Beyond Cranberry Juice for UTI

Dr. Mercola: I do very highly recommend the active ingredient found in cranberries called "D-mannose," which many independent D-Mannose studies have shown can be remarkably helpful to those experiencing or with a history of UTIs.
In the past, D-mannose has been difficult to obtain due to costs and manufacturing capabilities. The pure, high-quality form has recently become commercially available as a natural supplement and you can get it now in our store.

Non-toxic and safe, ClearTract D-Mannose:
Supports a healthy urinary tract
Is 10- 50 times stronger than cranberry!
Produces rapid action in as little as 24-48 hours
Does not kill friendly bacteria
Is safe for long term use -- neutral pH
Is 100% all natural D-Mannose and nothing else
D-mannose actually adheres to the receptors on the lining of the bladder that attach to the bacteria. This forces the bacteria to slide right off and into the toilet. It is amazingly effective, but one must remember it is only a band-aid, but a far safer one than prophylactic antibiotic use or cranberry juice.
So I would advise taking Clear Tract D-Mannose once or twice a day as a far superior, more effective, and less damaging alternative to cranberry juice for the prevention of chronic UTIs.
D-Mannose may work for mild UTIs, but it is important to note that if the mannose, or cranberry juice is not working, you will want to consider the use of an antibiotic, as the infection can spread into your kidneys and cause some very serious damage if left untreated.
If you do use an antibiotic it is important to take a high quality, high potency probiotic to replace the beneficial bacteria that the antibiotic kills.
It is also important to recognize that prevention of urinary tract infections is also an important principle.
In the 20 years I have been practicing clinical medicine, it has been my observation that one of the most frequent causes of these infections are less than careful hygiene after one develops loose stools or diarrhea.
It is very easy to contaminate one's fingers when wiping oneself with toilet paper, and if those contaminated fingers come anywhere close to the opening of the urethra, there is a high likelihood of infection in predisposed individuals.
Another pearl is for women to ONLY use white unscented toilet paper as many women react to the dyes and chemicals in the other toilet papers Unbleached toilet paper would be even better to reduce any possible chlorine exposure and to help reduce the environmental contamination that comes from the bleaching process.

Dr. Emily Kane: The crown jewel of this article, saved for the end of course, is an effective, naturally occurring nutrient that will relieve most common UTIs quickly without side effects. It is a simple sugar called D-Mannose, quite similar in structure to glucose. How does it work? In a nutshell, D-mannose previn tiny thin “fingers” which clutch and hang onto the bladder wall cells, where they can feed on urine and multiply. But D-mannose sticks to the E. coli even more tenaciously than the E. coli sticks to the bladder wall. The result is that simply by urinating, the E. coli/D-Mannose complex gets mechanically flushed out. No killing bugs with antibiotics, no killing friendly gut bacteria (D-mannose is absorbed high up in the intestinal tract), no expensive prescription drugs. Hopefully, health food stores and pharmacies will start carrying D-Mannose consistently. If you can’t find it, you can order from Bio Tech Pharmacal (1-800-345-1199). The dose is 1/4-1/2 tsp (depending on your weight) every 2 to 4 hours while awake, stirred into a cup of water. It tastes nice. The lower dose at less frequent intervals is appropriate for a child. You should get relief within 12 hours and complete resolution within 48 hours. If not, please see a dodefinitely want to avoid this infection progressing upwards and attacking the kidneys.
http://dremilykane.com/2001/10/27/urinary-tract-infections/

Hair Loss - Alopecia in Women

See Full Article on Dr. Emily Kane's website:

B vitamins are essential in the proper manufacture of hormones because hormones are fat-based molecules and lack of B-vitamins will impair long-chain fatty acid synthesis.

• One B vitamin in particular is well known for helping to combat dry, scaly scalp (including the infantile cradle cap), easily-splitting nails, depression, insomnia, and hair loss.
• This is the B-vitamin called biotin, who’s principal function in the body is the manufacture and utilization of fats and amino acids.
• Although no official RDA exists for biotin, my clinical experience has shown that 100 mcg daily is adequate to supplement diets high in cheese, organ meats and soybeans. But, not all folks eat that way.
• Also, antibiotic use can severely decrease biotin levels by destroying biotin-producing gut bacteria.

See full article for more on this case study "Carolyn" by Dr. Emily Kane

---> "I prescribed

1. 8,000 mcg Biotin daily (8 mg) for Caroline (Biotin is extremely safe, including for lactating mothers, with no known adverse side effects) and asked her to stay on this dose for at least 6 weeks.
2. In addition, I asked Caroline to minimize her intake of refined foods,
3. stand on her head 3-7 times weekly for 25-40 breaths (she practices yoga, so I knew I could include this in her treatment protocol!) to bring fresh blood to her scalp, and
4. drink a cup of Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) tea daily for the mineral content, particularly silica, which is an essential component of strong, healthy hair.

She started to notice an improvement in the lustre and thickness of her hair within a week."

---- www.dremilykane.com

Weight Gain, Hair Loss, Depression, Fibrocystic Breasts, Fibroid Tumors

Do you experience some of the following:

• Premenstrual breast tenderness
  Irregular menstruation
  Uterine fibroid tumors
  Premenstrual mood swings
  Weight gain
  Endometriosis
  Premenstrual fluid retention, weight gain
  Hair loss
  Fibrocystic breasts
  Premenstrual headaches
  Depression
  Polycystic ovary syndrome
  Menstrual cramps
  Fatigue
  Breast tumors
  Thyroid dysfunction
  Infertility
  Adrenal gland fatigue
  Thickened uterine lining
  Headaches, migraines
  Accelerated aging
  Severe menstrual cramps
  Miscarriage
  Heavy periods with clotting
  Anxiety and panic attacks
  Joint and muscle pain
  Autoimmune disorders

Time to get up to speed on Estrogen dominance.

The following info can be found on the website http://www.energeticnutrition.com/

Full Article

When your hormones are in balance, everything from digestion to immunity works properly. You feel great, look great, have the energy of a teenager, and your sex drive is normal. This is your body performing at its best.

Hormonal imbalance is created when the ratio of estrogen to progesterone sways too much one way or another. The most common extreme imbalance is excess estrogen in relation to progesterone. This is called “Estrogen Dominance.”

For an overview about hormones and their changes over a woman’s lifetime, please read the

Hormonal Balance page. The information below about estrogen dominance provides more in-depth information about hormones and estrogen dominance, for both women and men.

Estrogens and Progesterone Overview
Two types of sex (steroid) hormones are estrogens and progesterone. There are three estrogens: B-estradiol, estrone and estriol. B-estradiol is by far the most potent. It is 12 times more potent than estrone and 80 times more potent than estriol. Any over exposure to B-estradiol can increase a person’s risk of disease. Estriol is considered the “good estrogen.” There is only one type of progesterone, and it considered a very safe hormone. Progesterone is called progestin when it is in a synthetic form.
Estrogen and progesterone work in synchronization with each other as checks and balances to achieve hormonal harmony in both sexes. Estrogen and progesterone need the presence of each other in order to perform their individual functions.

Estrogen
Maintaining estrogen balance can be difficult for many. For many decades of a woman’s life circulating estrogens are fluctuating and cause both good and bad influences. The primary role of estrogen is to maintain the growth and function of the uterus so that the sex organs can become adult sized, and prepares the uterine lining to accept an egg. Additionally, estrogen affects skeletal growth, skin, fat and protein deposition, and electrolyte balance. Men also produce a certain amount of estrogen.

Progesterone
Progesterone is the building block for many other major hormones. Other sex hormones are formed from progesterone, including the corticosteroids, which are essential for stress response, electrolyte balance, blood pressure, and lastly, survival. Cortisol, DHEA, testosterone and estrogen are all made from progesterone in a process that begins with cholesterol. Progesterone is the primary hormone of fertility and pregnancy. It is essential to the survival of the fertilized egg, then the embryo, then the fetus. In pregnancy, it prevents the shedding of the uterine lining. A drop in progesterone can result in a miscarriage.

Causes of Estrogen Dominance
Estrogen dominance is generally not caused by one factor, but often many factors, including:

Hormonal imbalance
Hormone therapy
Environmental estrogens
Stressful lifestyle
Glandular dysfunction

Hormonal Imbalance
From the time menses begins until menopause, levels of estrogen and progesterone ebb and flow in a manner which promotes reproduction. At about age 35 to 40, women reach the time of premenopause, which is when their levels of progesterone and estrogen begin to reduce.

Normal Hormone Progression
During this time through age 50, there is a 35% drop in estrogen, but a 75% reduction in progesterone occurring simultaneously. This is normal, and does create many premenopausal symptoms that we accept as part of the aging process.
Many premenopausal women in their mid to late thirties, as well as many women in the menopausal stage are overloaded with estrogen. At the same time they are suffering from progesterone deficiency because of the severe drop in physiological production during this period. There is then insufficient progesterone to counteract the amount of estrogen in our body. It is most noticeable among peri-menopausal women who do not ovulate, which is quite common. You may have a fairly normal cycle, but no egg is released and very little progesterone is produced.
It is not the absolute deficiency of estrogen or progesterone, but rather the relative dominance of estrogen and possible deficiency of progesterone that is the main cause of health problems when they are not in balance.

The end result: excessive estrogen relative to progesterone, add up to a condition Dr. John Lee has termed “estrogen dominance.”

Dr. Lee’s books,

What Your Doctor May NOT Tell You About Premenopause and What Your Doctor May NOT Tell You About Menopause explain this and more in-depth. These books are available on our website.

Hormone Therapy
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
A woman reaches menopause naturally around the age of 50, or as a result of having her ovaries surgically removed. Until recently, doctors routinely prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopausal symptoms. These prescription drugs are comprised of synthetic estrogen or an estrogen-progestin combination. HRT is also used to protect against the loss of bone after menopause.

But, there are risks. Concerns about hormone therapy arose from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) clinical trial, whose purpose was to address the most common causes of death, disability and impaired quality of life in postmenopausal women. The hormone replacement therapy (HRT) component of the WHI trial looked at the long-term use of oral HRT in older women in the USA for the prevention of disease. The WHI study was stopped in 2002 because the incidence of invasive breast cancer exceeded the safety level set by the WHI. Many doctors are no longer prescribing synthetic HRT.
For women taking the combination of estrogen-progestin (Prempro) used in the study, researchers found an increased risk of:
Heart disease
Breast cancer
Stroke
Blood clots
Dementia
In addition, not only did hormone therapy increase the women's risk of breast cancer, it also made tumors harder to detect, leading to potentially dangerous delays in diagnosis.
For women taking estrogen alone (Premarin), preliminary results showed no increased risk of breast cancer or heart disease but did find a slightly increased risk of stroke.
Women and their doctors are discovering that conventional HRT does not give them the overall health and well-being they had hoped for, and they are seeking out healthier alternatives, such as natural

bio-identical hormone replacement, lifestyle changes, and diet changes. What everyone will hopefully soon realize is that menopausal and sexual reproductive problems are actually symptoms of overall hormonal imbalances. Women need to get a complete picture of their hormonal status and find appropriate therapeutic steps to maintaining balance.

Birth Control Pills
Birth control pills contain estrogen, and contribute to the development or worsening of estrogen dominance. Depending on dosage, they can be very potent, and linger for a long period of time in the body.

Dr. Joseph Mercola’s webpage “

Just Say No to Birth Control Pills” states the following about birth control pills:
A woman's natural cycle is composed of rising and falling levels of estrogen and progesterone. Birth control pills work by keeping estrogen at a sufficiently high level that they fool the body into thinking it is pregnant, therefore another pregnancy cannot occur.
Cramping, painful and irregular periods are often due to a deficiency of progesterone and an excess of estrogen. Estrogen-alone birth control pills -- the most commonly prescribed pills on the market now -- often compound the problem. That's why some women have intolerable estrogen-induced side effects when they are on birth control pills such as weight gain, mood swings, and breast tenderness .
What is not usually mentioned, or even known, is the metabolism of birth control pills by the liver requires extra amounts of the B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium, and zinc. That means if you're taking birth control pills for years at a time, as are most American women, you're creating nutrient deficiencies. Weight gain, fluid retention, mood changes, depression and even heart disease can all arise from nutrient imbalance.

Environmental Estrogens
We are constantly assaulted by estrogens in our environment from the food we eat and the chemicals we use. Estrogen mimickers in the form of chemicals (xenoestrogens), and foods and plants (phytoestrogens), mimic the action of estrogen produced in cells and can alter hormonal activity.
Evidence is steadily growing that xenoestrogens and other hormone mimicking substances are implicated in a wide range of human and wildlife health problems. Estrogen dominance from these environmental hormone disrupters are causing an imbalance of female hormones, creating a host of estrogen dominance symptoms (see chart below). Girls and boys are reaching puberty too early as a result of these disrupters. Additionally, xenoestrogens produce hormonal stimuli that contributes to inappropriate growth of mammary tissue cells, resulting in a problem society is calling “man boobs.” Some theorize that estrogen dominance in men is contributing to hair loss, atherosclerosis, prostrate problems, lowered libido, and impotency.

Xenoestrogens
Xeno literally means foreign, therefore xenoestrogens means foreign estrogens. Some of the 70,000 registered chemicals for use in the United States have hormonal effects in addition to toxic effects. The synergistic effects of exposure to many xenoestrogens are well documented, but largely unknown.
Xenoestrogens found in certain pesticides, plastics, fuels and drugs are usually synthetic and difficult for the body to break down, and can amplify the effects of estrogen. These substances can increase the estrogen load in the body over time, and are difficult to detoxify through the liver. Exposure to xenoestrogens is a concern for everyone. Those with an estrogen dominance condition should be particularly concerned about avoiding xenoestrogens.
Xenoestrogens can be found in many of our meats and dairy products in the form of chemicals and growth hormones that are given to the animals. These can be quite powerful, and should be avoided where possible. Choosing meat and dairy items that do not contain Rbst can help decrease xenoestrogen exposure.

Sources of Xenoestrogens
Commercially raised meat
Canned foods
Plastics, plastic food wraps
Styrofoam cups
Industrial wastes
Personal care products
Pesticides and herbicides
Paints, lacquers and solvents
Plant estrogens (soy, flaxseeds)
Car exhaust and indoor toxins
Cosmetics
Birth control pills and spermicide
Detergents
All artificial scents
Air fresheners, perfumes, etc)
For a more extensive list of xenoestrogens, see our

Environmental Estrogens page.

Phytoestrogens
Phytoestrogens (phyto meaning plant) are naturally occurring estrogenic compounds that are found in a variety of foods, herbs, spices. Their chemical structure resembles estrogen. These compounds are generally weak estrogens, in comparison to real estrogen and xenoestrogens, but in a body that is already experiencing too much estrogen, adding more will contribute to the problem.

Some of the strongest phytoestrogen containing substances are soy, the lignans found in flax seed products, red clover, black cohosh, chasteberry, and dong quai.

Soy includes soybeans, soy milk, tofu, tempeh, textured vegetable protein, roasted soybeans, soy granules, soy protein powders, miso, and edamames.
Over consumption of phytoestrogenic foods or herbs on a long term basis may actually increase the risk of estrogen dominance significantly. Furthermore, phytoestrogens have been shown to inhibit the conversion of T4 to the active T3 thyroid hormone, and can trigger hypothyroidism. It is suggested that those with a history of thyroid imbalance, or suffering from estrogen dominance, should consume a minimum amount of phytoestrogens.

Stressful Lifestyle and Glandular Dysfunction
Stress causes adrenal gland exhaustion and reduced progesterone output. This tilts the estrogen to progesterone ratios in favor of estrogen. Excessive estrogen in turn causes insomnia and anxiety, which further taxes the adrenal gland. This leads to a further reduction in progesterone output and even more estrogen dominance. After a few years in this type of vicious cycle, the adrenal glands become exhausted. This dysfunction leads to blood sugar imbalance, hormonal imbalances, and chronic fatigue.

In the female, a large part of hormonal balance is controlled by the three major glands: the adrenal gland, the thyroid gland, and the ovaries. Maintaining a proper balance among these three glands is of critical importance in any estrogen dominance recovery program. Excessive estrogen affects both thyroid and adrenal function, and in turn, dysfunctional thyroid and adrenal fatigue makes estrogen dominance worse. They all go hand in hand. When not functioning properly, these three glands, controlling the majority of the hormones in the body, can lead to a viscous downward cycle of hormonal imbalance. Worse yet is that conventional medicine often times are mislead into treating symptom after symptom without addressing the root cause. A wide variety of prescriptions from sleeping pills to anti-depressants are dispensed. Unfortunately, such symptom-based protocol will often make things worse instead of better.

Estrogen Dominance Symptoms
The following symptoms are common among those with excess estrogen. What begins with mild symptoms in younger years often becomes moderate in the mid to late 30s, and severe by the time a woman reaches her mid 40s.

________________________________________________________

If you are experiencing as few as 6 of these symptoms, you probably have some level of estrogen dominance.

Mild: Premenstrual breast tenderness/mood swings/fluid retention/weight gain/headaches. Menstrual cramps.

Moderate: Irregular menstruation, weight gain, hair loss, depression, fatigue, thyroid dysfunction, adrenal gland fatigue, headaches, severe menstrual cramps, heavy periods, joint & muscle pain, decreased libido, insomnia, dry eyes.

Severe: Uterine fibroid tumors, endometriosis, fibrocyctic breasts, polycystic ovary syndrome, breast tumors, infertility, thickened uterine lining, accelerated aging, miscarriage, anxiety and panic attacks, autoimmune disorders.

________________________________________________________

Health Consequences of Estrogen Dominance
Estrogen dominance can lead to many different related health conditions. For example, in women, over-stimulation from estrogen of the breast tissue can cause tenderness, swelling, and fibrocystic breasts. In the uterus, excess estrogen stimulation may lead to endometriosis, hyperplasia, heavy or irregular menses, menstrual cramping and uterine fibroid tumors. If estrogen over-stimulation occurs in the liver, we see weight gain, constipation, cyclical headaches and migraines, depression, mood swings, fluid retention, and low libido among many other symptoms.

Review the following link for a more complete list of symptoms

http://www.johnleemd.com/store/estrogen_dom.html

Furthermore:
Not only has it been well established that estrogen dominance encourages the development of breast cancer…it also stimulates breast tissue that can trigger fibrocystic breast disease.

Estrogen dominance can cause weight gain, headaches, bad temper, chronic fatigue and loss of interest in sex…among other symptoms.
Excess estrogen can lead to a decrease in the rate of new bone formation…

Although most doctors are not yet aware of it, this is the prime cause of osteoporosis.

Estrogen dominance increases the risk of fibroids...
In estrogen-dominant menstruating women where progesterone is not peaking and falling in a normal way each month, the ordered shedding of the womb lining doesn't take place.
Menstruation becomes irregular.
Water logging of the cells and an increase in intercellular sodium, which predispose a woman to high blood pressure or hypertension, frequently occur with estrogen dominance.
The risk of stroke and heart disease is increased dramatically when a woman is estrogen-dominant.
-Source: Leslie Kenton, Passage to Power, Random House, UK, 1995

Correcting Estrogen Dominance
What assists in correcting estrogen dominance? Alternative health care makes the following suggestions:

• Hormonal support with a

natural progesterone cream

Nutritional supplements to ensure your body has the nutrients it needs to make and balance its hormones. These nutrients tend to be low when estrogen is high: Magnesium
Zinc
Vitamin B Complex
Vitamin E 400 IU for breast tenderness and fibroid inflammation
DIM and/or Myomin to metabolize excess estrogen

Dietary and environmental changes to rid yourself of phytoestrogens and xenoestrogens (environmental estrogens)

Lifestyle changes to manage the stresses in your life

Natural Progesterone Natural progesterone cream supplements low progesterone levels and balances the ratio between estrogen and progesterone, thereby assisting in promoting proper hormone balance. It can be safely used by menstruating women, pre- and peri-menopausal women, and menopausal women. Men with estrogen dominance can also benefit from progesterone. Additionally, women who may not be highly estrogen dominant find that if a progesterone cream is used on a regular basis, their menses and PMS are less difficult.

DIM - DiindolylmethaneDiindolylmethane (DIM) is a powerful metabolizer of estrogen, assisting in removing excess estrogen and benefiting conditions associated with estrogen dominance. Supplementation with DIM can help promote proper estrogen levels through the pre- and peri-menopausal years, and in men experiencing higher estrogen levels. These conditions include uterine fibroid tumors, fibrocystic breasts, glandular dysfunction, and more. It can also benefit men by improving estrogen-dominance related health issues such as hair loss, atherosclerosis, prostrate problems, lowered libido, and impotency. DIM also promotes testosterone action, which improves mood, fights depression, boosts libido, improves cardiovascular health, improves memory, and supports muscular development.

MyominMyomin is a formula of four Chinese herbs that promote proper hormonal balance. Like DIM, Myomin also metabolizes excess estrogens. Myomin inhibits aromatase, which can reduce levels of bad estrogens (estradiol and estrone), and promotes production of the good estrogen (estriol). For men and women, this action prevents the conversion of testosterone into bad estrogens, and leads to the unhindered production of more estriol from progesterone, DHEA and other hormones. Additionally, some of the herbs help promote shrinkage of tumors and cysts. Of the two, DIM is the stronger metabolizer of estrogen.

It is very important to understand that what may be true for one woman is not necessarily true for another. The journey of hormonal changes is an individual one. What this also implies is that the treatment for one individual can be quite different from that of another.

Conclusion
You can reduce your exposure to xenoestrogens by choosing body care products without chemicals, using chemical-free cleaning products, limiting daily intake of phytoestrogens, as well as reducing exposure to exhaust fumes and indoor pollutants.
Choosing lean, organic meat and dairy products is best. Purchase organic fruits and vegetables as much as possible. If they are not available, thoroughly wash or peel all produce to remove at least some of the pesticides.

Heat food in metal or porcelain container, not plastic, and definitely not in the microwave with plastic wrap. Using glass containers to drink from rather than plastic, previously used water bottles, or Styrofoam cups can also help reduce xenoestrogen exposure.

Key points to reducing estrogen dominance:
Avoid chemical sources of estrogen (xenoestrogen)
Avoid food sources of estrogen (phytoestrogens)
Cleanse the liver
Reduce stress
Balance hormones
Metabolize excess estrogen (DIM, Calcium D-Glucarate)
Do not heat food in plastic
Drink out of glass containers, not plastic or Styrofoam
Exercise

Suggested Further Reading
Hormonal Balance - For further information about a woman’s hormone lifecycle.
Environmental Estrogens – Learn more about xenoestrogens and phytoestrogens.
Fibroid Tumors – to learn about fibroid tumors.
Progesterone Creams, DIM, and Myomin - for products which may assist with obtaining hormonal balance.
Dr. Joseph Mercola - Just Say No to Birth Control Pills
Dr. Lam on Estrogen Dominance
Dr. Elizabeth Smith at www.fibroid101.com
Dr. Wong’s Article: Women's Fibrosis Conditions
Dr. Wong’s Article: Estrogen: How is it bad for you
Dr. Wong’s Article Soy: The Poison Seed
Dr. Wong’s Article The Hormones of Happiness
Women’s Health Initiative

Brain Health Improves with Fish Oil & Omega 3

Article Source: Alexis Black http://www.naturalnews.com/016353.html

It's no secret that long-term diet and nutrition choices have an effect on the way we look and feel; but new studies show that nutrition can also affect the way we think. As it turns out, there really is such a thing as “food for thought.”
It may seem strange that what we put in our stomachs can have such a powerful effect on what goes on in our minds, but research is increasingly showing that emotional, mental and psychiatric disorders like depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia may more likely be the result of dietary deficiencies than genetic predispositions.

The same is true of people who struggle with memory loss, have trouble learning new tasks, have Alzheimer’s disease or simply suffer from a lot of blue moods. The dietary deficiency that tends to frequently show up in these patients is a lack of omega-3 oils -- abundant fatty acids found in cold-water fish like salmon, herring and cod.

Omega-3s and brain health

The omega-3 fatty acid known as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an important ingredient for optimal brain function. Earl Mindell, RPh PhD, writes in Earl Mindell's Supplement Bible, “There's a reason why fish is known as brain food. It is a rich source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a fatty acid that is found in high concentration in the gray matter of the brain. DHA is instrumental in the function of brain cell membranes, which are important for the transmission of brain signals.” By making cell membranes more fluid, omega-3 fatty acids, especially DHA, improve communication between the brain cells, according to Mind Boosters author Dr. Ray Sahelia. As a result, lack of omega-3 in the body can cause a communication breakdown in the brain, which is probably the last place you'd want such a breakdown to happen.

Omega-3 fatty acids are so important to the development and proper maintenance of the brain that “some scientists even postulate that it was the ingestion of omega-3 EFAs that allowed the brain to evolve to the next stage in human development,” according to Superfoods Rx authors Steven G. Pratt and Kathy Matthews.

While omega-3s were abundant in our diets before the 20th century, they are now seriously lacking. The Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing write in The Folk Remedy Encyclopedia, “Just like a machine, your brain needs oil -- in the form of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids -- to run smoothly. Unfortunately, the average diet doesn't usually contain the right balance of these fatty acids. If you eat a typical modern diet, you probably get plenty of omega-6 through corn, soybean, and other oils in processed food. But omega-3 oils, which are just as important, are often missing.”
Pregnant women need omega-3s

It may not be surprising that most red-meat-loving Americans do not get a lot a fish in their diets, and therefore are not getting enough brain-boosting omega-3. Unfortunately, since DHA is crucial in fetal brain development, that lack of omega-3 could be putting us at a mental disadvantage before we are even born.
“During pregnancy, omega-3 fatty acids are conveyed from the mother's blood to the developing fetus by way of the placenta,” writes Phyllis A. Balch in Prescription For Dietary Wellness. “They are vital for the development of the brain and retina membranes of the fetus. Thus, the amount of DHA the baby receives depends on the mother's dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids.” Depending on Mom’s diet, then, a child’s brain could be starved for omega-3 before it has any say in the matter, and research shows this could actually have a significant impact on intelligence and vision.
“Several recent studies, conducted in both animals and humans, have shown that babies who receive adequate amounts of this vital fat have better functioning brains and higher IQs,” writes Dr. Russell L. Blaylock in Health And Nutrition Secrets. “Those with low amounts of DHA demonstrate learning difficulties and visual problems.”

Therefore, moms who want to brag about their kids’ intelligence could stand to add more fish to their diets.

Omega-3 fatty acids continue to be essential to infant brain development after birth, and research shows babies who are breast fed receive higher levels of the important fatty acid than those fed formula, since baby formula in the United States is not required to contain any omega-3 at all. Breast milk appears, in this case, to have major payoffs, according to Phyllis A. Balch, CNC and Dr. James F. Balch in Prescription For Nutritional Healing, who write, “Breastfed infants have been found to be more intelligent than formula-fed infants and to achieve higher academic levels in adult life.”

Omega-3s can aid mental and emotional disorders

The brain’s need for omega-3 fatty acids does not go away post-infancy. Omega-3 deficiencies in adults have been linked to various mental and emotional disorders. In fact, “some doctors even think the epidemic amounts of mental illness in modern societies can be traced back to the omega imbalance in the food supply,” according to Eat and Heal, by the Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing.
Low levels of DHA have been linked to memory loss, depression, bipolar disorder, attention deficit disorder, schizophrenia, autism and general learning difficulties or bad moods. “If you don't feed brain cell membranes enough of the right type of fat, the messages can be short-circuited and garbled. That may mean a disturbance in mood, concentration, memory, attention, and behavior,” writes Miracle Cures author Jean Carper. Depression in particular has been frequently linked to low levels of DHA, since omega-3 fatty acids help regulate mood by increasing levels of serotonin, the hormone that relieves depression.
Omega-3 may be just as important to the elderly population as it is to newborns, since diminishing omega-3 levels may be a contributing factor to stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. According to Eat and Heal, one of the possible causes of Alzheimer’s disease is beta-amyloid plaque, or clumps of protein, that accumulate in the victim's brain, and “experts believe beta-amyloid might be connected with inflammation of the brain's blood vessels.”
Since omega-3 fatty acids are known to reduce inflammation, they could also be an important key in the fight against this frightening degenerative disease, as has been suggested by research in Japan. “Japanese studies have shown that supplemental DHA sharpens memory in patients with dementia and depression and improves behavior and speech in those with Alzheimer's disease,” writes Dr. Julian Whitaker in The Memory Solution.

Omega-3 fatty acids aid in routine memory function in people without Alzheimer’s, as well. “One study found that DHA supplementation significantly decreased the number of reference memory errors and working memory errors in aged male rats and in young rats,” writes Gary Null in Power Aging.

For people who don’t like fish, omega-3 fatty acids are also available in some plant foods, like flaxseed and walnuts, but they are not as potent in these forms. Fish remains the best source of omega-3s, and diets lacking in the essential fatty acids may need supplements. “For optimal brain function, I recommend that you consume fish at least two or three times a week. If your diet does not include enough of the omega-3 fatty acids or enough fish, you could consider taking supplements of fish oils or flaxseed oil,” writes Dr. Sahelia.

http://www.naturalnews.com/016353.html

Osteoporosis - Part 8 - Reversing Bone Loss

Reversing Bone Loss by Michael Klaper MD

If a diagnosis of osteoporosis has already been made on a bone density study, then increasing your bone density should become priority number one. Yes, osteoporosis can be reversed. Even into old age, the osteoblasts still retain the ability to deposit calcium in the bone structure - and indeed they do so on a daily basis.

Because bone building is constantly in progress, bones – even osteoporotic ones - can be helped to make themselves stronger.

A basic bone-building plan should utilize all of the modalities below:
1. Eliminate all “calcium thieves” – especially excess animal protein, sugar, salt, cigarette smoke, alcohol, and phosphoric acid-containing cola drinks.
2. Be sure your intake of calcium and magnesium exceed 1000 mg. of each daily.
3. Assure an adequate intake of other trace minerals, especially boron, manganese, chromium, copper, zinc and silicon in the dosages previously given.
4. Assure adequate vitamin intake, especially vitamin B-6, folic acid, vitamin C, and vitamin K at the dosages given previously.
5. Consult with your physician about the role of hormone replacement, especially natural progesterone for women and testosterone for men. For the lean, athletic woman whose menstrual periods have stopped, she is at risk for osteoporosis due to excessively low hormone levels. In her pursuit of a low-fat diet, she may be ingesting so little fat that she cannot make adequate levels of progesterone in other bone-protecting hormones. (For that reason, she would be wise to increase the amount of fat in her diet via ingesting two to three teaspoons daily of an omega 3-rich oil such as flax seed oil or hemp seed oil, available in the refrigerator case of natural food stores.) Such a small amount of fat will not result in weight gain, but can be instrumental in maintaining healthy bones and other hormone-dependent organs.
6. Institute a regular program of weight-bearing activity, possibly including exercise with elastic-resistance bands.

Conclusion
If this common sense approach to building and maintaining bone strength is diligently practiced, you can look forward to enjoying strong bones that will serve you well throughout a long, active, and healthy life.

RESOURCES
Preventing and Reversing Osteoporosis by Alan Gaby, M.D.
Prima Publishing P.O. Box 1260BK Rocklin, CA 95677

Natural Progesterone by John R. Lee, M.D.
BLL Publishing P.O. Box #2068 Sebastopol, CA 95473

The John R. Lee Medical Letter c/o Publisher’s Mgmt. Corp. P. O. Box 84900 Phoenix, AZ 85071
Phone: 1-800-528-0559 URL: http://www.johnleemd.com/

Natural Hormone Replacement by Jonathan V. Wright, M.D. and John Morgenthaler
Smart Publications P. O. Box 4667 Petaluma, CA 94955
Phone: 1-800-543-3873 URL: http://www.smart-publications.com/

Delicious, low-fat meals made with calcium-sparing, moderate-protein, whole-foods ingredients can be found in:
Food for Life by Neal Barnard, M.D. Harmony Books

CalciYum! by David and Rachelle Bronfman
Bromedia Inc. Box 778, 181 Bay Street Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5J 2T3

The Peaceful Palate by Jennifer M. Raymond, M.S.
1418 Cedar Street Calistoga, CA 94515

REFERENCES
1. Riggs, B.L., and L. J. Melton, III. 1986. Involutional osteoporosis. N England Journal of Medicine 314:1676-1686.
2. a) Riggs, B.L., et al. 1987. Dietary calcium intake and rates of bone loss in women. J Clin Invest 80:979-982.
b) Riis, B., et al. 1987. Does calcium supplementation prevent postmenopausal bone loss? A double-blind, controlled clinical study. New England Journal of Medicine 316:173-177.
c) Barger-Lux, MJ, et al. The role of calcium intake in preventing bone fragility, hypertension, and certain cancers. Journal of Nutrition 1994;124:1406S-1411S.
3. a) Aloia, J., Exercise and skeletal health. Journal of American Geriatric Society 29:104, 1981.
b) Smith, E., Physical activity and calcium modalities for bone mineral increase in aged women. Med Sci, Sports Exercise 13:60, 1981.
c) Smith, E.L., 1982. Exercise for prevention of osteoporosis: A review. The Physician and Sportsmedicine 10(3):72-82.
d) DeBenedette, V., 1987. Study: Swimming may increase bone density. The Physician and Sportsmedicine 15(12):49.
4. a) Licata, A. Acute effects of dietary protein on calcium metabolism in patients with osteoporosis. J Gerontol 36:14, 1982.
b) Kerstetter, J.E., et al. Dietary protein increases urinary calcium. J Nutr. 1990;120:134-136.
c) Linkswiler, H.M., et al. Protein-induced hypercalciuria. Fed Proc. 1981;40:2429-2433.
5. Mazess, R., Bone mineral content of North Alaskan Eskimos. Am J Clin Nutr 27: 916,1974.
6. a) Ellis, R.R., et al., Osteoporosis in British vegetarians and omnivores. Am J Clin Nutr. 1974;27:769-770.
b) Sanchez, T.V., et al. Bone mineral density in elderly vegetarian and omnivorous females. In: Mazeness R.B., ed. Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Bone Mineral Measurements. Bethesda, MD: National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism, and Digestive Diseases; 1980:94-98.
7. Lemann, J., Jr., et al. 1969. Possible role of carbohydrate-induced calciuria in calcium oxalate kidney-stone formation. New England Journal of Medicine 280:232-237.
8. Mazarlegos-Ramos E., et al. Consumption of soft drinks with phosphoric acid as a risk factor for the development of hypocalcemia in children: A case-control study. J Pediatr. 1995;126:940-942.
9. a) Heaney, R.P., et al. Effects of nitrogen, phosphorus, and caffeine on calcium balance in women. J Lab Clin Med. 1982;99:46-55.
b) Hernandez-Avila, M., et al. 1991. Caffeine, moderate alcohol intake, and risk of fractures of the hip and forearm in middle-aged women. American Journal Clinical Nutrition 54:157-163.
10. Daniell, H. Osteoporosis of the slender smoker; vertebral compression fractures and loss of metacarpal cortex in relation to postmenopausal cigarette smoking and lack of obesity. Arch Intern Med 136:298, 1976.
11. a) Bikle, D. Bone disease in alcohol abuse.ann Intern Med 103:42, 1985.
b) Spencer, H., et al. 1985. Alcohol-osteoporosis. American Journal Clinical Nutrition 41:847.
12. a) Define, A., et al. A longitudinal study of the effect of sodium and calcium intakes on regional bone density in postmenopausal women. American Journal Clinical Nutrition 1995;62:740-745.
b) Matkovic, V., et al. Urinary calcium, sodium, and bone mass of young females. American Journal Clinical Nutrition 1995;62:417-425.
13. a) Abelow, BlJ., et al. Cross-cultural association between dietary animal protein and hip fracture: A hypothesis. Calcif Tissue Int. 1992;50:14-18.
b)Ju J-F, et al. Dietary calcium and bone density among middle-aged and elderly women in China. American Journal Clinical Nutrition 1993;58:219-227.
c) Kin K., et al. Bone density and body composition on the Pacific Rim. A comparison between Japan-born and U.S. born Japanese-American women. J Bone Miner Res. 1993;8:861-869.
d) Russell-aulet, M., et al. Bone mineral density and mass in a cross-sectional study of white and Asian women. J Bone Miner Res. 1993;8:575-582.

Osteoporosis - Part 6 - Supplements and Other Strategies

Osteoporosis - Supplements and Other Strategies by Michael Klaper, MD

Although calcium intake alone is not to be relied upon as the total osteoporosis prevention or reversal program, an abundant calcium intake should be part of everyone’s diet.

Aiming for a calcium intake of 1000 mg. to 1200 mg. a day is a good idea.

Until the last fifty years, our diets contained far more whole fruits and vegetables - and thus significantly more calcium - than we consume today. Unless you eat several helpings of dark green leafy vegetables and a cup of nuts or seeds daily – not impossible, just uncommon - one would be wise to consider including in the daily diet calcium-fortified orange juice from the supermarket, or beverages such as calcium-fortified soy milk and rice milk from the natural food store. You can also take a calcium supplement, as a tablet, liquid or powder - 500 to 1000 milligrams per day. (This amount of supplemental calcium should be sufficient, since the calcium found in other foods and drinking water predictably provides at least 500 mg. - 700 mg. of calcium per day.)

Preferably, supplemental calcium is always balanced with approximately equal amounts of magnesium, as magnesium is essential for retaining calcium in the skeletal structure.

Remember, however, that you cannot prevent or reverse osteoporosis just by swallowing large amounts of calcium supplements. Excessive amounts of calcium can lead to precipitation of calcium-containing kidney stones as well as calcium deposits in muscles, tendons, and other vital tissues. Osteoporosis is a disease of the active dissolution of bone structure - calcium first, and then the structural collagen protein – and the entire process must be reversed.

As important as it is for us to avoid “calcium thieves,” there are several additional nutritional components to bone health that must be consumed in order to prevent or reverse osteoporosis.

These nutrients include:

• Vitamin K,
• Vitamin B‑6, and
• the earth elements, manganese, copper, zinc, boron, and silicon.

These nutrients are all present in

• whole, plant-based foods, such as dark green leafy vegetables,
• root vegetables,
• nuts,
• seeds,
• grains,
• sea vegetables (nori, arame, wakame, etc.), and
• fruits.

Vitamin D is essential for us to absorb calcium from our food into our bloodstream. Vitamin D is made naturally in our skin as sunlight falls upon it (15 minutes per day of gentle sunlight on the skin of the arms is all that is required. If such sun exposure unavailable, an oral Vitamin D supplement should be taken).
In view of the foregoing, if you are taking a multivitamin/mineral supplement, be sure it contains the following nutrients in approximately the indicated amounts. To gain the most benefit, try to consume the supplements twice daily, with or shortly after meals:

• Calcium 250-500 mg.,
• Magnesium 250-500 mg.,
• Zinc 15 mg.,
• Copper 1-2 mg. 5-10 mg.
• Boron 1-3 mg.
• Silicon 1-2 mg.
• Vitamin B-6 5-25 mg.
• Folic Acid .08 - 5 mg.
• Vitamin C 100-1000 mg.
• Vitamin D 100-200 I.U.
• Vitamin K 100-500 mcg.
  [A person who is being medicated with the anticoagulant drug, warfarin, should not take supplements with Vitamin K, as that vitamin can counteract the effects of their “blood thinner.”]
  The above nutrient recommendations, along with a full discussion of the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis, are presented in the excellent book, Preventing and Reversing Osteoporosis, by physician and educator, Alan Gaby, M.D. (See “Resources” section.)

See next post for Part 7

Osteoporosis - Part 5 - Dairy Reconsidered

Osteoporosis - Dairy Reconsidered by Michael Klaper, MD

For people who dutifully drink milk and swallow cheese, ice cream and yogurt, believing that the magic of cow’s milk will ward off fractures in old age, be advised that there is very little evidence that dairy products prevent osteoporosis - in fact, just the opposite may be true.

Surprisingly, the nations who consume the most dairy products - the United States, Israel, the Netherlands and Scandinavian countries - suffer the highest incidences of osteoporosis.

If dairy products actually prevented osteoporosis, it would be rare in America and these other countries - yet, it is actually more rampant in these nations than in less developed countries.

Conversely, most humans on our planet, in Asia, South America, and Africa, virtually never consume cow's milk products - the milk, transportation, and refrigeration simply are not available. Yet, osteoporosis is not a common condition in these countries. Most of these people (barring starvation or parasitic diseases) enjoy strong bones throughout their physically active lives, deriving essentially all their calcium from green vegetables, seeds, grains, and from their drinking water.

Incidentally, seeing cow's milk and dairy products as far from essential for bone health can be advantageous for the rest of your body.

Cow's milk contains proteins and other substances that are thought to play a major role in many serious diseases, like asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, recurring ear infections, eczema, colitis, and various autoimmune diseases.

Don't be surprised if, after a few weeks without dairy products, your body feels and functions better in many ways - less swallowed phlegm, intestinal gas, runny nasal secretions, and other common, milk-related symptoms.

Fortunately, these days, going dairy free is no great hardship. It is easy to find non-dairy replacements for milk, yogurt, ice cream, cheese, and other cow's milk-based products - just check in the refrigerator and freezer cases of your local natural food store or supermarket.

See next post for Part 6

Osteoporosis - Part 4

Calcium theives continued..... by Michael Klaper, MD

The “calcium thieves” that gain “oral entrance” into our bodies commonly include:
a. Concentrated animal protein.
Chicken, fish, and other meat-based products (burgers, hot dogs, fish fillets, etc.) all contain concentrated protein whose acidic nature dissolves calcium out of the bones. The dissolved calcium is washed through the bloodstream and is excreted by the kidneys into the urine. This phenomenon is well known to nutritional scientists and is called “protein-induced hypercalciuria”
This means that diets high in meats and other animal products produce a sustained loss of calcium from the body.
It has been known for years that the ethnic group with some of the most severe osteoporosis on the planet are the Native American Inuit living in the Arctic. This is due in significant part to their ingestion of large quantities of high-protein fish and seal meat. This high-protein diet apparently results in high losses of calcium from their bones and leads to advanced osteoporosis among their women.
What this effect means to your bones is that most every time you have a meal based upon a large piece of chicken, fish, or red meat, for the following several hours, precious calcium is leached from your skeleton into your urine - destined for the sewer system.

Therefore, it is wise to minimize the portions of animal protein on your plate and look for more skeleton-friendly foods in the plant kingdom.

Fortunately, most proteins of plant origin, especially those in whole grains, potatoes, fruits, seeds, and green and yellow vegetables, are significantly less acidic than animal-based proteins - and thus they have far less tendency to steal calcium from the bones. It's been observed for many years that osteoporosis is less of a problem among vegetarians than among omnivores.

So, to reduce your loss of bone calcium from your food choices, stop seeing chicken, fish, and lean beef as "health foods." Begin to base more of your meals on whole, plant-based foods, like Oriental vegetable stir-fries over rice, bean burritos, whole grain casseroles, potato-based entrees, as well as other high-fiber meals which can be found in the recipe books listed in the “Resources” section. If you are trying to decrease the amount of carbohydrates in your diet, increase your proportion of vegetable-based entrees on your plate (stews, soups, salads, stir-fries, etc.) and reduce the proportion of pastas or other high-carbohydrate foods.

Although animal proteins are among the most pervasive of “calcium thieves” in the Western diet, there are other common culprits that we ingest that cause our bones to age and weaken prematurely.
These include:
b. Sugar (as in cakes and candies), which makes the kidneys urinate out calcium.7
c. Phosphoric acid, a common ingredient in cola drinks that gives the cola its “bite,” is a potent calcium thief8, as is
d. Caffeine in coffee, tea, or cola drinks.
e. Cigarette smoke
f. Alcohol both leach calcium out of the bones11, (alcoholics and cigarette smokers both suffer high rates of osteoporosis).
g. Excessive amounts of salt (actually, the element sodium) in some people can cause excessive urinary calcium loss. People at risk for osteoporosis should avoid pickled foods, preserved meats, chips, and other high-salt foods.

Well, there you have the recipe for osteoporosis:

1. Be a woman (women start with less calcium in their bones than men),
2. work at a sedentary desk job,
3. eat your tuna fish or chicken breast for lunch,
4. sip all day on your diet cola,
5. smoke your cigarettes,
6. have a glass of wine or beer after work, and
7. do as little physical exercise as you possibly can.

This is a sure way to waste away the very element needed to keep your bones strong, and to hasten your trip to a fractured hip - a predictable, but fortunately avoidable, course.

See next post for Part 5

Osteoporosis - Part 3

“Calcium Thieves” by Michael Klaper, MD

Why does this happen? In our daily lives, we encounter a number of "calcium thieves" that can rob our bones of this vital mineral. Interestingly, with one exception, all the “calcium thieves” have something in common - they are things that we put in our mouths.

We will examine them in a moment, but first we must consider the one "thief" that we do not ingest - in fact, the one that we do not have to do anything to invite to weaken our skeleton.

#1 Actually, this rascal is the number one cause of calcium flowing from the bones of modern women and men - simply the lack of physically using our bones, especially against the force of gravity.
Like muscle, nerve, and all the other tissues of the body, the more we use our bones, the stronger they become and the better they function. Every step you take sends pulses of electrical energy up and down the lengths of your leg bones. These pulsating currents of bio-electricity help to keep the calcium atoms firmly anchored in the substance of the skeleton.

Thus, every movement of our body - especially movements against resistance such as gravity, elastic exercise bands, etc. - helps to keep the bones calcified, healthy, and fracture-resistant.
Unfortunately, today most of us do very little manual labor - machines carry our loads, and even carry most of us everywhere - so we are free to sit for most of our day. This is a very effective way to let the calcium drain out of our bones. As we look around the globe, we see that in countries where people spend their entire long lives physically active, their bones stay strong. In these nations, the disease of osteoporosis is rare.
A dramatic demonstration of the opposite situation is seen in the astronauts, who spend relatively few days in gravity-free environments, and yet who suffer severe loss of calcium from their bones. Fortunately, the calcium is restored to the skeleton in a relatively short time when the astronaut is back in a normal-gravity environment. This is an important, and hopeful, clue for the rest of us - evidence that the osteoporotic process can be reversed.
To keep your bones healthy and to prevent osteoporosis, the most important thing you can do is to stay as physically active as you can throughout your life. Since calcium is always being laid down in the skeleton, it is never to late to begin to strengthen the bones. Medical studies by Dr. Aloia and others have shown that,

even in elderly people, osteoporotic bones can be made stronger by gentle but steady exercise, like walking up stairs or squeezing rubber balls.

Such is the power of using our muscles - it actually helps pull calcium into the bones and keep it there, keeping our skeleton strong.
Any exercise that places a mild, repeated stress on the bones, causes the bones to become thicker, stronger, and more calcified. Never miss a chance to walk up stairs or to carry packages. Never stop walking - try to take a brisk, 30 to 60-minute walk at least every other day - and more frequently is even better.
Although exercises against gravity are especially potent in helping bones stay strong, muscle contraction of any kind will help generate electrical currents that help pull calcium into the bones. Elastic, stretchable bands that can be used in resistance training, even while a person is sitting, are also excellent tools to provide muscular exercise that will help keep bones strong.
Now that we understand that our ever-more-sedentary desk jobs and lifestyles are the chief cause of the osteoporosis epidemic that is ravaging virtually all industrialized societies, we’ll look at the other major calcium thieves that attack our bones - namely, those hiding in things that we ingest. Let’s see how a moment of pleasure to entertain the tongue can rob precious calcium from the bones and weaken our very skeleton.

http://www.vegsource.com/klaper/index.htm

Osteoporosis - Part 2

Diagnosing Osteoporosis Michael Klaper MD

The loss of calcium from the bones is painless. Osteoporosis gives no warning symptoms until it is detected on a test or, worse, announces itself with a painful fracture.

If a person has the risk factors for osteoporosis

• Caucasian race,
• sedentary lifestyle,
• cigarette smoking, etc.

- she or he should consider having her bone density measured. Contrary to popular belief, an x-ray is not effective in diagnosing early osteoporosis. By the time decreased bone density can be diagnosed on an x-ray film, the osteoporotic process is already far advanced. Long before reaching this point, anyone suspected of developing osteoporosis should have their skeletal density assessed with a non-invasive test called bone densitometry. This painless examination uses a light ray to measure the density of the bones, usually at the wrist and lower spine. Any family doctor can order this test.
Osteoporosis is not an inevitable part of growing older. Nature would not supply us with a heart and blood vessel system made to function for over 100 years, while giving us bones destined to fall apart at age 60! Bones are supposed to last as long as all the rest of our organs, at least to the hundred year mark - and beyond.

Rather than being a normal part of aging, osteoporosis is a disease state – characterized by excessive loss of calcium from the bones with eventual dissolution of the bone structure. This is an important concept. Osteoporosis is not so much a disease of deficient calcium intake, but rather excessive calcium loss from the bones. Where is the calcium going? It's going out through the kidneys into the urine - and down the toilet!

See Part 3, next post.

Osteoporosis Part 1

from http://www.vegsource.com/klaper/qa05.htm
Dear Dr. Klaper,
What are your thoughts on osteoporosis? What is it and what can we do to prevent it? Can it be reversed and bone strength improved?
-- J.K.

Dear J.K.:
Good - and timely - questions. Everyone has an image of her in their mind - the little, old woman, bent over with a C-shaped spine. She is the embodiment of a process that does to the skeleton what Alzheimer’s disease does to the brain. In osteoporosis, for which she has become the symbol, the bones become so weakened and crumbly they have the tensile strength of styrofoam.

Daily body movements and the relentless force of gravity have compressed the vertebral bones of her spine, collapsing them, and bending her permanently forward. Most of her skeleton is equally as fragile. A cough, a hug, or a minor fall, can snap a rib, an arm, a thigh - and a fractured hip in one’s seventies or eighties can be a death sentence.

The specter of the elderly woman with the collapsing spine described above is a common one, but far from complete picture. The young, lean, female long-distance runner or a 60-year old apparently healthy male would not seem to be candidates for osteoporosis – yet they too can be victims. In industrialized nations, osteoporosis is a devastating, but silent, epidemic. One out of four Americans will suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture during their lifetime - at least 1.2 million fractures in the U.S. resulting in medical and social costs of at least 6.1 billion dollars every year.

If you believe the many advertisements, osteoporosis results from not swallowing enough calcium in our daily diets.

Yet, medical studies show that merely consuming more dairy products or calcium tablets is not sufficient to prevent nor reverse this devastating disease.

So, let’s consider some of the underlying causes of osteoporosis, as well as strategies for preserving and even strengthening our bones.

To understand osteoporosis, we must first realize that our bones are alive. Rather than dead, chalky rods that support us as we walk, sit, and stand, our bones are living tissue, with a rich blood supply and a high level of metabolic activity. Bones are constantly being built up by busy cells called “osteoblasts,” as well as being dismantled and re-shaped by the bone-dissolving cells called "osteoclasts." The balance of bone build-up versus bone break-down determines the strength of our skeletons. When bone dissolution and breakdown exceeds the rate of bone construction, our skeleton becomes weakened and susceptible to fracture - the disease of osteoporosis.
(see part 2, next post)

Natural Progesterone Cream - Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

About Progesterone Cream

by John R. Lee, M.D. and Virginia Hopkins

Q: What is progesterone?
A: Progesterone is a steroid hormone made by the corpus luteum of theovary at ovulation, and in smaller amounts by the adrenal glands.Progesterone is manufactured in the body from the steroid hormone pregnenolone, and is a precursor to most of the other steroid hormones, including cortisol, androstenedione, the estrogens and testosterone.In a normally cycling female, the corpus luteum produces 20 to 30 mg ofprogesterone daily during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.

Q: Why do women need progesterone?
A: Progesterone is needed in hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women for many reasons, but one of its most important roles is to balance or oppose the effects of estrogen. Unopposed estrogen creates a strong risk for breast cancer and reproductive cancers.Estrogen levels drop only 40-60% at menopause, which is just enough to stop the menstrual cycle. But progesterone levels may drop to near zero in some women. Because progesterone is the precursor to so many other steroid hormones, its use can greatly enhance overall hormone balance after menopause. Progesterone also stimulates bone-building and thus helps protect against osteoporosis.

Q: Why not just use the progestin Provera as prescribed by most doctors?
A: Progesterone is preferable to the synthetic progestins such as Provera, because it is natural to the body and has no undesirable side effects when used as directed. If you have any doubts about how different progesterone is from the progestins, remember that the placenta produces 300-400 mg of progesterone daily during the last few months of pregnancy, so we know that such levels are safe for the developing baby. But progestins, even at fractions of this dose, can cause birth defects. The progestins also causemany other side effects, including partial loss of vision, breast cancer in test dogs, an increased risk of strokes, fluid retention, migraine headaches,asthma, cardiac irregularities and depression.

Q: What is estrogen dominance?
A: Dr. Lee has coined the term "estrogen dominance," to describe what happens when the normal ratio or balance of estrogen to progesterone is changed by excess estrogen or inadequate progesterone. Estrogen is a potent and potentially dangerous hormone when not balanced by adequate progesterone. Both women who have suffered from PMS and women who have suffered from menopausal symptoms, will recognize the hallmark symptoms of estrogen dominance:

• weight gain
• bloating
• mood swings
• irritability
• tender breasts
• headaches
• fatigue
• depression
• hypoglycemia
• uterine fibroids
• endometriosis
• fibrocystic breasts

• Estrogen dominance is known to cause and/or contribute to cancer of the breast, ovary, endometrium (uterus),and prostate.

Q: Why would a premenopausal woman need progesterone cream?

A: In the ten to fifteen years before menopause, many women regularly have anovulatory cycles in which they make enough estrogen to create menstruation, but they don't make any progesterone, thus setting the stage for estrogen dominance. Using progesterone cream during anovulatory months can help prevent the symptoms of PMS. We now know that PMS can occur despite normal progesterone levels when stress is present. Stress increases cortisol production; cortisol blockades (or competes for) progesterone receptors. Additional progesterone is required to overcome this blockade, and stress management is important.

Q: What is progesterone made from?
A: The USP progesterone used for hormone replacement comes from plant fats and oils, usually a substance called diosgenin which is extracted from a very specific type of wild yam that grows in Mexico, or from soybeans. In the laboratory diosgenin is chemically synthesized into real human progesterone. The other human steroid hormones, including estrogen, testosterone, progesterone and the cortisones are also nearly always synthesized from diosgenin. Some companies are trying to sell diosgenin, which they label "wild yam extract" as a medicine or supplement, claiming that the body will then convert it into hormones as needed. While we know this can be done in the laboratory, there is no evidence that this conversion takes place in the human body.

Q: Where should I put the progesterone cream?
A: Because progesterone is very fat-soluble, it is easily absorbed through the skin. From subcutaneous fat, progesterone is absorbed into capillary blood. Thus absorption is best at all the skin sites where people blush: face,neck, chest, breasts, inner arms and palms of the hands.

Q: What is the recommended dosage of progesterone?
A: For premenopausal women the usual dose is 15-24 mg/day for 14 days before expected menses, stopping the day or so before menses. For postmenopausal women, the dose that often works well is 15 mg/day for 25 days of the calendar month.

Q: What amount of progesterone do you recommend in a cream?
A: Dr. Lee recommends the creams that contain 450-500 mg of progesterone per ounce, which is 1.6% by weight or 3% by volume. This means that about ¼ teaspoon daily would provide about 20 mg/day.

Q: How safe is progesterone cream?
A: During the third trimester of pregnancy, the placenta produces about300 mg of progesterone daily, so we know that a one-time overdose of the cream is virtually impossible. If you used a whole jar at once it might make you sleepy. However, Dr. Lee recommends that women avoid using higher than the recommended dosage to avoid hormone imbalances. More is not better when it comes to hormone balance.

Q: Wouldn't it be easier to just take a progesterone pill?
A: Dr. Lee recommends the transdermal cream rather than oral progesterone, because some 80% to 90% of the oral dose is lost through the liver. Thus, at least 200 to 400 mg daily is needed orally to achieve aphysiologic dose of 15 to 24 mg daily. Such high doses create undesirable metabolites and unnecessarily overload the liver.

Q: Where can I get more information on progesterone and natural hormone balance?
A: For a detailed explanation of women's hormone balance issues, a hormone balance program, as well as detailed descriptions of how to use natural progesterone,
the following books by John R. Lee, M.D. are recommended:

• What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause: The Breakthrough Book on Natural Progesterone, (Warner Books, 1996)
• What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Pre menopause: Balance Your Hormones and Life from Thirty to Fifty (Warner Books, 1999)

*** I ordered the Life-Flo Progesta-Care Product and found that it has additional chemicals in it. I switched to a more natural Natural Progesterone product from Karuna called "Pure". ***Erin

Bone Strength - Getting the Right Vitamins & Minerals

Daily bone Xcel from Wellness Resources

Vitamins and Minerals for Bone Strength

Quality Vitamins and Minerals Make the Difference

The quality of calcium is important, as are numerous vitamins and minerals as cofactor nutrients that support healthy bone metabolism.

Wellness Resources never compress minerals into tablets, as this makes them much harder to absorb. And they never use cheap minerals like plain calcium carbonate, bone meal, dolomite, or oyster shell, as they are very hard to use. While calcium citrate is easy to absorb, the large quantity of citrate needed for 1000 mg of calcium per day may cause headaches or fatigue. Wellness Resources specializes in exceptionally useful forms of vitamins and minerals, especially calcium.
Coral minerals in their calcium supplement are a unique form of high quality minerals, naturally built into highly crystalline structures by sea organisms called polyps.

They obtain coral minerals from the pristine waters off the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa. When the polyps die they leave behind a natural blend of calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium, and many other trace minerals.

The highly organized geometric structure of these minerals enables them to have unique biological activity.
*They are the only form of calcium shown to absorb in both fat and water soluble mediums.
* They are in a readily ionizable form, meaning they are easy to absorb and utilize.
* They have an incredible absorption rate of 70%, higher than any food and almost twice that of many other forms of calcium.
600 mg Calcium from 3 capsules.
Read more....

Another product is Daily Builder
Many people find that Daily Builder™ is a preferred choice to help low back and hip support, as well as bones.* By comparison, Daily Bone Xcel™ is focused on bone support.* Two Daily Super Packs™ per day provide 1118 mgs of calcium (4 Daily Bone Xcel™ and 2 Daily Builder™). Maintaining optimal bone density is fundamental to good health.*

Supplement Facts
Calcium (from hydroxyapatite,
500 mg from 4 capsules