So what about maca? Is it estrogenic? Here are some facts.

1. Maca does NOT contain plant estrogens, or any other hormones. It has plant sterols that act in a way that is not yet well understood. These sterols are used by the body with the help of the pituitary to improve adrenal function, ovarian and testicular function, as well as the functioning of the thyroid and the pancreas, and the pineal gland (which makes melatonin). That is why it is so much more effective and full spectrum than phytoestrogens for regulating hormonal balance: it just makes the endocrine glands work better.

2. Estrogen dominance is believed to play a role in the development of breast cancer. As an adaptogenic herb, maca often corrects the symptoms of estrogen dominance, including relief from PMS and dissolving ovarian cysts and fibroid tumors. Additionally, we have some reports from women who show an increased progesterone level on their saliva tests after using Royal MacaR for 6 weeks. Progesterone plays a protective role against tumor formation in the presence of estrogen.

But the question still remains: can maca EVER have a "stimulating" rather than a "balancing" effect? The answer is yes, it CAN be stimulating under certain circumstances which are almost always dependent on the dosage involved. But stimulation can be easily avoided by paying attention to your body's response to the dosage you give it. Stimulation with maca produces symptoms, the most common being breast tenderness. Other possible symptoms are a headache or INCREASED hot flashes! That is why I recommend starting with a small dose of certified organic (guaranteed potent and non-toxic) whole root maca extract and gradually increase it if you need to.

What an excellent article! To finish go to:

www.wholeworldbotanicals.com/news/june2002.htm

Xenoestrogens Interfere with your Normal Hormones

How to avoid Xenoestrogens

Xenoestrogens are found in everyday synthetic materials. These materials were previously thought to be inert. Cut out the xenoestrogens from your life.

by Elizabeth Smith, M.D.

Xeno literally means foreign. So xenoestrogens means foreign estrogens. Some of the 100,000 registered chemicals for use in the world have hormonal effects in addition to toxic and carcinogenic effects. Also the synergistic effects are known to occur but also are largely exactly unknown. The field of xenohormones is new, and only been in existence since about 1991.

Critics have proclaimed that these chemicals are for the most part "weak". The body's hormones are at levels of parts per trillion. However, many of the chemicals that affect the hormone systems are routinely found in the serum after sauna at parts per billion. In other words, these chemicals that affect the hormone systems of the human body occur at 100 to 1000 times greater concentration than that of the normal human hormones. One researcher demonstrated that two "weak" estrogens may act synergistically to give a strong estrogen response. Some of these Xenoestrogens like DDE (a metabolite of DDT) may persist in the body fat for decades. Many of these mimicking hormones were previously thought to occur in pesticides. However, many of the newly discovered xenoestrogens are found in every day previously thought to be inert materials.

Some of the following is information taken from Our Stolen Future by Theo Colborn:

DDT

A study published in the Proceedings of the Society of Experimental Biology and Medicine in 1950 by two Syracuse University Zoologists Lindeman and Burlington described how doses of DDT prevented young roosters from developing normally. They injected DDT into roosters by injecting the pesticide into forty young roosters for a period of 2 to 3 months. The daily doses of DDT did not kill the roosters or even made them sick. It made them look weird; they looked like hens. The birds testicles were only 18% of normal size. Their combs and wattles remained stunted and pale. The roosters were chemically castrated.

PLEASE GO TO THIS SITE AND FINISH THE ARTICLE!www.endo101.com/xeno.htm

Oreos are just one food that the participants enjoyed

By Amanda Gardner
HealthDay Reporter – Wed Jul 22, 7:04 pm ET
WEDNESDAY, July 22 (HealthDay News) -- When it comes to weight control, it might not be the kind of snack that matters, but who eats it.
When researchers gave similarly "sinful" snacks to obese and non-obese women, the healthy-weight women wanted less of the treat over time, but obese women kept wanting more.
"Obese and non-obese women respond to high-energy, high-density snacks in different ways," said Jennifer Temple, lead author of the study, which appears in the August issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. "For us, this underscores a need for really doing detailed studies comparing obese and non-obese women in terms of how they respond to food to try to understand things that work better to improve healthy eating."
"You can't take what you see in non-obese women and think it will automatically have the same effect in obese women," added Temple, an assistant professor in exercise and nutrition science at the University at Buffalo, in New York.
Such information could one day be useful in tailoring dieting strategies for different people.
According to background information in the study, only 10 percent of people who lose weight through dieting and exercise manage to keep that weight off for five years.
Scientists have postulated that one reason for the high failure rate is that people feel deprived of their favorite foods and end up making up for their period of abstinence.
In an earlier study, the same research team had found that "food reinforcement," the term they use to describe motivation to eat, decreased in non-obese women who were asked to consume their favorite snack, be it M&Ms or Oreo cookies, for days at a time.
"After two weeks of eating the same snack food, the women came back into the lab and said, "I don't ever want to see a potato chip again,'" Temple said. "They had no interest in working for the food."
But 300 calories is a large portion, so the researchers decided to do a similar study but with smaller (100-calorie) portions as well as the large portions. In addition, a third group of women consumed no snack calories. The study included 31 obese and 27 non-obese women.
All participants were asked to "work" for their food by performing tasks on a computer program set up as a sort of slot-machine. When all of the shapes on the screen matched, volunteers earned points toward eating.
The women were given pre-packaged portions of their favorite snack to eat every day for two weeks. Snacks tended to fall into one of two categories: high-fat and high-sugar (cookies, candy bars) or savory, meaning just high in fat (such as potato chips).
"For the zero and 100-calorie portions, the obese and non-obese groups looked the same," Temple said. "The food reinforcement didn't change before and after the two weeks, which would be expected."
However, non-obese women who snacked on 300-calorie portions exhibited no increase in motivation to eat, but motivation did increase in obese women who consumed the larger portion, the study found.
"They actually worked harder for the food," Temple said. "This was surprising to us. We had anticipated in the beginning that we might not see a decrease or as large of a decrease, but we didn't expect to see an increase."
In some cases, women reported still wanting the food even though they didn't like it.
The pattern is strikingly similar to that seen in drug addicts.
"We're exploring this idea of sensitization, which happens with drug use," Temple said. "Response to a drug will actually decrease over repeated use."
And that leads to more drug use.
"I stop short of calling overeating an addiction," she added. "I don't think it has all of the same properties, but I think we can learn something about overeating behavior from the drug world. We're applying the same experimental paradigms to food and trying to see if obese people might be more susceptible to having an increased response to repeated food administration."
Marianne Grant, a registered dietitian and health educator with the Texas A&M Health Science Center's Coastal Bend Health Education Center in Corpus Christi, said that something else could be at work.
"This suggests to me that people who were obese were not eating out of hunger," Grant said. "There was some other need that eating was filling for them."
"Everyone is different and approaches eating in a different way," she said. "What works for one person may not work for another person. Overeating may be because of some reason other than hunger. That issue needs to be addressed."

Article Source: news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20090722/hl_hsn/eatinghabitsintheobesemayechodrugaddictspatterns

Picture Source: willrunforcake.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/oreos_1.jpg

Women in need of an alternative remedy for various disorders such as hormonal imbalances, PMS, prenatal or postnatal disorders, menopause and breast cancer among others would find great relief in the medicinal constituents of flax seed. Supplements concocted from the grain are conveniently available with most pharmaceuticals these days and it's remarkable to find a natural ingredient that provides an array of holistic health benefits while conveniently supporting dietary requirements.

Healthy Hormonal Levels with Essential Fatty Acids

A tablespoon of ground flax seed meets the recommended dietary requirement for essential fatty acids (EFA). The EFAs in flax seed, specifically omega-3 (alpha-linolenic acid) and omega-6 (linoleic acid), are indispensable nutrients in the production of vital hormones and sustenance of cellular structure. The EFA factor in flax seed has been utilized in herbal supplements to correct hormonal imbalances transpiring during pre-menstrual periods. Omega-3 is also an essential component of neurotransmitter production (serotonin and dopamine) in the central nervous system while regulating its activity in the brain. This way, flax seed supplementation can help ease depressive behavior and even intermittent mood swings during menstruation.

Complementing the functions of essential fatty acids, the lignan nutrients also enriching the grain's oil also functions as a phytoestrogen. Clinical studies reveal that menopausal women taking a regular dose of flax seed manifested great improvement in terms of health. Taking either flax seed supplements or nourishing diets with ground flax seed is beneficial in restoring hormonal balance.

Reducing the Risks of Cancer with Flax Lignan

The phytoestrogens in flax seed are bioactive adaptogens that slowdown tumor growth in various cancers, especially in the case of breast cancer which arises from a hormonal disorder.

In related clinical studies, cancer patients sustained with flax seed-restricted diets returned positive results in controlling the proliferation of cancer cells. Likewise, a flax seed diet helped reduce the likelihood for cancer patients to undergo chemotherapy.

Healthy Weight Management with Flax Fiber

Flax seed is rich in soluble and insoluble fibers that promote overall digestive wellness. One or two tablespoons of flax seed a day effectively supports the daily requirement for dietary fibers. Furthermore, flax seed enhances metabolism and curtails disruptive cravings that makes it a perfect dietary supplement in the course of completing a weight loss program. The grain has also been used for many years in the prevention of various digestive disorders such as constipation.

There are a lot of health benefits women can derive from a daily dose of flax seed. In its whole or ground form, flax seed is all the more pleasant to the taste buds given its flavorful and nutty texture. Flax seed indeed is one grain that effectively restores healthy vitality from within while giving you a holistic nutritional boost.

Bruce Maul is a partner in Gold Flax Seed, Inc. which provides only top quality Flax Seed and Health related products. Learn more about Flax Seed by visiting http://www.goldflaxseed.com

Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Women-Can-Benefit-From-Flax-Seed-Supplementation?&id=1317786

It's always good to learn about healthy additions to a human diet!

flax and preg

Pregnant women and women who expect to become pregnant are routinely told by doctors to take supplemental folic acid to prevent birth defects and a comprehensive prenatal formula supplying additional vitamins and minerals. We also now know supplemental vitamin E may help to prevent or mitigate preeclampsia, a form of toxemia of pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure, fluid retention and albuminuria (the presence of albumin or sulfur-containing water-soluble proteins in the urine).

Pregnent womanThis is good advice. The fact that more and more women are using such nutritional supplements prior to and during pregnancy should result in optimally healthy babies with good birth weight, head circumference, and optimal potential intelligence or IQ.

But recent research indicates that another nutrient, not likely to be found in vitamin-mineral supplements may also be critical to insure adequate supplies of during pregnancy and the post-natal period whether mothers are breast- or formula-feeding their infants.

Mom, taking care of your baby during pregnancy and immediately following birth by ingesting an adequate amount of a special fats called omega-3 fatty acids will help your child grow up to be healthier adult. Conversely, without adequate amounts of this special fat, your baby may suffer virtually irreversible health problems during childhood and as an adult.

Low Levels of Special Fat During Pregnancy
Lead to Adult Blood Pressure Problems
In the March 2001 issue of Nature Medicine, researchers suggest for the first time that an essential nutrient, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), when supplied in the early developmental period, can affect blood pressure later in life. A member of the omega-3 fatty acid family, ALA can be converted in the human body to other members of this family such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Pregnant womanMeanwhile, additional research shows us that this same nutrient is essential to normal visual and neurological development and that it's deficit during pregnancy and in the first few months following birth can result in subtle behavioral disorders as well as possibly increased mortality during the perinatal period (from the 20th week of gestation through the 28th day of newborn life).

In the Nature Medicine study, the researchers found that the offspring of a specific breed of rat, with little predisposition for high blood pressure, suffered elevated blood pressure later in life if they experienced a deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids during the perinatal period. Their blood pressure remained elevated even when they were given the nutrient as adults.

In the experiment, which involved various dietary regimens, some animals were raised on a diet deficient in omega-3 fatty acids and others on a diet with an adequate supply of the fatty acids in the form of ALA in order to promote normal brain DHA levels. Later, some of the animals were switched to an ALA-rich diet, while others continued to be denied the important nutrient.

The researchers found that even as adults with equal brain levels of DHA, animals whose mothers were fed an ALA-rich diet during the earliest pregnancy stages of the study had the lowest levels of blood pressure. Animals given ALA later on as adults had intermediate high blood pressure, but animals deprived of ALA altogether had markedly higher levels.

The body uses ALA to manufacture DHA, which is found at high concentrations during the perinatal period in the brain and retina. The animals deprived of ALA and therefore DHA during pregnancy also tended to drink less water and consume more sodium, indicating an aberration in their cellular water/sodium sensors, which influence water-mineral balances and, consequently, blood pressure. These aberrations appear to be permanent, based on this preliminary research.

Mother and babyBrain and Visual Development
Meanwhile, researchers have found that infants require these same essential fatty acids in order to develop normal neurological visual responses. "Essential fatty acids may play their most important role... in the development of the fetal brain," note authors Donald Rudin, M.D., and Clara Felix who add, "By the way, DHA is not only needed in large amounts by the developing brain, but also by the eyes..."

In 1971, C. Galli and co-researchers reported that a malnourished fetus who was deprived of adequate amounts of omega-3 fatty acids could suffer "significant, perhaps irreversible developmental damage to the brain."*

Rudin and Felix note that during the last trimester of pregnancy, the fetal brain undergoes a "tremendous growth spurt, for which large amounts of Omega-3 DHA... are needed." In fact, these same nutrients are also quite critical to newborn development processes during the first six months of life. However, they caution, "Like everyone else, pregnant women are adversely affected by the deficiencies of the modern, industrialized diet." In other words, their concern is that women may not be receiving adequate supplies of omega-3 fatty acids to cover her own needs which are greater during pregnancy along with those of her baby.

Physiological studies have reported abnormalities in brain and visual function of formula-fed infants relative to breast-fed infants. This is probably due to the inadequate amounts of omega-3 fatty acids in commercial formulas.

These findings prompted French researchers from the University Bordeaux II, Paris, to study whether altering the fatty acid composition of baby formula could help to boost such levels. Infants of mothers who elected not to breast-feed were randomly assigned to either high or low alpha-linolenic formulas. Infants fed human milk were enrolled concurrently as a reference group. With ALA supplementation, levels of DHA were maintained in a similar range to those children receiving breast milk. Thus, say these researchers, "alpha-linolenic acid supplementation... in premature infant formula can contribute efficiently to the maintenance of the omega-3 status in the premature newborns." Clearly, choice of formula for non-breast- fed babies is critical. Be sure if your child is formula fed, your formula supplies either ALA or DHA or, if possible, both.

May Help Reduce Risk of Infant Mortality We also have reason to believe that omega-3 fatty acids are critical to survival of the newborn during the first few months following birth. In an experimental study, the effect of dietary ALA deficiency on reproduction and postnatal growth in rats was studied during four successive generations. Female rats received either sunflower or soya oils (soya, a more plentiful ALA source). In fact, the sunflower oil supplied 22 times less ALA than the soya diet. While the ALA-deficient diet did not impair fecundity, fertility, pup birth weight or pup growth during suckling, this deficiency did cause abnormally high rates of perinatal mortality from birth to postpartum day three.

The Doctor's Prescription
Supplemental intake of omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy is clearly important. "For at least six months before conception, both the woman and the man should choose foods that supply an abundance of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, in the form of foods from temperate and cold climates," say Rudin and Felix. "This includes fish, such as salmon and bluefish; nuts, such as walnuts; grains, such as winter wheat; and oils, such as flaxseed." http://barleans.com/literature/flax/82-prenatal-health.html

Flaxseed is the richest source of omega-3 fatty acids.
We also urge women of childbearing age to supplement their diets with oceanic-derived omega-3 fatty acids. But, we urge women of childbearing age to avoid fish oil capsules and seafood that could be polluted with industrial chemicals or pesticides. Thus, women should avoid excess intake of tuna; although a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, tuna tends to accumulate methylmercury, a potential fetal toxin. Swordfish tends to accumulate PCBs and methylmercury. And, with all due respect to Rudin and Felix, their recommendation for consuming bluefish is a poor one, since this species, found along the East Coast, is one of the most contaminated commercially available fishes. Best choices would be Pacific salmon (preferably wild harvested) once or twice a week, with tuna limited to once weekly.

www.barleans.com/literature/flax/82-prenatal-health.html

Flax seed, also known as linseed, is noted to have high nutritional value, making it a priority choice of food for health conscious people. Flax seed has the natural properties of fiber, lignans and omega-3 fatty acids that provide preventative and restorative abilities to your diet
. There are two types of flax seed. One type is grown for the seed use and considered an oil seed variety. The other is grown specifically for fiber production to be utilized in the texture industry.

Even though flax seed has been around since the dawn of civilization, it is more recently that mainstream society is beginning to understand its relevance to a healthy life. Nutritionists, physicians, and health conscious individuals are quickly becoming passionate about the health benefits of flax seed.

The health benefits of Flaxseed are as follows.

*
Richest source of omega fatty acids and lignans (potent cancer fighters) known in nature. The immune-enhancing omega fatty acids 3, 6, and 9 are balanced in the combination your body requires for optimal health. Also loaded with vitamins and phytonutrients, and an excellent source of protein and fiber, flaxseed is nature's gift to health!

*
Provides improved Immune Function- Immunity is the body's ability to defend itself successfully against foreign substances. The alpha linolenic acid, as well as the lignans, decreases inflammation and promotes healthy functioning of the immune system. Flax seed may be useful to manage autoimmune and inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and lupus.

*
Weight Management - research indicates that including flaxseed in your daily diet can help you manage your weight. Besides stabilizing your sugar levels, flax expands five times in bulk when ingested. Flax taken half an hour before meals will help you eat less, so you will lose weight while simultaneously strengthening your immune system.

*
Affect on Hormone Levels - Flax seed, with its high concentration of lignans, is a great choice for all women, whether younger, middle-aged, or older, as a natural way to normalize the menstrual cycle, manage menopause, and lower the risk of osteoporosis, cancer and heart disease. Intake of flaxseed on a daily basis results in hormonal changes that are beneficial to women of all ages. In menstruating women who consumed 10 grams (about 2 teaspoons) of flax seed on a daily basis, significant hormonal changes have resulted. These changes are similar to those seen after consumption of soy isoflavones. Positive effects included fewer cycle changes, along with a reduction in ovarian disfunction. This, in turn, may decrease the development of breast and other cancers. As women reach menopause, the level of estrogens in their body decreases. This not only gives rise to menopausal symptoms, but also increases the risk of disease, including cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. In post-menopausal women the protective effects of lignans is due primarily to their estrogenic activity. Lignans have even been proposed as an alternative to hormone-replacement therapy in post-menopausal women.
 

Article Source: www.womenfitness.net/benefits-flaxseed.htm

Hooray for Flax Seed!

Many of us who eat more raw foods can testify to the fact that we feel more at peace.  What a wonderful blessing that is in this busy world.  But Why?  Why do I have the ability to think more clearly?  Why the peaceful feeling when others around me are extremely stressed out?  I seem to get so much more enjoyment out of watching little ones play or just looking at the beautiful world we live in.

In his book There are No Incurable Diseases, Dr. Richard Schulze explains this phenomenon:

" Your brain is just like any other organ in your body.  It can only work well when it is supplied with sufficient blood and that blood must be rich in nutrients.  Your brain also creates waste as it works - thinking, problem-solving, meditating, or stimulating millions of nerve cells, or manufacturing numerous metabolic chemicals that tell your body to do everything from balancing your hormones to recovering from jet lag.  Often while viewing an autopsy that opens the skull and dissects the brain, or when reading a post mortem pathology report, some part of the brain tissue is usually anemic and physically covered with yellow mucus and waste.  This proves the lack of blood and the retention of waste.  When viewing the brain of someone with a brain disease, the brain usually looks even worse.  Medical doctors and scientists would like to make this more complicated,  It isn't.  From slight memory loss to Alzheimer's Disease, from bad hair days to chronic depression, even insanity, All brain and emotional dystfunction has its roots in bad circulation, nutritional depletion, and waste build-up."

Feeling a sense of happiness, lighter moods and clearer thinking are some of the first benifits people feel when adding more raw foods to their diet.  What a wonderful blessing, a fantastic gift to give to yourself and your loved ones.  Try it and see.     Namaste, Kathy

Flax and hot flashes!  More and more women are telling me how much the krackers are helping them with menopause!  It seems the more flax seeds a women eats, the less hot flashes she experiences!  This might explain why I have never had a hot flash or any symptom of menopause!  This is great ladies!  What an easy way to feel better!  Go Flax!  

Kathy

Flaxseed is the best source

Of all seeds, flaxseeds (the seeds of the plant Linum usitatissmum) have the highest ALA (omega 3) and lowest LA (omega 6), thus can help improve the imbalance in essential fatty acids. Therefore, flaxseeds should form an important part of a vegan or vegetarian diet.

Health benefits

As mentioned above, ALA has many benefits, one of them is to protect the heart in two ways – through improvements in abnormal heart rhythms and a reduction of blood platelet stickiness. ALA also reduces LDL or “bad” cholesterol and lipoprotein levels for the prevention of heart attacks and stroke.

ALA also keep blood pressure at normal level by inhibiting inflammatory effects on blood vessels, thereby preventing formation of plague on blood vessels which cause poor circulation.

Flaxseeds contain approximately 28% fiber, soluble and insoluble. The insoluble fiber helps to relieve constipation, improve colon health and may prevent colon cancer. The soluble fiber comes primarily from mucilage fiber, which is also a great stool softener when consumed with lots of fluid. It also prevents toxicity which results from constipation.

In addition, mucilage fiber slows down sugar absorption into the body, thereby stabilizes blood sugar and control cravings. It helps those who are obese, diabetic or hypoglycemic to overcome overeating and carbohydrate addiction.

Flaxseeds contain the highest level of lignans among all plants. Lignans are phytoestrogens which resemble human hormone estrogens. Despite being much weaker than human estrogens, they nevertheless help to balance hormone levels in the body and may protect against breast, colon, prostate and skin cancer.

Food Remedies A study involving 50 women with breast cancer showed that 25 women who were fed with 25g of milled flax daily before surgery had slower-growing tumors than the other 25 women who were not fed milled flax at all.

Lignans may also have antioxidant properties and hence may reduce cell damage caused by free radicals. Thus, it could help to delay the onset of Type 1 and 2 diabetes.

http://www.avianweb.com/flaxseeds.html

Have you been experiencing hot flashes, night sweats, feeling irritable, anxious or having headaches? As you enter perimenopause you might begin to experience a variety of these symptoms. Other symptoms sometime include low libido, depression and dry skin. Whatever the symptoms are, it usually has to do with fluctuations in a woman’s hormone levels which cause all sorts of problems as a women goes through menopause. Some women seem to breeze through menopause with a few mild problems, others are so debilitated with major symptoms, they suffer for many years as they go through this change. For many women, symptoms like night sweats and hot flashes can last well into their sixties.

Recently there has been much research done on foods that help to ease menopausal symptoms. Certain foods and lifestyle changes hold promise as natural remedies for menopausal symptoms. By eating the right foods and increasing exercise, women can keep their bodies healthy as well as control many of those pesky menopause issues.

Some of the changes you can make include the following. Eat more fruits and vegetables, consume more cooked dry beans, eat more soy and soy products, eat more of the right fats, eat more whole grains, eat more calcium-rich foods, eat fruit and nuts instead of high fat/sugar desserts, add omega-3 oils or flaxseed, drink water, eat at least 3-6 times a day, last but not least, exercise every day.

To read the rest of this article go to www.articalworld.com/2008/12/how-to-manage-menopause-symptoms-with-diet-and-exercise/ I would like to hear what you have found that helps.