And the research probably won’t have a definitive answer on this one but my educated guess is that yes, boxing does increase testosterone levels in women. But boxing is often loved by women who have high testosterone levels as it gives them a chance to take out some frustration and is a great form of exercise.
Why would it go up?
There are two research items only that I know of looking at this.
One was by Prof Dabbs in the USA and he studied a group of men. He checked their testosterone levels before a soccer match and split the men. He got one to support one team and the others to support the other team. After the game he checked their levels again.
What he found is that the winning supporters raised their testosterone dramatically (and got all the symptoms that go with that – feeling good, happy and wanting to celebrate). The supporters of the losing team dropped their levels and felt depressed and wanted to go home.
The other bit of research (which is my own) was done a while ago and I asked women (survey) if they felt more feminine wearing dresses. All said yes. I imagine if we did one on boxing (and maybe i will) we will find women feel “euphoric” strong and will get a surge in testosterone.
ON the Eve before Valentines Day I am wondering if I will get some random flowers, earrings or card, or maybe I will send something later today or not???
And I have decided to think a bit higher than just my day to day romance needs and dreams and to reflect about the health benefits of Valentines Day.
Over the years working in Coronoary Care Units (the part of the hospital where heart patients go), I know there is a direct link between the heart and our emotions.
I’m not the first to have noticed this phenomena by the way. There are many well researched papers coining terms such as “broken heart syndrome” where people literally have a heart attack because their emotions get broken.
If you have ever experienced a trauma, or someone loved dying you will know about “heart ache”. It is TRUE, REAL and alive in all of us (while our heart beats anyway).When things are wonderful, we feel alive, full of life and light and when someone we love is hurt or dies, we feel crushing chest pain. Almost choking pain. I believe firmly that there is a direct link between our emotions and our heart.
So this Valentine’s Day I urge you to express your love, not just to your partner, but to your family, kids, friends and YOURSELF.Express what your heart is trying to say. If you struggle, express it with an act (nothing that will land you in jail) but something little and significant.
Words are free but some people find them hard to say out loud. (And that is normal, but until you start, you certainly won’t master it). Here are a few I thought might kick start your vocabularly into heart expression…
Nice deep breathe… then say….
I love you. I like you. You make me feel great. Thanks for being you. I love myself.
There you go… not easy for some, but doable.
Enjoy HEART day. I will and I know while my heart beats, I love the world
This is simply the best cake I have had in ages and considering its gluten free, (wheat free), dairy free and egg free, this recipe is UP there with the BEST!!!
I must confess that this is not my “home made secret recipe.” The really amazing people from Roar (Gold Coast based cooking group), and Pandoras Heirloom have passed it along.
Why I love it…
* This cake doesn’t require cooking
* There is no added sugar
* It is gluten free, dairy free and egg free and still tastes fantastic
* It has protein, superfoods, omega threes and is healthy. I am sure you could nearly live on it.
Base
Blend these following three ingredients in a blender.
1/2 cup soaked dried apricots
1 cup organic nuts
1 cup of shredded coconut
Press the blended mix into a cake dish or tray
Filling:
1 1/2 cups of dates
1/2 cup of coconut oil (optional for icecream)
2-3 avocados
1/2 – 3/4 cup of cacao.
Mix all ingredients in a blender and place in the base. Allow to set in the fridge.
Well I get asked (and not asked but everyone wants to know) what a normal period is like in terms of time, pain etc.. So sorry boys if you have found yourself here by mistake you may wish to tab onto another site, if not read on with us gals!
Some averages:
The average cycle is 28-32 days (this is the time for a bleed , and the gap until the next one)
The average period is 4-5 days (this is the time that you are losing blood)
The heavist day is usually day 2 (clots are not considered normal, although common and can mean you are low in magnesium, B6, progesterone or high in estrogen, or have fibroids, polyps or other things going on).
Pain should not warrant a day off work, panadol but at most should be a dull ache.
What is the best time in the month yo have sex if you want to fall pregnant?
Day 1 of the cycle is the first day of the woman’s period. The average woman will hatch an egg (ovulate) around the 14th day, which will survive for up to a week, but is best for 48 hours, so this is when insemination needs to occur. Many women ovulate earlier than 14 days and many are late ovulators.
To determine whether you are ovulating, a doctor can do a blood test for Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) in the early part of your cycle. There are many home kits designed to pick up changes in your hormones to let you know if you are ovulating. Other reliable signs are vaginal secretions, which change from being a normal milky or clear fluid with mushy consistency, to egg white consistency and very slimy. Temperature increases; a slight pain on one side; increased libido, a pimple or tears, are also other subtle signs that you may be ovulating.
Many people are rusty on this , even those going that next step (IVF) ..
In 2009 two Melbourne IVF clinics conducted a study and found that only 13 per cent of women had a good understanding of when they were fertile in their cycle, with 53 per cent having a poor understanding and 11 per cent with no understanding at all! This research is alarming, as doctors are referring couples to IVF clinics without first assessing or supplying basic education, and are also installing a fear of ‘infertility’ into their minds, when many may not be.
If you want to find out what your hormones are doing, try a saliva test. Webinars on fertility are coming up so make sure you join the newsletter for the latest info Sam
Are you one of the 20-25% of the population that suffers with unpredictable bowel motions? Sometimes embarrassing urgency, cramping and comprimising tummy gurgles can all be exacerbated around or just before our periods.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) affects a large percentage of people and by in large, I find the cause is usually a combination of food intolerances, bowel dysbiosis (eg parasites, worms), stress and hormone imbalances.
Particularly for women, an estrogen imbalance can lead to bloating, constipation and a general feeling of fullness. Some women can gain 2-4 kg the week prior to their period. Normally this is due to increased estrogen and fluid retention not bowel related causes, however the two can be confused.
If you have other symptoms of high estrogen levels (lumpy or tender breasts, acne, headaches, fluid retention, mood changes) then ask for some professional advice, tune into a webinar or do one of the home hormone kits.
There is no need to put up with IBS or other bowel symptoms – find someone in the health industry that you can trust, get them to find the cause and then make action steps to improve your life.
At age 30, my husband and I are trying to have our first child and for a few months now I have been searching many websites in a frustrating attempt to understand fertility. The other day I was so confused, I put down the laptop and decided to pick up the latest issue of FF magazine for a bit of light relief and to my surprise I find the article ‘Facts about fertility’! Can I just thank you guys for printing the most understandable, informative and interesting article that I ever have read on fertility. My frustration and confusion has ended and I now feel I understand my body so much better.
Today Tonight (channel 7 Australia) ran a story on 2 of my clients who had high testosterone levels. Debbie describes the anger and the disheartedness women can feel and Kat describes her transition from tom-boy to princes and how she loves the change.
Thank-you Channel Story for running the story (2 years after it was filmed) as I have been inundated with women saying how much the story has given them hope and options. Thank-you .
Testosterone (TT) is a hormone that is produced by women in small amounts (it is the main sex hormone in men).
In women testosterone is made by the adrenal glands, the ovaries and in the muscles. In post menopausal ladies, testosterone is made mainly by the adrenal glands and muscles and often drops off over this time leading to low energy levels, low sex drive and low muscle mass.
There are issues associated with low and high testosterone levels in women.
As mentioned, low levels of testosterone can affect women going through menopause, but it can also affect women who are run down, nutrient deprived or sick for other reasons.
This is what Michelle found by balancing her hormones :
Low testosterone
Typically low testosterone levels make women lack pizzazz – you know that up-beat, competitive streak. Physically it makes them feel low on energy (especially on waking), low on mojo (sex drive) and low on strength.
High testosterone
IS FAR MORE COMMON! Especially in working, busy and stressed women. I realized my levels were out when I became a cranky yelling mum and wife. I didn’t know what was processing me as prior to that I was a very happy go-lucky person.
The prevalence of rising testosterone levels in women, particularly in modern cultures, is becoming a real health risk. There isn’t a lot of research into high testosterone levels in women which prompted me to write my book, Beauty and the Beast Within, The Hormone Changes Making Women Wild. What I have discovered with women who have high testosterone is a myriad of commonalities.
Typically the woman is working, or stressed, has high expectations of herself and has a competitive edge.
It can augment your memory and mood, give us more muscle (and strength) more mojo (sex drive) and assists with preventing osteoporosis. That’s the good stuff.
Then there are some “not so good symptoms”.
High levels of testosterone can also give us “male physical changes”. For example, whiskers (anywhere on the body but particularly the chin and breasts), male-patterned baldness (androgeneitc Alopecia) and thinning of the hair, abdominal fat, aggression, acne and infertility (due to annovulation and cyst formation on the ovaries). In fact high testosterone levels is the main reason for infertility in Australian women.
There is little research and definitive information but if you want to know what your testosterone levels are, the best way is to test via a saliva test. You will need a whollistic doctor or naturopath to do this test. Blood levels for hormones are very inaccurate and the best way to measure hormones is via saliva. Or you can buy a home kit from this website and we can discuss the results over the phone.
The 3 main things, which I talk about more in Beauty and the Beast Within , that can assist lowering high testosterone levels are as follows:
Balance carbohydrates with proteins. High carbohydrates (eg sugars, alcohol, grains, fruit and vegetables) can lead to insulin spikes which lead to a spike in testosterone. Always eat carbohydrates with a protein.
Stress less – the glands that make your stress hormones also makes testosterone. Imagine that every time you are feeling stressed, you are making more testosterone (unfortunately the same strategy can’t be used to increase testosterone). If you work , you need to have a signal that says “ I have left work now I need to put on my mummy hat, or my girlfriend hat, or my me hat”. Leave your work hat at work.
Refeminize – a term I use to refer to all that girlie stuff we do. Having been a tom-boy most of my life, I was very proud not to be girlie, but when I discovered my testosterone levels were through the roof, I decided that I needed to be more true to myself. Refeminzing means, not being scared of being a woman. It doesn’t mean you are weak, soft or dumb! It usually means you are beautiful, nurturing and have many wonderful attributes. Let them shine. Wear dresses, wear jewellery, be kind on yourself and don’t try to always be a “lad”.
Is high testosterone in women a health risk – you bet!
Aside from infertility rising from one in ten couples in 2000, it is now affecting one in six couples (2010 data). This will continue to rise until we spread the word amongst our girlfriends that we need to be happy and content with being chicks and girlie.
Modern women are very competent beings and many of us need to learn balance. If you have any concerns find a good naturopath or holistic doctor and be sure to read Beauty and the Beast Within.
