Looking for Relief for PMS?

As we are about celebrate National Women’s Health Week, it’s important to discuss a specific health issue that affects over 90% of women.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to a combination of symptoms that usually starts about a week before your period, typically after ovulation and before menstruation.

What causes this particular condition is still unknown, but several factors may contribute to its development, including hormonal and chemical imbalance brought about by a woman’s
monthly cycle.

PMS can be accompanied by two types of symptoms

Emotional / behavioral:
– Tension or anxiety
– Depression
– Mood swings and irritability
– Appetite changes and food cravings
– Insomnia

Physical:
– Joint or muscle pain
– Headache
– Fatigue
– Weight gain related to fluid retention
– Abdominal bloating

Some doctors might prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), diuretics, or antidepressants to manage these symptoms, but if you want to stick to natural solutions, a lot of women have had great results taking our GLA (gamma-linolenic acid).

What is GLA?

GLA is an omega-6 fatty acid that is typically extracted from evening primrose oil or borage oil. It is used by the body to form prostaglandins—chemical messengers in cells, which are molecules that signal cellular actions to help regulate many normal bodily processes.

While some believe that a high intake of omega-6 promotes low-grade inflammation, studies have shown that maintaining a healthy ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fats is actually good for the heart and body.

In fact, the American Heart Association (AHA) even recommends replacing saturated fats from foods such as meat, butter, cheese and pastries with plant-based foods that contain omega-6 fatty acids, including vegetable oils, nuts, and seeds.

Benefits of GLA for Women’s Health:

1. Hormone Balance
Fluctuating hormone levels manifest themselves in several different ways and can severely interfere with women’s daily lives.

Many of the symptoms commonly associated with PMS and menopause, such as mood swings, breast tenderness, and skin changes, are triggered by these hormonal imbalances.

Studies show that GLA can help balance hormone levels by regulating the production of prostaglandins, which are hormone-like chemical messengers involved in the body’s inflammatory processes such as swelling, stiffness, and pain.

So, if you are battling to control symptoms of PMS or menopause, you may find GLA to be beneficial.

2. Weight Loss
Weight-loss is a goal for many people, as achieving a healthy body mass prevents numerous health complications caused by obesity. Unfortunately, the majority of us fail to reach our weight goal or struggle to maintain a healthy one.

This hardship is primarily caused by upregulated appetite hormones, which increase our attraction to food, especially ones that are highly palatable with high energy content. This inevitably leads to weight regain and the undoing of months of hard work.

A study published a decade ago in the Journal of Nutrition discovered that GLA supplementation can help reduce the amount of weight regained following drastic weight-loss.

Although it is unclear as to why, it is thought that the improved hormone balance helps regulate our appetite hormones, keeping our hunger levels in check.

3. Skin
Regulating prostaglandin levels may help to prevent inflammatory skin conditions and regulate the moisture level of the skin.

One study found that daily supplementation with starflower oil over a twelve-week period significantly reduced skin reddening (by an average of 40%) when compared to a placebo.

It also found that participants supplementing with starflower oil lost 10% less water from the skin and had less roughness and scaling.

“Most people consume more than enough omega-6 fatty acids, but there’s evidence that GLA is a special case,” says Dr. Bruce Daggy.

“The mechanism behind the benefits of GLA is likely through its conversion in the body to DGLA—Dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid.

DGLA is a precursor of several anti-inflammatory compounds. Although most of the studies of the purported benefits of GLA are small and not as definitive as we would like, GLA is a reasonable approach to try.

As a naturally occurring oil compound in the diet and in our bodies, GLA has a strong safety profile. For skin benefits, GLA is sometimes applied topically.”

Our GLA Complex combines GLA, omega-6 fatty acid, sunflower seed oil, and vitamin E in a unique formulation that helps with:

– Moodiness
– Premenstrual bloating
– Hot flashes
– And more

GLA Complex is also gluten free and does not have artificial flavors, sweeteners, colors, or preservatives added.

As noted in one testimonial from a woman taking our GLA Complex; “I had horrible periods. The pain was so bad I could barely go to work. I increased my dietary supplements and began using Soy Protein 5-6 times a day instead of twice. I started taking GLA Complex and increased my intake of B-Complex, OsteoMatrix, Zinc Complex, and Iron+C. Within the first month, I could feel a big difference. I had few cramps and noticed my mood swings were leveling out.”

For more information, contact me at Jerry@Fit4LifeLLC.com, or visit our Wellness Store!