Fifty years ago, the incidence of Polycystic Ovarian syndrome was very low. It was quite rare for a woman to have it. Today, it’s thought that about 10-20 percent of young women suffer from it. But what is it, and how can you deal with it?

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is basically a condition that results from multiple cysts on a woman’s ovaries. These cysts cause multiple issues including:

• Acne, oily skin
• Fatigue
• Increase in weight gain even with low-calorie diet
• Morning headaches that wear off as the day progresses
• Depression
• Constipation
• Overly sensitive to cold weather
• Poor circulation
• Hair falling out, male pattern baldness
• Trunkal obesity
• Infertility

If you take a blood test, or saliva test for your hormones and your testosterone is high, it’s a safe assumption that you have PCOS. The weird thing is that most Western Doctors aren’t trained to spot it, and they pretty much act like it doesn’t exist. If you think you have it, you need to locate a doctor that specializes in Integrated Medicine.

One of the key things to be checked for is blood sugar issues. If your blood sugar is out of whack, then you are more prone to getting PCOS. And if you have PCOS, it’s a sure thing your blood sugar is out of whack. And by blood sugar issues, I mean hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia and even diabetes. PCOS and blood sugar imbalances cause each other, thus creating a vicious cycle. In fact, western or integrative doctors that work with PCOS will prescribe Glucophage, which is a medication for diabetes, to try to break the cycle.

I know several women who suffer from PCOS, and the sad thing is, when a woman has PCOS her skin is usually a mess. Because when you have PCOS, you inevitably have acne. And I don’t just mean acne on your face. It is often on their chests and backs as well. In fact, one woman I know has had it for so long, and had it so badly that her chest looks like one big scar, almost like a burn victim.

Acne from PCOS can be a devastating issue to deal with, but I’m here to tell you that it isn’t something you are cursed to deal with forever. You can banish the PCOS and the acne that goes along with it!

There is an all-natural way to balance your body and break this vicious cycle. It’s tough to get rid of, but it is possible. The protocol I teach came from a woman who is the leading expert in PCOS in the nation, and it can change your life if you suffer from this condition.

The keys to breaking the cycle are:

1) Balance your blood sugar
2) Balance your hormones
3) Heal Adrenal Exhaustion or Adrenal Fatigue

In my “7 weeks to Super Skin” program I cover this protocol, and many other skin issues. Having been a long-time sufferer of Psoriasis, I understand the pain of having a skin condition that is highly visible. I developed my “7 Weeks to Super Skin” program out of my own pain, and the goal in creating it was to help other women who suffer from skin issues.

Please pass this onto anyone you know who suffers from PSOC or acne. There is no reason for them to suffer.

So what IS your thyroid? Your thyroid is an organ that is located at the base of your neck, and you can kind of think of it as your body’s thermostat. If your thyroid is too low, then you have a low metabolism, low sex drive, and low energy. If your thyroid is too high then you have a high sex drive, your body temperature runs high, and you have trouble keeping weight on because your metabolism is too high.

Bottom line is, if your thyroid is low then you can only eat celery stick and work out every single day and STILL not lose weight.

The thing about the thyroid is that it is so integral to your life; it is like the part of your car’s engine that allows it to idle. When your car is idling, it is still running – but it isn’t moving. Same thing for your body. When you sit down in a chair, or sleep at night, your body is still running – even though you are being relatively still. Your body has to work like this, because it’s job is never really done. If your thyroid can’t keep up with what your body’s needs, nothing else in your body is going to work as well as it could be working.

In fact, you may not even realize that you have a thyroid deficiency. You seemingly have plenty of energy throughout the day, and you may not have any trouble getting through your daily workout, but in reality the energy that you are using in these activities is more adrenal based. Your adrenaline is what is getting you through. You won’t necessarily feel sluggish all the time, but if your thyroid is underactive you may notice that you need more coffee, sugar or cigarettes than normal.

A real clue that you may be having thyroid-related issues is that you are having issues sustaining your energy for long periods of time. Maybe you can’t work out quite as long as you used to, or maybe you can’t walk quite as far. If you sit down in a chair halfway through the day and you don’t want to get up – you probably have a thyroid deficiency.

If your PMS is more pronounced than it used to be – that can be another clue. And, if you are pregnant, or recently had a baby, it is *very* likely you have a thyroid deficiency.

Do your muscles feel week? Are you unable to workout anymore? Or are your workouts inconsistent? That’s your thyroid!

Does your head feel strangely heavy after lunch? Could you easily drop down under your desk for a nap? That’s your thyroid!

Basically, you either do, or you don’t have these symptoms. If you wake up feeling fully energized, can maintain your energy on a regular basis without any dips in your energy and are mentally alert, and you naturally adjust to your ideal weight whenever you try to eat healthy and exercise more – that’s a really good sign that your thyroid is okay. If you feel like your thyroid might be an issue, it probably is.

Just remember that the lab tests that doctors do are not always accurate. Let the symptoms be your clue.

So what do you do if you think your thyroid is low?

1. Do an at-home iodine patch test. Your thyroid stores a 3 month supply of iodine, and if you are iodine deficient that can cause your thyroid to be low. Click here for instructions: Iodine Patch Instructions

2. Avoid products with wheat. Wheat can suppress your thyroid.

3. Take my “10 Week Transformation Program”, where I teach you how to rev up your sluggish thyroid by making simple changes to what you eat, and doing inexpensive at-home testing.

Click here for more information about my “10 Week Transformation” program, or call us at 888-898-WELL with any questions.

Please pass this onto anyone who has thyroid issues! We need to get the word out that you can balance your thyroid the holistic way without medication!

Question From A Reader:

Dear Rose,

I’m tired all the time unless I drink coffee in the morning. I can’t seem to lose this 10 pounds to save my life, even though I exercise and eat pretty healthy. I think I have adrenal exhaustion or adrenal fatigue, but how can I tell?

~ Anna, from Chicago

Rose’s Answer:

Seems like everybody’s under stress nowadays. When you’re body is under too much stress it causes your adrenal glands to be exhaustion for being on overload, and it can make it literally impossible to lose weight, cause depression, and cause you to have little to no energy.

80% of all doctor visits in the US are from stress related conditions & 90% all diseases are caused or complicated by stress.

Adrenal exhaustion in the #1 cause of the problems that people come to me for, and I’m not just talking about work stress here.

Stress & Adrenal Exhaustion Causes:

- Weight gain – even on a low calorie diet
- Tired or low energy – rely on caffeine for energy
- Speeds up the aging process – Look & feel older
- Depression/Anxiety
- throws off your hormones
- suppresses your thyroid

I can’t tell you how many of my clients will tell me that they started gaining weight 6 months to a year after a traumatic or stressful event like losing a loved one, or a divorce.

How to Tell if You Have Adrenal Exhaustion:

The stress of the economy, of raising kids, of trying to lose weight, even flying across time zones is stressful to your body, and all this compiled is what is causing our bodies to be in a constant state of “fight or flight” and it’s wreaking havoc on our bodies.

Whether you’re in real danger, or you’re just worrying about something, your body reacts the same. And when your body *thinks* it is in danger, it releases cortisol which turns on the switch to store glucose as fat for reserves for what it thinks is an emergency, instead of using that glucose for energy, thus making us fat and tired.

I can’t tell you how many of my clients will tell me that they started gaining weight 6 months to a year after a traumatic or stressful event like losing a loved one, or a divorce.

Adrenal Exhaustion Signs:

1. Do you ever feel light-headed when you stand up too quickly?

2. Do you crave salt and/or salty foods?

3. Look in a mirror and stick out your tongue. Is it shaky? Can you hold it still? that’s a sure sign. Seriously – I know it sounds crazy, but it’s a tell-tale sign.

4. Are you jumpy or easily startled? If someone jumps around a corner and yells “BOO”! does it always scare you?

5. Do you have difficulty losing weight, even when you exercise and eat right?

6. Do you wake up tired, even after 6 or more hours of sleep?

7. Do you need caffeine to get going in the morning, or to get through the afternoon?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, there is a high probability that you are suffering from adrenal exhaustion (also known as adrenal fatigue).

So what can you do about it?

Healing your adrenal glands takes time, it doesn’t happen over night. When I do saliva testing in my one-on-one practice it usually takes 6 months to a year for them to improve. So this is a process, and requires that you use several different angles or approaches at the same time to help take stress off of them, and then give them what they need to repair and heal. The only thing I’ve ever seen work long-term is using the ‘holistic approach’.

These are just 4 of the many things I’ve used to repair mine…

4 Steps to rebuild your adrenals:

Step #1
One of the things you can do is to switch from table salt (sodium chloride) to Celtic Sea Salt. The reason you crave salt is that your adrenal glands have depleted your minerals, and you need minerals to repair the adrenal cortex. Celtic Sea Salt contains over 80 minerals that your body *needs* desperately. You can use it on your food, or add it to water to make mineral water. Us it liberally, you can’t use too much of this stuff. This is THE best place to get it: http://www.tryvrp.com/

Step #2
Next, try Alternate Nostril Breathing. It may sound silly, but it literally sends a message that calms your body and mind – making you feel safe. It balances the left and right hemispheres of the brain, and flips the switch in your mind that you switched on when you started worrying about whatever you were worrying about. You can check out my video about it here to see how.

Step #3
Another thing to do is to load up on B vitamins. To rebuild your adrenal cortex, B vitamins are absolutely essential. My favorite is Bio-B100 from Biotics Research. They’re a fantastic company, but you have to set up an account to place an order over the phone. Call this number (800) 231-5777 and give them this number: 05TD9354. This will allow you set up an account of your own to place the order.

Step #4
Finally, my “10 Week Transformation Program” is perfect for getting your body back into balance. This program address adrenal exhaustion, and helps to increase your energy and lose fat by getting to the root cause of your weight gain. The “10 Week Transformation” Program addresses adrenal exhaustion, hormonal imbalances, thyroid issues and cleansing your body of toxins. Call 888-898-WELL for more info, or this link for all the details: http://www.rosecole.com/programs/transformation

Please forward this to anyone you know who may be suffering with these ailments or who could benefit from this information.

If a woman you love is on the birth control pill this article could save her life!

I’m constantly asked these two questions in my practice:

1. Is the birth control pill safe?
2. Does the pill have other side effects other than death that could be harmful?

Some of you may have recently received the chain email about Nicole Dishuk, the woman who allegedly died from a stroke due to taking the birth control pill.

I’ve had a lot of interest around this subject, and a lot of people asking for my opinion.

You can find the original email that was sent out about Nicole Dishuk by searching her name using your favorite search engine, and you’ll see what I’m talking about with the varied opinions on the topic.

I, of course, have no way of verifying if this letter from a woman who is claiming to be her cousin is in fact “real”.

You can check out this link that ABC News did on the story with her husband who survived her and see for yourself what you think.

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=healthcheck&id=5303491

This woman who was a doctor, a wife, and a mother is helping to bring about some awareness to a subject which seems to have been swept under the rug.

There are deaths reported every year that are connected to the birth control pill, and they list “death” as one of the possible side effects right there, in plain sight, on the package, but few of us take it seriously enough.

I am outraged for this woman’s family and saddened that her two children are now left without their mother.

To sign Dr. Nicole Dishuk McKeon’s guest book or leave a message for her family go to:

http://obit.bizub.com/wrapper_gb.php?id=335811&clientid=bizub

I always recommend that you do your research and investigate the facts for yourself before believing ANYTHING. That includes any chain emails you receive… AND any prescriptions you receive from your doctor.

According to Nicole’s husband, Dan McKeon, the specialists told him that the ONLY risk factor they found in Nicole’s system which is associated with her stroke was her birth control pills.

The birth control pill that Nicole Dishuk was taking was one of the formulas which contains a low dose of estrogen, which causes menstruation only 3-4 times per year.

Be aware! ALL oral contraceptives can cause dangerous blood clots.

Dr. Sidney Wolfe from Public Citizen has been quoted as saying, “We’re sacrificing every year hundreds of women who have blood clots, have to be hospitalized, and in
some cases die.”

Public Citizen has put the birth control pills that reduce the number of periods you get per year, and other low dose contraceptives on their “worst Pills” list because of the synthetic hormones they contain.

Most of us don’t take the whole death thing seriously though; I mean we never imagine it will happen to us.

We always rationalize that the likelihood of actually DYING from taking the pill is low.

But there are other reasons to do your research about oral contraception.

I get dozens of women who come to see me each year who are getting off the pill and want to cleanse their bodies from the chemicals in order to stop all of the side effects.

Possible side effects from the pill… that you may not even realize are connected:

- Weight gain
- Depression
- Migraine headaches
- Moodiness

The most serious risks associated with taking the pill are blood clots, stroke, and heart attacks.

These risks are increased if you smoke cigarettes, especially in women over 35. It is strongly advised that women who use oral contraceptive DO NOT SMOKE.

Can I tell you a story about my own personal experience with the pill?

Before I was even having sex my doctor prescribed the birth control pill for me because I was having really heavy periods.

My doctor didn’t even tell me about the risks of taking the pill, or the potential side effects.

At 16, I guess I assumed that it was safe because my parents gave me the prescription, and my parents trusted the doctor enough to give it to me, so I’m not sure if any of us really knew the potential dangers.

The potential dangers were printed right there on the package, but who really reads those anyway.

We didn’t do our research, and we didn’t take responsibility for my own health. We left it in the hands of someone else… which now I realize is a big mistake.

Soon after taking the pill I started to get very depressed… for no apparent reason. I would spend days crying and experienced massive mood swings, which at first we didn’t even realize was connected to the pill.

We went back to the doctor, who gave me another pill that was reduced in strength, and thought to have less side effects. It seemed to help a little.

Then I started gaining weight. I put on 10 pounds almost over night.

For seven years, I suffered from depression, severe mood swings, and weight gain until I finally stopped taking it.

My periods did get a little lighter, but the side effects I experienced were a big price to pay to have marginally lighter periods.

My doctor never checked my hormones to see if there was another reason they could have been heavy; he just gave me a pill.

It usually takes about a year when you come off the pill before your body flushes out all the hormones.

But then I learned you could rid yourself of the side effects even faster using nutrition.

When I went to see a nutrition coach she taught me how to get my body back to balance using nutrition to get rid of the side effects, and it inspired me to go back to school so that I could teach other women to do the same.

On the other hand, the pill is very effective at preventing pregnancy. So what do we do if we don’t want the chemicals but we also don’t want to get pregnant?

There are other forms of non-hormonal birth control available, like condoms, the diaphragm, and the IUD, which I suggest you do research on all of these before deciding which one is best for you.

There’s also another method that you may not be aware of. I teach women a method of tracking your fertility signs on a chart so you can see when you have potential for pregnancy, and when you do not.

It’s a very simple and effective form of birth control, and the best part is its HORMONE FREE.

Positives of this form of birth control are:

- You learn things about your body that will blow your mind!
- No side-effects
- No drugs or chemicals
- Inexpensive
- Can be used to prevent a pregnancy as well as help you conceive
- When done properly, it’s just as effective as other forms of birth control

There are new things being introduced onto the market all the time, so search for other non-hormonal forms of birth control. I’m sure there are things our that that I’m not aware of yet.

If you know of other hormone-free birth control methods, I would love to hear from you. You can email me at info@wellnesswithrose.com.

Please send this to every woman you know – we need to get the word out about this!