Friday, March 28, 2008

Hormone Replacement Therapy for Women -- Good or Evil?

By Tim Reynolds, MD

There is a lot of hype in the media about the danger of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for women. On one hand we hear about the possible increased risk of breast cancer and heart disease. On the other hand, celebrities like Suzanne Summers tout the benefits of HRT. The information can be very confusing -- so what are we to think?

Let's sort through some of the confusion, define some terminology, and make the issues a little clearer. In addition, I will add my own views of how and when to use HRT.

Part of the confusion relating to hormone replacement comes from the term "HRT". There are two types of HRT and both involve replacing missing or low levels of hormones. The difference is, the first type uses synthetic, man-made hormones; the second uses bio-identical hormones.

Unfortunately, both types of therapy often get lumped together and talked about by the mainstream media as if they are the same. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Synthetic hormones are made in a lab and the chemical structures that make them up are not identical to the hormone they are trying to replace. For example Premarin is a hormone made by a drug company to replace naturally occurring estrogen in post-menopausal females.

Premarin actually stands for Pregnant Mares Urine, which is the source of the estrogen-like compound. But it happens to work on the same receptor site in the body because one part of the molecule looks like estrogen to the receptor. Unfortunately, no one really knows what the rest of the molecule may do in the body.

Natural or bio-identical hormones on the other hand are usually made at a compounding pharmacy. They are derived from plant sources and the final product is exactly the same molecule that the body would produce. This gives the advantage of producing the same result you would expect with the natural hormone -- without any untoward side effect. But because there have been no head to head studies comparing bio-identical hormones to synthetic ones, the results of most HRT trials get lumped together as if they were the same thing.

In my practice, I prescribe bio-identical hormones for the women in whom I consider HRT warranted. These include estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. In some cases I will recommend pregnenolone and melatonin, hormones that can be purchased over the counter. Each of these hormones has benefits that can improve symptoms of menopause as well as increase health and longevity.

It is truly miraculous to see the transformation in women with severe hot flashes, depressed mood, decreased energy, low sex drive and other symptoms of menopause as we get their hormone levels balanced and they get their life back in only 6 to 8 weeks after starting therapy.

Finally, it is very important to have your thyroid function tested. Do not settle for the classic medical test of only doing a TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone). Your physician should also test T-4 and Free T-3 to ensure your levels are not only in the normal range but in the optimal normal range. This is particularly true if you are having symptoms of fatigue, being cold all the time, dry skin, or hair loss.

Before deciding on bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, discuss your risk factors and family history with a knowledgeable physician. It is also important to find a reputable compounding pharmacy to fill your prescription.

In addition to HRT, follow these other guidelines to stay at a decreased risk for disease. Some of these factors may be much more important to your long term health.

1. Keep on eye on your blood pressure and make sure it is within normal limits.
2. Make sure your lipid panel is normal.
3. Have your blood glucose (sugar) checked regularly to catch early diabetes.
4. Lose weight and in particular, decrease your abdominal fat.
5. Have a bone density test done. This will identify your risk for osteoporosis.
6. Have regular mammograms and do self exams.
7. Have a pap smear annually for at least 3 years and then if normal, talk with your doctor about how often to have them done after that.

Much more research still needs to be done in this field and the recommendations may still change, so stay tuned.

[Ed. Note: Tim Reynolds, M.D., is a practicing physician and a health and lifestyle expert. For more information, click here.]

A few weeks ago, Michael Storms, a 6th degree Karate black belt, decided to follow his dog's daily stretching routine. "I had no idea before I started doing this," Michael said. "But my dog stretches over a hundred times a day. I'm getting stronger and more flexible by the day just following what my dog does."

With this in mind, isn't it a good idea to make stretching a daily part of your life? After all, a domesticated dog or cat understands the value of it -- so why not you?

The best way to start is with three simple stretches that will give you instant energy when you wake up in the morning.

#1. Stretch to Heaven
Sit on the edge of the bed with your feet on the floor. Straighten your spine and tuck your chin in a bit. Press your feet into the ground and feel your muscles stretch internally. Now interlock your fingers and while you press your feet into the ground, push your palms into the heavens. Inhale deeply as you stretch. Hold for a few seconds, then lower your arms and exhale. Repeat three times.

#2. Forward/Backward Bend
Now come to a standing position. Put your heels together with your toes pointed outward. Flex your thighs and buttocks for support. Place your hands on your hips and lean backward a bit. Inhale as you lean back. Now exhale and bend forward toward your toes. Keep your hands on your hips. Repeat nine times.

#3. Side Bends
Stand tall with your hands on your hips. Now lean your waist to the right as far as you can. Hold for one second. Return to standing and repeat 12 times. Do the same stretch to the left side. Breathe naturally as you do this stretch.

If a Karate master can learn a few tricks from his dog, so can you!

[Ed. Note: Martial arts and discipline titan Matthew Furey motivates thousands of people with his politically incorrect fitness, fighting and maximum success instruction. For more information, click here.]

This elegant fish dish is an excellent source of vitamin B12. Along with its role in maintaining healthy nerve and blood cells and making DNA, vitamin B12 helps reduce levels of homocysteine -- an amino acid that increases the risk of developing plaque in the arteries which can lead to heart attack and stroke.^1,2

Time to Table: 30 minutes

Serves: 6

Healing Nutrient Spotlight

• Excellent source of protein and vitamin B12
• Good source of thiamin, niacin, potassium, and selenium
• Low sugar, low carb, low sodium, gluten free

Ingredients
6 fillets of trout (4 oz. each)
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 medium organic tomato, chopped
1/2 medium organic onion, chopped
3 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
1/2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp red pepper (optional)

Preparation
Preheat oven to 350ºF. Rinse fish and pat dry. Place in baking dish. In a separate dish, mix remaining ingredients together and pour over fish. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until fork-tender.

Nutrition Information
130 kcal calories, 6 g total fat, 1 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 3 g monounsaturated fats, 1 g polyunsaturated fat, 46 mg cholesterol, 140 mg sodium, 2 g carbohydrate, 0 g fiber, 1 g sugars, 17 g protein

References

1. Homocysteine Lowering Trialists' Collaboration. BMJ. 1998;316(7135):894-898.
2. Quinlivan EP et al. Lancet. 2002;359(9302):227-228.

[Ed. Note: Kelley Herring is the Founder & CEO of Healing Gourmet. She is also the creator of Healing Gourmet's Personalized Nutrition Software and Editor-in-Chief of the Healing Gourmet book series published by McGraw-Hill, including Eat to Fight Cancer, Eat to Beat Diabetes, Eat to Lower Cholesterol and Eat to Boost Fertility. For more information, click here.]

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