One of the most important subjects women over 50 are talking about these days is hormone replacement therapy. Suzanne Somers’ books have made bioidentical hormones the latest fad. Bioidentical hormones are those that exactly match the structure and functions of hormones produced in our bodies. Synthetic hormones are manmade hormones that are more like a drug than a real hormone.

We’ve seen the problems synthetic HRT causes, including higher risks for heart disease and cancer. But are bioidentical hormones as safe as you’re hearing? I’ve repeatedly said, “We don’t know.” Why? Because we don’t have the studies necessary to prove their safety. In cases where we do have studies, I’ve recommended the hormones. But in many cases, we don’t have enough information. One hormone in particular caught my attention again recently when we finally saw the results of a study on its safety.

When I became a nutritionist nearly 30 years ago, bioidentical progesterone was all the rage. It was said to be effective in eradicating many PMS and menopausal symptoms. And it was available without a prescription in an over-the-counter cream. What could be better than a do-it-yourself solution to menopause for women who want to feel empowered?

I first heard about bioidentical progesterone when I attended a seminar given by a representative from the company that made a topical hormone cream. I asked to see the studies proving its safety and efficacy, but there were none. “Studies are too expensive for us to fund,” she answered. That stopped me in my tracks. Her information sounded impressive, but it was only based on anecdotes and testimonials. I just couldn’t recommend a hormone without good scientific studies.

John R. Lee, MD, was the doctor who put bioidentical progesterone on the map. He used a topical progesterone cream on his patients for decades and insisted that there were no side effects. It turned out he was wrong.

Years later, I moved to northern California and I found myself living two miles away from Dr. Lee. I met local doctors of integrative medicine who told me that some of their patients who had been patients of Dr. Lee did, in fact, experience side effects from bloating, to headaches, mood swings, and weight gain.

Although his information was based on observations, no one I talked with had seen any statistics or studies to back up Dr. Lee’s claims. He became an expert on natural progesterone based on notes in his patients’ charts. This was a time when women wanted to take charge of their bodies. Dr. Lee’s timing was perfect. And so an industry was born.

Companies sprung up touting the benefits of bioidentical progesterone based on quotes from Dr. Lee. And although some of these companies became wealthy, they didn’t fund scientific studies.

When I heard knowledgeable medical doctors talk about side effects from natural progesterone, I warned my readers to wait for studies that showed it was safe and effective. I’ve always been opposed to using progestins — synthetic progesterone with known side effects. Until recently, I couldn’t endorse the use of natural progesterone at all. Now there are a few good studies that let me give them my okay — but only under certain circumstances.

Some benefits of progesterone

I changed my mind about progesterone when I read a comparison of bioidentical
and synthetic hormones that appeared in Postgraduate Medicine (January 2009). This article, with nearly 200 references, had enough science behind it to put me more at ease.

So who should use it and when? For starters, if you’re at risk for breast cancer and heart disease, even after making lifestyle and dietary changes, progesterone may be helpful.

Progesterone creams can help prevent breast cancer in women with estrogen dominance (high levels of estrogen). In these cases, there are studies that support the careful use of low dose bioidentical progesterone. Some found it protects against breast cancer. While synthetic progestins increase your risk for breast cancer by increasing estrogen-stimulated breast cells, progesterone inhibits them.

In a 1995 study on women scheduled for breast-reduction surgery, some of the women applied topical progesterone to their breasts for two weeks before surgery. After surgery, their breast tissues were examined. Those who used progesterone had less breast-cell division. The researchers suggested that progesterone cream applied to the breast may, indeed, be protective.

The International Journal of Cancer published another impressive study in 2005. In this study, researchers analyzed 50,000 postmenopausal women. They found that they had a significantly higher risk for getting breast cancer if they used progestins, and a reduced risk if they used natural progesterone — either alone or with estrogens.

But be careful. Hormones are tricky and interrelated. If you’re at risk for breast cancer, discuss the benefits versus the risks of hormone therapy with a knowledgeable health practitioner.

What about heart disease and stroke?

We know that estrogen protects against heart disease. But synthetic progestins cancel out these cardioprotective effects. Progestins reduce HDL (healthy) cholesterol, while progesterone, when given with estrogen, either maintains or increases HDL levels. So if you’re at a high risk for heart disease and have done everything else, small amounts of progesterone given with estrogen, could be appropriate.

And while progestins put you at an increased risk for blood clots, progesterone doesn’t when you use it topically. Although there are few good studies on bioidentical hormones and stroke, the ones that do exist indicate that they’re safer and more effective than their synthetic counterparts.

When progesterone may not be appropriate

Progesterone is a hormone. And with all hormones, you can have too much of a good thing. Here are a few times when progesterone can cause problems:

When doses are too high: There’s no data to suggest that high doses of natural hormones are safe. Research gynecologist and endocrinologist, Guy E. Abraham, MD, believes it’s not just progestins that can cause problems. He told me that taking large doses of either progestins or progesterone can lower immunity. Always use the smallest effective amount of any hormone.

When a non-hormonal solution can work: Before recommending a hormone, I usually suggest that postmenopausal women take a product containing Maca, a Peruvian adaptogenic herb. This herb helps regulate hormones. In an article I wrote on Maca (September 2008), studies using a patented, standardized Maca extract known as Maca-GO or Femenessence reduced hot flashes without any of the mood swings or depression that can accompany hormone therapy. In fact, this Maca product reduced all menopausal symptoms by 84%!

If you can’t find it in your local health food store, call Natural Health International (888-668-3661). Need more information? The best book I’ve found on natural solutions to menopausal symptoms is Menopausal Years: The Wise Woman Way, by Susun S. Weed (Ash Tree Publishing, 2002).

Don’t be your own doctor

When it comes to hormones, playing doctor can be dangerous. While natural progesterone has been used to reverse vaginal atrophy — common in postmenopausal women — when you take progesterone without having sufficient estrogen, it can actually contribute to vaginal atrophy.

Plus, the best quality progesterone is not one of the popular unregulated creams available with no prescription. Even though bioidentical progesterone is made from wild yams and soy, many of these wild yam creams don’t even contain this hormone. The best quality progesterone comes in a transdermal gel or cream you can obtain from compounding pharmacies like Women’s International Pharmacy (800-279-5708). These pharmacies can make a progesterone product with precisely the amounts you need — often in smaller amounts of this hormone than you can find in health food store products. You will need a prescription to get these products.

Get your progesterone level tested by a knowledgeable doctor of integrative medicine or nurse practitioner. There’s a delicate balance between sex hormones. Look for non-hormonal answers to your symptoms first. When bioidentical progesterone is appropriate, small amounts for short periods of time may be worth trying.

Fugh-Berman, A., and J. Bythrow. ”Bioidentical hormones for menopausal hormone therapy: variation on a theme,” J Gen Intern Med, July 2007.

Holtorf, K., MD. “The bioidentical hormone debate: Are bioidentical hormones (estradiol, estriol, and progesterone) safer or more efficacious than commonly used synthetic versions in hormone replacement therapy?” Postgraduate Medicine, January 2009

Hudson, T., ND. Women’s Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, Keats Publishing, 1999.

Moskowitz, D. “A comprehensive review of the safety and efficacy of bioidentical hormones for the management of menopause and related health risks,” Alt Med Rev, September 2006.

New Studies Show These Three Foods Fight Cancer Effectively — Eat Them Every Day You Can

Diet plays an important role in preventing and fighting cancer. Some foods increase your risk for this disease while others have known anti-cancer properties. The more of these beneficial foods you eat, the more
protection you can get.

In fact, you can reduce your risk of getting cancer by as much as 70% simply by changing your diet. Elaine Hardman, PhD, a 15-year breast cancer researcher at Marshall University in West Virginia, agrees. She says, “I think in the future — and probably the near future — our diet, and making dietary changes, is going to become the biggest weapon for fighting cancer.” Those are powerful words from someone whose life is dedicated to finding solutions to cancer. It’s time we paid more attention to the foods we eat.

I’ve talked about some of these dietary changes in the past. Shiitake mushrooms, blueberries, mushrooms, and soy are all foods with natural chemicals that fight specific cancers. You can read more about them — and other anti-cancer foods — on my website and in my latest book, 456 Most Powerful Healing Secrets (800-610-2107).

Now some new, sound scientific studies have found that there are even more foods with properties that fight particular cancers. These foods are both easy to find and tasty. I suggest you eat some of them every day when- ever you can and tip the scale against cancer.

Preventing stomach cancer

Half of all the people in the world have a bacterium that lives in their stomach lining. This bug is stubborn. You can’t eradicate it with strong stomach acids like other bacteria. This bacterium is called Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori for short. H. pylori can cause ulcers, gastritis, and stomach cancer.

One food that you can add to salads or stir fry vegetables can greatly reduce colonies of H. pylori. If you eat it regularly, it can protect you from stomach cancer.

I’m talking about sprouts. But not just any sprouts. Not the familiar bean sprouts or alfalfa sprouts used in stir fry meals and salads. Researchers for this study gave 50 people 2½ ounces of broccoli sprouts a day for two months. The broccoli sprouts reduced H. pylori.

We’ve known for years that broccoli is an excellent anti-cancer food. Now we’re finding that broccoli sprouts are even more effective in protecting cells against cancer than mature broccoli. In addition to reducing H. pylori, broccoli sprouts increase the production of enzymes that kill H. pylori, reduce inflammation, and protect against free radicals.

In an animal study, mice that ate broccoli sprouts had 100 times less H. pylori than mice that ate no sprouts. They also had a 50% reduction in inflammation! Broccoli sprouts are small, but mighty. Look for them at your grocery or health food store. If you can’t find them, ask your grocer to carry them.

The head researchers of these studies on broccoli sprouts were so impressed with the results that they began eating them regularly. “I like them,” said Jed W Fahey, MS, ScD, “I eat them all the time, but not every day. Variety is the spice of life. I eat blueberries on the other days.”

Preventing breast cancer

Rui Hai Liu is a researcher at Cornell University’s Institute for Comparative and Environmental Toxicology. Last year alone, he published six studies that showed apples slow down the growth of cancer tumors.

When Liu fed laboratory rats a fresh apple extract equal to an apple a day in humans, 57% of them developed an aggressive form of breast cancer known as adenocarcinoma. This doesn’t sound positive at all, but it is when you compare it to the control group. Eighty-one percent of the control group developed this type of cancer, which is the primary cause of death in breast cancer patients.

But wait. The odds got even better.

This six-month study found that the effect of an apple extract on tumor growth was dose-specific. When rats ate the equivalent of six apples a day, the percentage of rats developing this cancer dropped to 23%! Now, that’s what I call prevention.

Plant-based chemicals known as phenolics or flavonoids are responsible for the cancer-fighting properties in apples and other fruits. But not all fruits contain the same chemicals. Some of the flavonoids found specifically in apples are powerful antioxidants and have the ability to keep tumors from growing.

The fresh apple extracts used by Liu inhibited the size of breast cancer tumors. I expect we’ll see an apple extract in the near future. Meanwhile, include apples and applesauce in your diet. An apple (or more) a day could keep the oncologist away.

I’m deliberately not recommending apple juice. It’s too sweet. Remember, all sugars feed cancer cells. Limit yourself to two pieces of fruit a day.

More on breast cancer prevention

Marshall University’s Dr. Hardman has found another anti-cancer food: walnuts. Walnuts are higher in omega-3 fatty acids than any other nuts. Hardman’s research found that these fats reduced existing tumor growth as well as the incidence of breast cancer in laboratory animals.

She found that the equivalent of two small handfuls of walnuts a day could slow down the progression of breast cancer tumors by 50%. It’s not just the omega-3 fats that are protective against tumor growth. Walnuts contain antioxidants and phytosterols that other studies have found slow down cancer.

There are two steps you can take to prevent or fight cancer. First, reduce foods that promote cancer. These include sugar, fried foods, and processed meats. Second, make sure you eat as many foods with anti-cancer properties as you can each day. This includes broccoli sprouts, apples, and walnuts.

Cancer Prevention Research, April 6, 2009.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123073.php

Liu, R.H. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, (57:1).

NK”http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/145195.php
”http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/145195.php

You Can Prevent These Painful Sores by Taking a Common Vitamin … And Modifying Your Diet

ll sores in and around the mouth are not alike. Two common types of sores are often confused with one another. Before you can select the right treatment for oral sores, you need to know what you’re treating.

If you get unsightly, painful sores on your face around your lips, they are caused by Herpes simplex, a common virus that can be activated by stress. The best way to prevent them or shorten their duration is to change the way you handle stress and support your immune system.

You can also apply a topical ointment containing Melissa extract, a plant that inactivates the virus. Products with this herb can be found in health food stores and some drug stores. I’ve written about cold sores in the past, and you can read more about them on my website.

But the sores inside your mouth are different. These are not cold sores and they won’t respond to Melissa extract or immune support. They are painful oral ulcers known as Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis (RAS). You probably know them as canker sores.

These ulcers affect from 10 to 25% of the population and need to be treated differently from cold sores. The problem is that until now there hasn’t been any optimal treatment for canker sores.

Now there is.

It was discovered by a group of doctors at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel. They conducted a study using 58 patients with RAS and gave them either 1,000 mcg of vitamin B12 before going to bed at night, or a placebo. They tested all of them once a month for six months.

During the first four months, all of the participants had fewer canker sores with a shorter duration. But by the fifth and sixth month, the group who took the B12 found it reduced the severity of pain, number of canker sores, and duration of outbreaks significantly. This was the only group to see these results.

Apparently, even a slight vitamin B12 deficiency can affect canker sores.
By the end of this study, nearly 75% of the people who took vitamin B12 had no outbreaks. What about the control group that did so well initially? When the study ended, their pain from canker sores actually increased.

The dietary connection

If you still keep getting painful canker sores, the cause and solution may be in your diet. An ingredient found in foods you eat every day could be causing these ulcers. I’ve talked about this ingredient recently in another context and I predict we’ll see it associated with numerous other health problems in the future. The culprit is gluten.

Gluten is the protein in wheat, rye, and barley that causes celiac disease — an inflammation in the small intestines — in thousands of people. Both full-blown celiac disease and sensitivity to gluten (called gluten intolerance) contribute to canker sores in susceptible individuals.

Obviously, gluten doesn’t cause mouth ulcers in everyone who eats it. If it did, everyone would have canker sores all of the time. But several studies show a link between gluten and canker sores. Gluten sensitivity can cause even a mild case of canker sores.

As you may remember from my past articles on gluten, some people are sensitive to it without having noticeable symptoms. A recent study examined 10 patients with severe cases of recurrent painful canker sores. All had small intestine biopsies that were normal. This means there was no evidence of celiac disease.

Four of these 10 patients had high levels of gliadin, the protein in grains containing gluten. A gluten-free diet eliminated canker sores in three out of these four patients. When they took them off this diet and gave them foods with gluten, their canker sores returned.

The remaining six patients had normal levels of gliadin and didn’t respond to a
gluten-free diet. So if you get a lot of canker sores, have your gliadin level checked. You can do this through Uni Key Health Systems (800-888-4353). Tell them you want the Gluten/SIGA Test from Diagnos-Techs.

Or simply eliminate all traces of gluten from your diet and see whether or not your canker sores disappear. If they’ve been frequent and painful, this approach is worth trying. Especially since I predict you’ll find other benefits from a gluten-free diet.

O’Farrelly, C., et al. “Gliadin antibodies identify gluten-sensitive oral ulceration in the absence of villous atrophy,” J Oral Pathol Med, November 1991.

Volkov, et al. “Effectiveness of Vitamin B12 in treating Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial,” The Journ of the Amer Board of Family Med, 2009.

NUTRITION DETECTIVE

Is Garlic Good for Your Heart? It All Depends on the Form You Take

It’s well-accepted and well-documented that garlic is good for your health. It thins your blood, lowers blood pressure, and protects against heart disease. But not all garlic and garlic supplements are alike. Some forms are better than others. In fact, you may be depending on a form of garlic that has very little
ability to maintain or protect your health.

The chemical in garlic that has these protective capabilities is called allicin. Among its many characteristics, it's antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and is a potent antioxidant. The problem is, allicin isn’t very stable.

A group of Japanese researchers recently found that cooking destroys allicin quickly. They also noticed that it breaks down over time when it's just standing around, like the jars of peeled garlic cloves you can find in grocery stores. Allicin was more stable in 20% alcohol than in water or vegetable oil, but it’s unlikely you’ll find a garlic product preserved in alcohol.

Allicin isn’t present in garlic until it's chopped. Then, an enzyme called alliinase acts on alliin (a chemical that is found in garlic) and turns it into allicin. So if you chop some cloves of raw garlic and add them to your salad, it could contribute to your health. This has its own consequences, including bad breath and body odor.

If you want the protective effects of garlic, your best bet is to buy a garlic supplement and take it daily. Buy a brand with guaranteed high amounts of allicin, such as Kyolic. If the allicin content isn’t listed on the label, find one that is. Garlic lends a wonderful flavor to many foods, but it's only beneficial to your health when it's high in allicin.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allicin

Fujisawa, H, et al. "Biological and chemical stability of garlic-derived allicin," J Agric Food Chem, 56(11), 2008.

LETTERS

Q:: Your Advanced Probiotic Formula helped my gas and constipation in just two weeks. Will I have to take it forever to maintain the good bacteria in my system? — D. S., e-mail

A: The best answer I can give you is, “it all depends.” It depends on whether or not you’ve had a lot of diarrhea, which flushes probiotics (friendly bacteria) out of your intestines. Or whether or not you eat a lot of sugar, which feeds pathogenic (bad) bacteria and creates a need for more probiotics. If a poor diet or disease has depleted your colonies of probiotics over time, you may need to take the probiotic for a year or more. If antibiotics destroyed them, taking them for a month or two may be all you need. I began by taking probiotics daily for several years. Now I take them as needed, but at least for one month twice a year. This prevents depletion of my friendly bacteria.

Q: I’ve been taking probiotics, which have helped my digestive symptoms. I’m wondering if I should also take Integrative Digestive Formula (IDF) as well. Would the two supplements overlap or interfere with each other? — D.S., e-mail

A: IDF and probiotics support one another and don’t interfere with each other. In fact, most people benefit greatly from taking both.

IDF helps you digest proteins, fats, and sugars. Lots of enzyme formulas do this as well. The difference is that IDF also repairs the digestive tract so that bloating, gas, constipation, and diarrhea become problems from the past. In addition, it helps soothe tissues that have become inflamed from food intolerance, pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and other imbalances. Over time, IDF can eliminate the need for the digestive enzymes they contain. But if you like, you can still take one with meals to keep your gastrointestinal tract healthy.

The bottom line is, if you have any digestive problems or just want to avoid them, you may want to take both of these formulas — at least for two to three months. Then back off them and decide whether or not you want to continue taking them.

Q: I have chronic lymphocytic leukemia and I’m wondering if it is safe for me to take medicinal mushrooms like MycoPhyto Plus. I’m doing okay, but want to stay that way — or improve. What can you tell me about mushrooms and cancer? — J.P., Sun City, CA

A: I have good news for you. There are no known contraindications between medicinal mushrooms and chronic illnesses. In fact, you may very well notice some benefits from taking MycoPhyto Plus. It improves the immune response and helps the body naturally fight cancers. Dr. Isaac Eliaz, a doctor of integrative medicine who specializes in cancer, has noticed this effect over and over again at his clinic.

Numerous medicinal mushrooms, including those in MycoPhyto, have cancer-fighting properties. So go ahead and give MycoPhyto Plus a six-month trial to see how it affects your health. It’s perfectly safe — unless you’re pregnant or nursing. It’s most likely safe then, too. But since we have no studies to back this up, I always recommend that pregnant or nursing women avoid any supplements until they talk with their doctors. For more information on all of these products, please call 800-791-3395.