Sunday, November 20, 2011

Giving Back With My Business

Today we kicked of the Advent Conspiracy at our church with messages of hope. We heard from key people serving in our community with Boys & Girls Club of America, R.E.S.P.E.C.T., and Middleton Outreach Ministry. This is the fourth of fifth year we will be involved. It helps us, as a family, to refocus the commercialism of the season to the real reason - the birth of Jesus Christ and the salvation He came to give.
In my home business, I love to see those who have already been successful give back. Two weeks ago when one of my friends received the keys to her earned Mercedes Benz - we celebrated with her. She shared with us, James, the child they support through Streams of Mercy. Prior to her network marketing business her family could have never afforded "extras" such as this.
As in past years I am collecting Toys for Tots for the U.S. Marines. If you are in Cross Plains, Wisconsin - look me up on facebook for drop locations prior to December 7. I am also in process of organizing a community caroling event which will also collect non perishbables. I will keep you posted on this as arrangements are made.
I do have bigger dreams of making a difference...as an independent consultant for AB International - my greatest vision extends beyond providing transportation for my family that is safe and won't break down. My sister's family works with Lifeline - a mission focused organization and they volunteer in Haiti. I was once told that materials to build one of the small homes, made with homemade bricks, costs about $500. Wouldn't it be cool to provide $2000 and tell my sister's family to "go build 4 homes"? Years ago, with my back being in such bad shape, mission work was not even a question. But who knows...the way my health has turned around with Essentials and losing 85 lbs. - perhaps I will be called to travel with my daughter in the future, to serve together as a family on such a trip. With God, anything is possible!
One of my greatest desires, that stems from 1999, when my husband and I first considered adoption, has been to create a foundation that provides scholarships. Not to students or children, but to parents who desperately want to open their home and love a child, but have no financial means to adopt. This is a heart breaking situation to be in. If it were not for 911 and the huge drop in interest rates, we would have never afforded the loan that allowed us to adopt. It is an injustice, considering how many children are in homes either abused and unloved, or both.
I love that I can make a difference in work I am passionate about. For those of you who support me, thank you. I encourage you to find your passion, and make your own mark in the world - make a difference!

To your health,
Rita S.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Progesterone Effects on Bone Density & Osteoporosis

As this weekend draws to a close I would like to say hello to those I met at the Holiday Market Expo in Madison this weekend. Thanks for coming by!
My mother gave me a printout of a very interesting article today regarding a spinal infusion surgery using Medtronic's controversial bone morphogenetic protein-2, or BMP-2 (Amplify). Standford U studies are finding numerous links to cancer, and I was just reading other articles about this citing additional serious side effects including sterility, and more.
What does all this mean to me? It makes me thankful that I am using Prolief natural progesterone cream not only to maintain hormone balance, but have peace in knowing that progesterone cream increases my bone mass index and I am warding of osteoporosis before it gets started (not to mention countering excess estrogen in my body to help ward off cancer).

There are lots of articles and lawsuits out there right now on Medtronic's Amplify. Basically Amplify allows surgeons to do a bone graft without using bone from the actual patient. As we have already learned with synthetic hormones - introducing foreign substances to the human body that do not match molecular structure of what God has created only causes problems. You can read more about Amplify here.
To help my parents out with their failing eyesight, I retyped Dr. Bean's hand out she had provided to consultants with instructions for using Prolief progesterone cream in a larger type size. I was feeling a bit lazy in regards to typing all the text, and wanted to find the information Dr. Bean had provided at the bottom of the page regarding osteoporosis, but could not find the exact excerpt from his book, “What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause” by Dr. John Lee.
However, I did find information that you will find interesting no doubt - as I did...

Patients of Dr. John Lee have found relief from menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats and insomnia, and they also reported relief from a wide array of other symptoms as diverse as dry eyes, bloating, irritability, gall bladder problems, osteoporosis pain, hair loss, and lumpy or sore breasts, for example.
Lee has documented research from around the world noting the positive effect on bone health with progesterone use, and began to get bone density tests for his patients on progesterone. Within a few years Lee realized that these women were gaining significant bone density - particularly those with the worst bone density to begin with.
Lee recommends patience: “If a woman has not been making progesterone for a number of years her body-fat progesterone ratio is probably very low. Since progesterone is fat soluable, it is likely that during the first month or so, much of the progesterone that is absorbed will be taken up by body fat." For these women Lee recommends 2 oz. of the cream each month (Prolief is a 2.5 oz bottle) for the first two months. (Essentially this is approximately 3-4 pumps per day rather than the recommended two). After this period one ounce should be sufficient.
This is one of the reasons why I tell many premenopausal woment that it may take 3-4 months for their symptoms to subside.
Since prevention or reversal of osteoporosis is a goal, Lee recommends a serial lumbar bone density (BMD) test to monitor improvement. If BMD rises one-half jar per month for 10-12 months, then one knows the dosage of progesterone is sufficient. Individual needs vary - the correct dose is the dose that works.
Previously I have blogged about studies indicating many positive attributes of progesterone cream for brain function. I came across this today as well...
Progesterone and Brain Health: Brinton RD, Thompson RF et al, “Progesterone receptors: form and function in brain,” Front Neuroendocrinol 2008 May;29(2):313-39. Epub 2008 Feb 23. Research is coming out almost weekly showing how important progesterone is to brain function. “…progesterone has multiple non-reproductive functions in the central nervous system to regulate cognition, mood, inflammation, mitochondrial function, neurogenesis and regeneration, myelination and recovery from traumatic brain injury.” Furthermore, progesterone is everywhere in the brain: “Remarkably, PRs [progesterone receptors] are broadly expressed throughout the brain and can be detected in every neural cell type.” I have downloaded a PDF of the abstract of this entire study and will be happy to email it to you if you wish to learn more.
Dr. Lee stated he would apply progesterone cream to his parent’s foreheads if either were to have a stroke. That statement resulted in many colleagues from all over the world contacting him to learn more. It wasn't too long ago I had shared a news story of a young man in a tragic accident and in a coma for months. He was predicted to be brain dead. However, every day his mother applied progesterone cream to the young man's forehead, and when he came out of his coma he had 100% brain function. The man stated how grateful he was to his mother for her diligence and knowledge so that he can live a full life, as he has a long journey ahead to learn how to walk again.
Knowing this ...it is one reason that I make sure every week I apply my progesterone cream to my forehead at least once a week. I am fully aware of the importance towards brain function on many levels, and benefits in stroke prevention. I will close today with one more quote by Dr. Lee:  “Over the past 15 years I have been struck by the fact that patients on progesterone (without estrogen supplements) have been remarkably free of heart disease.”
I began my business because of a $34 bottle of progesterone cream that can change lives and save lives. It allows me to help people and I am passionate about doing so. And although it took awhile, what is especially fulfilling for me is that my message is getting through to my parents and in-laws, and they are using natural progesterone cream. Protecting my loved ones means everything!
To your health!
Rita S.