In this issue:
Meow,
Menopause Formula: Female Members' Favorite
Menopause. Okay, there I said it. But that doesn’t mean that our male members
can now tune out. Oh contraire. Listen men, if you have a menopausal woman in
your life, it affects you too! You know what I mean. So listen up, everyone.
First, let’s go over the basics.
Menopause is the end of a woman's menstruation cycle, usually occurring
between the ages of 45 and 60, but it can happen earlier. This “change of life”
can also occur when the ovaries are surgically removed or stop functioning for
any other reason, like due to some chemotherapies. Basically the ovaries stop
making estrogens, and therein lies the problem.
When the level of estrogen drops in a woman’s body she may experience a
variety of symptoms of varying degrees. These symptoms include hot flashes,
depression, anxiety, vaginal dryness, and potentially developing heart disease
and/or osteoporosis.
Since recent studies confirm that the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT),
the most common treatment for menopause, can increase the risk of breast cancer,
many women are turning to alternative ways to manage through menopause.
Our Menopause
Formula combines the best of Chinese herbs, (black cohosh and dong quai)
with Vitamin C with hesperidin (a bioflavonoid that helps Vitamin C absorption),
soy isoflavones, and other key ingredients to help maintain normal female
hormonal function and comfort.
Over the centuries, black cohosh, dong quai, and the Asian dietary staple,
soy isoflavones, have all been linked to helping with menopausal symptoms. You
see, black cohosh, dong quai, and soy isoflavones all contain phytoestrogens,
which can take the place of missing estrogen in the body.
For more information about these ingredients visit
www.WholeHealthMD.com and use the
search tool.
A recent article in
Nutraceuticals World also highlights the findings of a clinical
trial on black cohosh, which found it to be significantly superior to the
placebo in alleviating menopausal complaints.
Learn more about the Co-op’s Menopause Formula (click
here) and then order before March 31st, since our Menopause Formula is
currently $2 off.
Keep in mind that in addition to supplementation, lifestyle changes, such as
changing your diet, quitting smoking and
increasing exercise can also contribute to a happier menopause
experience.
Many Requests for Hoodia
Members of the Co-op are always sending emails begging this kat to add
certain new products to our product line. The most common request lately would
be hoodia – hands (or even paws) down.
Hoodia is a cactus that grows only in the Kalahari Desert of Africa. The
African bushmen ate the cactus to stave of hunger during long hunts. Because of
its appetite-suppressing mechanisms, many think this is the next magic
weight-loss pill.
Sound great, right? So are we considering carrying this weight-loss herb
sometime soon? The short answer is “no”. Let me explain.
We welcome member suggestions, however, before offering any new product, we
first do our own research and require the following:
- Credible scientific evidence supporting clear health benefits;
- Readily-available, high-quality ingredients;
- Ability to test quality and label claims using an independent
laboratory.
Unfortunately, hoodia does not pass our litmus tests and, therefore, you
won’t be seeing hoodia in our product catalog any time soon. Here’s why:
- Only one small clinical study on hoodia has been completed, and the
details of this study have not yet been published in any medical journal, so
the study’s conclusions cannot yet be evaluated for accuracy.
- Hoodia only grows (very slowly at that) in the Kalahari Desert. The
African government is considering blocking the export of hoodia, as it could
become an endangered plant with so much demand from fat-obsessed Americans.
- No standardized quality tests exist yet for hoodia, thus it would be
impossible for us to assess whether we had the real cactus or some marketing
rat’s facsimile.
So, what’s in all those hotly hyped hoodia products out there? God only
knows. Remember, we discovered an ominous trend when we tested our last batch of
Ginkgo Biloba, an herb that is not exactly in short supply. Methinks that our
members might be spending too much for who-knows-what when buying hoodia. Let
the buyer beware is all I can say.
Check out what folks in the herbal industry are saying about
hoodia.
I know, I know. The season to show some skin is just around the corner and
you want me to “say it isn’t so,” but no can do. Hoodia gets a solid “paws down”
at this point from this kat. ^..^
Health in the News
The Votes Are In On PayPal: Members Say Ditch PayPal!
This kat broke the news in our last newsletter that PayPal is no longer a
payment option here at the Co-op. Many of you cheered us on and shared PayPal
stories of your own. The overwhelming majority of you voted to continue to offer
our popular and affordable Progesterone Cream.
If you didn’t catch the details last time,
click here
to catch up on the PayPal saga and read what our members had to say.
Teri's Wedding Pictures Now Online
This is under the category of “human” interests. Since many of you were not
invited to Teri’s wedding (don’t feel slighted, it was a small affair). Still,
since so many have asked to see pictures and so many of you like the corny peeks
into the humans’ lives,
click here
to check out Teri and Harley.
If you made it this far, you have far too much time on your hands. ^..^
Still purringly yours,
Guido
Guido Housemouser
Chief Kat and Community Manager
Our Health Co-op
|
