not possible. Because the infection is a yeast and feeds on sugar some women have found it helps to prevent a recurrence of yeast overgrowth by limiting the sugar in their diet. Another easy method to use is to allow the area to breathe by wearing cotton panties and skirts or loose-fitting pants.

If infections constantly reoccur a medical examination is recommended to confirm diagnosis, but in any case ensure you seek medical advice before undertaking any form of treatment.

By: John Buckle

Once dismissed as something that was just in our heads, premenstrual syndrome is finally acknowledged as a real disorder. PMS affects women in different ways – making us edgy, emotional, crampy or bloated. Other symptoms include breast tenderness, headaches, backaches, impaired concentration and focus, and food cravings. Most women figure they just have to live with it. But the truth is that taking all-natural supplements can help you feel loads better. nutraOrigin, makers of high quality vitamins for women, shares the secrets of natural PMS relief.

Who Gets PMS?

Up to 80 percent of women of childbearing age suffer from PMS. It usually strikes women in their mid-20s and tends to get worse as they get older, until they finally stop menstruating altogether.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder, also called premenstrual disorder, is a more severe form of PMS that affects 5 percent of women in their reproductive years. Women with PDD are so negatively impacted by mood changes such as anger and depression that they have difficulty functioning.

PMS Prevention

The good news is that there are 100% natural products that help ease PMS symptoms. nutraOrigin, makers of high quality vitamins for women, developed a PMS remedy called PMS Balance, which combines both Western and Eastern approaches to treating the disorder. PMS Balance contains the following ingredients:

Magnesium: It’s been documented that women with PMS are often deficient in this muscle-relaxing mineral, which could account for some of their symptoms.

Vitamin B6: A large body of clinical research shows that vitamin B6 helps relieve premenstrual symptoms. In fact, a review trial found that B6 is twice as likely as placebo to provide PMS relief.

Vitamin C: If you experience heavy bleeding during your menstrual cycle, fragile blood vessels could be to blame. Vitamin C helps strengthen blood vessels, making them less likely to leak.

Choline & Taurine: Both of these nutrients play an important role in the health of the nervous system, which can be negatively affected by PMS.

Rambling Powder: This traditional Chinese herbal formula, consisting of bupleurum root, peony root, dong quai root, and licorice root, has been used for nearly 1,000 years to ease premenstrual discomfort. Chinese herbalists believe it works by relieving “stagnant liver chi,” allowing life energy to flow and the spirit to ramble.

Together, the ingredients in this PMS product provide PMS cramp relief, support a positive mood, and ease muscle tension, irritability, bloating and breast tenderness – without any harmful side effects.

A Synergistic Approach

Any woman who suffers from PMS should also be sure to take a daily multivitamin, such as nutraOrigin’s Nutra Multi. Not only does Nutra Multi cover a woman’s vitamin needs, it also provides 500 mg of calcium – one of the best natural remedies for premenstrual distress. Another product to consider is nutraOrigin’s Omega-3 Essentials, which provides essential fatty acids the body needs but can’t manufacture. EFAs have been studied for their role in alleviating PMS symptoms.

The experts at nutraOrigin recommend taking all three formulas together for maximum synergistic effect.

By: Alex Syrov