Elementor #11 – Alexia Potamitou

How Plants Can Help Reignite Your Natural Spark

Over the years, I’ve become more and more fascinated by the way certain herbs and foods can support our vitality, not just physically, but emotionally and energetically, too. I didnt use to be a big fun of teas! But for all the right reasons I have learned to enjoy tea! There’s a growing body of research that backs up what ancient traditions have known all along: certain plants truly do help support circulation, hormone balance, and yes, even your libido. Cloves stand out as a naturally warming and subtly sweet spice that goes beyond culinary delight to kindle the flames of your sex life. This spice works wonders by enhancing blood flow and warming the body, thereby acting as a gentle catalyst for energy and relaxation. The stress-relieving qualities of cloves are a boon for those seeking to unwind and connect on a deeper level, while their sweet fragrance adds an element of sensuality to the mix. Cloves also tap into the body’s natural rhythms, stimulating the nervous system in a way that encourages sexual arousal and supports sexual performance. Beyond their immediate effects, cloves contribute to a balanced sex drive by boosting testosterone levels, which is essential for both men’s and women’s libido. Their nutritional profile is rich, offering omega-3 fatty acids, manganese, vitamin K, and eugenol, which not only has antiseptic and mild anesthetic qualities but also underscores cloves’ holistic benefits. ginger I also love ginger. Widely used as an Ayurvedic herb for its digestive benefits, ginger is also recognized for its ability to enhance circulation and promote vitality, including sexual health. This warming herb comes from the root of the ginger plant, and it imparts a spicy, slightly sweet flavor and scent. Like garlic, ginger increases blood flow, especially to the sexual organs, and can help with erectile dysfunction. It also warms you up, increases your energy, and it smells a lot better than garlic. Ginger’s reputation as an aphrodisiac spans across many cultures and is celebrated for its natural ability to kindle desire. It is also high in potassium, magnesium, and copper. It is a great anti-nausea substance and has anti-inflammatory effects. Cardamom: The Spice of Intimate Whispers The ancient healing art of Ayurveda recommends cardamom for low libido and sexual function. This spice contains high levels of cineole, which increases blood flow to the male and female sexual regions. Cardamom increases energy and relieves fatigue; this can help you when you are feeling exhausted or stressed. Cardamom also balances doshas (Ayurvedic body energies) and has detoxifying properties. Put cardamom in your tea and enjoy!

The 40+ symptoms of Menopause

When most people think of menopause, they think of hot flashes and night sweats. There are over 40 different symptoms – many of them that women are never warned about. That’s why so many of us end up thinking we’re “just stressed,” “burnt out,” or even “losing it” – when really, our hormones are shifting. Here is the latest FULL Menopause symptoms list Physical Symptoms Cognitive & Emotional Symptoms 26. Brain fog 27. Forgetfulness / poor memory 28. Trouble concentrating 29. Anxiety 30. Irritability 31. Mood swings 32. Low mood / depression 33. Loss of confidence 34. Panic attacks 35. Reduced resilience to stress Sleep & Energy 36. Difficulty falling asleep 37. Waking in the night (esp. 1–4am) 38. Restless sleep / non-deep sleep 39. Fatigue (despite rest) 40. Lower daytime energy 41. Restless legs syndrome Sexual & Reproductive 42. Low libido 43. Vaginal thinning (atrophy) 44. Vaginal discomfort (itching, burning) 45. Painful sex (dyspareunia) 46. Shorter / lighter / heavier periods (peri) 47. Changes in menstrual cycle length None of these symptoms mean you’re “broken” and NONE of these symptoms should be still apparent years later – with the right protocols ALL symptoms should see a reduction within months What symptoms are you struggling with?

Τα οφέλη και οι κίνδυνοι της κρεατίνης για τις γυναίκες

Τα συμπληρώματα κρεατίνης προορίζονται για να προσθέσουν επιπλέον δύναμη και ώθηση στην απόδοσή σας κατά την άσκηση. Όταν ξεκινάτε να προπονείστε με ένταση ή κυνηγάτε φιλόδοξους στόχους φυσικής κατάστασης, είναι φυσικό να εξετάζετε τη διατροφή σας και να αναρωτιέστε, υπάρχει κάτι που θα μπορούσα να κάνω για να μου δώσει μία επιπλέον ώθηση; Αν και τα πλήρη τρόφιμα θα πρέπει πάντα να είναι η πρώτη επιλογή για να βελτιώσετε την πρόσληψη θρεπτικών συστατικών, ορισμένα συμπληρώματα μπορούν να κάνουν μεγάλη διαφορά στην απόδοση, την αποκατάσταση και την πρόοδό σας. Η κρεατίνη είναι ένα από αυτά. Τι είναι η κρεατίνη Η κρεατίνη είναι μια φυσική ένωση και πηγή ενέργειας που βοηθά στη δημιουργία μιας σταθερής παροχής ενέργειας για τους μυς, ειδικά κατά τη διάρκεια της άσκησης. Βρίσκεται κυρίως στους μύες και τον εγκέφαλό, ενώ περίπου το ήμισυ της προμήθειας κρεατίνης του σώματός παράγεται φυσικά από το συκώτι, τα νεφρά και το πάγκρεας. Το άλλο μισό προέρχεται από τροφές πλούσιες σε πρωτεΐνες στη διατροφή σας, ιδιαίτερα από το κόκκινο κρέας, το γάλα και τα θαλασσινά. Για ποιο λόγο είναι καλή η κρεατίνη Η κρεατίνη παρέχει την ενέργεια που χρειάζεστε για σύντομες εκρήξεις ασκήσεων σε μέγιστη ένταση, σκεφτείτε τα γρήγορα ομαδικά αθλήματα ή εκρηκτικά στυλ προπόνησης όπως η άρση βαρών, η HIIT ή το σπριντ. Εκτός από την υποστήριξη της ενέργειας, της δύναμης και της απόδοσης του σώματός, η κρεατίνη μπορεί επίσης να συμβάλει στην αύξηση της μυϊκής ανάπτυξης, της μυϊκής αποκατάστασης, της ενυδάτωσης των κυττάρων, της μνήμης και της υγείας του εγκεφάλου. Τι είναι η μονοϋδρική κρεατίνη Αν και μπορείτε να πάρετε κρεατίνη από τη διατροφή σας, είναι επίσης ένα από τα πιο δημοφιλή και επιστημονικά υποστηριζόμενα συμπληρώματα. Μπορείτε να τη βρείτε σε διάφορες μορφές, όπως ταμπλέτες, υγρή, μπάρες σνακ και κάψουλες, αλλά η σκόνη μονοϋδρικής κρεατίνης είναι η μόνη μορφή με οφέλη που υποστηρίζονται επί του παρόντος από έρευνες. Μπορείτε εύκολα να την πιείτε αναμεμειγμένη με νερό ή σε ένα ρόφημα ή smoothie. Όπως και με καθε συμπληρωμα είναι πάντα καλύτερο να ακολουθείτε μια προσέγγιση «πρώτα η τροφή», αλλά για όσους θέλουν να δουν αυξήσεις στην απόδοση και την αποκατάσταση της άσκησης υψηλής έντασης (ειδικά οι χορτοφάγοι), η μονοϋδρική κρεατίνη θα μπορούσε να κάνει τη διαφορά. Και ναι, τα συμπληρώματα μονοϋδρικής κρεατίνης ειναι καταλληλα για χορτοφαγους. Οφέλη κρεατίνης για τις γυναίκες Εκτός από τις μελέτες που δείχνουν ότι τα συμπληρώματα κρεατίνης είναι ασφαλή για τους περισσότερους ανθρώπους, τι γίνεται με τα οφέλη; Γιατί να μπείτε στον κόπο; Είναι πραγματικά ένα αποτελεσματική; Η κρεατίνη μπορεί να βελτιώσει την αθλητική απόδοση ενισχύοντας τις εκρήξεις δύναμης και ταχύτητας και υπάρχουν στοιχεία που υποδηλώνουν ότι η συμπληρωματική λήψη (μαζί με τη λήψη αρκετών πρωτεϊνών στη διατροφή σας) μπορεί επίσης να βελτιώσει την αποκατάσταση των μυών μετά από έντονη άσκηση και να μειώσει τη συχνότητα των κράμπες ή των τραυματισμών. Μπορεί να υποστηρίξει την αυξημένη μυϊκή ανάπτυξη και δύναμη, αλλά είναι σημαντικό να σημειωθεί ότι ο ρόλος της δεν είναι να χτίζει μυς όπως η πρωτεΐνη. Σκεφτείτε το σαν ένα πακέτο. Επειδή η ώθηση στη δύναμη μπορεί

YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND VISCERAL FAT IN PERIMOPAUSE AND MENOPAUSE

What it is, why it rises, how to spot it, and what it means for your health. 👉 What is visceral fat? Visceral fat = fat stored deep inside the abdomen around the organs (liver, pancreas, intestines). It’s more metabolically active (pro-inflammatory) than the subcutaneous fat under the skin. This makes it a stronger driver of metabolic disease. 👉 Does it really increase in menopause? Yes – and it NATURALLY increases. The menopause transition shifts fat distribution toward the abdomen. The NATURAL changes to inflammation levels, insulin resistance and hormone regulation result in changes to visceral fat percentage On average visceral fat can rise from ~5–8% of total body fat before menopause to 15–20% post-menopause. 👉 Why Visceral Fat Matters Visceral fat isn’t just “extra weight.” It’s biologically active tissue that disrupts hormones, increases inflammation, and alters how your body handles blood sugar and fats. With increased levels of visceral fat we are at a much higher risk to develop the following 1) Metabolic Syndrome: 2) Diabetes & Heart Disease: 3) Other Risks: What you’ll usually feel/seeTypical visceral pattern = thicker waist/abdomen, relatively unchanged limbs, plus clusters of symptoms tied to insulin resistance and cortisol (poor sleep, mid-day crashes, cravings). 👉 What actually helps (high level) MY team and I have been working with MANY women ON HOW to reduce visceral fat; these are just some of the protocols we see working best

You are doing ALL the “right” things and still not getting results!

You’re eating all the right things, so why don’t you feel better? I can’t tell you how many clients come to me saying some version of this: “I cut out gluten, dairy, sugar… I’m eating so clean, but I’m still bloated. My energy’s low. I can’t lose weight. My skin’s breaking out. What am I doing wrong?” First, let me just say: I hear you. I’ve been there. Eating a clean, nourishing diet is an incredible foundation but sometimes it’s not the only piece of the puzzle. When symptoms linger, it’s often because of hidden root causes that aren’t about food alone. Here are 7 sneaky reasons your clean diet might not be delivering the results you hoped for and what to do about it: 1. Mold Exposure Even the cleanest food can’t undo the effects of chronic mold toxicity. Mold exposure (especially from water-damaged buildings) can trigger inflammation, disrupt detox pathways, and overload your immune system—leading to fatigue, brain fog, skin issues, and more. If you’ve tried everything and still feel “off,” mold might be quietly working behind the scenes. What to do: Test your environment. Support your detox pathways. And work with a practitioner who understands mold recovery. Please text me if you need my contact here in Cyprus. 2. Parasites or Gut Infections Parasites, yeast overgrowth, or bacterial imbalances can cause bloating, nutrient malabsorption, and even sugar cravings—no matter how clean your plate looks. These infections are more common than you think, especially if you’ve traveled abroad, eaten raw fish, or dealt with chronic gut issues. What to do: Consider a comprehensive stool test and a gut-healing protocol that includes antimicrobials, binders, and repair. Please consider booking an appointment with us to assess. 3. Unresolved Trauma or Chronic Stress No supplement or smoothie can override a nervous system stuck in survival mode. Trauma—whether recent or decades old—can keep your body in a state of chronic inflammation. Cortisol, digestion, hormones, and sleep all take a hit. This is one of the most overlooked root causes of symptoms that “don’t make sense.” What to do: Support your nervous system. That might mean somatic therapy, breathwork, EMDR, or simply more time for stillness and self-regulation. I have even utilized plant medicine to confront my trauma, and it was deeply healing for me. Also have great contacts of practitioners here in Cyprus that can help. 4. Mineral Imbalances Magnesium, potassium, sodium, and zinc are essential for energy, detox, hormone balance, and blood sugar regulation. Even on a healthy diet, you might not be getting—or absorbing—enough. Stress, medications, heavy sweating, or gut dysfunction can all deplete minerals quickly. What to do: Consider testing your blood levels. Focus on whole food sources of minerals and consider targeted supplementation. Dont just take supplements blindly! 5. Too Much Snacking Frequent, even “healthy” snacking can keep insulin elevated, stall digestion, and prevent your body from entering repair mode. This is especially important for women navigating blood sugar or hormonal changes. What to do: Create more space

Beet quinoa salad

Beet quinoa salad, a Clean favorite! Picture a vibrant medley of colors adorning your plate – deep purples, vibrant oranges, and earthy greens, all harmoniously blended to create one of the best salads our cleansers have had! This salad is a nutritional powerhouse, packed with an array of health benefits that will leave you feeling nourished and energized. Rich in antioxidants, fiber, and essential vitamins, these ingredients support overall health and well-being. Indulge in this flavorful and nutrient-packed dish to nourish your body with wholesome goodness. Salad Ingredients Serves 2-3 Ingredients: Directions: Add ingredients to blender and emulsify. Season more to taste if needed.

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