Our second video is an interview our meditation teacher and psychology practitioner Linda Hall on Conscious TV. You can view the video here, and the next Meditation for Life group (these are run by conference call, so you can join from the comfort of your own home) is starting soon, so please e-mail linda@TheOptimumHealthClinic.com or visit www.MeditationForLife.co.uk to find out more.
Our second video this week is a recent interview filmed with Alex for Conscious TV about the role of meditation and yoga on his own healing path. The video is a great introduction to why yoga and meditation can be so important, as well as an interesting insight into an area of Alex’s healing journey that has not been talked about in much detail previously.
Our second video this week is the very exciting launch of our “FREE 7 Day Video Course” with our meditation teacher and psychology practitioner Linda Hall teaching you the basics of meditation. You can sign up for the videos completely free at www.MeditationForLife.co.uk and you will receive one short video a day for a week.
Some of the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and menopause overlap. Joint pain, headaches, lack of energy, depression and anxiety are present in both conditions. Menopause patients experience hot flushes, decreased libido and aging skin.
The three stages of a women’s lifecycle are pre, peri and post menopause and all three of these stages can be treated with the same diet as the patient that suffers from chronic fatigue. Menopausal woman are encouraged to increase their intake of phyto oestrogens as these will increase the hormonal level in the body. This increase in hormones is helpful to the patient with chronic fatigue also. When the body is depleted of necessary hormones the blood sugar level fluctuates. This fluctuation causes inflammation in the joints of the individuals. The goal is to have a healthy balance of hormones so the adrenal glands do not become stressed. When this gland experiences stress the body will try and recover by over producing adrenaline. This powerful hormone will cause the muscles to flex and over extended periods of time without reduction the muscles become overtaxed and inflamed.
Foods to avoid during menopause and those that suffer from chronic fatigue disease are: white flour, sugar, and refined carbohydrates. These cause the blood sugar level to fluctuate which puts added stress on the adrenal glands. Reduce the consumption of caffeine. Caffeine increases the risk of osteoporosis which is already a risk factor for individuals experiencing menopause. Reduce the intake of dairy products as they cause an acidic reaction in the body which leads to inflammation and osteoporosis. Avoid saturated fats and non organic meats. These cause an increase in fat cell production which leads to a rise in the oestrogen level in the body. Avoid hydrogenated and Trans fats as their presence damages the cell wall and can lead to increased inflammation.
Foods to increase are those that contain phyto oestrogens: tempeh, miso, soy beans, chick peas, lentils, red clover, and linseeds. These are suitable supplements for chronic fatigue. These will cause a natural balance of hormones in the body. Increase the intake of foods high in essential fatty acids such as tuna, herring, anchovies, trout, nuts and seeds. These foods lubricate the joints, vagina, and skin and help lower inflammation.
Maintain a high level of fiber intake. This will reduce constipation and help remove added oestrogens. Chronic fatigue disease suffers and menopausal women need to have regular bowel movements to keep the gut free from toxins and unwanted hormones. By drinking enough water to cause urine to be lightly yellow colored is a benchmark to assure daily bowel movements. Consuming 5 -12 servings for fresh fruits and vegetables will help provide the needed fiber to keep healthy bowel movements that is needed to keep menopausal women and chronic fatigue suffers from experiencing unpleasant symptoms.
Lifestyle adjustments will help reduce symptoms of menopause and chronic muscle fatigue. Yoga, meditation, and deep breathing will alleviate stress and reduce the impact on the adrenal glands. Avoid extremes of body weight. Too much fat or not enough fat negatively affects the menopausal woman. Too little fat causes strain on the adrenal glands and too much fat releases an excess of oestrogens in the body. The proper amount of exercise and weight bearing activities aid in protecting the body from muscle and bone weakness. Xenoestrogens are compounds in the environment that cause the oestrogen levels in the body to increase. These toxins permeate into food from plastic containers, plastic wraps, lotions, creams, non organic foods, microwaveable containers, and cleaning products.
Chronic fatigue syndrome patients experience a condition commonly called leaky gut. The technical term for this is intestinal hyper permeability, which means the intestines have lost the ability to prevent food particles and toxins from entering the blood stream.
This leaking of nutrients and particles into the bloodstream stimulates the immune system to take a response. Patients with chronic fatigue symptoms have an already depleted immune system and have difficulty combating the effects of leaky gut.
Not only does the individual lose toxic particles, but they lose healthy bacteria that line the intestines as well. These good bacteria are critical for the absorption of the B vitamins, vitamin K and aid in the absorption of nutrients from partially digested food.
Causes of leaky gut have been attributed to low stomach acid. This condition lets a high percentage of undigested food and bacteria into the intestine. For the person suffering from chronic fatigue syndrom this bombardment into the intestines only adds to their condition of lethargy, poor memory, muscle and tendon ache, constipation or diarrhea, and sluggish metabolism.
Proper diet can help offset the symptoms of leaky gut. Peppermint, ginger, herbal tea, rosemary and fennel aid in digestion . Foods that raise the level of stomach acid will help alter the food in the stomach before it reaches the intestine. Introducing pre biotic foods into the diet will help increase the strength of good bacteria. Pre biotics are foods that contain non-digestible fibre that promotes the growth of good bacteria in the intestines. Artichokes, onions, garlic, oats, leaks, bananas, and soybeans are examples of pre biotic foods. An increase of fiber will also help in digestion and move toxins through the intestines before they can leak into the blood stream. While increasing purified water is suggested for patients with chronic fatigue and leaky gut water should be introduced after the meal. The reason for this is that water dilutes stomach acid and if an individual already suffers from low stomach acid adding water will lower the acid level further. Individuals should drink 12-16 glasses of water daily between meals as this aids in the reduction of constipation and helps clean the bowel
Foods to avoid are sugar and white flour products. These foods prevent the growth of good bacteria and encourage the presence of bad bacteria in the stomach and intestines.
Intake of protein should be monitored until the stomach acid level has increased. If protein sits too long in the stomach undigested it will cause the growth of bad bacteria and could putrefy and make the individual physically ill. Individuals with chronic muscle fatigue need a high level of absorption of protein to bolster their cells and reduce inflammation. If the protein is left undigested in the stomach this will only add to the leaky gut and discomfort for the individual.
Leaky gut is directly affected by stress. If an individual experiences high levels of stress without periods of relaxation stomach acid levels decline. This results in the intestines inability to filter out bad bacteria and toxins. The individual will become chronically fatigued and unable to fight off further stress.
Gentle exercises such as yoga, Pilates, stretching, meditation or whatever activity encourages an individual to move gently and increase their breathing will aid in reducing the effects of leaky gut.
Psychology, Video Blog | Alex Howard | 
January 23, 2010 7:00 pm | 
Comments (3) 
Our second video this week is the very exciting launch of our “FREE 7 Day Video Course” with our meditation teacher and psychology practitioner Linda Hall teaching you the basics of meditation. You can sign up for the videos completely free at 
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