Articles by Mary Ann Copson on ArticleSnatch.com

How To Know If You Have Candida

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Candida is a pervasive problem that can sap your energy and wreck havoc with your moods. Candida albicans is a yeast that normally lives in the body in the inner warm creases and crevices of the digestive tract and in the vaginal tract of women. Under stressful conditions, through the overuse of antibiotics, damage to the intestinal tract or due to immune system depression, C. albicans can overgrow. Yeast cells, particles of yeast cells, and various toxic by-products of yeast metabolism can enter the general circulation and significantly disrupt body processes. The result is chronic candidiasis, leading to a wide range of symptoms affecting almost every system of the body - especially the gastrointestial, genitourinary, endocrine (hormonal), nervous and immune systems. Due to the effects of estrogen, birth control pills, and a higher number of prescriptions for antibiotics, women are eight times more likely to experience chronic candida than men. Because virtually any body system can be affected, chronic candidiasis can trigger a multitude of symptoms. Patients say they feel "sick all over." Fatigue, allergies, immune system malfunction, depression, chemical sensitivities, and digestive disturbances are just some of the symptoms that suggest candida. **End Summary** Topics: candida]]> yeast infection]]> gi health]]> gastrointestinal]]> chronic candidiasis]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Mary Ann Copson is the founder of the Evenstar Mood & Energy Wellness Center. With Master's Degrees in Human Development and Psychology & Counseling, Mary Ann is a Certified Licensed Nutritionist; Certified Holistic Health Practitioner; Brain Chemistry Profile Clinician; and a Health, Wellness and Lifestyle Coach. Find her recommended candida test and more at http://evenstaronline.com/FunctionalTests

The Value of Positive Emotions and Thoughts

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Thinking and emotion go hand in hand. A negative mood activates negative thinking and a positive mood calls forth positive thinking. Does it matter if you are in a negative mood thinking negative thoughts or in a positive mood thinking positive thoughts? Is one better than the other? What is the advantage in thinking and feeling positive? Emotions Have Evolutionary Value Negative emotions have evolutionary value. Negative emotions like fear, loss, and aggression activate the flight or fight response. When we experience negative emotions, we have a feeling of aversion, which sets us on course to identify what is wrong and eliminate it. Negative emotions and thinking are associated with a survival alert that activates a reaction to fight, flight or conserve - each reaction with obvious evolutionary value. Positive emotions also have evolutionary advantage. They "broaden and build." Experiencing positive emotions increases our survival chances because positive emotions broaden our intellectual, physical, and social resources and build reserves for us to draw upon. Experiencing positive emotions increases our drive for exploration and discovery and provides the basis for positive social interactions. When we experience positive emotions, we become more tolerant, expansive, and creative. **End Summary** Topics: emotions]]> positive feelings]]> positive thinking]]> negative emotions]]> depression]]> creativity]]> happiness]]> happy people]]> good moods]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Mary Ann Copson is the founder of the Evenstar Mood & Energy Wellness Center for Women. With Master's Degrees in Human Development and Psychology and Counseling, Mary Ann is a Certified Licensed Nutritionist; Certified Holistic Health Practitioner; Brain Chemistry Profile Clinician; and a Health, Wellness and Lifestyle Coach. Reconnect to your physical, emotional, mental, psychological and spiritual natural rhythms at http://evenstaronline.com

Body Changes in Perimenopause

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0500

During perimenopause many these 11 body systems require attentive care and support. Immune functions -Supporting the immune functions buffers against the possible weakening effects of long-term grief on immunity. Women may experience this long-term grief reaction strongly or more subtly as a response to a perceived loss in menstruation or in response to the approach of menopause. Furthermore, it is important to support immune functions because of the possibility that estrogen may make a women's immune responses so sensitive that they attack her own body tissues. Pituitary - The pituitary assists in stimulating all the glands of the body and releases FSH and LH. FSH and LH act directly on the ovaries to promote the development and enlargement of the follicles. In the post-menopausal years, the pituitary is responsible for secreting higher levels of FSH and LH. This post-menopausal increased production of FSH and LH results in more consistently elevated brain levels of these two hormones. Some think that these elevated brain levels of FSH and LH acting as neurotransmitters in the brain may be the mechanisms for the increased intuitiveness and awareness of post- menopausal women. **End Summary** Topics: perimenopause]]> menopause]]> immune]]> pituitary]]> adrenal]]> pancreas]]> nervous system]]> brain]]> liver]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Mary Ann Copson is the founder of the Evenstar Mood & Energy Wellness Center. With Master's Degrees in Human Development and Psychology & Counseling, Mary Ann is a Certified Licensed Nutritionist; Certified Holistic Health Practitioner; Brain Chemistry Profile Clinician; and a Health, Wellness and Lifestyle Coach. Dedicated to help make your Perimenopause Passage the best time of your life at http://evenstaronline.com/perimenopause.html

How Long Has It Been Since Your Last Real Vacation?

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Did you know: Americans work an average of 9 weeks more per year than their European peers. Europeans typically take a full month off in the summer. The French like to take all of August off. This has not destroyed their economy. People that can't seem to relax and renew on weekends have a higher long-term risk of dying from heart disease, a research study in Finland suggests. Men and women who said they "seldom" recovered from work fatigue and stress were about three times more likely to die of heart disease or stroke as workers who "almost always" recovered. Other studies show that the increased stress and fatigue from working long hours and not taking time off can lead to weight gain, cardiovascular problems, chronic fatigue, depression and addiction to alcohol and depressants. In the US, more than one-third of workers will take the office with them on vacation, according to a recent CareerBuilder.com survey. Sixteen percent of workers say their supervisors expect them to stay in touch while on vacation - 19 percent plan to check in voluntarily. Of these workers, 61 percent will be checking voicemail or email on a daily basis while on vacation. **End Summary** Topics: burnout]]> stress]]> vacations]]> heart disease]]> fatigue]]> weight]]> depression]]> addiction]]> satisfaction]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Mary Ann Copson is the founder of the Evenstar Mood & Energy Wellness Center for Women. With Master's Degrees in Human Development and Psychology and Counseling, Mary Ann is a Certified Licensed Nutritionist; Certified Holistic Health Practitioner; Brain Chemistry Profile Clinician; and a Health, Wellness and Lifestyle Coach. Reconnect to your physical, emotional, mental, psychological and spiritual natural rhythms at http://evenstaronline.com

What to do about Leg Cramps

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Here is a question I received from a former client. "â€¦I noticed with the increased exercise that I'm getting a lot of lower leg cramps. The cramping is usually in response to any prolonged brisk walking or running. My personal trainer suggested that I might be lacking magnesium, so I've been taking magnesium, but I haven't seen any improvement. Suggestions?" There are many possibilities. While nutritional deficiencies are likely, I look first to body mechanics. Often a long-standing or undiagnosed misalignment in the hips/pelvis will cause lower leg cramps. Even a misalignment in your shoulders and upper back can lead to lower leg cramps. A good chiropractic or osteopathic adjustment can work wonders for that. A common cause for these kinds of cramps is improper body mechanics during exercise. Your gait may be off. You may not have the proper kind of walking shoe for your body. Your posture may not be in good alignment and walking may exaggerate that. You can check body mechanics with your personal trainer, chiropractor, osteopath, Alexander technique practitioner or cranial sacral/ zero balance therapist. **End Summary** Topics: leg cramps]]> alignment]]> excersise]]> electrolyte]]> magnesium]]> potassium]]> calcium]]> dehydration]]> acid]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Mary Ann Copson is the founder of the Evenstar Mood & Energy Wellness Center for Women. With Master's Degrees in Human Development and Psychology and Counseling, Mary Ann is a Certified Licensed Nutritionist; Certified Holistic Health Practitioner; Brain Chemistry Profile Clinician; and a Health, Wellness and Lifestyle Coach. Reconnect to your physical, emotional, mental, psychological and spiritual natural rhythms at http://evenstaronline.com

Herbal Solutions for Panic Attacks

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

If you have ever had a panic attack, you donâ€'t look forward to getting another one. The fight-or flightâ€ response in your body is involuntarily turned on and your nervous system signals your adrenal glands to start pumping out stress hormones to get you ready to either run away or turn and fight. Your muscles tense, your heartbeat speeds up, and your breathing becomes more rapid. You might feel like you are smothering, claustrophobic or you may experience an urgency to get away. On top of that, you may get hot flashes, sweating, and/or chills and trembling, plus numbness, tingling sensations, dizziness, and nausea. You become overwhelmed by an extreme sense of fear and impending disaster and you lose your ability to think calmly and clearly while experiencing a distorted sense of time and a feeling of unreality. In the face of a physical threat, accident, or natural disaster, this type of response is normal and can be life-saving. But panic attacks that occur unexpectedly in the presence of normal events can be debilitating. They may happen with no forewarning, at any time of the day or night, and last several seconds or more than half an hour. **End Summary** Topics: anxiety]]> herbs]]> panic attack]]> fear]]> overwhelm]]> acute anxiety]]> stress relief]]> tea]]> valerian]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Mary Ann Copson is the founder of the Evenstar Mood & Energy Wellness Center for Women. With Master's Degrees in Human Development and Psychology and Counseling, Mary Ann is a Certified Licensed Nutritionist; Certified Holistic Health Practitioner; Brain Chemistry Profile Clinician; and a Health, Wellness and Lifestyle Coach. Reconnect to your physical, emotional, mental, psychological and spiritual natural rhythms at http://evenstaronline.com

Success Secrets for Kids

Sat, 17 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Help your child be their best with these simple success secrets that I used with my five children. Probably your mother told you some of these. 1. Make a choice for your child's entire day by establishing a good morning routine. Wake up your child with a bang of the alarm, a blast of sugar on an empty stomach, rush him to get out the door while listening to sensational TV -- and your child is set for tense energy, anger and frustration for the rest of the day. On the other hand wake up and drag your child out of bed in slow motion in low lights and skip breakfast and she will go through the day in a near hibernation state, dreamy and lacking attention. Learn how to create calm energy and pace your morning for low tension and high energy. Give your child enough time to wake up without rushing, Turn on the lights when your child gets up. Have a regular morning routine. Keep the TV turned off. Play upbeat music if you like. Talk about the plans for the day while sitting down for a good breakfast. 2. **End Summary** Topics: kids]]> success]]> children]]> productivity]]> routines]]> TV]]> breakfast]]> sunlight]]> appreciation]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Mary Ann Copson is the founder of the Evenstar Mood & Energy Wellness Center for Women. With Master's Degrees in Human Development and Psychology and Counseling, Mary Ann is a Certified Licensed Nutritionist; Certified Holistic Health Practitioner; Brain Chemistry Profile Clinician; and a Health, Wellness and Lifestyle Coach. Reconnect to your physical, emotional, mental, psychological and spiritual natural rhythms at http://evenstaronline.com

Safe and Sensible Detoxification

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

In my private practice, I recently received this question about liver cleansing: "My friends are doing a community liver cleanse and I was wondering how you felt about a liver cleanse/detox? There is something appealing about the idea of GETTING RID OF whatever isn't working in a particular organ. I have always avoided them; however, because I was (and remain a bit) nervous about what type of healing reaction (as I have heard it called) I would get. I've heard people having quite amazing results, even seeing stuff like stones and weird color things in their stool." I shudder when I hear about detoxing and liver cleanses. I have treated many complications from these liver cleanses and it can take a lot of effort to repair the side effects. Liver cleanses are a popular practice - an appealing quick short cut to washing away all sorts of imbalance in the body. In a very healthy person or a really sick person, the right kind of detoxing and cleansing could be beneficial. However, for most people, cleanses arouse the system abruptly and make you feel a false increase in energy. **End Summary** Topics: liver cleanse]]> cleansing]]> detox]]> detoxification]]> toxcity]]> natural detoxification]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Mary Ann Copson is the founder of the Evenstar Mood & Energy Wellness Center for Women. With Master's Degrees in Human Development and Psychology and Counseling, Mary Ann is a Certified Licensed Nutritionist; Certified Holistic Health Practitioner; Brain Chemistry Profile Clinician; and a Health, Wellness and Lifestyle Coach. Reconnect to your physical, emotional, mental, psychological and spiritual natural rhythms at http://evenstaronline.com

Easy and Natural Ways to Raise Low Serotonin Levels

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Research indicates that in the United States 60-80% of the people, especially women, have low serotonin levels. Don't get caught in the low serotonin cycle of hopelessness and despair. You can alter your low serotonin levels by carefully orchestrating your foods, activities and daily routines and habits. You alter your brain chemistry, manipulate your neurochemical profile and affect your body’s physiology every day by what you do and don’t eat, what you think about, and how and where you spend your time. Through your daily behaviors and the environments in which you spend your time, you create your biochemical profile and this is reflected in the emotions, energy, thoughts, actions, and psychological states that either bring you into peak performance or that block your best functioning. You have an enormous power to shape your inner world – your experience of life. What you do every day, what you eat, when you eat it, what activities you engage in and when you engage in them, what kind of environment in which you live and work – everything you do and do not do – shapes how you feel, think and how you experience your life. **End Summary** Topics: serotonin]]> brain chemistry]]> neurotransmitter]]> balanced emotions]]> emotional balance]]> tryptophan]]> melatonin]]> diet]]> protein]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Mary Ann Copson is the founder of the Evenstar Mood & Energy Wellness Center for Women. With Master's Degrees in Human Development and Psychology and Counseling, Mary Ann is a Certified Licensed Nutritionist; Certified Holistic Health Practitioner; Brain Chemistry Profile Clinician; and a Health, Wellness and Lifestyle Coach. Discover ways to positively affect your neurotransmitter profile at http://evenstaronline.com/brainchemistry

10 Signs That Your Brain Chemistry Is Out of Balance

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Your brain chemistry drives you your energy levels, your moods, your thoughts, actions, behaviors, your beliefs, your desires, dreams, and motivations. And in turn these all drive your brain chemistry. Neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine, create and reflect your feelings moods, thoughts and behaviors. They are a powerful group of chemicals in the brain that result in physiological and psychological changes in how we experience our lives. All behavior has a corresponding chemical pattern in the brain. Your behaviors and your experience affect your biochemical profile and your biochemical profile affects your behaviors and your experience. By picking up on the yellow flags that tell you when your brain chemistry is out of balance you can take specific steps to put your self back "at choice" and in charge again. Here is how you will know that an out of balance brain chemistry is driving your behaviors. 1. You are not happy. Contentment, happiness, appreciation are emotions not readily available to an out of balanced brain. Practicing appreciation, gratitude and forgiveness can promote optimal brain chemistry. 2. You are stressed. **End Summary** Topics: brain chemistry]]> neurotransmitters]]> serotonin]]> dopamine]]> motivation]]> happiness]]> desire]]> belief]]> stress]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Mary Ann Copson is the founder of the Evenstar Mood & Energy Wellness Center for Women. With Master's Degrees in Human Development and Psychology and Counseling, Mary Ann is a Certified Licensed Nutritionist; Certified Holistic Health Practitioner; Brain Chemistry Profile Clinician; and a Health, Wellness and Lifestyle Coach. Discover ways to positively affect your neurotransmitter profile at http://evenstaronline.com/brainchemistry

Practical Guidelines for Using the Glycemic Index

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

The Glycemic Index is a nutrition concept that can help you sort out the pros and cons of eating various carbohydrates and the rise in insulin levels that occurs after eating carbohydrates. Low to moderate glycemic index carbs produce a small but steady rise in insulin levels (healthy) as opposed to high glycemic index carbs that produce a large and rapid rise in insulin levels (unhealthy). Low to moderate glycemic index carbohydrates provide slow release of energy that supplies continuous fuel for the body and brain and for the working muscles. Their slow rate of digestion and absorption puts less stress on the insulin producing cells in the pancreas. Misconceptions about the Glycemic Index abound and people often have a hard time putting the principles into daily dietary practice. A glycemic rating over 70 is high. Medium runs from 70- 56. Under 55 is considered low. Many factors affect the glycemic index of a carbohydrate. In general, carbohydrates that are more processed and ground more finely with the bran separated out will have a higher glycemic index. **End Summary** Topics: glycemic index]]> carbohydrates]]> insulin]]> low glycemic index carbs]]> diet]]> nutrition]]> bread]]> potatoes]]> pasta]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Mary Ann Copson is the founder of the Evenstar Mood & Energy Wellness Center for Women. With Master's Degrees in Human Development and Psychology and Counseling, Mary Ann is a Certified Licensed Nutritionist; Certified Holistic Health Practitioner; Brain Chemistry Profile Clinician; and a Health, Wellness and Lifestyle Coach. Reconnect to your physical, emotional, mental, psychological and spiritual natural rhythms at http://evenstaronline.com

But I Donât Wanna NOT Eat Gluten!

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Here is the thing. I love pasta. I love wonderful sandwiches – grilled Brie and ham sandwiches with olives and onions. Juicy hamburgers. Even the perfect pancake once in awhile. And Mediterranean mushroom couscous. A hearty turkey barley mushroom soup – so yummy and satisfying. I love these tasty sensations. When I tested positive - 4 times over 2 years - for Gliadian antibodies (the antibodies your body forms when it is reacting to gluten grains), my very first reaction was "I DON'T THINK SO!" It's just not happening that I am going to eliminate gluten grains from my diet. (Gluten is found in wheat, rye, barley, triticale, kamut, and spelt. Oats are sometimes included in this group.) I have been using functional health tests to help me resolve the negative effects that accumulated over the years of my life when I was not so kind to my body. For instance, there was a period in my late 30s early 40s when I thought I could get away with 2-3 hours of sleep a night! Was that even me? **End Summary** Topics: gluten]]> gluten intolerance]]> food allergies]]> food sensitivities]]> gliadian antibodies]]> test for gluten]]> emotional eating]]> gluten sensitivity]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Mary Ann Copson is the founder of the Evenstar Mood & Energy Wellness Center for Women. With Master's Degrees in Human Development and Psychology and Counseling, Mary Ann is a Certified Licensed Nutritionist; Certified Holistic Health Practitioner; Brain Chemistry Profile Clinician; and a Health, Wellness and Lifestyle Coach. Reconnect to your physical, emotional, mental, psychological and spiritual natural rhythms at http://evenstaronline.com