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Estrogen: Friend or Foe?
by :Dr. John Maher
The first hormone touted for its anti-aging effects was
estrogen, way back in the 1960's. Estrogen is produced
by the ovaries, the adrenal glands and body fat stores.
It is a potent antioxidant, promotes good cholesterol,
reduces clots and strokes, stimulates the brain, tones
the skin, and helps maintain bone mass.
Estrogen also reduces the risk of colon cancer, diabetes,
and Alzheimer's disease. In combination with natural
progesterone it may reduce the risk of breast cancer.
When estrogen and progesterone are taken together, it
is known as hormone replacement therapy or HRT. Indeed,
HRT has been shown to reduce the risk of death in women by
all causes in women by 20% to 37%. Therefore, estrogen is
rarely prescribed "unopposed" anymore, but almost always in
combination with progesterone.
Unfortunately, many women quit before 3 years because of a) side
effects, usually from synthetic estrogen and synthetic progesterone, A
KA, progestins, and b) fear of breast cancer.
THE NATURAL SOLUTION
Many of us don't realize that the hormones we take are usually synthetic.
By taking natural hormones, most of these side effects can be
avoided. Besides, many of the good effects of estrogen are
actually blocked by synthetic progestins like Provera.
Natural hormones tend to be made from soy and yam products.
For most women, a single transdermal application of both
progesterone and the three estrogens (estrone, estrodiol, and estriol)
in one formula is best.
Some women may need to avoid estrogens. Those with active liver,
gall bladder disease, cervical cancer or pre- cancerous lesions, and
deep vein thrombosis probably need to avoid estrogens.
Those with multiple strong risk factors for breast cancer, a history
of breast cancer, or a strong family history of same (or prostate
cancer in closely related males), should likely avoid estrogens as well.
Strong risk factors for breast cancer include: 1.) women who
experienced menses at 13 or earlier; 2.) those experiencing
menopause past 50; 3.) those with no children before 25; 4.)
those with less than 2 full term pregnancies; and 5.) a history
of birth control use greater than 10 years.
The more and stronger the risk factors, the more warranted is
caution about estrogen. Remember, progesterone lessens risk,
natural hormones lessens risk, and estriol is actually protective.
Nonetheless, a program of progesterone enhancement, diet,
and healthy lifestyle outlined below is often sufficient for those
with low risk of Alzheimer's, heart disease and osteoporosis.
Other risk factors include chronic lack of exercise, the typical
American diet, smoking, and excess alcohol and caffeine.
Also, women with certain abnormal pap smears may need
to avoid estrogen. (All women over 40 should be tested regularly.)
Conversely, women with a family history of early heart disease
(before 60), HPB, high LDL "bad" cholesterol and low HDL
"good" cholesterol, or an actual history of heart disease,
should strongly consider estrogen. (After menopause, heart
disease for women sky rockets because of the loss of the
protective effects of estrogen.)
Also to consider estrogen are those with a family history of
Alzheimer's, the onset of adult diabetes before 60, as well as
thin, blond, white women, and small, thin Asians, particularly
if they have adopted Western eating patterns, or anyone else
who is at strong risk for osteoporosis. Your doctor can measure
your bone density and "skeletal age", which is a good idea if
your doctor concurs.
THE SOLUTION
Eat a plant based, whole food diet. Exercise regularly. Avoid
smoking. Be moderate in alcohol and caffeine. Eat soy products,
beans, legumes, apples, alfalfa, and flaxseeds, all natural "phyto-
estrogens", if well tolerated. Phyto-estrogens are "adaptogenic".
That means if estrogen is low, they function as weak estrogens.
If estrogens are high, they take up estrogen receptor sites,
thereby lessening the untoward effects of excess estrogen.
Avoid constant stress. Relax. Get adequate sleep. Slow down
to the speed of life. Have fun!
For those with high risk factors for breast, cervical, or endometrial
cancer, taking natural progesterone 3 weeks a month, along with
soy foods and other phytoestrogens, might suffice, avoiding
estrogen replacement.
If dryness, hot flashes, night sweats, and/or low mood
continue, a phyto-estrogen supplement with such herbs as
donq quai, black and blue cohosh, chasteberry, ginger, and
fennel, perhaps combined with vitamin E (800 IU), B-complex
vitamins, and licorice, ginseng or even some raw adrenal
substance might help.
Remember phyto-estrogens are safe in that they have only
1/400th the power of estrogen. Yet they compete with estradiol,
"exogenous" estrogens (estrogen like hormones in meat) and
"xenoestrogens" ( estrogem mimics, as in petr- ochemical
pollutants) from occupying estrogen receptor sites, and thereby
preventing these "bad" estrogens causing trouble.
16-hydroxy-estrogen metabolites of estrone and estradiol are
the "bad" estrogens, being potent carcinogens. In optimal health,
these are converted to 2-hydroxy-estrogens, "good" estrogens,
by the liver. The liver is aided by DIM, a detoxifier found in
cruciferous vegetables. Cruciferous vegetables include broccoli,
cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts,collards, kale,
rutabaga, kohirabi, turnip greens and turnips. Yes, still
another reason to eat your vegetables!
For the rest of you who are peri- or post-menopausal, taking
a natural combined estrogen/progesterone cream transdermally,
three weeks every month, is preferred. Such a crème should
contain all three estrogens, but mostly estriol, the weakest
and cancer protective estrogen. (Estriol is the estrogen highest
during pregnancy.)
Either of these protocols may be considered anytime after
menopause, or even during the peri-menopausal experience,
especially if there are uncomfortable symptoms. Progesterone,
but not estrogen, is freguently recommended by natural health
care providers to menstrating females who suffer from estrogen dominance.
Submitted by:Written by: Dr. John Maher, Solana Beach, CA USA
http://www.ideamarketers.com/library/profile.cfm?writerid=257
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