Omega 3 Fatty Acids… natural progesterone… healthy thyroid function…
What’s in this Article?
• Recent updates on testing… very important
• Traditional hormone replacement
• What the hormone cascade looks like
• Menopausal or Peri-menopausal transition
• Healthy heart
• Healthy thyroid
• Natural Source Hormones
• Healthy bone density
• More interesting reading
Symptoms of estrogen dominance and enhanced testing:
The estrogen quotient (EQ) test and the 2/16 ratio test are reliable, valuable tests for woman in predicting the dangers of estrogen related cancers such as breast and ovarian cancers. Saliva testing has become Avon guard in hormone testing. It is reliable, noninvasive and accurate. Please be prudent and request these tests.
There are a number of warning signs and symptoms that will give clues as to whether you might be estrogen dominance. They include:
• Uterine fibroid are generally estrogen fed – think healthy thyroid function here Fibroid can be progesterone driven as well. Less common but possible so make sure you have that discussion with your Doctor. The control of symptoms requires proper diagnosis
• PMS
• Fat gain in abdomen, hips, and thighs
• Fibrocystic breasts
• Irregular menstruation cycles
• Mood swings PMS
• Ovarian cysts
• Pr-menopausal bone loss
• Thyroid deficiency
• The vast majority of hormone and reproductive related imbalances are caused by estrogen dominance – think healthy thyroid here
Here is what you need to know:
• Diet plays a huge role in balancing your hormone system
• A healthy thyroid plays just as big a role and in fact diet has a major impact on the health of your thyroid function.
• Fat cells produce estrogen. It is important to have a rich source of healthy fats in your diet. Developed countries, like western society has huge and often unhealthy amounts of omega 6 fatty acid in their diet. An over abundance of omega 6 can promote tumour growth. The omega 3 family of fatty acids retards tumour growth.
• Friendly intestinal flora re-circulates healthy estrogen
• Adequate levels of progesterone sensitize estrogen receptors and balance estrogen levels. In pre-menopausal woman, insufficient levels of progesterone can cause the symptoms above. Adequate levels of progesterone balance the estrogen cycle. In postmenopausal woman supplementing with progesterone is not only prudent and wise, it is essential to preventing estrogen dominance. If you are a woman who is suffering menopausal symptoms, to supplement with estrogen in an effort to allay those symptoms can invite the very problem that pharmaceutical companies and Physicians alike have warned against. Namely that estrogen can lead to estrogen fed cancers. Better to understand how to manage those hormones through the use of progesterone as a balancing hormone, a healthy thyroid, diet and nutraceuticals such as EFA’s.
Most Hormone Replacement has focused on estrogen replacement in woman at menopause when the ovaries are producing approximately 10% of estrogen compared to youthful level. To follow is an overview of the entire Hormonal Cascade and natural replacement.
Estrogen is predominantly used to control menopausal symptoms. The most popular form of estrogen replacement in post menopausal woman is/was Premarin. Premarin is sourced from pregnant mare urine and consists of steroidal, estrone, estriol plus two equine estrogens, equilin and equilenein. The latter two are completely foreign to the female body. No research exists that actually determines how these two hormones are excreted or otherwise managed in the female body. Refuse to use this source of estrogen. Thankfully wiser and more current approaches are available including the use of the least invasive form of estrogen – Estrial. Do your due diligence. Use natural source hormones if you chose that path.
The balance of the Hormone Cascade in the human body is often ignored and possibly misunderstood in its role to health and vitality.
The principle Hormone Cascade looks like this:
• Pineal Gland – Melatonin
• Hypothalamus – Selegiline, Acetyl L Carnitine
• Pituitary – Growth Hormone, Thyroid Stimulating Hormones
• Thyroid – T4/T3
• Adrenals DHEA
• Testes Testosterone
• Ovaries Estrogens, Progesterone
Melatonin:
Melatonin is largely responsible for regulating sleep cycles. It is also involved in protecting the brain against oxidation and free radical damage. Melatonin has the ability to penetrate cell walls and protect the DNA against free radical damage and aging.
For some people, the decline in melatonin production starts generally around the age of 30 for some people. Evening snacks that include cooked oatmeal or brown rice can improve levels of melatonin to some degree. Calcium supplements of 500-1000mgs. can also be effective. There is also evidence taking supplemental melatonin at levels of 3 -5 mgs. can be helpful. The most effective time to take melatonin is approximately an hour before bed to synchronize with your night time peak levels. Sublingual supplements seem to the most effective. Absorption is enhanced through the mucus membranes under the tongue promoting quicker absorption.
Selegiline:
Selegeline works to improve cognition, libido and well being in individuals. It also enhances one of the main excitatory neurotransmitter – Dopamine.
Selegiline is also MAO inhibitors. It is contraindicated for individuals who have hypertension.
Selegiline has been used extensively in Europe and the United States from 1988. Chocolate is a food source of this hormone, particularly dark chocolate.
Acetyl-L-Carnitine:
Acetyl-L-Carnitine is found naturally in the body and in food as the amino acid. The richest source of L-Carnitine is found in lamb.
In order to pass through the blood/brain barrier, l-carnitine is required to be in the form acetyl-l-carnitine.
Protective properties of this hormone include anti-oxidant effects in brain lipids.
L-carnitine also works as a fat burning nutrient in the matrix of the mitochondria.
L-carnitine coupled with CoQ10 and Alpha Lipoic Acid works to enhance the rejuvenating ability of the mitochondria.
Acetyl-L-Carnitine has shown to improve vision, memory and mood stabilizing effects.
Human Growth Hormone and Thyroid Stimulating Hormones:
Proper nutrition and sleep patterns improve human growth hormone. Efforts have been made to use supplemental HGH; however, they should be used with great caution and only under the supervision of a qualified physician. There are also many sources of precursors that are promoted to impact HGM, by manufacturers. They should also be used with discretion and caution.
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone regulates the thyroid gland. Excessive levels of sTSH indicates hypo or low thyroid function and low sTSH can indicate an over active or hyper thyroid. These conditions are largely evidenced by blood tests, specifically sTSH and others like Free T4, Free T3. A qualified physician will order, measure and control potential problems with the thyroid. Proper nutrition and exercise are useful in maintaining a healthy thyroid. Be very cautious about retail products that offer ‘precursor nutrients like tyrosine, to improve the thyroid. There is very little evidence of the products being effective.
For more information on this very important are of thyroid function go to Thyroid Really Matters page
DHEA:
DHEA is manufactured from cholesterol at the cortex of the adrenal glands. It has been used in many studies from heart disease to fat loss as well as its use as a mood enhancing hormone. This steroidal hormone is involved in protection against breast cancer in pre-menopausal woman, heart disease when taken in combination with natural progesterone in postmenopausal women. Because DHEA can cascade into testosterone and estrogen, supplementation has to be administered with caution.
Estrogen:
The female body produces three types of estrogen in varying degrees of strength. Estrial, safest, estradial and estrone. Post menopausal woman have reported that replacement of estrogen has helped control the symptoms of menopause.
You probably remember when the World Health Organization cancelled a major study involving hormone replacement because of the disastrous health consequences. That was in the late 1990’s. Did you know that they were only using synthetic hormones? Cautionary use of synthetic hormones has been circulating for over 30 years.
Here is how to approach the menopausal transition or the peri-post menopausal transition. Concern yourself with pivotal organs that are also impacted by the menopausal transition:
Healthy Heart Use a generous amount of healthy fats, including hemp hearts and ground flax seed. Also CoQ10 @ 100mg. daily. Use digestive enzymes to maximize absorption and have a comprehensive cardiovascular analysis done.
Healthy Thyroid You probably weren’t aware that well over half of the woman near or at the menopausal transition demonstrates clear symptoms of hypothyroidism…. Consider the signs The thyroid is at the top of the Hormonal System. Thyroid function is going to impact hormone function. Symptoms control for the transition will be far more effective when there is support for the major organ that controls it.
Natural Source Hormones Most Pharmacies have access to natural source Estrial and Progesterone. If you require hormone replacement, settle only for natural source. If you are peri-menopausal, you will likely be fine with herbal source estrogen or even fatty acids. In fact, with a healthy thyroid, you may be able to simply use your fatty acids, exercise, basic nutrition and progesterone to avoid menopausal symptoms.
Healthy Bone Density Nutrition, bone building soup broth, Vitamin D, yogurt (goat’s milk or dairy but always organic!), natural progesterone cream, all potentiate bone density. An extraordinary Calcium/Magnesium formulation from Alacer Corporation is also available. This particular formulation, taken at night, contains a combination of Cal/Mag/Vit.C and Melatonin to help restore restful sleep while building good bone density. Minerals taken at night are also very calming. Adding melatonin enhances the profile. Soup broths are an excellent source of minerals.
Evidence of natural hormones as opposed to synthetic hormones is not just mounting; it has launched a mounting attack on the irresponsible use of synthetic hormones and horse pee as suitable alternatives to hormone therapy.
Natural source Progesterone cream stimulates estrogen receptors, helps to alleviate menopausal symptoms and potentiates bone density. It reads progesterone, not progesterin or progestin. If yours is any other spelling besides progesterone, you have a synthetic product. Ask your physician to replace it with a natural progesterone cream. Compound Pharmacies will make up a hormonal cream that includes both estrial and progresterone.
Further protect against bone loss, use the following strategies:
• Exercise your cardiovascular system and use weight bearing equipment
• Use salt in moderation
• Eat an alkalizing diet but do not choose a vegetarian lifestyle or eliminate food groups. An alkalizing diet is 30% protein, 30% healthy carbohydrates and 40% vegetables. Include healthy fats, for example Hemp Hearts, Chia Seeds, Flax Seed, Coconut oil or go my page on EFA: Do you need an Oil Change.
• Avoid antacids. Antacids neutralize stomach HCI, deplete the mineral phosphorous and severely interfere with the absorption of calcium, complicating the ability to break down amino acids. Use therapeutic digestive enzymes. If your acid reflux is difficult to manage, consult with a Professional
• Limit caffeine consumption to 3 cups per day
• Limit alcohol intake to 1-2 glasses per day or less.
• Supplement your diet with high quality/potency multi-vitamin/mineral, calcium/magnesium/vitamin D supplement, organic yogurt, 1-2 cups daily.
• Use moderate amounts of natural source estrogen in the form of estrial.
• Use moderate amounts of natural source progesterone to potentiate bone growth.
More interesting reading on Hormone Therapy:
Menopause – Hormone Replacement – Dr. Danial Cristan ND
Rx For Good Health – Balch MD
Hormone Replacement Therapy – Dr. Julian Whitaker MD
Hormonal Health Nutrition and Hormonal Strategies – Dr. Michael Colgan PhD
Know Your Fats – Mary Enig PhD
Natural Healing with Herbs – Dr. S. Santillo ND
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jvaughan.@healthchannelonline.com
