Understanding Menopause: Part 3Again last week, I discussed hot flashes and mentioned estrogens in our diet are called Xenoestrogens, which are notorious for causing a disruption in a woman’s body. These estrogens are found in nail polish, cosmetics, plastics, and white paper products which were bleached with chlorine. These can lead to hot flashes which can’t be controlled, because estrogen is entering into the body on a day basis. To reduce hot flashes naturally, a woman needs to avoid plastics and white paper products bleached with chlorine. I’m not going to say women should avoid nail polish and cosmetics, as every house looks better with paint on it. Be wise in making cosmetic choices as there are plenty of organic forms available which can be healthy to your skin. Cruciferous vegetables are highly important in one’s diet. They contains natural substances called Indole-3-carbinol and its big brother Diindolylmethane (DIM). These are the vital nutrients that help women feel better and protect them against cancer. About twenty years ago, scientists discovered that when broccoli was added to the diets of study animals, it could prevent certain forms of cancer. In more recent scientific studies, this same cancer protection was shown to result from simply adding supplemental DIM or related plant indoles to the animals' diets in place of the broccoli. Recently, regular use of supplementary DIM and its indole relatives has shown that many of these health-promoting effects arise from a beneficial shift in the balance of the sex hormones, estrogen and testosterone. These nutrients can help reduce hot flashes by ridding the body of excess xenoestrogens and increases the specific aerobic metabolism for estrogen, multiplying the chance for estrogen to be broken down into its beneficial, or "good" estrogen metabolites. These "good" estrogen metabolites are known as the 2-hydroxy estrogens. Many of the benefits that are attributed to estrogen, which include its ability to protect the heart and brain with its antioxidant activity, are now known to come from these "good" metabolites. By improving estrogen metabolism and reducing the intake of xenoestrogens, a woman can reduce her hot flashes naturally. There are herbs such as Black Cohosh and Dong Quai which work in some women. There are incredible newly discovered herbs called Goldeneye Grass, Chinese Cork Tree and Be Ji Tien root which are being used to help a woman make it through the change of life more easily. When it comes to reducing or stopping hot flashes, one remedy is not the answer for everyone. Each woman is different and through the old trial and error process can one truly find relief and it’s out there! Natural remedies are the best choice for menopausal symptoms due to their lack of side effects. Hormonal replacement therapy’s so-called benefits were nullified by a clinical trial that wiped away thirty years of lies, but that’s another story. See you next week. Ward W. Bond, Ph.D. |
