Nexus - 0305 - New Times Magazine-pages

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or dietary supplementation!!” prior to menopause, and progesterone levels after menopause are Bone loss is the result of many other factors besides proges- _ close to zero. Oestrogen, on the other hand, falls only 40 to 60 per terone deficiency. Excess protein in the form of meat and dairy cent with menopause. A woman's passage through menopause products (contrary to the dairy industry's advertising) contributes _ results in a greater loss of progesterone than of oestrogen. Perhaps to bone loss. An acidic condition is created in the blood which __ the increase in heart risk after menopause is due more to proges- then pulls out calcium from the bones to neutralise it. Another — terone deficiency than to oestrogen deficiency. Dr Lee has noted major factor is lack of exercise. Bone growth is dependent on in his clinical experience that lipid profiles improve when proges- weight- bearing exercise. In addition, sugar, diuretics, antibiotics, terone is supplemented.” fluoride, cigarettes, alcohol abuse and cortisone are all deleterious What is known about progesterone is that it increases the burn- to bones. ing of fats for energy and, in addition, has an anti-inflammatory To sum it up, post-menopausal osteoporosis is a disease of effect. Both of these actions could be protective against coronary excess bone-loss caused by a progesterone deficiency and, secon- _ heart disease. Progesterone protects the integrity and function of darily, by a poor diet and lack of exercise. Progesterone restores cell membranes, whereas oestrogen allows the influx of sodium bone mass. Natural progesterone hormone is an essential factorin and water while allowing the loss of potassium and magnesium. the prevention and proper treatment of osteoporosis at any age."* Progesterone, a natural diuretic, promotes better sleep patterns and helps one deal with stress. When the known actions of proges- ¢ Cardiovascular Disease terone are reviewed, it is clear that many of its actions are also Oestrogen is being touted by mainstream medicine as a great _ beneficial to the heart. preventer of cardiovascular disease in women and therefore a major reason to have women on HRT. According to Dr Lee, the one notable study When it comes to increased risk of coro- nary heart disease, dietary factors are extremely important. Heart disease risk is ae post-menopausal increased by the following: overeating in which formed the entire basis of the positive aoe di general; animal fat, sugar and refined carbo- oestrogen-cardiovascular link—the 1991 osteoporosis Is a aisease hydrates; overprocessed foods; excess salt or Towa othe Narva Questionaire Sie, [gs St MisaIUS SUNT! Socom andlor pounsinm deftones ad nown as the Nurses uestionnaire udy, 3 m 1 1cl! ‘§ conducted with a large sampling of nurses— caused bya progesterone lack of antioxidant-rich food or supplements was radically flawed and the statistics manip- deficiency and, such as vitamins C, E, and A, beta-carotene ulated.'® Although there is ample evidence ay ee and selenium. Stress is also a risk factor for from numerous other studies showing that, secondarily, by a poor heart deaths. indeed, the opposite is true—that oestrogen diet and lack of exercise. is a significant factor in creating heart dis- ¢ Cancer ease—these findings have been virtually Progesterone restores The evidence connecting female cancers igor te any fx profi. He pal ome mass. Natural uy oi oe. rus does ih advertisements also neglected to mention progesterone hormone is Oestrogen's job in the uterus is to cause the fact that stroke death incidence from an essential factor in the proliferation of the cells. Under the that study was 50 per cent higher among 3 influence of oestrogen, uterine cells the oestrogen users. prevention and proper multiply faster, and then progesterone Nancy Beckham's research into the : . should normally come on the scene with oestrogen-cardiovascular link reveals the treatment of osteoporosis ovulation and stop the cells from multi- following:” at any age. plying. Progesterone causes the cells to ¢ High doses of oestrogens are likely mature and enter the secretory phase to be thrombogenic (blood-clotting) dur- that causes the maturing of the uterine ing use, and it is possible that even mod- lining, which is now ready to receive a erate doses may increase the risk of clot- possible fertilised egg. Oestrogen is the ting among women who smoke or who already have clogged arter- hormone that stimulates cell proliferation, and progesterone is the ies. Reports are now starting to come in, indicating that high-dose hormone that stops growth and stimulates ripening. oestrogens, particularly as experienced with oestradiol implants, Oestrogen dominance also stimulates breast tissue. cause hypercoagulability, which means that the blood has a ten- Premenstrual women who suffer from oestrogen dominance often dency to clot, thereby increasing the risk of heart attack and suffer from breast-swelling and tenderness. Progesterone, as a stroke. hormone of maturation, brings the cells back into balance and thus ¢ A British medical report also states that the cardiovascular can eliminate breast tenderness. effects of synthetic progestins used with oestrogen in the much There is certainly an alarmingly high incidence of breast and larger number of women who have not undergone hysterectomy _ uterine cancer amongst Western women. There is evidence that are unknown. breast cancer occurs most often at the stage of life when oestrogen * Some researchers do not consider that heart disease is linked is dominant for the full month and progesterone is not coming in to the cessation of the body's oestrogen production. (Actually, itis at the halfway point of ovulation. Dr Graham Colditz, of Harvard inaccurate to use the word "cessation", since oestrogen production University, maintains that unopposed oestrogen is responsible for is only reduced in menopause.) 30 to 35 per cent of breast cancers.” Some experts would put that Natural progesterone also seems to play a significant role in _ percentage even higher. protecting women from cardiovascular disease. We know now that anovulatory cycles and lowered progesterone levels occur Continued on page 69 or dietary supplementation!!” Bone loss is the result of many other factors besides proges- terone deficiency. Excess protein in the form of meat and dairy products (contrary to the dairy industry's advertising) contributes to bone loss. An acidic condition is created in the blood which then pulls out calcium from the bones to neutralise it. Another major factor is lack of exercise. Bone growth is dependent on weight- bearing exercise. In addition, sugar, diuretics, antibiotics, fluoride, cigarettes, alcohol abuse and cortisone are all deleterious to bones. To sum it up, post-menopausal osteoporosis is a disease of excess bone-loss caused by a progesterone deficiency and, secon- darily, by a poor diet and lack of exercise. Progesterone restores bone mass. Natural progesterone hormone is an essential factor in the prevention and proper treatment of osteoporosis at any age.'* 26 ¢ NEXUS Continued on page 69 AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 1996