When we think about polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), we often focus on the elevated testosterone levels associated with the condition. But did you know that PCOS also involves imbalances in oestrogen? In fact, women with PCOS often experience prolonged exposure to high levels of oestrogen due to an extended follicular phase. This extended phase can contribute to many of the symptoms associated with PCOS.

Let’s take a closer look at how oestrogen plays a significant role in PCOS, how this prolonged follicular phase leads to oestrogen dominance, and why it’s important to consider hormonal balance beyond just testosterone.

PCOS: It’s More Than Just High Testosterone

Yes, elevated testosterone is a hallmark of PCOS, but it’s not the only hormone at play. In women with PCOS, the menstrual cycle is often disrupted. Specifically, the follicular phase, which is the first half of the cycle where oestrogen rises to prepare for ovulation, can become much longer than normal. When ovulation doesn’t occur regularly or at all, the body experiences a prolonged period of high oestrogen without the counteracting effects of progesterone, which rises after ovulation, released from the corpus luteum.

This extended exposure to oestrogen contributes to many of the symptoms experienced by those with PCOS, but aren’t always easy to be explained by the evelated levels of insulin and testosterone. So keep in mind it’s not just about high testosterone—oestrogen plays a big role, too!

Signs of Excess Oestrogen in PCOS

If you have PCOS, you might be familiar with some of the signs of oestrogen dominance, such as:

• Breast tenderness
• Heavy or prolonged periods
• Bloating or water retention
• Mood swings and irritability
• Weight gain, especially around the hips and thighs

These symptoms are the result of an imbalance between oestrogen and progesterone. When oestrogen is allowed to remain elevated for too long without progesterone to balance it out, you may start to notice these classic signs of oestrogen dominance.

The Phases of the Menstrual Cycle

To understand how oestrogen dominance happens in PCOS, let’s briefly review the phases of a normal menstrual cycle:

1. Menstrual Phase – This is when you get your period, and the uterine lining is shed.
2. Follicular Phase – Oestrogen rises as your body prepares for ovulation. For many women with PCOS, this phase can be prolonged.
3. Ovulation – Ideally, a mature egg is released during ovulation. Oestrogen needs to peak in order to trigger a surge of LH, which then triggers the egg to be released from the follicle. For many women with PCOS, ovulation doesn’t occur regularly, leading to what’s called an anovulatory cycle, or an extended follicular phase.
4. Luteal Phase – After ovulation, the remainder of the follicle from which the egg from release – the corpus luteum – releases progesterone. Progesterone levels rise in the luteal phase, which balances the effects of oestrogen. However, if ovulation doesn’t happen, there’s no significant rise in progesterone, leading to relative oestrogen excess.

In PCOS, it’s common to have anovulatory cycles, meaning ovulation doesn’t occur, and the body doesn’t produce the necessary progesterone to balance out the high oestrogen levels. This leaves many women stuck in an extended follicular phase with prolonged exposure to oestrogen.

How Testosterone Can Convert to Oestrogen

Another important factor to consider in PCOS is how testosterone can be converted into oestrogen. This happens through a process called aromatisation, where testosterone is transformed into oestrogen in the body’s tissues, including fat cells. For women with PCOS, who often have elevated levels of testosterone, this can result in more oestrogen being produced, contributing further to the oestrogen dominance that many experience (Xu et al., 2024).

Increased Sensitivity to Oestrogen in PCOS

Interestingly, not only are oestrogen levels higher for longer in many women with PCOS, but there’s also evidence to suggest that their oestrogen receptors are more sensitive. This means that even if the levels of oestrogen aren’t dramatically high, the body may respond more strongly to it, intensifying the symptoms of oestrogen dominance (Xu et al., 2024). This heightened sensitivity further contributes to the hormonal imbalance that can make PCOS so challenging to manage.

The Impact of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs)

As if managing PCOS wasn’t complex enough, exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), such as bisphenol A (BPA), can further complicate the hormonal picture. Research has shown that women with PCOS often have elevated levels of BPA in their plasma, urine, or follicular fluid. BPA can mimic oestrogen and bind to oestrogen receptors, increasing their activity. This leads to more pronounced symptoms of oestrogen dominance and is linked to insulin resistance, polycystic ovarian morphology on ultrasound, and even markers of chronic low-grade inflammation (Srnovršnik et al., 2023).

If you have PCOS and are concerned about environmental factors like EDCs, it’s worth considering ways to reduce your exposure to BPA and other hormone disruptors, as these chemicals may worsen the hormonal imbalances associated with the condition.

Read more about endocrine disrupting chemicals and their impact on hormones and fertility here and here

Low SHBG Levels in PCOS and Its Effect on Oestrogen and Testosterone

Another key factor in PCOS is the role of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). SHBG is a protein that binds to hormones like oestrogen and testosterone, controlling how much of these hormones are “free” and active in the body. Women with PCOS tend to have low SHBG levels, meaning they have more free (unbound) oestrogen and testosterone circulating in the bloodstream. This not only contributes to higher androgen symptoms (like acne and male pattern hair loss) but also increases the effects of oestrogen on the body (Emanuel et al., 2022).

Want to Learn More About PCOS?

If you’re dealing with PCOS and want to dive deeper into understanding how these hormonal imbalances affect your health, I’ve written several other blog posts on this topic. Check them out here:

Busting PCOS Myths

A Holistic Guide to PCOS

If you’d like to know more about hormones and how they affect your health and wellbeing, and how you can support your hormonal wellbeing and cyclical health, I would love you to look into my e-course The Cyclical Woman

Final Thoughts

PCOS is a complex condition that involves more than just high testosterone. The extended follicular phase, lack of progesterone due to anovulation, increased aromatisation of testosterone to oestrogen, and heightened oestrogen receptor sensitivity all contribute to the hormonal imbalances experienced by those with PCOS. By understanding how oestrogen plays into the bigger picture, you can take steps to manage your symptoms more effectively and work towards achieving better hormonal balance.

References

Emanuel, R. H. K., Roberts, J., Docherty, P. D., Lunt, H., Campbell, R. E., & Möller, K. (2022). A review of the hormones involved in the endocrine dysfunctions of polycystic ovary syndrome and their interactions. Frontiers in Endocrinology (Lausanne), 13, Article 1017468. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2022.1017468

Srnovršnik, T., Virant-Klun, I., & Pinter, B. (2023). Polycystic ovary syndrome and endocrine disruptors (bisphenols, parabens, and triclosan) – A systematic review. Life (Basel), 13(1), 138. https://doi.org/10.3390/life13010138

Xu, Y., et al. (2024). Roles of estrogen and its receptors in polycystic ovary syndrome. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 12, Article 1395331. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2024.1395331

The post PCOS and Oestrogen: The Hidden Hormonal Imbalance You Need to Know About appeared first on Alison Mitchell Naturopath.

Following on from my latest contribution to Casa de Karma, I have shared some easy ways to change to natural products in your household, which is good for you as well as your pocket.

Read the full article here or scroll down for a preview.

Given the ever increasing piles of waste in our landfills, and the scary impact we are seeing chemicals have on the health of our children and self, then reducing the use of plastic and chemicals in our home is a great way to take action against this issue.

How & why you should reduce plastics

When I started looking into how and why I should reduce plastics I was alarmed at the sheer quantity of chemicals which are classed as endocrine disruptors that we are exposed to multiple times a day. Containers in which we store our food and drink are some of the biggest sources of these chemicals – but are also easy to change to safer alternatives.

Unfortunately some of the plastics we are using which are deemed as being safe, or BPA free have also been found to leach xeno-oestrogen chemicals after exposure to UV rays (UVA from sunlight and even UVC from some sterilisation equipment). This suggests that taking a precautionary approach where possible is best.

An easy way to tell the degree of safety of your plastics is to look at the recycle number on the container. While it’s best to avoid all types of plastic wherever possible, choosing glass or steel when available, there are some types of plastics that are safer than others.

• Recycle numbers 2, 4 and 5 are okay to be used in limited amounts. They are the most stable form of plastics and while some chemicals have been found to leach from them with exposure to UV and heat, they are not considered to be as harmful as the other chemicals found within plastics.
• Recycle number 1 is okay to use if no other choice is available but should not be re-used, and not used if it has been exposed to UV light. This form of plastic is found most commonly in plastic water bottles and take-away food containers. If you purchase food in this type of container transfer it to a non-plastic bowl before heating or eating from it.
• Recycle number 3, 6 and 7 should ideally be avoided altogether. The types of chemicals found within these plastics are the most harmful, and the plastic is considered to be the most unstable.

1. Re-usable food containers & drink bottles

Do you use a plastic water bottle, or take your lunch to work (or school) in disposable packaging?

For a moderate investment you can get some eco-friendly, stylish and healthy drink bottles, food storage and lunch boxes. It will save you money in the long run because you don’t have to keep buying the packaging. Plus it’s better for the environment, as well as for you.

Some great stainless steel lunch box options include Seed & Sprout, PlanetBox and LunchBots. I have recently discovered Seed & Sprout, a small business based in Byron NSW. They claim to plant a tree for every lunch box sold. YumBox is another option, and is made from BPA free plastic.

For drink bottles, I can recommend Cheeki, KleenCanteen, Thermos or EcoVessel.

2. Re-usable Coffee Cups

Did you know that reusable coffee cups are lined with a type of plastic that can’t be recycled easily, and this plastic also can be an issue for your health?! The plastic lids are also made of a plastic that is not great for your health. Polystyrene foam (commonly referred to as Styrofoam) coffee cups are another instance of harmful chemicals that are best avoided.

Even the supposedly biodegradable or compostable coffee cups are still lined with plastic, and it seems that biodegradable plastic may actually be an issue in itself for our sea life as the plastic breaks into such small particles (but doesn’t actually disappear) that it is contaminating our seas and being consumed by sea animals.

Bringing a reusable coffee cup, or even your own mug to the café when ordering take away is a brilliant solution. My personal choice (from what I’ve tried) for a reusable coffee cup is the glass Keep Cup. While this brand offers BPA free plastic, I prefer the glass because it doesn’t affect the taste of the coffee (and I prefer to minimise all plastic use where possible), and the Keep Cup has the best lid design with a cover for the spout. Other zero waste swaps I recommend include: Joco cup, Sol Cup, Pottery for the Planet, Rubber Cuppy and Frank Green.

A lot of cafes now offer a discount to those that bring their own reusable coffee cup, and I like supporting those cafes as they are helping to reduce waste too.

While on the topic of drinks, did you know that enough plastic straws are produced annually to fill over 46,000 full sized buses? Switching to a metal, glass or bamboo straw will mean that every time you remember to bring it with you and use one of these straws instead of a plastic straw, one less straw ends up in landfill. Also, there will be less plastic passing through your drink when you choose glass or metal as well.

Read the full article for the rest of the list, including food coverings, menstrual cups and period proof undies, and why you should be careful with cans.

See also: Choosing the right products for that time of the month.

The post 5 (Easy) Eco-Friendly Swaps To Make In Your Life Today appeared first on Alison Mitchell Naturopath.

It may alarm you to realise that in countries such as Australia and America there are very limited regulations on the safety of which chemicals* are used in household and beauty products, and that this lack of protection can have a significant impact on not only your health, but also your babies and even your grand babies.

Chemicals that we are exposed to can be pass through our to offspring, and can even cross generations. This can unfortunately have a mutli-generational effect on health and fertility. Fertility rates are declining through generations and while there are many factors responsible for this, chemical exposure that passes through to our babies and affects their fertility and their children’s fertility is something that we need to become educated about and take responsibility for.

In a article I have written for Casa de Karma I discuss the benefits of reducing and removing chemical exposure from your diet and lifestyle, for both yourself and for your children. You can read a preview below, or click the link to read the full article which also discusses the relationship between chemicals and genetics, which chemicals to watch out for, the effect of chemicals of sperm health and some ways to reduce chemical exposure.

Read the full article here: http://casadekarma.com.au/why-choose-chemical-free-products-mum-baby/

Chemicals found in newborns

A study by the Environmental Working Group in 2005 examined the umbilical cord blood of 10 newborn babies and found a total of 287 chemicals, with an average of 200 chemicals present per baby. 28 of these were waste byproducts such as Formaldehyde, PCBs, Mercury, Petroleum and Dioxin 1, 4. 47 of these were consumer products such as Bisphenol A, Dioxins, Pthalates, Triclosan, Brominated Flame retardants, Pesticides and Preservatives.  Of these, 212 chemicals and pesticides had actually been banned or restricted in use 30+ years ago, giving us a scary insight into how chemicals can be stored in our bodies and be passed onto our offspring despite not having current exposure to them.

Other studies have shown that many of these chemicals were passed down the line from the grandmothers generation, however the chemicals were present in higher amounts in the children, suggesting that they are transferred across the placenta and breastmilk.

A precautionary approach

What does this mean? One of the lessons I take from this information is that chemicals which are currently viewed as safe but are not inert, are still best to avoid, as many of the harmful chemicals detected in this test were at one stage viewed as safe.

In Australia, the approach to chemical regulation is different to countries more progressive in this area – an absolute evidence of harm is required before a chemical is removed by use in Australia, compared to the EU where a more precautionary principle is in place – they believe that “When human activities may lead to morally unacceptable harm that is scientifically plausible but uncertain, action shall be taken to avoid or diminish that harm.”

In order to navigate this lack of protection we must take more responsibility ourselves.

Penelope Jagessar said in her Ted Talk: The Toxic Baby “It is only a parent’s awareness that stands between chemicals and our children”…

You can read the rest of the article here: http://casadekarma.com.au/why-choose-chemical-free-products-mum-baby/

*I would like to address the often presented argument that “everything is a chemical”. I agree that this is very close to the truth (with the exception of sound and light which is actually matter). However, in this article I am using the term chemicals for the sake of convenience, and actually referring to toxic and Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, substances which are known or suspected to be capable of interfering with hormone receptors, hormone synthesis or hormone conversion which are in commercial use and have been proven or suspected of contributing to disease and dysfunction in humans, and chemicals which have shown to cause damage in ways such as mitochondrial dysfunction, neurodevelopmental toxicity, immune toxicity, oxidative stress and various levels of inflammation.

The post Why You Should Choose Chemical-Free Products For You & Your Baby appeared first on Alison Mitchell Naturopath.

The Safety of Beauty Products

When Ash was just month or so old, I attended a talk at a local cafe Lime and Coconut by the gorgeous Therese Kerr. Therese was spreading her message of the importance of choosing chemical free, certified organic body products. Most of the people in the room were shocked when she explained the nature of some common ingredients in our beauty products, and the threats that they pose to our health.

If I asked you to go into your cupboard and examine the labels of all your beauty products, I bet you wouldn’t be able to tell me much about the ingredients. And that’s fair enough, I wouldn’t have either. And possibly, like me a while ago, you may have assumed that there was a good amount of safety testing that took place to ensure these products we used were safe. But the extent that most testing goes to is to see whether the product will give you a skin irritation, not whether that chemical will interfere with your hormonal and immune health.

But if you look close enough, it’s possible you will encounter a chemical that does much more harm than good. Chemicals which are classed as Obesogens, Neuro Developmental toxins, Endocrine disrupting toxins, reproductive disrupting toxins, developmental disrupting toxins, Teratogens (synthetic chemicals suspected to cause birth defects), Immunotoxins, and Carcinogens can all be found in beauty products.

Our skin absorbs a great deal of what we put onto it, and unlike our digestive system which has a detoxification process, our skin is unable to filter a lot of the chemicals contained in our beauty products and so these go straight into our blood stream.

Why should we worry?

These chemicals can accumulate in our tissues and not only affect us, but also our children. Chemicals are passing through to our babies and into our breast milk, and this can have some pretty serious consequences for some.

We’d all agree that these scientific findings are concerning …

• 200+ synthetic chemicals are being found in new born babies umbilical cords.
• 200+ synthetic chemicals are being found in breast milk.
• Children are being born with more fat cells in their little bodies than ever before in history.

What can we do about it?

Vote with your dollar. Become educated and empowered.

Whenever it’s time to replace a product, choose one which is safe. Australian Certified Organic is a good marker that the product is free from harmful chemicals. You can also look at products and ingredients on apps and programs such as http://www.thinkdirtyapp.com/ and http://chemicalmaze.com/

Therese released a range of beauty products which utilise the actions of herbs such as Lemon Myrtle, Rooibos and Aloe Vera, and are Australia Certified Organic.

Therese used to manage her daughter Miranda Kerr’s range of skincare, Kora Organics which targets a young demographic, but moved away to release her own range of beauty products to stand beside this and fill the gaps in the market. The Divine Company includes a range of beauty products including body washes and moisturisers, hand sanitisers, toothpastes, mouthwash, baby products as well as a men’s range.

Watch the video for a discussion with Therese about the chemicals in beauty products and the importance of choosing Australian Certified Organic.

Watch the video:

Or just listen to the audio:

About Therese

Therese is an Author, Visionary, Public Speaker, The Health and Wellness Ambassador of Australian Organic, a Wellness Ambassador for Mindd Foundation, Animal Rights Activist, Advocate for holistic family health and an Ambassador for Endometriosis Australia. In late 2015 Therese was voted Australian Organic Industry Leader and one of Australia’s Top 50 Most Influential Women. Therese is a recognised Public Speaker, sharing evidence-based research on holistic family health specialising in the impact of chemicals on the endocrine system and on overall health.

Therese and the fellow Directors through The Divine Company: http://www.thedivinecompany.com provides the world with the highest quality, nutrient and antioxidant-rich, Australian Certified Organic (ACO) products – products as nature intended.

Through the use of the latest technology in scientifically proven, age-defying plant-based botanicals, the beauty benefits and efficacy of the Divine Company products surpass even the efficacy of conventional products. In addition all of The Divine Company products are free from the chemicals commonly found in most skin and personal care products.

Leaders in certified organic manufacturing, The Divine Company educates and empowers people to make healthy choices without compromising quality.

The Divine Company range of products currently consists of Certified Organic Personal Care, Baby, Self tanning and Men’s care products and soon to be released Divine Woman – certified organic age-defying skincare.

Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/TheDivineCompany | https://www.facebook.com/ThereseKerrOfficial

Twitter: @divinebytk | @therese_kerr

Instagram: @thedivinecompany | @theresekerr

Website: http://www.thedivinecompany.com

The post Interview with Therese Kerr – Podcast #22 appeared first on Alison Mitchell Naturopath.

Ladies, this one is for you.

Certain types of pads and tampons contain chemicals that may worsen period pain, cause allergic reactions and irritation, lead to pelvic inflammatory conditions and even fertility problems.  They have a huge impact on our environment, as some of their ingredients never break down.  In this article I will look at what these synthetic products are doing to our body, and discuss some of the alternatives that are available to us.

Tampons – Is this the most important item to choose organic?

Chances are, if you’re interested in your health and wellbeing you have decided to ‘go organic’ – you shop for organic fruits and vegetables, you limit your use of house hold chemicals, you might also use organic body products.  But for women, an often overlooked source of chemicals is through our sanitary items – pads and tampons.

Most conventional pads and tampons use a variety or blend of rayon (wood pulp), viscose (synthetic product) and cotton.  Some tampons are also coated in polypropylene (a crude oil derived plastic) to make them ‘slippery’ as well as to bind and contain the synthetic fibres together (pure cotton tampons are much stronger so will not disintegrate).   Cotton is actually quite a ‘dirty’ crop – it is the most heavily sprayed crop in the world (26% of the world’s pesticides are used on cotton!) so cotton products contain a whole host of pesticides.  These cotton products are then bleached with chlorine, which as a result leaves a by-product called dioxin.  Most sanitary products also have added chemicals to absorb odour or create fragrance, however these are also derived from crude oil products.

This may in fact be one of the most important items with which to choose organic, as our ‘lady bits’ are actually extremely capable of absorbing chemicals.  This is not good news for the health conscious, and to make matters worse these chemicals can actually increase period pain!

The pesticides from cotton, the polypropylene that coats and exists within the tampon and the dioxin from bleach combine to create a hectic combination of chemicals that increase inflammation in our ‘lady parts’ and can also lead to other health problems such as endometriosis and infertility.  These chemicals are also commonly responsible for causing irritation and allergic reactions down there, so going organic can result in a much pleasanter time of the month.

Consider this rough equation:

• A woman with a regular cycle will have 11-13 periods a year.  Assuming she has a standard menarche from 13, and enters menopause at 51, that’s 456 periods.
• Take out about 42 periods for an average of 3 children (9 months pregnancy, approx 5 months of no periods during breastfeeding) to reach 414 periods.
• The average women has a period for 3-7 days (so let’s say 5), and can use anywhere from 3-6 tampons or pads a day (so let’s say 5).  That’s 25 pads and/or tampons a period.
• 25 pads/tampons a period x 414 periods = 10,350 pads/liners in a lifetime (oh and don’t forget the thousands of liners we’re probably going to use as well!)

That’s a lot of pads and tampons, and cumulatively, a lot of exposure to chemicals that you don’t want down there!

Photo by Karl Wiggers on Unsplash

GOING ORGANIC

Nowadays, many people are making efforts to reduce their exposure to chemicals – for good reason.  Good quality research papers have shown that many pesticides in our food can disrupt hormones, nervous system health and our immune system, and in addition can lead to several cancers and conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome.

Going on from this, we can extrapolate from the knowledge that eating chemicals is bad for us, so therefore applying chemicals to our skin is bad as well.  (Cue an abundance of body creams and lotions with ‘organic’ labels, and another booming industry fraught with misinformation that misleads consumers (organic body products are not regulated in the same way that organic foods are, and many products labelled as organic may still contain harmful chemicals) – regardless of whether it is labelled as organic we should still diligently check ingredients of products we choose, and buy from reputable companies/suppliers).  Using (actual) organic body care products is another good move; in fact it may be even more important than using organic food as our digestive system, when working properly has a lot of acids and enzymes (e.g. in our saliva and stomach) that help to break down and eliminate chemicals.  Our skin is an amazing organ, and it has a great capacity to absorb anything that we apply to it, particularly when it is rubbed on in an oily based i.e. a cream.  This comes in very handy when we want to apply therapeutic creams, however not so good when the creams contain nasties.

The mucous epithelial membranes that exist within regions such as the rectum, nose, lungs and vagina have an even greater absorptive ability than the skin, which is why pessaries and suppositories have such a fast and effective action.  In addition to this the blood supply from the vagina goes directly into the pelvic plexus (the same veins the ovaries normally empty into), so when certain hormones and chemicals are applied to the vaginal mucous membranes they are directed towards the uterus before they are assimilated into the rest of the blood stream(1).

Pads and tampons are a major source of chemicals, due to the excessive spraying of cotton crops.  Tampons that contain other fibres, such as rayon, can leave trace amounts of fibre and chemicals on the vaginal wall after removal – this is an issue for not only chemical exposure, but greater risk for toxic shock syndrome.  According to Dr. Philip Tierno, a Clinical Professor of Microbiology and Pathology at NYU Medical Centre, 100 percent cotton tampons “consistently test under detectable levels for TSS toxins.”(2)  This is because non-cotton products have a structure that is more likely to shed fibres.  In the attempt to bind these fibres together tampons are coated in a type of plastic coating called polypropylene.

Check out this video to see the different tampon types hold their fibres together.  These polypropylene chemicals do not break down or decompose.  Remembering how many tampons are used in a life time this could accumulate, potentially contributing to health concerns, but it the immediate sense it can also cause irritation of the sensitive vaginal area.  Vulvovaginitis is a problem that many women experience and if it is worsened by sanitary items, it can make that time of the month a very uncomfortable time.

I have experienced in both myself and my patients a significant reduction in period pain with the use of organic sanitary items.  While there is limited research on this matter, I theorise the pain reduction to be due to a few reasons:

• By avoiding the polypropylene there is less of a topical irritation, creating less inflammatory chemicals in the area.
• Insertion and removal of tampons cause micro-tears in the vaginal wall, in which tampon residue can remain.  Synthetic tampons have a greater likelihood of leaving residue and the nature of their fibres can be more irritating.
• The removal of chemicals which can mimic oestrogen can both reduce prostraglandin production as well as reduce the exacerbation of conditions such as endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory syndrome and fibroids.

WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS?

Organic pads and tampons

There are several brands that use organic products, and organic cotton tampons.  While they are usually a little pricier than conventional brands, I personally consider it to be worth it.

Organ(y)c, TOM Organic and Natracare are good options.  TOM Organic is an Australia based company, and also offers ‘subscription’ service, a novel idea considering this is something we use on a regular monthly basis (ooh and they’re pretty!).  Other less widely available brands include Seventh Generation.

Reusable pads.

Reusable pads usually consist of organic cotton and come in a variety of shapes and colours.  They are clipped onto the bottom of the panties and when used, need to be soaked overnight then washed as per normal.  This is considered to be more environmentally friendly than disposable pads and tampons, and many women consider this to be more comfortable as well – they feel like normal underwear and are silent (no plastic crinkling sound).  While the need to wash these pads may turn some women off, the environmental benefits are good and these are a viable option for those who do not wish to use an insertable product.

Wemoon is an Australian based company that offers a variety of reusable pads.  Lunapads also offer products online in a variety of fun colours, and also stock liners.

Menstrual cups.

Menstrual cups are bell shaped silicon or latex cups that are inserted into the vagina to collect menstrual flow.  This is a concept that has been around for a long time, however it is not commonly used or known about these days, perhaps due to a perceived ‘ick factor’?

According to the Diva Cup website, once you have tried menstrual cups you realise that most concerns are unwarranted – i.e. a typical flow is only 30mL per day, therefore removing the cup really isn’t going to be like a scene from a horror movie, and menstrual blood only smells once exposed to oxygen, so using the cup isn’t going to create more of an odour (in theory it will be less so!).  They can take a few cycles to get the hang of, to ensure they are positioned correctly.

Menstrual cups do have an impressive list of benefits – they are good for the environment, they can be kept in for 12 hours, reduce period pain (see above) and save money in the long term (while they cost about $60 to buy outright, they can save you up to $150 a year compared to buying disposables).

A good brand is the Diva Cup, which is approved by TGA in Australia.  Other brands include JuJu, Lunette, The Keeper (made from rubber) and The Moon Cup (made from silicon).

EDIT 3/10/17: I wanted to share my personal experience with a menstrual cup. Not long after writing this article I invested in a Diva Cup, and I can share with you that it has made my time of the month much easier, as having to change the cup only once in the morning and night means I can essentially forget about my period while I am out and about. I also have not had to buy any tampons, and only bought about 2 packets of pads (excluding maternity pads for post-partum) in the 4 years since getting the cup. I used to experience a lot of period pain, and when starting to use this I did notice there was some discomfort on the days I was worse, so I chose to use a pad on those days, however as time has gone on I now don’t have any period pain (I think due to improving my chemical exposure, using herbs, exercise, yoga and having a baby) so I can use the cup for my whole period. I used to have to wear a liner with it during the night and on day one of my period, but not at the moment. I found that it took a few cycles to get practiced enough to insert it confidently, having to learn the right angle to put it in and how to hold it so I could twist it into position, but now I can do it easily. I have on occasion had to change it whilst away from home but it is easy enough to do, I just tidy it up with some toilet paper and give it a good clean when I get home. I did read some reviews that the cup stains, but I haven’t found that to be the case, and this is 3+ years later. I also have been fine to exercise with it in, as long as it is inserted correctly to begin with. So essentially, I would definitely recommend getting a menstrual cup!

Absorbent Underwear

Companies such as Modibodi and THINX offer underwear that has absorbent section where a pad would be. They can be worn as a back up for menstrual cups or tampons, or on their own for those with a moderate-light flow. You can choose the type of absorbency that’s right for you – the range goes from 2.5ml absorbency (1/2 tampon) to 10-20mL (2 tampons).

They are reusable, so great for the environment, and save money for you over time. For athletes who don’t like wearing pads, tampons and cups during exercise, this is a great option.

Other options (that I haven’t research too extensively…)

• Reusable tampons (hard to find, most I’ve seen appear to be knitted, could that could be your next craft project?)
• Sea sponges (think re-usable tampons from the sea)
• Free bleeding (you were just going to wash those clothes anyway, I guess?)

Have you tried some of the less conventional options?  Or have you noticed a change from using organic pads and tampons?  Let me know your thoughts.

Works Cited

1. Touitou, Elka and Brian, W Barry. Enhancement in drug delivery. Boca Raton, Taylor & Francis Group : CRC Press, 2007.

2. Women Beware: Most Feminine Hygiene Products Contain Toxic Ingredients. Mercola.com. [Online] 22 May 2013. [Cited: 6 November 2013.] http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/05/22/feminine-hygiene-products.aspx.

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Guest post by Hayley Stockbridge

The silly season is fast approaching and as summer hits we tend to overindulge. The extra alcohol, rich foods, fatty foods and sugar leaves less room for our healthy meals and our poor livers are left with a lot of work to do.

Luckily the liver is a very resilient organ. The liver is the only organ in the body that is capable of regenerating itself. It plays a major role in digestion and detoxification. It produces bile to help us break down fats and alcohol. It stores some of our vitamins and minerals, such as iron, vitamin A, B12 and copper. The liver is responsible for cholesterol regulation. Most importantly, everything that is absorbed in the small intestine (including food, drinks, vitamins, minerals, macronutrients, food additives, chemicals etc.) is then transferred via the blood to the liver for further processing. Nutrients are made into products that can be more easily used by the body. Toxins are generally broken down into less toxic substances and flushed out of the body. This is known as ‘detoxification’. It is this detoxification process that reduces the toxic effects of a poor diet.

So how can you support and stimulate liver detoxification?  Below is a list of suggestions to keep your liver functioning well this summer.

1- Start each morning with 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar in around 30-50mls of room temperature water. ‘Shot’ the vinegar 5-25 minutes before breakfast to kick start liver function, detoxification and stimulate digestion for the day.

2– Drink dandelion root tea. Research has found that 2 cups of dandelion root tea a day stimulates liver detoxification. Sometimes called ‘dandy coffee’, dandelion root is a great substitute for all the coffee drinkers out there as it does have quite a bitter, coffee like taste but is caffeine free. It tastes best with a splash of soy milk and honey. Drink between meals to support the liver and to help digest meals.

3- Turmeric. Go crazy on turmeric! Turmeric supports liver detoxification (as well as being a fantastic anti-inflammatory, it low cholesterol, is anti-cancer and an antioxidant). Turmeric is a yellow Indian spice commonly used for colouring in curries. It has a mild taste so can be added into many different foods. You can find it raw (it looks like ginger) but it is just as beneficial to use the dried powder. Add ½ a tsp. of turmeric powder into marinates, soups, curries, stir frys. It can be mixed into rice, cous cous or quinoa after cooking. You can mix through smoothies or juices. Of course it turns all your foods bright yellow, but with such a mild taste it can be mixed into many different foods.

4- Another spice that aids liver health is rosemary. It contains rosmarinic acid, which inhibits toxic damage to the liver. Add to marinates, soups, casseroles. You could also make a rosemary infused olive oil by adding a few sprigs and using as a dressing.

5- Keep your vegetable intake high. Specifically, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, alfalfa and beetroot improve liver function. Try to include these veggies in your diet on a daily basis.

6- Have a freshly squeezed vegetable juice most days. Fresh juicing is a great way to sneak more veggies into your day and make up for you what you may otherwise miss out on. Please find a detox juice recipe below!

7- Supplement with Chlorella. Chlorella is a type of algae with a high nutrient level. It promotes alkalinity within the body, but most importantly is has the ability to bind to toxins such as heavy metals and chemicals and pull them out of the body. It is often prescribed as part of a detox regime and can be taken as an alternative to a multivitamin due to it vitamin and mineral levels.

Detox Juice

Ingredients

• Beetroot
• Celery
• Spinach/kale
• Pineapple
• Papaya
• Lemon
• Mint
• Optional extra- chlorella, spirulina, wheatgrass etc

Method

Push all ingredients through the juicer, ensuring you mix the ginger, lemon, mint and leafy veggies between the more juicy ingredients.

Hayley Stockbridge, Naturopath 

B. App. Sc (Nat Stud) Post Grad Dip Nat

Hayley is a Naturopath at Better Health Practice in Stanmore, and Sydney Health and Fertility, Manly NSW. A passion for a healthy lifestyle lead her to become a Naturopath. With over 5 years of experience in the industry, a passion for a healthy lifestyle lead her to become a Naturopath.  Her major focus is always educating her patients to live healthier and happier lives. She treats women, men and children of all ages and a wide variety of health issues such as weight loss, digestive problems, anxiety/stress, food intolerances and headaches.

Check out her website for more information www.hayleystockbridge.com.au

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What does organic mean?

The word ‘organic’ is used to describe food that has been grown without the use of artificial fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides, growth regulators and hormones, antibiotics, and livestock feed additives. This means working with nature rather than against it, by recycling natural materials, maintaining soil fertility and encouraging natural methods of pest and disease control, rather than relying on chemicals. Crop rotations, crop residues, animal manures, green manures, legumes, organic wastes, mineral-bearing rock, and biological pest controls are used by organic farmers to raise whole, natural foods.

Benefits of Organic Foods

Nutrient content

It’s often claimed that a large number of studies have found no difference in the nutrient content of organic and non-organic crops. It’s true there have been more than a hundred studies comparing the nutrient content of organic and non-organic foods and the results are inconclusive. But this is because the majority of studies are of poor quality, being either agriculturally or analytically flawed.

Official food composition tables, including data compiled by the US Department of Agriculture, reveal that since the 1940s the mineral levels in fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy have declined substantially in conventional foods. Combine this with earlier (pre-ripened) picking, longer storage, and more processing of crops, and it’s not surprising that we may be getting fewer nutrients in our food than we were 60 years ago.

The artificial fertilization associated with conventional crops produces lush growth by swelling produce with more water. On a pound-for-pound basis, organic food has more “dry matter” (i.e. food). Partly because of this (and for other reasons too), there are higher levels of nutrients in organic produce.

We can expect also that phytonutrients, many of which are antioxidants involved in the plant’s own defense system, will be higher in organic produce because crops rely more on their own defenses in the absence of regular applications of chemical pesticides. Evidence is emerging that confirms this expectation. Higher levels have so far been found of lycopene in organic tomatoes, polyphenols in organic potatoes, flavonols in organic apples, and resveratrol in organic red wine. A recent review of the subject estimated that organic produce will tend to contain 10-50% higher phytonutrients than conventional produce.  These phytonutrients have important roles in our body protecting us from disease and promoting healthy aging.

Recent research has showed that:

• Conventionally grown fruit and vegetables in the USA have about half the vitamin content of their counterparts in 1963.
• On average organic foods contain about one-third higher in antioxidants than comparable conventional produce.

Two independent, comprehensive reviews of (around 40) studies that compare the differences between organic and conventional foods came up with similar conclusions showing that there is overwhelming evidence that organic food is more nutritious than conventional food. Heaton stated: ‘On average our research found higher vitamin C, higher mineral levels and higher phytonutrients – plant compounds which can be effective against cancer.’

Food additives

The use of antibiotics, anti-microbials, hormones and other growth promotants are prohibited in organic production. If animals are treated with veterinary chemicals, they are not allowed to be sold as organic. Similarly the use of synthetic chemicals as preservatives, colourings, antioxidants etc are prohibited in the processing of organic foods. There is an increasing body of concern about these synthetic compounds in the diets of humans and animals used for human food.

Research from the University of Hawaii has found that people who consume processed meats have a 6,700% increased risk of pancreatic cancer over those who consume little or no processed meat products. The researchers concluded that sodium nitrite, a chemical used in nearly all non organic processed meats was the cause of the  very alarming cancer rates.

Chemicals

It’s regularly claimed by the mainstream food industry that pesticide residues in foods are known to be safe on the basis of total diet surveys that supposedly find the levels of pesticide residues in our food to be very low and within acceptable safety limits. But monitoring programs consistently show that around one in three non-organic food samples tested contains a variety of pesticide residues, with far lower levels being found in and on organic produce. Conventional-food proponents also claim that rigorous safety assessments show that pesticide residues are no threat to human health. Yet consumers intuitively know this is a false assurance.

Photo by Thomas Le on Unsplash

The problem is that most pesticide-residue safety levels are set for individual pesticides, but many samples of fresh produce carry multiple pesticide residues. Rules often do not take into account the “cocktail effect” of combinations of pesticides in and on foods. Research is emerging confirming the potential for such synergistic increases in toxicity of up to 100-fold, resulting in reproductive, immune and nervous system effects not expected from the individual compounds acting alone.

Israeli researchers have linked symptoms such as headaches, tremor, lack of energy, depression, anxiety, poor memory, dermatitis, convulsions, nausea, indigestion and diarrhoea with dietary intakes of pesticides. Belgian research has found that women diagnosed with breast cancer are six to nine times more likely to have the pesticides DDT or hexachlorobenzene in their bloodstreams compared to women who did not have breast cancer.

The British Medical Association appears to agree:

“Until we have a more complete understanding of pesticide toxicity, the benefit of the doubt should be awarded to protecting the environment, the worker, and the consumer—this precautionary approach is necessary because the data on risk to human health from exposure to pesticides are incomplete.”

Peer reviewed published research has demonstrated that many of these types of chemicals are known to disrupt the hormone, nervous and immune systems. The escalating increase of certain types of cancers such as lymphoma, leukemia, breast, uterine and prostate cancers are linked to agricultural and other synthetic chemicals. Similarly, a good body of scientific research also links these chemicals to the dramatic increases in disease like chronic fatigue syndrome. Cancers such as Non Hodgkin’s lymphoma have gone from being one of the rarest cancers to one of the fastest growing cancers amongst people exposed to agricultural chemicals.

A detailed scientific analysis of organic fruits and vegetables in the USA, published in the peer-reviewed journal Food Additives and Contaminants, showed that organic foods have significantly less pesticide residues than conventionally grown foods.

Children’s immature and developing organs, brains, detoxification and immune systems, plus their larger intake of food per kilo of body weight combine to make them even more susceptible to toxins than adults. Research has shown repeatedly that organic food significantly lowers children’s dietary exposure to pesticides, lowering their exposure from above to below recognized safety levels.

The facts show that organic foods have health benefits because of higher nutritional values. They excel in the antioxidants that prevent heart disease, cancers, anti-inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

How to buy ‘organic’

• Look for the certification stamp on the labeling of the products; In Australia, any organic food or product that is sold must display a certification symbol or number by law. The symbol means that the product meets government standards.
• Buy from a reputable retailer;
• If there is no stamp, question the retailer on the authenticity of the products until you are satisfied that it is the ‘real deal’.
• Remember that Organic foods have a shorter shelf life when compared to conventional foods, as they contain no chemical food preservatives as conventional foods do.  This means that you should plan your meals out so that food doesn’t get wasted (which would be a shame, as it’s more expensive).

Organic foods may be found and purchased from your local health food shop, organic fruit and vegie store or farmers markets or online.

Organic Shops and Sites

Abundant Organics

http://www.abundantorganics.com.au/

Bare Roots Organic & Health

Shop 4 7 Ward Place, Dural
02 9651 5561
http://www.bareroots.com.au/

Blue Mountains Food Co-op

Shop 1-2 Ha’Penny Lane,  Katoomba
(under the PostOffice shop)
02 4782 5890
http://www.bmfoodcoop.org.au/

Doorstep Organics

28-30 Meeks Rd Marrickville, Sydney, NSW.
(02) 8399 1666
orders@doorstep.com.au
http://www.organicdeliverysydney.com.au

Green Hills Organics

Shop 4/328 Windsor St, Richmond
02 45885377 or 0412180749
http://www.greenhillsorganics.com.au

Hawkesbury Organic Food Co-op

23 Bosworth St, Richmond
Operates every Thursday evening from 5pm-6.30pm
http://sites.google.com/site/seasonscoop/home

Honest to Goodness

http://www.goodness.com.au/

In Harmony Health Baulkham Hills

Shop 59 Stockland Mall, Baulkham Hills
02 9688 6797

Lettuce Deliver

http://www.lettucedeliver.com.au/

The Organic Grocer

http://www.theorganicgrocer.com.au/

OrganicFood.com.au

http://www.organicfood.com.au/

Penrith Organic Health

437 High St
Penrith NSW 2750

Real Good Food

http://www.realgoodfood.com.au/product-information/

Warrah Farm

Dural
http://www.warrah.org/farm.htm

If you know of an organic shop or site that’s not listed here, please let me know!

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