Food for hormones Part I

In July 2002, the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) abruptly ended its combination of estrogen and progestin therapy study as their data discovered higher rates of breast cancer, heart attacks, strokes and blood clots in the population taking the hormones, compared to those taking placebos.

Stanford University School of Medicine discovered that only 29 percent of women surveyed knew anything about this study two years later. Additionally, only 40 percent of the women were able to identify possible risks and benefits linked to hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

The rate of breast cancer fell seven percent in the US in 2003, a year after millions of women stopped hormone replacement therapy, a study found. The study, carried out at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, concluded that 14,000 fewer women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003 than in 2002, when the American Cancer Society estimated 203,500 cases of breast cancer were found.

Researchers link the decline in cases to the widespread halt in hormone replacement therapy after a study found that estrogen increased the risk of developing breast cancer.

“Something went right in 2003, and it seems that it was the decrease in the use of hormone therapy,” said Peter Ravdin, a professor at MD Anderson and co-author of the study.

Ravdin cautioned that researchers can’t prove a cause-and-effect relationship.

The study was funded by the National Cancer Institute and MD Anderson.

The side effects of HRT include: osteoporosis, blood clots, high blood pressure, vaginal bleeding, rash and acne and weight gain. Yet, the side effects of menopause can be overwhelming! Coupling hot flashes with emotional mood swings and lack of sleep can be all-consuming to a menopausal woman.

Simple lifestyle changes can offer you a natural means to optimize your hormone levels:

• Adopt a balanced, whole food diet, removing the processed and preserved foods. Balancing the omega-3 and 6 fat intake provides the body with essential lipids used to make hormones.

• Start an exercise program to jump-start your thyroid (another hormone).

• Eliminate sugars and processed grains, as yeast overgrowth can worsen hormone levels.

• Eliminate or greatly reduce caffeine and alcohol, as they have adverse effects on hormone levels, not to mention caffeine’s role in fibrocystic breasts.

If you would be interested in knowing more about a specific area or approach in natural health or nutrition, send me an e-mail at [email protected]. I’m open to your suggestions on topics of interest.

1. This article is for educational purposes only and contains information that is the opinion of the columnist.

2. Your individual health status and any required healthcare treatments can only be properly addressed by a professional healthcare provider. We encourage you to make your own healthcare decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified healthcare professional of your choice.