Expert: Tonja Wells - 12/12/2006

Question
I have been on doctor prescribed HRT (premarin) for about 2 years and I desparately want to get off. I have searched the internet for just the right alternative but I am unable to figure this out on my own.  I am 52 years old, about 150 lbs and fairly active.  I tried to stop taking the premarin about a year ago and got very depressed.  My doctor put me back on them and the depression went away BUT I don't like taking premarin everyday.  Since the onset of menopause I have gained 25 lbs which is depressing enough, but the mood swings and depression is so difficult to handle.  I would be very interested in receiving information on alternative medicine for detoxing the system, weight loss, HRT and anti-depression.  Any information you could give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Denise

Answer
It sounds as if you have a lot going on.
I would being by building the liver to work with the depression with Chinese Mood Elevator. From there I would boost seratonin levels with Probioitc 11 and would also consider working with herbs for the thyroid.

I would being building the body with good fats, Minerals and getting off white carbohydrates.

Below are weight loss tips. Doing these will help all areas you are wanting help in. You want to build with depression, not cleanse.  You may want to consider making a phone consult with me or if you are in the DFW area you can come into my office.


For more info you can go to my web site at
www.herbalhealthsoltuions.4the.net

WEIGHT LOSE TIPS

You must respect the fact that your eating and exercise habits have a direct effect on your health and appearance.  When you have the skills and knowledge needed to change your attitude toward food and exercise, it will lead to lifelong weight management and good health

1.   Water – drink one half your weight in ounces of pure water each day. It is best to drink 4 ounces of water every 1\2 hour between 9-5. It is essential to drink pure water.
2.   Don’t drink diet drinks, use aspartame, Splenda or olestra.  Aspartame promotes sweet cravings and olestera depletes the body of antioxidants.
3.   Never eat fat free. Fat free foods are high in sugar. Be sure to use essential fatty acids. Fat burns fat.  This is crucial to your health and to your bodies’ metabolisms.  Butter, olive oil and flaxseed oil, Omega 3’s, nuts, avocados and olives are wonderful sources of good fats.
4.   Fiber is essential.  Colon cleansing is important to pull toxins out of the body. Fiber helps the bowels move.  Fruits and vegetables are high in fiber.
5.   Food enzymes are essential to break down the foods you eat. They aid digestion and help elimination.
6.   Get rid of white carbohydrates.  These include breads, pasta, rice, and potatoes.  High glycemic foods spike your blood sugar and store as fat. Carbohydrates = weight gain.  Go off white carbohydrates for 3 to 7 days.
7.   Exercise correctly and consistently for your blood type.  Cardiovascular exercise is important 3-4 times a week for at least 30 minutes to burn fat.  When you exercise your body produces fat burning enzymes and when you don’t exercise your body produces fat storing enzymes.  You choose which you one you want.
8.   Manage your stress – you can’t lose weight if you are under stress.  This promotes an acid body. Chickweed and Gymnema are excellent to help lower cortisol levels.
9.   Strengthen the thyroid.  Herbs like kelp, black walnut, Irish moss plant and 7-Keto are a quality choice.
10.   Eat 6 small meals a day consisting of 200-300 calories. Eating breakfast is necessary to jumpstart your metabolism.  Smaller meals equal less stress on the digestive system. Good quality low glycemic snacks keep your metabolism in high gear.
11.    pH balancing is essential.  Your pH should be 6.0 urine and 6.5 salvia upon rising and urine should rise to 7.0 by the end of the day.  You must have a balanced pH to uptake iodine which feeds the thyroid.
12.   Eat right for your blood type.  In order to achieve weight loss with the blood type plan, eat 100% beneficial foods for two to six weeks (no more than six weeks).  You want to begin including neutral foods until you are doing a balanced profile. Your age and health issues will determine the percent of neutral and avoids you should do.
13.   Don’t eat after 7:00 at night.  Your body begins cleansing in the evening.  Eating late in the evening causes the body to work harder.  You are also able to burn off those calories better if you stop eating earlier in the evening.  
14.   Avoid foods, which contain estrogens. Estrogen stores in fat.  This is especially important as we enter menopause.
15.   Cut out sugar.
16.   Quit eating microwave foods.
17.   Love your liver with chickweed (SF formula works well here) a cup of fresh squeezed organic lemon water in the morning is also beneficial.
18.   Keep a journal of what you eat.
19.   Seek out emotional and spiritual support.
20.   See yourself thin.

Tonja Wells, CNHP, NHC    www.herbalhealthsolutions.4the.net
This information is for educational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose and treat diseases.  If you have any health problems consult a health practitioner before embarking on any course of treatment.