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What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about Menopause: The Breakthrough Book on Natural Hormone Balance » (Revised and Updated)

Book cover image of What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about Menopause: The Breakthrough Book on Natural Hormone Balance by John R. Lee

Authors: John R. Lee, Virginia Hopkins, Virginia Hopkins
ISBN-13: 9780446614955, ISBN-10: 0446614955
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Date Published: August 2004
Edition: Revised and Updated

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Author Biography: John R. Lee

Book Synopsis

Women considering hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopause symptoms and health benefits should read this controversial, provocative book first. "Advertising and research dollars are spent trying to convince women that estrogen will cure everything from heart disease to Alzheimer's," writes John R. Lee, M.D., "but there is scant evidence for any of these claims and reams of evidence that synthetic estrogens are highly toxic and carcinogenic." Lee has studied the research and concludes that estrogen is not the magic bullet for protection against heart disease and osteoporosis, nor does it retard aging. Natural progesterone, instead, puts postmenopausal women's hormones in balance, says Lee. He cites study after study that indicates that natural progesterone, obtained in cream form, delivers what the usual HRT only promises. "Menopause as a disease has been largely fabricated by physicians and the pharmaceutical industry," says this leader of a "quiet but powerful revolution" regarding HRT. <I>What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause</I> covers the benefits of natural progesterone, the history and politics of the medical and drug establishment, the biochemistry and dynamics of hormones and how they get out of balance, and how to prevent hormone imbalance and stay healthy. Lee empowers you to ask hard questions of your doctor.

Table of Contents

Forewordxi
Introductionxvii
Part IThe Inner Workings of Hormone Balance1
Chapter 1The Crux of the Matter: Menopausal Politics and Women's Hormone Cycles3
Menopausal Politics3
What Is Menopause?5
The Rise and Fall of Hormones During the Menstrual Cycle5
Premenopause7
Chapter 2The Dance of the Steroids10
The Cast of Major Players11
Choreographing the Dance13
The Journey Along the Steroid Hormone Pathway14
The Dance of the Steroids15
Four Movements: The Flow of Steroids in Our Bodies16
Chapter 3The History of Hormone Replacement Therapy and the Estrogen Myth19
Menopause Becomes a Disease20
The Truth Behind the Hoopla22
Perpetuating the Estrogen Myth26
The HRT Chickens Come Home to Roost30
Chapter 4What Is Estrogen?35
How and Where Estrogens Are Made and Used in the Body38
Estrogen and Cell Division39
How Estrogen Affects a Woman's Body40
Estrogen Dominance41
The Myth of Estrogen in Hormone Replacement Therapy43
What Are "Normal" Estrogen Levels?46
Chapter 5Hormone Balance, Xenobiotics, and Future Generations50
Turning on the Hormone Switch51
The Canary in the Coal Mine?53
The Impact on Future Generations54
Safe Living in a Sea of Estrogens56
Pesticides and Plastics58
Solvents59
Xenoestrogens and Future Generations63
If You Want to Know More65
Chapter 6What Is Natural Progesterone?67
The Discovery and Use of Progesterone68
Exactly What Is Progesterone?72
The Cycle of Progesterone Production75
Progesterone and Procreation75
How Progesterone Affects the Body77
Progesterone and Steroid Synthesis77
Progesterone and the Brain79
Progesterone and Sex Drive81
Progesterone in Men83
Chapter 7The Dramatic Difference Between Progesterone and Progestins85
The Difference between Synthetic Drugs and Natural Compounds87
What Is a Progestin?90
Progestins Gave Birth to the Sexual Revolution95
Chapter 8Sex Hormones and the Brain98
The Basics of Brain Communication98
How the Inner and Outer Brains Regulate the Body100
Estrogen and the Brain101
Progesterone and the Brain103
Progesterone and Fetal Brain Development103
Progesterone and Brain Injuries104
Progesterone and the Elderly105
Progesterone and Libido105
Postpartum Blues106
Progesterone and Sleep Patterns107
Chapter 9What Are Androgens?108
DHEA111
Testosterone112
Androstenedione113
Chapter 10Hormone Balance and the Menstrual Cycle115
The Rise and Fall of Hormone Levels116
Anovulatory Cycles120
Part IIHormone Balance and Illness123
Chapter 11Progesterone and Menopause Symptoms125
The Mystery of Menopause127
A Brief Look at Premenopause128
Falling Estrogen and Progesterone, Rising GnRH, and Hot Flashes128
Progesterone Deficiency130
Menopause and Estrogen131
Androgens and Menopause132
What Can Be Done for Menopausal Symptoms?134
Chapter 12Hormone Balance and the Adrenal and Thyroid Glands135
Premenopause and Stress135
Follicle Burnout138
Estrogen Excess139
The Adrenal Glands141
The Adrenal Cortex142
Progesterone and Thyroid Hormone151
Chapter 13Hormone Balance, Nutrition, and Osteoporosis154
Debunking the Osteoporosis Myths155
What Is Osteoporosis?156
A Bit About How Bones Are Built156
Osteoporosis and Estrogen158
Osteoporosis and Progesterone162
Other Osteoporosis Treatments171
Keeping Your Bones Strong174
How Bones Are Depleted183
What Your Doctor May Not Know About Bone Density Measurement (BMD)192
Chapter 14Women and Cardiovascular Disease198
Estrogen and Heart Disease199
Progesterone and Heart Disease200
Only Half of Heart Attack Deaths in Women Are Caused by Blocked Arteries200
Insulin and Heart Disease202
What About Cholesterol?207
High Blood Pressure208
Iron Overload209
Homocysteine212
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)214
Nutrition and Lifestyle214
What About Aspirin?216
Strokes and Hormone Balance218
The Bottom Line223
Chapter 15Hormone Balance and Cancer224
Reestablishing Cellular Communication225
How Cancer Develops226
Estrogen Stimulates Cell Growth228
The Cancer-Protective Benefits of Progesterone234
Hormone Receptors in Breast Cancer239
What About Mammograms?240
Tamoxifen and Aromatase Inhibitors244
Endometrial Cancer245
Transcultural Factors in Breast and Uterine Cancer248
Chapter 16Getting Off Conventional HRT and on to Natural Hormones251
Questions and Answers About Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy252
Chapter 17Natural Hormone Balance and Pelvic Disorders255
Vaginitis256
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)257
Ovarian Cysts and Mittelschmerz258
Endometriosis259
Fibroids261
Endometrial Cancer263
Hysterectomy263
Staying Naturally Healthy265
Chapter 18Hormone Balance and Other Common Health Problems266
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)267
Hypothyroidism (Low Thyroid)271
Fibrocystic Breasts277
Migraine Headaches278
Skin Problems (Acne, Seborrhea, Rosacea, Psoriasis, and Keratoses)279
Candida281
Allergies282
Arthritis283
Autoimmune Disorders284
Urinary Tract Problems284
Gallbladder Disease and Bile Flow288
Part IIICreating and Maintaining Hormone Balance293
Chapter 19How to Use Progesterone Supplementation295
Types of Progesterone Supplementation295
Testing Hormone Levels299
Not All "Wild Yam Extract" Is Progesterone301
How and When to Use Natural Progesterone303
Possible Side Effects of Progesterone304
How to Get the Most Out of Progesterone Cream308
When During the Month to Use Progesterone Cream309
Where to Find Natural Progesterone320
A Final Reminder321
Chapter 20How to Use Estrogen, DHEA, Pregnenolone, the Corticosteroids, Testosterone, and Androstenedione323
Estrogen324
DHEA325
Pregnenolone326
The Corticosteroids327
Testosterone329
Androstenedione331
Chapter 21Nutrition for Healthy Hormones332
Refined Carbohydrates333
Excess Calories, Not Just Excess Fat334
Good Fats and Bad Fats335
Whole Foods Are Best338
Eat Organic Foods Whenever Possible341
Is Vegetarianism Protective?341
Opt for Free-Range Meats, Eggs, and Poultry342
Are Dairy Foods Right for You?343
Eat Your Phytochemicals344
Eat More Fiber345
Drink Plenty of Clean Water346
Take Your Multivitamins347
Minerals350
Your Ideal Diet353
Get Some Exercise354
How Are Your Adrenal Glands Working?355
Digestion356
Herbs for Hormone Balance360
Chapter 22Commonly Asked Questions About Using Natural Progesterone364
Glossary373
Resources377
Recommended Reading389
References393
AppendixThe Structure of Steroid Hormones425
Index431

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