Summer Dieting

For Hormonal Balance

When your hormones are out of balance, life is not much fun. We feel like we're under a cloud, hot and uncomfortable, sweaty, our skin is crawling and even one glass of water will make us blow up like a balloon. We all watch TV and read the magazines with all those beautiful toned tan bodies in shorts and bathing suits that seem to fit them perfectly... the PMS and woman inside of us wants to scream.

Don't waste one minute of our all too short summer worrying about what everyone else looks like. Instead, let me help you make your real life a bit better so you too can enjoy the sun, the beach, the summer time and feel great.

Diet

1. Skip the soda, coffee, and above all SUGAR Substitutes. Yes, that includes Splenda and all other so-called natural and healthy substitutes. The only sugar that is healthy is honey and regular cane sugar. You don't need man-made substitutes that will bloat you and make you feel crummy.

2. To feel balanced, make sure you eat protein in any form: meat, fish, poultry, nuts, beans, feta cheese (no other types will do) and dark green leafy vegetables with every meal. To kick start your day, begin every morning drink my favorite energy smoothie. I promise you will feel great for the whole day.

Dr. Erika's Healthy Smoothie

¼ cup Black Berries
¼ cup Raspberries
¼ cup Blueberries
¼ cup Strawberries
1 tablespoon Raw Almonds
2 cups Grapefruit Juice
1 scoop Detoxification Formula Powder

Combine ingredients in a blender and blend for 30 seconds......
Enjoy!

3. Do not eat dinner late. If you must eat after 8 pm make your dinner a small arugula salad with olive oil and lemon and a bit of feta cheese. Not only will you sleep better but in the morning you will wake up with a flat stomach, not feeling bloated.

4. Stay hydrated. 5-7 glasses of water a day is sufficient unless you are working out and sweating. Begin and end your day with a cup of hot water with lemon. See how that makes your PMS feel. Also, drink room temperature water and liquids in general. Your heart and hormones will thank you,

Exercise

Stretch, swim and sweat only three times a week. Aerobic exercise is great to help your hormones balance but be sure to combine this with yoga, stretching, Pilates or meditation. Overindulging in harsh exercise will only make your hormone balance and symptoms worse.

Supplements

While the debate over what to do with , which supplements to chose rages on, I highly recommend you do use the Hormone Support Packs I have carefully put together at my patients' request.

They accomplish what every woman needs: more energy, immune protection, decreased inflammation and support of hormone balance.

Also, do not forget sleep is crucial to feeling well and looking great. While you may not always have 8 hours at your disposal, you can always squeeze in 6-7. Before you go to bed take the Restful Night Formula which serves a dual function: it helps you relax and fall asleep without medication and also gives you the calcium you need to help your bones.

Vitamin D is crucial to protecting you from cancer, helping you balance your hormones and absorbing calcium. While we all know the sun is a great source of vitamin D, we cover too much of our skin with chemical laden sunscreens and thus eliminate the beneficial effects of the sun. So take the Vitamin D and also skip any SPF above 15. Be careful not to get a sunburn and don't get burned by the long-term unknown dangers of chemicals sitting on your skin and mixing with the sun's rays.

Hormones

Progesterone is an easy hormone to get over the counter, it will help with PMS and even perimenopausal symptoms. Try it out for a several months and see how it works. To achieve the best results, use the Procream together with the supplements and the other advice I gave you. They are all tried and true and come from the brain and the heart. I bet your summer will be a good one.

Summer Fashion

White clothes protect from sun damage. If you feel bloated and swollen, wear looser fitting clothes. This year's fashions are so easy you can wear dresses, all types of shorts, long or short skirts and gorgeous flowing feminine tops. Just make sure you look in the mirror and what you see is a kind, pretty version of you. Don't be critical or mean to yourself. Look gentle and be gentle. White and flowy is always gentle.