Estrogen

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In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto Michael Pollan See book keywords and concepts

Soy isoflavones, found in most soy products, are compounds that resemble estrogen, and in fact bind to human estrogen receptors. But it is unclear whether these so-called phytoestrogens actually behave like estrogen in the body or only fool it into thinking they're estrogen. Either way the phytoestrogens might have an effect (good or bad) on the growth of certain cancers, the symptoms of menopause, and the function of the endocrine system. Because of these uncertainties, the FDA has declined to grant GRAS ("generally regarded as safe") status to soy isoflavones used as a food additive.

Defeating Diabetes Brenda Davis and Tom Barnard See book keywords and concepts

When estrogen levels are high, phytoestrogens may reduce the harmful effects of human estrogen by binding to receptor sites, crowding out human estrogen. There is some evidence this action may protect against hormone-related cancers. When estrogen levels are low, the weak estrogens may provide enough estrogenic activity to provide protection against diseases such as osteoporosis and heart disease. Another important group of phytochemicals is called phytosterols or plant sterols. These compounds are structurally similar to cholesterol, but with remarkably different effects on the body.

Drugs That Don't Work and Natural Therapies That Do David Brownstein M.D. See book keywords and concepts

Menopausal estrogen and Estrogen-Progestin Replacement Therapy and Breast Cancer Risk. JAMA. 1/26/2000. Vol. 283, No.4 7 The risk of breast cancer after estrogen and estrogen-progestin replacement. N. Engl. J. Med. 1989;321:293-297 8 The use of estrogens and progestins and the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. N. Engl. J. Med. 1995;332:1589-1593 9 New York Times. 12.15.2006 and Wall Street Journal 12.15.2006 10 Clarke, Christina. Recent declines in hormone therapy utilization and breast cacner incidence: Clinical and population-based evidence. Correspondence.

Randomized trial of estrogen plus progestin for secondary prevention of coronary heart disease in postmenopausal women. JAMA. Vol. 280 No. 7, 8/19/98 3 Circulation. July 24, 2001;104;459-503 4 New England Journal of Medicine. 8/24/00;343:522-529 5 J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 92(4) 328-332, 2000 6 Menopausal estrogen and Estrogen-Progestin Replacement Therapy and Breast Cancer Risk. JAMA. 1/26/2000. Vol. 283, No.4 7 The risk of breast cancer after estrogen and estrogen-progestin replacement. N. Engl. J. Med.

Defeating Diabetes Brenda Davis and Tom Barnard See book keywords and concepts

When estrogen levels are high, phytoestrogens may reduce the harmful effects of human estrogen by binding to receptor sites, crowding out human estrogen. There is some evidence this action may protect against hormone-related cancers. When estrogen levels are low, the weak estrogens may provide enough estrogenic activity to provide protection against diseases such as osteoporosis and heart disease. Another important group of phytochemicals is called phytosterols or plant sterols. These compounds are structurally similar to cholesterol, but with remarkably different effects on the body.

The Myth of Alzheimer's: What You Aren't Being Told About Today's Most Dreaded Diagnosis Peter J. Whitehouse and Daniel George See book keywords and concepts

Similarly, another popular news story has been that estrogen therapies will protect the brain and slow Alzheimer's. Again, most clinical trials have found that using estrogen to treat AD is not effective, and a link has been established between estrogen therapy and breast cancer. A large study found that women who took estrogen alone or with a synthetic progestin were actually at increased risk of developing dementia. Another possibility is that taking statins—drugs normally prescribed to help manage cholesterol—will lower AD risk.

In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto Michael Pollan See book keywords and concepts

But it is unclear whether these so-called phytoestrogens actually behave like estrogen in the body or only fool it into thinking they're estrogen. Either way the phytoestrogens might have an effect (good or bad) on the growth of certain cancers, the symptoms of menopause, and the function of the endocrine system. Because of these uncertainties, the FDA has declined to grant GRAS ("generally regarded as safe") status to soy isoflavones used as a food additive.

Safe Trip to Eden: Ten Steps to Save Planet Earth from the Global Warming Meltdown David Steinman See book keywords and concepts

Around the same time, researchers observed that PAHs may act on the same receptor sites as the estrogen molecules women's and men's own bodies produce.13 That means that petrochemicals like PAHs can attach themselves to women's and men's estrogen-sensitive tissues that would normally be receptive to endogenous estrogenic influences from the natural estrogen molecules circulating in both men's and women's bodies. The trouble is that PAHs stimulate toxic cell activity that can lead to an increased risk of breast cancer.

Survival of the Sickest: A Medical Maverick Discovers Why We Need Disease Dr. Sharon Moalem See book keywords and concepts

Phytoestrogens mimic the effect of animal sex hormones such as estrogen. When animals eat too much of a plant that contains phytoestrogens, the overload of estrogenlike compounds wreaks havoc on their reproductive capability. There was a sheep-breeding crisis in Western Australia during the 1940s. Otherwise healthy sheep weren't getting pregnant or were losing their young before giving birth. Everyone was stumped until some bright agricultural specialists discovered the little culprit—European clover.

Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief David Winston, RH(AHG), and Steven Maimes See book keywords and concepts

The ovaries also produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone. estrogen is necessary for the production of the ovum (eggs), and progesterone regulates ovarian function, the uterine lining, and breast development and is required for pregnancy. Men also produce small amounts of estrogen. These hormones also modulate immune system function. These three sex hormones interact with the neuroendocrine system, particularly the HPA axis. As such, they have an effect on the stress response. The interaction works both ways; the HPA affects sex hormones, and sex hormones affect the HPA.

The Myth of Alzheimer's: What You Aren't Being Told About Today's Most Dreaded Diagnosis Peter J. Whitehouse and Daniel George See book keywords and concepts

Again, most clinical trials have found that using estrogen to treat AD is not effective, and a link has been established between estrogen therapy and breast cancer. A large study found that women who took estrogen alone or with a synthetic progestin were actually at increased risk of developing dementia. Another possibility is that taking statins—drugs normally prescribed to help manage cholesterol—will lower AD risk. Several human trials are under way but have not so far demonstrated a consistent positive effect. Statins can, however, cause serious muscle damage.

The Science of Flavonoids Erich Grotewold See book keywords and concepts

Isoflavones are believed to exert their effects through ER signaling pathway because of the structural similarity to estrogen. However, experimental studies have found that isoflavones at different concentrations may exhibit different effects (Martin et al, 1978). Genistein at concentrations lower than 1 (J.M may induce breast cancer cell proliferation by estrogenic agonistic properties, while genistein at concentrations higer than 5 uM may prevent hormone-dependent growth of breast cancer cells by potential estrogen-antagonistic activity.

The Myth of Alzheimer's: What You Aren't Being Told About Today's Most Dreaded Diagnosis Peter J. Whitehouse and Daniel George See book keywords and concepts

Again, most clinical trials have found that using estrogen to treat AD is not effective, and a link has been established between estrogen therapy and breast cancer. A large study found that women who took estrogen alone or with a synthetic progestin were actually at increased risk of developing dementia. Another possibility is that taking statins—drugs normally prescribed to help manage cholesterol—will lower AD risk. Several human trials are under way but have not so far demonstrated a consistent positive effect. Statins can, however, cause serious muscle damage.

The Science of Flavonoids Erich Grotewold See book keywords and concepts

Flavonoids also may mimic endogenous compounds and receptor ligands for estrogen receptors a and P (Hunter et al., 1999; Virgili et al., 2004; Lee et al., 2004) and the estrogen-inducible type 11 estrogen-binding site (Garai and Aldercruetz, 2004). Flavonoids like quercetin and apigenin can activate and modulate benzodiazepene/GABA receptors, and some flavonoids act through classic GABA pathways, while other flavonoids act through a different pathway (Wasowski et al, 2002; Goutman et al, 2003; Kavvadias et al., 2004). A benzodiazepine receptor has been identified in plants (Lindemann et al.

101 Foods That Could Save Your Life! David W. Grotto, RD, LDN See book keywords and concepts

Evaluation of estrogenic/anti-estrogenic activity of ellagic acid via the estrogen receptor subtypes ER alpha and ER beta. J Agric Food Chem. 2005;53: 7715-7720. Rampersaud GC, Kauwell GP, Bailey LB. Folate: a key to optimizing health and reducing disease risk in the elderly. J Am Coll Nutr. 2003 Feb;22( 1 ).T-8. Skupien K, Oszmianski J, Kostrzewa-Nowak D, Tarasiuk J. In vitro antileukaemic activity of extracts from berry plant leaves against sensitive and multidrug resistant HL60 cells. Cancer Lett. 2006 May 18;236(2):282-291. Spiller GA et al. Health Research Studies Center. Los Altos, CA.

The Secret History of the War on Cancer Devra Davis See book keywords and concepts

Many of the chemicals we use for these activities can contain chemicals that act like estrogen. Herbal remedies can also behave this way. Estrogen-like "hormone mimics" can get in the way of our body's ability to tell organs and glands what to do. Estrogen is not just something the body makes, it's something the body can make more of, when exposed to things in food and the general environment.

Toxic Overload: A Doctor's Plan for Combating the Illnesses Caused by Chemicals in Our Foods, Our Homes, and Our Medicine Cabinets Dr. Paula Baillie-Hamilton See book keywords and concepts

These substances are often referred to as xenoestrogens (xeno, "foreign" and estrogen, female hormone). To appreciate why these xenoestrogens appear to be so important in breast cancer, it helps to have an overview of the strong relationship between the hormones these chemicals mimic, namely the estrogens, and breast cancer.

The Side Effects Bible: The Dietary Solution to Unwanted Side Effects of Common Medications Frederic Vagnini, M.D. and Barry Fox, Ph.D. See book keywords and concepts

Raloxifene is an estrogen agonist, which means that it plugs into estrogen receptors and triggers a litde bit of estrogen activity—not the full dose. And it only plugs into certain estrogen receptors, such as those affecting the bones and cholesterol levels, which limits its actions even more. The net result is that the drug helps to prevent bone loss and improve cholesterol levels without encouraging breast or uterine cancer. Possible Side Effects The drug's more common side effects include hot flashes, muscle pain, flu syndrome, and inflammation of the sinuses.

Drugs That Don't Work and Natural Therapies That Do David Brownstein M.D. See book keywords and concepts

The risk of breast cancer after estrogen and estrogen-progestin replacement. N. Engl. J. Med. 1989;321:293-297 8 The use of estrogens and progestins and the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. N. Engl. J. Med. 1995;332:1589-1593 9 New York Times. 12.15.2006 and Wall Street Journal 12.15.2006 10 Clarke, Christina. Recent declines in hormone therapy utilization and breast cacner incidence: Clinical and population-based evidence. Correspondence. Journal of Clinical Oncology. Vol. 24. N. 33. Nov.

Safe Trip to Eden: Ten Steps to Save Planet Earth from the Global Warming Meltdown David Steinman See book keywords and concepts

That means that petrochemicals like PAHs can attach themselves to women's and men's estrogen-sensitive tissues that would normally be receptive to endogenous estrogenic influences from the natural estrogen molecules circulating in both men's and women's bodies. The trouble is that PAHs stimulate toxic cell activity that can lead to an increased risk of breast cancer.

Supplement Your Prescription: What Your Doctor Doesn't Know About Nutrition Hyla Cass See book keywords and concepts

Bio-identical hormone replacement (possibly, including estrogen in the form of estradiol and/or estriol; and definitely including natural progesterone) is very effective for maintenance of bone mass in postmenopausal women. Estrogens slow down osteoclasts (bone-destroying cells), while progesterone stimulates osteoblasts (bone-building cells). Every young woman needs to be aware that her young years are crucial for building optimal bone mass.

The Liver and Gallbladder Miracle Cleanse: An All-Natural, At-Home Flush to Purify and Rejuvenate Your Body Andreas Moritz See book keywords and concepts

A clear example of such a disturbed balance is an increased concentration of the endocrine hormones estrogen and aldosterone in the blood. These hormones, produced in both men and women, are responsible for the correct amount of salt and water retention. When stones congest the gallbladder and the liver's bile ducts, these hormones may not be sufficiently broken down and detoxified. Hence, their concentration in the blood rises to abnormal levels, causing tissue swelling and water retention. Most oncologists consider elevated estrogen levels to be the leading cause of breast cancer among women.

The female hormone, estrogen, which is contained in contraceptive pills and hormone replacements, increases bile cholesterol and decreases gallbladder contraction. Therefore, this estrogen-effect may be responsible for not only causing gallstones in the liver and gallbladder, but also for many other diseases that arise from diminished liver and gallbladder functions. Earlier medical research also implicated progestogens contained in HRT drugs in the development of gallstones.

Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief David Winston, RH(AHG), and Steven Maimes See book keywords and concepts

Estrogen is necessary for the production of the ovum (eggs), and progesterone regulates ovarian function, the uterine lining, and breast development and is required for pregnancy. Men also produce small amounts of estrogen. These hormones also modulate immune system function. These three sex hormones interact with the neuroendocrine system, particularly the HPA axis. As such, they have an effect on the stress response. The interaction works both ways; the HPA affects sex hormones, and sex hormones affect the HPA. There are many factors that influence the regulation of sex hormones.

Environmental: Exposure to extreme cold or heat, noise, ultraviolet sunlight, changes in barometric pressure or altitude, allergens, xenoestrogens (foreign substances that imitate the effects of estrogen), electromagnetic influences (microwaves, radio waves, electric high voltage lines), and radiation. Nutritional: Caused by food allergies, refined and highly processed foods, mineral-depleted food (grown in poor soil), nutritional deficiencies, alcohol, drugs, and free radicals (natural byproducts of cell metabolism caused by eating trans fat).

It has proved to have a mild estrogen-promoting activity in some women and thus should not be taken by women in whom estrogen is already excessive. Women of childbearing age should use ginseng sparingly; eleuthero would be a better choice. • Astragalus stimulates sperm motility and may be beneficial for menopausal sweating. • He shou wu is capable of increasing sperm count and sperm motility. It also is used for men with a lack of libido. • Holy basil is reported to have an antifertility effect and should be avoided if a woman is trying to get pregnant.

101 Foods That Could Save Your Life! David W. Grotto, RD, LDN See book keywords and concepts

Strawberries may play a role in reducing estrogen-driven cancer as they are rich in el-lagic acid, which may function as an estrogen blocker. Freeze-dried strawberries inhibited growth of two types of cervical cancer cells grown in culture. A study using rats with esophageal cancer found that freeze-dried strawberries inhibited tumor growth and tumor initiation. ANTI-INFLAMMATORY: Strawberries block enzymes (COX-2) responsible for promoting inflammation. OBESITY: Ongoing research is investigating the role of strawberries in weight management.

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