|
Dispelling the Hormone
Replacement Myths.
There are many different types of phytoestrogens
that are structurally similar to human endogenous estrogens. Very often phytoestrogens
mimic mammalian reproductive hormones as a defense mechanism, i.e., the plants modulate
the fertility of the herbivores that feed on them.90
The relevance to humans is that there is a wisdom in nature. After middle age, women have
low reproductive hormones because it is not wise for them to continue reproduction. The
notion of modern medicine that all women over menopausal age suffer from "nature's
error" and are estrogen-deficient is erroneous.91
The natural design of a woman's body is to produce the two hormones, estrogen
and progesterone, in very sensitive and precise balances so reproductive
ability is maximized. Once a woman is past her childbearing years, her need for both these
hormones is minimal!
Osteoporosis is not an estrogen deficiency disease. Osteoporosis begins a
decade or more before estrogen levels fall and is linked to may factors including
unhealthy lifestyles, low androgen levels (such as DHEA), and high homocysteine.
It is excess protein in the form of meat and dairy products that contribute the most to
bone loss. An acidic condition is created in the blood and the body pulls out calcium from
the bones to neutralize it. Epidemiological studies confirm that vegetarians and Japanese
women have a much lower incidence of osteoporosis and fractures.92 (The current
high protein diet fad that many women are on is going to exacerbate this problem!)
Further, all estrogen-containing medications - including hormone replacement therapy
(HRT)
- deplete magnesium. This magnesium deficiency causes the body to leach magnesium out of
the bone stores to normalize the cal/mag ratio in the blood. Instead of preventing
osteoporosis, this can cause skeletal deterioration.93
The Factor Ten formulation includes the herbal extract Centella asiatica which increases
the formation of chondroitin sulfate in bone.94 The addition of magnesium
chelate helps maintain the cal/mag blood ratio to counter skeletal deterioration.
Estrogen does not prevent cardiovascular disease. Ample evidence exists showing
that the opposite is true! Research reveals that high doses of estrogens are thrombogenic
(blood-clotting) and may cause hypercoagulability, thereby increasing the risk of heart
attack and stroke.95 Estrogen further compromises the integrity and function of
cell membranes by allowing the loss of potassium and magnesium.96
Progesterone prevents female cancers only in those cases where women are taking synthetic
estrogen! There is abundant evidence that pharmaceutical estrogens are linked to
reproductive cancers such as breast and uterus. In Japan, the incidence of breast cancer
is very low in areas where a traditional diet high in phyto-estrogens is consumed. In
fact, research among Finnish and Japanese populations has found that phytoestrogens may in
particular protect against breast cancer.97
It is the view of many holistic health practitioners that post-menopausal women are a
source of unethical pharmaceutical experimentation.98
Phytoestrogens enhance Female Health Without the Risks of Synthetic Estrogens and
Progestins.
Phytoestrogens, such as Angelica sinesis, Licorice root, Black cohosh, Suma, Bioflavonoids
and metabolic enzymes such as lipase, papain and bromelain may reduce menopausal symptoms,
support bone mineralization, and decrease the risk of uterus and breast cancers.99
Phytoestrogens, because they exert low estrogenic effects, assist the body in establishing
hormonal homeostasis. If estrogen levels are low, phytoestrogens will boost estrogen
effects. If estrogen levels are high, since phytoestrogens bind to estrogen receptor sites
thereby competing with endogenous estrogen, estrogen effects will be decreased. Because of
this balancing effect, their historical use has been for conditions of estrogen excess
(PMS) and estrogen deficiency (menopause).100
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
is a common hormone
related condition which typically commences ten days prior to menses and resolves with the
start of menstruation. It is most prevalent in women between the ages of 30 and 45 who may
experience a variety of recurrent symptoms, including lethargy, depression, mood changes,
cramping, and breast tenderness.101
The major cause of this condition is poor dietary habits, lack of proper nutrition, and
insufficient exercise. Essentially, it is a lifestyle related ailment.
A study determined that PMS patients consumed 62% more refined carbohydrates, 275% more
refined sugar, 79% more dairy products, and 78% more sodium compared to symptom free
women.102
Factor Ten: Femtrac contains the specific blend of Vitamin B2, magnesium, folic acid,
and L-tyrosine, which have been shown to alleviate lethargy, depression and mood
swings. Black cohosh relieves cramping and Ginkgo biloba is effective in reducing breast
tenderness.
In uncontrolled studies, PMS patients given supplements containing the combination of
nutrients provided in Factor Ten: Femtrac showed a 70% reduction in both pre- and post-
menstrual symptoms.103, 104
It is further suggested that patients experiencing the specific recurrent PMS signs of
nervous tension, irritability and/or depression be placed on Factor Six: Sommaserene in
the label dosages recommended.
Perimenopause
is the transition period from
regular ovulatory cycles to menopause which usually begins at the age of 43 approximately
five to seven years before a woman's final menses. As estrogen levels begin to decrease in
anticipation of menopause, many women experience weight gains.
Factor Ten: Femtrac contains nutrients that elevate resting metabolism, increase the
thermic effect of food, promote efficient burning of fat, facilitate ideal blood glucose
levels and improve glycogen storage in muscles while reducing the desire for
"sweets"
It is further recommended that female patients experiencing a weight problem incorporate
Factor Eight: Natura Cleanse into their nutrition program as this supplement provides the
fiber and related nutrients to facilitate weight control.
During perimenopause collagen production also drops with subsequent decreased skin
elasticity and dryness of mucosal surfaces. These conditions are normal occurrences until
hormonal balance has been achieved following perimenopause.
Factor Ten: Femtrac incorporates zinc, chromium, Vitamin P, and the amino acid L-lysine to
assist in collagen formation and promote healthy skin tissue.
Menopause
the cessation of menses, is defined as
the absence of menstrual bleeding due to loss of ovarian function. A common misconception
is that menopause occurs when the female body fails to produce estrogen. In fact, the
hormonal output of both estrogen and progesterone alternately stop and start instead of
reducing gradually. This readjusting of the patient's endocrine balance leads to many of
menopause's symptoms.105
These symptoms of vasomotor instability include hot flashes, night sweats, palpitations,
nausea, weakness, loss of libido, and headaches until hormone levels stabilize themselves.
It is a natural part of a woman's aging process and usually begins at age 50 and lasts up
to five years. Essentially, it is a stage of life, perhaps complicated by poor lifestyle
choices, but not a disease.
The estrogen supply eventually regulates itself and reaches a plateau, where it remains
until around age seventy. Although estrogen levels drop during the postmenopausal period,
the hormone does not disappear.
The goal of a menopausal health program should be
twofold:
First, to eliminate the bothersome symptoms of menopause by consuming
estrogenic nutrients to help even out estrogen levels when needed.106 This can
be accomplished with Factor Ten: Femtrac as a mainstay and encouraging the patient to
consume foods rich in phytoestrogens such as apples, carrots, yams, green beans, peas, red
beans, brown rice, whole wheat, soy products, sesame seeds and papaya.107
Second, to prevent the degenerative ailments of osteoporosis and heart disease
that are associated with the postmenopausal period. This can be accomplished by
supplementing the patient's diet with Factor Five: Osteo-X to prevent osteoporosis, and
Factor One: Bio-Immunizer, to prevent heart disease.108
Rejuvenation and Body Enhancement.
It is now
clear, from hundreds of clinical studies and worldwide scientific research, that
nutritional supplementation offers an amazingly effective and low-risk approach to
alleviating the female problems associated with the endocrine and reproductive systems as
well as achieving optimum health and body enhancement - without drugs or surgery!
Regardless of genetic background, optimal nutrition can slow or delay the aging process
and help the patient improve on whatever normal life span her ancestors have experienced
because the symptoms of aging are very similar to the symptoms of poor nutrition.109
For example, the skin problems that are common in the elderly are nearly identical to the
skin problems found in malnourished people.110
Skin, hair, and nails are entirely composed of substances found in the diet. Many nutrient
deficiencies show up first in the skin region. If the body must make a choice between
using a nutrient for survival and using that nutrient to maintain a healthy glowing
complexion, the skin loses!
The female body did not evolve to thrive on a continuous stream of refined sugar,
hydrogenated fat, salt, pastries, bleached white flour and rice, cola drinks and high fat
beef.
The U.S. Nationwide Food Consumption Survey revealed that 90 percent of Americans show
some symptoms of malnutrition!111 This downward spiral in "life
force" is insidious because it occurs gradually over a prolonged period of time. Many
individuals live their entire lives in this compromised state.
Factor Ten: Femtrac is targeted to treat the female health problems created by today's
"modern lifestyle". It is specifically formulated to provide a woman's body with
the nutrients necessary to withstand the onslaught of environmental pathogens and
neutralize and eliminate the harmful substances that impair her body's power to heal
itself.
Vaginitis & Related Infections.
A study
reported that 72% of sexually active females had one or more forms of vaginitis.112
Hormonal or atrophic vaginitis is primarily a problem of postmenopausal women and those
whose ovaries have been surgically removed. The vaginal tissue becomes thin and
susceptible to irritation and there may also be vaginal discharge.113
Infectious vaginitis may be sexually transmitted or may arise from a disturbance to the
ecology of the healthy vagina. Influencing factors include immune
dysfunction, nutritional deficiencies, steroid medications, or diabetes mellitus.
Candida albicans or yeast infection has increased 250% since the late 1960's due primarily
to the increased use of antibiotics and oral contraceptives. Primary symptoms are vulval
itching which can be quite severe, and a thick, curdy discharge.114
Factor Ten: Femtrac in combination with Factor One: Bio-Immunizer, together with a
balanced diet low in fats and sugars, provide nutritive support for the relief of vaginal
infections.
Additional Recommendations for Relief from Vaginitis.
1) Avoid the use of corticosteroids or oral contraceptives until condition improves.115
2) Avoid pantyhose and tight undergarments made of synthetic fabrics which reduce air
circulation at the vagina, causing over-warmth and perspiration.116
3) Add three to four cups of pure apple cider vinegar to the bathwater and soak in the tub
for twenty minutes.117
4) Use a new toothbrush every 30 days as a preventive measure against fungus and bacterial
infections.118
5) Insert capsules of boric acid into the vagina. This treatment offers an inexpensive,
easily accessible therapy which has proven to be equal to or better than those of
Nystatin.119
6) Practice relaxation techniques. Internalized stress can depress the immune system and
aggravate infection.120
7) Take antioxidant supplements, such as Factor One: Bio-Immunizer, that provides
nutritive support to fight infection by destroying free radicals that depress the immune
system.121
Conventional approaches to women's health frequently use invasive medical procedures to
deal with common physiological functions when therapeutic approaches such as diet
nutritional supplementation, and herbal medicine are safer and frequently more effective.122
The holistic practitioner has a responsibility to assure that his or her female patients
have the necessary information to make informed choices about their lifestyle and health
care.
Recommendations To achieving and Maintaining Optimum Vitality,
Health, and Beauty
1) Supplementation. Take Factor Ten: Femtrac as a female health tonic in the
dosage recommended.
2) Exercise Aerobically. Regular aerobic exercise - such as walking, jogging,
dancing, tennis, bike riding, swimming - lowers blood pressure, fats in the blood and
pulse rate while improving blood glucose, alertness, self-image, absorption of nutrients,
and life span.123
Aerobic exercise "activates" the nutrients in Factor Ten: Femtrac and elevates
basal metabolism to burn stored fat more quickly.
3) Attitude. The mind is a potent determinant of the quality and quantity of a
life. Social networking, and the extent of an individual's friends and relationships, is a
major predictor of life span.124
Your patients' attitudes also influence whether they will make exercise fun or whether
they are amenable to changing their diet.
4) Eat foods as close to their natural state as possible. There are over 2,800
FDA-approved additives with another 10,000 additives being "incidental" to the
agriculture and food processing industry.125
5) Avoid foods cured with nitrite preservatives such as luncheon meat, bacon,
corned beef or smoked or cured meats.
6) Eat a wide variety of foods. Individuals
who eat a varied diet have a better nutrient intake than those whose diet remains staid.126
7) Eat fish on a consistent basis. Individuals who eat at least two ounces of
fish per week cut their heart disease risk in half.127
8) Balance the Diet. The patient's diet should be balanced with the correct
ratio of protein to fats to carbohydrates. Daily calories should be comprised of about 20%
protein, 20 to 25% fat, and 55 to 60% carbohydrate, preferably complex carbohydrate.
9) Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water daily. Water suppresses the appetite naturally and
helps the body metabolize stored fat. Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake
will cause fat deposits to increase, while an increase in water intake can actually reduce
fat deposits.
Water also helps to prevent sagging skin because cells are buoyed by water, which plumps
the skin and leaves it clear, healthy and resilient.128
10) Take an antioxidant supplement, such as Factor One: Bio-Immunizer, to boost
natural immunity, destroy free radicals, and facilitate the body's ability to bring oxygen
to the muscles.129
11) Maintain ideal body fat composition. The quantity of weight has no bearing
on health, per se.130 With proper diet and exercise, heavier muscle mass begins
replacing lighter fatty tissue and the patient begins to look and feel better as body
composition improves.
Ideal body fat percentage range for women, regardless of age, is between 19 and 26
percent.
12) Avoid Diet Scams. Most heavily advertised diet programs are either
low-carbohydrate, high protein, or drug dependent programs that "trick" the body
into losing water weight quickly.131 The results are temporary and often
dangerous. The patient must understand she is trying to lose excess stored body fat, not
lean muscle tissue and water.
13) Behavior Modification. There is a strong
relationship between hours of TV watched and incidence of obesity.132 TV
viewing burns almost no calories, puts the viewer into a trance-like state of mind, and
encourages frequent trips to the refrigerator.
The typical American eats no breakfast, a small lunch, and a huge dinner which is
conducive to fat storage and poor health. Individuals who eat several small meals a day
rather than one large meal at dinner are less likely to have weight problems.133
14) Nutrition Modification. The majority of each meal should consist of
carbohydrates such as whole grains, pasta, legumes, fruits and vegetables. A low-fat, high
carbohydrate diet will produce quicker and more long-lasting weight loss.134
15) Increase Fiber Consumption. Fiber is the "wonder nutrient" in
weight control by providing oral and intestinal satiety without calories.135 It
binds fats, cholesterol and harmful metals and prevents them from being absorbed. Consider
supplementing the diet with Factor Eight: Natura Cleanse, a natural intestinal toxicity
cleanser and cholesterol reducer which promotes proper digestion.
16) Maintenance of Stable Weight. It is important for the patient to lose
excess body fat and maintain a stable weight at a more desirable level.
A 1992 study of 11,703 Harvard graduates found that the lowest death rate was among those
who maintained a stable weight, defined as plus or minus 2.2 pounds. Those who repeatedly
gained or lost more than 10 pounds had higher death rates from all causes except cancer.136
17) Reduce Caffeine Consumption. The intake of caffeine directly influences the
prevalence and severity of PMS.137 Caffeine intake, which includes coffee, tea,
and cola, is also a risk factor in fibrocystic breast disease.138
18) Reduce sugar consumption. Sugar causes a loss of magnesium from the body
which is definitely related to PMS.139 Sugar also stimulates the production of
greater amounts of insulin, which promotes fluid retention.
19) Reduce alcohol consumption. Alcohol promotes nutritional deficiencies and
lowers blood sugar. Two-thirds of the alcoholic women studied could relate their drinking
bouts to PMS symptoms during their menstrual cycle.140
20) Avoid Chocolate. Chocolate contains the compound Phenylethylamine which
causes the blood vessels in the head to enlarge and places pressure on the surrounding
brain tissue, resulting in possible headaches and migraines.141
21) Take a Cal-Mag based supplement, such as Factor Five: Osteo-X for the relief of heartburn, nausea and/or motion sickness.
22) Take an herbal relaxant, such as Factor Six: Sommaserene,
to alleviate anxiety, nervous tension, and irritability.
With adherence to the recommendations and suggestions set forth above, there is no reason
to assume that menopause signals the end of an active, healthy life.
Products
Home |
