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Estrogen: Friend or Foe?
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,
AKA, 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. 1
Strong risk factors for breast cancer include:
- women who experienced menses at 13 or earlier;
- those experiencing menopause past 50;
- those with no children before 25;
- those with less than 2 full term pregnancies; and
- 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 vaginal 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 frequently recommended by natural health care providers to
menstruating females who suffer from estrogen dominance.
1My ParenTime Note: Women who have taken DES, and their daughters, should speak to their doctors about taking estrogen.
Copyright © Dr John H Maher. Visit his website, RX for Wellness, and sign up for the "Longevity News". Reprinted with permission.
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