FITNESS Nutritional Counseling, Dietary Planning, and Weight Loss Management Assistance alternatives Whaes New: The Magic of Midlife • Integrated Nut'rition is now offering very affordable, one Hour, on-premises, group nu- tritional lectures. M • The current lecture is entitled: How To Use The Power Of Intention For Change. Barbara Beznos, RD, 'LD/N Registered Dietitian & Founder of: Integrated Nutrition, LLC • Please call for dates, times, and pricing details. *Licensed in Florida 32401 Northwestern Hwy., Farmington Hills, MI 48334 Ph: (248) 538-8050 • Fx: (248) 538-8060 E-mail: rds@integratednutrition.com Web: www.integratednutrition.com 1432130 FLU SHOTS „ ONLY 1 9.00 The Doctor will see you now. MILLENNIUM MEDICAL GROUP URGENT MEDICAL CARE No appointment needed 1447250 Adult and Adolescent Walk-In HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 6 p.m.-11 p.m. I Sat. & Sun 8 a.m.-4 p.m. 28625 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield (Just South of 12 Mile Road) Call 248-945-4373 * MARGARITA MADE IN ISRAEL * ELISABETTA ROGIANI * WE ARE ONE * ZOBNA. ; rr " r. Blue . 1.6ug Bring in this ad to get 20% off 1 item.* expires 11-15-08. Not to be used with any other offers. Yoga Wear and Essentials For Women, Men and Children Shop online 24 hours a day!! W ww.bluelotusyogawea r.corn 0 32644 Franklin Rd. • Downtown Franklin (Old Gift People Building) 248.737.7300 Store Hours: Mon 12-4 • Tues-Sat 10-5 * 'v H002 3NO 11V{ 3M * INVI'DaM V.11.3.3VSIT3 * 13V21.51 NI 3C1V01 NI.LW\I'DN•IN * B8 October 30 • 2008 iN Co ore and more women are searching beyond modern medicine to an older, more holistic solution to managing their lifecycles. Many women instinctively sense that changes in midlife are not a failure of our body but a significant event that should be honored and valued. Many of the older traditions respect the changes our bodies expe- rience throughout different lifecycles. Synthetic hormones (such as prema- rin and prempro) as well as bio-identi- cal hormones are controversial. Both are "unnatural" in that they are given to the body at a time when the body would not naturally have such high levels or hormones. Both have long- term implications on other areas of our body's health and well-being. There are many holistic modalities that can assist a woman in natu- rally working with symptoms that may be uncomfortable. Phytoestrogens are natural hor- mones that are Q10 found in more than 300 plants. Lingans, such as flax seed, have a significant impact in pro- viding meno- pause symptom relief and menopause help as well, according to ongoing studies. Weaker than human estrogens, phytoestrogens are beneficial in more ways as they attach themselves to the body's estro- gen receptors. If a woman's estrogen level is low, phytoestrogens increase the body's level; if it is high, phytoestrogens replace the stronger human estrogen, which may have harmful effects. Supplements such as fish oils (essential fatty acids), black cohosh, Chastberry (vitex), evening primrose oil and Co Q10 have all been proven to be helpful to manage menopausal symptoms. Both traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Ayurvedic medicine offer a whole body approach to supporting women in their midlife years. Traditional Chinese medicine views the body and health as a balance between two states — yin and yang. When yin and yang are not in balance, we can see hot symptoms (such as hot flashes and night sweats) or cold symptoms (such as lowered sexual drive, frequent urina- tion). TCM uses acupuncture, herbs and diet to alleviate symptoms and bring our body to its natural state of balance. Much like TCM, Ayurvedic medicine looks at the body from a viewpoint of balance. There are three doshas that keep our body functions balanced and healthy. Each dosha is present through- out our body and governs activities of our body, mind and emotions. Each dosha — and each aspect of the dosha — can be seen to apply across the board to all our organs, tissues and cells, giving us a view of the body as a whole rather than as disconnected parts. Again, work- ing with symptoms, Ayurvedic uses herbs, diet and other lifestyle changes to bring our body back to wholeness. Finally, ongoing exercise, using such modalities as car- diovascular exercise, yoga, tai chi, swim- ming, biking and weight-bearing exercise can be very helpful in managing symp- toms and improving the well being of our body, mind and spirit. Whatever path you take, be sure to honor the natural progres- sion our body takes and appreciate the wholeness of our being. ❑ Supplements such as fish oils (essential fatty acids), black cohosh, Chastberry (vitex), evening primrose oil and Co have all been proven to be helpful to manage menopausal symptoms. Julie Silver, MSW, Dip!. Ac., is a National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine board-certified acupuncturist and owner of Acupuncture Healthcare Associates of Michigan, Inc., a West Bloomfield holistic health clinic featur- ing acupuncture, traditional Chinese medi- cine and naturopathic medicine. Her e-mail address is acuhealer@sbcglobal.net.