August 2008 Vol 1, Issue 8
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Greetings!
 
A Refreshing Glass of Lemonade!This month I'm thinking a lot about how we as sistahs have to navigate through a host of unseen enemies. The toxins in our food and environment become ever-present in our bodies. Their impact can be subtle at first, but with continued exposure, these toxins can become painful and corrosive.
 
It makes me sad that many of us don't even know these enemies are in our midst.
 
So in this issue, our stories are about raising these hidden foes into the light where we can discuss them, extract them, and make choices to reduce the harm they cause.
 
With each moment, we can take small steps that can make a big change in our health. It's about being more aware of safer options for daily living. We can't avoid problems, stresses, and challenges altogether. But we can be pro-active in our response and make delicious, sweet lemonade out of the sour lemons that invariably come our way.
 
This my sistahs, is the epitome of being WHOLE. Ashe! 
In This Issue
Fibroids!
WHOLE Self-Care Principle #7: Restore
Tomatoes! A Lesson in Good Taste!
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Fibroids!

 
Fibroids can be extremely painfulWhat is it that more than 80% of all sistahs face by age 50? Fibroids! They're benign tumors that can grow within the cavity, muscle, and surface of the uterus.
 
Many women can go throughout their reproductive lifespan without symptoms or even knowing they are there. However, many of us suffer intense pain, heavy bleeding, bloating, urinary or bowel disturbance, or infertility. Take it from a sistah who struggled with all of these symptoms for two decades, fibroids feel like anything but benign!
 
Here are some facts about fibroids that are uniquely germane to African American women:
  • African American women are nearly four times more likely to develop fibroids than white women.
  • According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, women of African descent who live in other countries do not appear to have as high an incidence of fibroids. This suggests that diet or other environmental factors are at work in the development of fibroids in African American women.
  • Researchers report that women with high blood pressure are 24 percent more likely to develop fibroids. Also, the longer a woman is hypertensive, the greater her risk. African American women suffer from high blood pressure at nearly twice the rate of white women.
  • Fibroids share much the same biological features as keloids--the fleshy scars that grow in the course of a wound healing. African Americans are also highly predisposed to developing keloids.

Diagnosis

There is no mistaking the symptoms of fibroids. The irregular bleeding and pain can beFibroids can be painful and depressing! debilitating. They can grow so large that your clothes will no longer fit properly. Your sex life can be curtailed because intercourse can be too painful. And when it come to bearing children, fibroids can cause miscarriages and infertility. (We at WHOLE are working on an article about infertility for an upcoming issue.)
 
A diagnosis of fibroids can usually be confirmed by a pelvic exam. However, depending upon their placement and size, you might need to undergo further diagnostic procedures. Images of your uterus can be created through ultrasound (a sonic wave devise placed on the abdomen), hysterosalgingogram (an x-ray), laparoscopy (a telescopic camera inserted through the abdomen), hysteroscopy (a telescopic camera inserted vaginally) or MRI (short for magnetic resonance imaging, which uses radio waves). 
 
Treatment
 
Certainly treatment options depend upon many factors such a severity, placement, intentions for childbearing, and access to specialized care. One thing for sure: treatment of fibroids is not usually an urgent matter. There is time to consider what treatment is right for you.
 
A conservative, non-invasive approach might be a good starting point. Managing fibroids medically can include hormonal therapy to suppress growth and reduce symptoms. Alternative medical practices such as acupuncture, herbal therapy, and homeopathic remedies might also bring relief, and be more fitting to your lifestyle.
 
When surgery is the answer, take the time to research all the options. Too often, sistahs are offered hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) as the option. Educate yourself, especially if you desire to bear children.
 
There are two other surgical procedures that can preserve your ability to become a biological mother. The first is called myomectomy, which surgically removes the fibroids while keeping the uterus in place. This procedure is well established, well tolerated, and widely available.
 
A newer option is uterine artery embolization, (UAE). This procedure uses a laser to cut off the blood supply to the fibroid, which causes it to shrink. It is minimally invasive and has a shorter recovery window.
 
Whatever your situation, please know that you are not alone. There is plenty of support and information out there. Just be sure you latch onto reputable sources for this or any health challenge. To get you started, here are a few helpful resources I found:

WHOLE Self-Care Principle #7: Restore

 
Your body is a vessel, an organic container for your bold spirit and agile mind. Defining yourself to include these strong internal attributes strengthens your body as well.  To Restore brings together these parts of you into a beautiful new WHOLE. Woman meditating outsideIn so doing, you unleash the most nourishing property of self-care--loving yourself.
 
To Restore is to lavish Loving Energy on yourself. That energy comes not only from your spirit core but from your efforts in self-care as well.
 
Despite our best intentions, the environmental toxins in our water, air, and food can have a devastating effect on us--both inside and out. We as sistahs often invest lots of time and money on skin care products and treatments to counteract the effect of this exposure. Great! But unknowingly, we can compound the problem by not being conscious of the synthetic ingredients and potentially harmful chemicals these products contain.
 
Sometimes your skin just needs a rest!
 
To give this largest organ of your body a much-needed vacation from the cosmetics counter rat race, why not make your own body butter? With just two ingredients, and about 30 minutes of your time, you can make a luscious, preservative-free emulsion to moisturize and nourish your skin.  
 
A fabulous sistahfriend, Donna Maria Coles Johnson, has created a recipe for a soothing, rich body moisturizer to baby your skin. It can reverse damage from harsh exposure to summer sun, and is especially prized for reducing the effects of radiation for sistah cancer patients. The naturally sweet citrus scent is aroma therapy for your soul!
 
Fibroids can be extremely painfulTangerine Body Frosting 
Ingredients:
4 ounces shea butter
30 drops tangerine essential oil
 
Blending Procedure:
1) Scoop the shea butter into a large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, whip the shea butter on medium speed for 30 minutes. This process whips air into the shea butter and makes the texture like frosting.
 
2) Add the essential oil in a gentle stream and continue to mix for a few more minutes. Scoop body butter into a jar and seal tightly. To use, massage into just-cleaned skin while it is still damp from bathing. The shelf-life of Tangerine Body Frosting is 3 months.
 
Special note: This product may settle a bit after several hours. But the light frosting-like texture will be maintained as long as you keep it stored in a cool place at room temperature. Do not store in the fridge or the texture will be lost.
 
For more of Donna Maria's extraordinary natural recipes visit MakeYourCosmetics.com.

Tomatoes! A Lesson in Good Taste!

 
This summer we've been hit with a nationwide outbreak of Salmonella poisoning, a food-borne bacteria Tomatoes are an abundant source of lycopeneattributed to eating raw tomatoes. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning in early June not to eat certain varieties of tomatoes including Roma, red plum and red round.  By mid-July, this ban had been lifted, and all tomatoes were once again deemed safe for consumption.
 
Avoiding toxins in our food is something that we all must be hyper-vigilant about, reading labels, staying attuned to food safety warnings and making no assumptions that the sources of our foods guarantee their safe. Don't be fooled; organic produce purchased from the store can still be carriers of harmful bacteria. To stay abreast of food warnings, and safe handling practices, visit the FDA website. Another excellent source of information is the Environmental Working Group (EWG). They've created the "Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce," and other very helpful safe food-related information.
 
Happily, the ban on tomatoes has been lifted just in time to enjoy them at their ripe peak! Tomatoes are an abundant source of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant known to stop breast, lung, endometrial (uterine), and prostate cancer cells from proliferating. They're wonderful raw, but according to the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), cooking enhances their antioxidant properties. To learn more about the powerful cancer-fighting properties of foods, visit the AICR website. Here's a quick and easy recipe I'm sure you'll enjoy.
 
Roasting tomatoes boosts their antioxidant power!Roasted Tomatoes
 
Ingredients:
 
12 Roma Tomatoes, cut in half lengthwise
1/3 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
2 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves removed from stem (1/2 teaspoon dried thyme may be substituted)
Salt and pepper to taste
 
Preparation:
 
1. Preheat oven to broil. Place tomatoes flesh side up on a baking sheet.
2. Combine olive oil, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper in a bowl.
3. Drizzle seasoned olive oil mixture over tomatoes, making sure each one is anointed equally with the garlic and thyme.
4. Broil until tomatoes are soft and edges of skin are lightly browned.
 
Tomatoes may be a wholesome side dish, or coarsely chopped and tossed with the pasta of your choice for a spectacular entree coated with the tomato-infused olive oil. If you have any left, roasted tomatoes are great in omelettes or scrambled eggs. Enjoy!
WHOLE is here for you. If you have any suggestions about topics you'd like covered, shoot me an e-mail. Sistah self-care is essential for your spirit, mind, and body to be WHOLE. Make WeSpeakLoudly an active part of the process. Together we can grow a healthier community.
 
Sincerely,
 
Jacci Thompson-Dodd
WeSpeakLoudly
 
 
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