Harnessing Your Inner Venus (NAPSA)—Recent research has discovered intriguing ways women can make the most of their own inner goddess. Explains Dr. Rebecca Booth, [ leading gynecologist and author of “The Venus Week: Discover the Powerful Secret of Your Cycle...At Any Age,” your body has the power to work for you. Instead of feeling at the mercy of your hormones, you can feel in control throughout the month. It’s a matter of understanding how your body works so that you can capi- talize on your entire cycle and harness the positive effect of the hormonal chemistry that occurs. In the week that follows your period and leads up to ovulation, Dr. Booth says, an incredible recipe of hormones in your body makes you feel more feminine, powerful and beautiful. This com- bination of hormones positively affects your metabolism, lifts your spirits and encourages romance. You can maximize the effects of what Dr. Booth calls the “Venus Week” through diet and lifestyle changes. Simple lifestyle changes include: Kat well by minimizing Proper diet and lifestyle can help women makethe most of their owninner goddess. Even once the Venus Weekis over, you can still keep the good energy going. Remember natural shifts in mood and energy are temporary and can be offset by the diet and lifestyle. Dr. Booth suggests you look at every phase of your cycle as having a unique and important purpose. Try not to “white” food or sugary, highlyprocessed foods and eat more protein and whole-grain foods. * Indulge in high-quality dark chocolate, which contains flavo- view “that time of the month” as a activity. Flavonoids, like estrogen, have an uncannyeffect on increas- excellent absorbency that adds to a sense of confidence andsecurity. “All women can benefit from the beauty of the Venus and harness its physical and emotional noids, which have estrogen-like ing sensitivity to insulin and boosting carbohydrate metabolism. Stir in a daily dash of cinna- mon, which also increases sensitivity to insulin. e Exercise regularly to support the mood-elevating brain chemi- cals that soar during the Venus Week. stereotypical low point, she adds. There are even some great new technologies available to help. For example, the Always brand has a pad called Always Infinity with benefits, offsetting the drop in estrogen and the increase in progesterone that follows Venus Week,” says Dr. Booth. The power of the Venus Week can work for youall the time.
