Osteoporosis and Nutrition

March 19, 2015

Osteoporosis and Nutrition: Foods to Avoid

Osteoporosis and Nutrition. When you feed on the right food stuff, you can eliminate osteoporosis

The body needs energy to operate effectively and to be healthy. However with many health challengers around us, some of this food may not be ideal particularly if you are experiencesing some health complications like osteoporosis. When we talk about osteoporosis and nutrition does foods like salt, soda and caffeine advisable? Could it be that your daily diet is not working well for you and instead damaging your bones even to the point that it is resulting to osteoporosis? These are some of the questions we want to answer as we learn from the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury in this article. Ideally getting adequate calcium and vitamin D is essential for warding off osteoporosis. Doctor Dalal Akoury says that your life is the most valuable asset you can ever possess on earth meaning that it must be guarded effectively and by all means. Therefore, for stronger bones, it would be very necessary that you avoid these everyday osteoporosis diet dangers like:

Salt
Some Popular Drinks
The Cost of Caffeine
Certain Problematic Protein
Soy

Osteoporosis and Nutrition: Salt Is Bad for the Bone

Ordinarily salt is needed to add taste to the food we consume. And to many people food without salt is not anything to consider. However salt can pose a great obstacle to a sturdy skeleton. According to some studies, it has been established that postmenopausal women with a high salt intake diet lose more bone minerals than their counterparts of the same age. The salt content of the typical American diet is one of the reasons why calcium requirements are so high. The experts are in agreement that regular table salt and simply sodium causes calcium loss and with time weakens the bones. According to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans advise limiting sodium to 2,300 milligrams a day which is an equivalent of a teaspoon of salt. Despite this advice many people are still consuming up to least 4,000 milligrams a day. Generally speaking, for every 2,300 milligrams of sodium you take in, about 40 milligrams of calcium is lost in the urine. For stability it is important for people to get the right units of calcium and vitamin D daily to help in offsetting bone loss from the consumption of salt. The following are the recommended units of calcium and vitamin D:

Adults up to age 50 require 1,000 milligrams of calcium daily — the equivalent of three 8-ounce glasses of milk.
Older adults need 1,200 milligrams of daily calcium – about half a glass more of milk.

People need 200 International Units (IU) of vitamin D a day until age 50.
Adults need 400 IU of vitamin D from the ages of 51 to 70 years.
Seniors need 600 IU of vitamin D a day after age 70.

The best sources of vitamin D should be from natural origins like natural sunlight and from fortified milk, egg yolks, saltwater fish, liver, and supplements.

We may succeed in eliminating salt shakers from our tables and even prepare meals without salt. But this is just a reduction of very negligible portion. It is no wonder that of all the dangers to the bone, salt is one which may be the hardest to eliminate. This is so because all the processed foods including whole grain breads, breakfast cereals, and fast foods are very rich in salt. As a matter of fact these constitute up to 75% of salt we consume. Therefore if you want to reduce the diet danger, take note of some of the highest-salt foods to limit or avoid. Choose no-added salt versions whenever possible.

Processed meats, such as deli turkey and ham, and hot dogs
Fast food, such as pizza, burgers, tacos, and fries
Processed foods, including regular and reduced-calorie frozen meals
Regular canned soups and vegetables and vegetable juices
Baked products, including breads and breakfast cereals

Scan food labels for sodium content to ensure that you only go for those with the lowest units of sodium for better bones. We appreciate that lowering your salt use may not be very easy and therefore if this describes you situation, then you may opt for plenty of potassium-rich foods like bananas, tomatoes, and orange juice. Potassium may be helpful in decreasing the loss of calcium.

Osteoporosis and Nutrition: Some Popular Drinks

Many soft drinks and certain other carbonated soft drinks contain phosphoric acid, which can increase calcium excretion in your urine. And nearly all soft drinks lack calcium. That combination spells trouble for women at risk of osteoporosis. Excess phosphorus promotes calcium loss from the body when calcium intake is low.

The occasional soda is fine, but many people, particularly women, consume more than an occasional can or glass. To make matters worse, soft drink consumers may also avoid calcium-laden beverages that bolster bones, such as milk, yogurt-based drinks, and calcium and vitamin D fortified orange juice. To prevent osteoporosis, instead desire to use the following drinks:

Eight ounces of orange juice fortified with calcium and vitamin D
A mixture of fortified orange juice and seltzer or club soda that’s free of phosphoric acid
Fruit smoothie: Combine 8 ounces fat-free yogurt, one medium banana or a cup of fresh or frozen berries and 2 ice cubes in a blender or food processor
Fat-free plain or chocolate milk

We have just mentioned a very important point about certain habits. Many people go beyond the occasional consumption of these unhealthy drinks. Worse still are that such people will not be comfortable taking calcium rich beverages further complicating the health equation. This is one of the reasons why osteoporosis is nagging in most people’s lives. What does this communicates to you dear reader? We are actually vulnerable to osteoporosis and therefore regular consultation with the experts will be the best option we have. At AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Akoury we are aware of your needs and will be able to help you get over it. All you need to do is to schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury for professional guidance today. In the meantime we are going to continue with the discussion on the remaining everyday osteoporosis diet dangers in our next article, so don’t go too far.

Osteoporosis and Nutrition: Foods to Avoid

Bone Mass Matters and Testosterone

March 19, 2015

Bone Mass Matters and Testosterone: Male Osteoporosis

Bone Mass Matters and Testosterone have close association in building strong bones

Osteoporosis is a medical condition that affects the stability of the bones. People suffering from osteoporosis are having weak bones which are vulnerable to breaking at any little accident of falling off the ground or other accidents. It is estimated that about 20% of people struggling with osteoporosis are men. And we are concern to finding out what causes it, and what can be done about it? That is why we want to settle on this discussion by interrogating the bone mass matters and testosterone with a view of learning on how we can be safe from the problems of osteoporosis in men and even in women. Experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center while analyzing the available date are reporting that up to 2 million American men are currently struggling with osteoporosis the bone thinning that makes bones brittle and porous causing vulnerability to fracture. And from there findings up to twelve million men are at risk, and may have early signs of bone loss and low bone density, called osteopenia. However given that four times as many women have osteoporosis, men are less likely to end up with thin bones than women.

Bone Mass Matters and Testosterone: Why these lower risk?

To find out why men are likely to have low risk of osteoporosis than women, we asked doctor Dalal Akoury who is an expert in this discipline and also the M.D and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. She explained that, normally women have longer life span and because osteoporosis is commonly affects people in their old age that could be one reason. It is also true that because men are generally more physically active owing to the course of their lives men are less likely to lose bone mass, because exercise has been shown to protect bone density. Nonetheless there is even a bigger difference with male osteoporosis where in men, it is considered as a symptom of something else (that something else in many men is hormonal) as oppose to women where it is almost a postmenopausal.

Bone Mass Matters and Testosterone: Testosterone Deficiency

Testosterone deficiency has been spotted to be the major cause of male osteoporosis. There’s a clear unanimity that when evaluating men with osteoporosis, you always evaluate for testosterone deficiency. As a professional doctor Akoury advices that men with low testosterone may seek for a testosterone replacement to facilitate in building the bone density or bone mass, nevertheless there is no scientific evidence of how much of the bone building benefits is accruing directly from the testosterone effects. Neither this nor the turning of the testosterone into estrogen, and even though this is yet to be scientifically be established, it is still very important not to minimize the role of testosterone to estrogen conversion.

In spite of these men will also need a small amount of estrogen. The function of estrogen in this case is to preserves bone density in both men and women. In fact, all men normally convert testosterone to estrogen to build bone mass. Therefore when you look at men who lack an enzyme to make even small amounts of estrogen because they were genetically born that way, they get osteoporosis. But if you give them estrogen, their osteoporosis improves. Meaning that even though estrogen doesn’t circulate in very high concentrations in men it’s a critical factor for bone health.

Bone Mass Matters and Testosterone: Low Calcium and Vitamin D

Bones continually grow over your lifetime, in a natural process called remodeling, with old bone cells sloughing off and new bone cells growing in to replace them. But to make new bone, your body needs plenty of calcium and vitamin D. This is a very big building project which will need sufficient calcium and vitamin D for the scaffolding of the new bones and reinstatement of bone density with calcium and other minerals.

Bone Mass Matters and Testosterone: Hanging Out, Rather Than Working Out

Your bones continually monitor the mechanical stress you put on them. The bone mass has a policy of you either use-it or you lose-it just in the same way with the muscle. When muscle pulls on bone, the bone responds by growing. However if you’re not exercising, both bone and muscle weaken. Experts have established that exercise boosts bone mass but only at the sites of skeletal stress. Walking or jogging can increase bone density in the hips, but weight-lifting won’t.

Bone Mass Matters and Testosterone: Medications That Reduce Bone Mass

A host of medications can lead to bone loss in men, just as they can for women. The red flag drugs may include:

Corticosteroids – These aren’t muscle-building steroids but are anti-inflammatory steroids which dampen the body’s immune response, also known as cortisone, hydrocortisone, glucocorticoids, and prednisone. These drugs are useful for treating everything from asthma to ulcers however they can wreak havoc with the bone.

Drugs for prostate cancer – Taking drugs called GnRH agonists, often used for men with prostate cancer, can lead to low bone mineral density (BMD) and a higher rate of fractures.

Anti-seizure drugs – These drugs have been associated with bone loss, especially for men who take long-term high doses and don’t get enough calcium or vitamin D.

When contemplating using any of these drugs, it would be very important that you first consult with your doctor about your risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures if you’re taking any of these “red flag” drugs. Your doctor will be able to help you in weighing the potential risks against the benefits of these drugs for you.

Bone Mass Matters and Testosterone: Medical Conditions

A long list of diseases can lead to low bone mass, from genetic conditions like cystic fibrosis to diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and digestive and blood disorders. Remember that if you have any chronic condition especially if you’ve been taking medications for years then it is even more crucial to maximize your diet and exercise to maintain your bone health.

Bone Mass Matters and Testosterone: Smoking

Smoking is never good for anything. It would be better that this does not come in anywhere close to your life. Nonetheless smoking is not a good idea by all means and more so for strong bones. Doctor Akoury states that smokers have a higher risk of getting fractured bones and the risk can be as high as 55%. Normally such fractures do affect sensitive parts of the body like the hips of the smokers compared to nonsmokers, as well as lower bone mineral density. Now even as you smoke, it is important that you know that nicotine has a direct toxic effect on bone cells. Finally if you desire to quit smoking and you’re meeting obstacles on the way, you may want to schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury for timely addiction treatment and natural recovery process.

Bone Mass Matters and Testosterone: Male Osteoporosis

The body structure and Osteoporosis

March 19, 2015

The body structure and Osteoporosis: The Stability of your Bones

The body structure and Osteoporosis. For a healthy body and well composed body shape, osteoporosis must be eliminated

The body of anything must have some structures for it to be seen as a body. Before you can see the coverings of the body, there is always the framework of that body. In human beings and other animals, the framework is made up of bones. It therefore means that without the framework there will be no body to admire. It is becoming a general concern that this framework is losing its abilities to function as it should with time as we get older. This stability loss is what we want to discuss in this article under the topic of the body structure and osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a health condition which affects the body and particularly the framework of the body which is the bones. Therefore if you have osteoporosis the understanding is that you have lost some bone material. And your bones have become less dense creating some spaces in between. The creation of the spaces on the bones makes them weak and more vulnerable to breaking at very negligible forces (fracture). Doctor Dalal Akoury says that even though osteoporosis mainly affects older people but it can also be very indiscriminative by affecting people of all ages. Yes it is true that the risk of osteoporosis is high as we approach our sunset days, but we can take certain measures to reduce this. There are a number of preventive measures we can adapt to slow down bone loss. Medication may be one of the suggestions professionals will recommend in restoring the bones, but this will be done up on evaluation of individual patient. If you are experiencing certain pain or weakness in your bones then you need to act first and consult with the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center for speedy correctional measures to be taken.

The body structure and Osteoporosis: What is osteoporosis?

Therefore osteoporosis is a condition that affects bone strength and the word osteoporosis literally means “porous bones”. Remember that the bone is made of collagen fibers (tough, elastic fibers) and minerals (gritty, hard material). This is a living tissue rich in cells that make, mold and resorb (take back up) bone. Initially, as you grow, bone formation exceeds bone resorption. But, as you get older, this reverses and, after about the age of 35, you start to lose a certain amount of bone material. This would then means that your bones will become less dense and loses stability by becoming less strong. This process of bone loss will not be the same in all people but the amount of bone loss will vary from person to person. Therefore if you have lost a lot more of your bone mass, then you have osteoporosis. Meaning that if you have osteoporosis, then your bones becomes bristle and can break more easily than normal, especially if you have an injury such as a fall. If you have a milder degree of bone loss, this is known as osteopenia.

Just to help you understand further what osteoporosis is, I want to further illustrate this porous situation differently. Taking a closer observation of the bone under a microscope, you will notice that sections of the bone take the shape of a honey comb. It means that those suffering from osteoporosis will have wider and much bigger holes and spaces in the honeycomb like structure. This is an illustration that they are having bones which are not healthy and therefore the understanding is that they have lost their bone density and the structure of their bone is not normal. Doctor Akoury recommends that people should have bone density test especially those who are aging and have broken their bones in the past.

The body structure and Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis is Common

Because osteoporosis risk is high in old age, an assumption could be made that the world is generally at greater risk as we approach old age. Nonetheless it is estimated from various statistics that in America alone about 54 million people have osteoporosis and low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for osteoporosis. Studies further suggest that approximately one in two women and up to one in four men age 50 and older will break a bone due to osteoporosis subsequently.

The body structure and Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis is Serious

Besides the pain that comes with a broken bone, one could also have a permanent deformity. Therefore the breaking of a bone is a serious complication of osteoporosis, especially when you’re older. In many cases broken bones due to osteoporosis normally occur in very sensitive sections of the body like the hip, spine and wrist thereby adding to the complications more pain and fatality. Nonetheless it must not be assumed that these are the only sections that will suffer osteoporosis because the other bones can also break. The other consequences of osteoporosis may include:

Broken bones can cause severe pain that may not go away
Osteoporosis also causes some people to lose height. When osteoporosis causes the bones of the spine, called vertebrae, to break or collapse, it affects your posture and causes you to become stooped or hunched.
Osteoporosis may even keep you from getting around easily and doing the things you enjoy, which may bring feelings of isolation or depression.
It can also lead to other health problems. Twenty percent of seniors who break a hip die within one year from problems related to the broken bone itself or surgery to repair it. Many of those who survive need long-term nursing home care.

The body structure and Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis is Costly

The estimated cost of the effects of osteoporosis will surprise you greatly if these statistics is anything to go by. It is estimated that Osteoporosis is responsible for two million broken bones and $19 billion in related costs every year. By 2025, experts predict that osteoporosis will be responsible for approximately three million fractures and $25.3 billion in costs each year. What does this communicates to you? It means that you and I are being called up on to pool together and prevent this in the future generation.

The body structure and Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis can sneak up on you

Finally this is not something to look at from afar. Doctor Akoury refers to osteoporosis as a silent disease because you can’t feel your bones getting weaker. The very first time you may realize this is when you break a bone or when it done on you that you are getting shorter or your upper back is curving forward. Therefore if this description suits you and you are experiencing height loss or your spine is curving, help is closer to you that you can imagine. Schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury today as the disease may be already be advanced.

The body structure and Osteoporosis: The Stability of your Bones

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) in women

February 1, 2013

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) in women

Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT is Women Age Management

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) has reached national awareness just recently. Until 2002 mainstream physicians routinely prescribed conventional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) not Bioidentical Hormones replacement therapy (BHRT). Conventional HRT was practiced to alleviate menopausal symptoms in women, such as hot flashes, mood swings, decreased sexual desire, vaginal dryness, and difficulty sleeping. conventional HRT was also prescribed to prevent heart disease and osteoporosis. In 2002 more than 160,000 women participated in the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), the results of this landmark study identified grave dangers associated with conventional hormone replacement therapy in women.
This conventional HRT therapy caused dangerous consequences; however bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) are safer.

A 26% increased risk of breast cancer,
A 29% increased risk of heart attack,
A 41% increase in risk for strokes,
And a doubling in risk for blood clots relative to the untreated group.
Moreover, women receiving conjugated equine (horse-derived) estrogen experienced a six-fold increased risk for uterine cancer.
Women’s trust in the mainstream medical establishment declined significantly as a result of these seriousl risks of conventional HRT. Many women began to seek natural alternatives to hormone replacement (Roumie 2004; Schonberg 2005). This frightening Data from the study forced many physicians to discourage the use of conventional HRT for the prevention of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease in aging women (Sharma 2003, Azoulay 2004). These scary findings did not affect Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT).

Though many mainstream physicians were shocked by the results of the WHI study, Functional and Integrative wholistic physicians were not. The hormones utilized in the WHI study consisted of oral equine (horse) estrogen and a synthetic progestogen. Synthetic hormones chemical structure differs from the structure of hormones naturally produced by women’s body. Functional and Integrative wholistic physicians have discouraged the use of conventional HRT for many years and instead appreciated the value of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy BHRT are exactly the same as those naturally produced in women. Bioidentical hormones therapy BHRT is associated with far fewer side effects than conventional HRT and there is intriguing evidence that it may reduce the risk of certain cancers (Holtorf 2009).

Dr. Dalal Akoury describes the difference between Conventional and Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy BHRT

As women age their sex hormone levels decline. Traditional physician thought that HRT replacement will reverse menopausal symptoms. Menopausal symptoms include increased risk of heart attack and cancer (Wren 2009; Lenfant 2010; Lee 2010). The original understanding of menopause and the logic of HRT may be theoretically correct, however women hormonal symphony is far more complex.

Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy recognizes that the hormonal symphony is a tightly regulated masterpiece. All steroid hormones are created from cholesterol in a hormonal cascade. The first in the cascade is pregnenolone, which is subsequently converted into other hormones, including dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), progesterone, testosterone, and the various forms of estrogen. These hormones are interrelated, yet each performs unique physiological functions. Biologically sound hormone replacement should focus on a woman’s total hormone balance, and not only on estrogen and progesterone.

Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT is women age management

Conventional HRT makes use of non-bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT that differ chemically from those naturally produced by a woman’s body.

Conjugated equine estrogen (CEE) is obtained from the urine of pregnant mares (horses) (Bhavnani 2003). CEE is usually given in combination with progestin, a synthetic progesterone. These structural differences between conventional HRT: conjugated equine estrogens, chemical progestins, and the Natural hormones produced by women’s bodies explain the adverse affects associated with conventional HRT.

Another major problem with conventional HRT is the ratio of estrogens. The ratio of estrogens in Premarin® is about 75% estrone, up to 15% equilin (a potent horse estrogen), estradiol, and at least two other equine estrogens. These are very different from the ratios observed naturally in a woman’s body (Wright 1999);

Dr. Dalal Akoury explain the causes of Estrogen Dominance while explaining that Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy is a woman’s

Beginning in peri-menopause and continuing through menopause, the production of progesterone tends to decline more rapidly than that of estrogen. If the ratio between progesterone and estrogen is unbalanced favoring excess estrogen, a woman may become susceptible to an increased risk of fibrocystic breast disease and other health risks (Kubista 1990; Lee and Hopkins 1996), that is why we should remember that properly orchestrated Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT is necessary for women health.

When considering Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy one should pay attention to factors contributing to estrogen dominance such as:

Exposure to estrogen-mimicking chemicals found in herbicides, pesticides, and petrochemicals (for example BPA, or bisphenol A) and PCB’s (polychlorinated biphenyl’s), used in some cosmetics, glue, plastic, and other modern materials (Tapiero 2002); Xeno-estrogen and Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy
Obesity, as well as increased intake of excess calories from simple sugars, fiber-deficient refined grains, and trans-fat from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil

Estrogen dominance is often associated with symptoms such as food cravings, bloating, weight gain, fatigue, mood swings, depression, cyclical migraine headaches, lack of sexual desire, menstrual cramps, short cycles, heavy menstrual bleeding, hair loss, fibroids, and endometriosis. Estrogen dominance has to be considered seriously while using Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT.

Is Cancer Risk a legitimate Reason to Deprive Aging Women of healthy aging; Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy BHRT?

Hormones like estrogen and testosterone affect cell growth and proliferation; unchecked cell growth and proliferation increase in the cancer risk in this population. This fear about cancer development is an important reason why more aging women chose not to restore their hormonal levels to more youthful levels. Does that mean aging women should simply accept the sex hormone deficiencies they face as a part of “normal” aging? No Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT is a Woman’ right.

To better clarify the association between sex hormone restoration and the increased risk of cancer risk we asked a simple question: If estrogen caused breast cancer, we would expect to see very high rates of breast cancer in young women of childbearing age; In addition we would dramatic decrease in breast cancer after menopause? However this simply is not the case. Clearly aging and improper use of conventional HRT not bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT is the primary cause of breast cancer;

Risk of Developing Breast Cancer by Age

By age 25: 1 in 19,608

By age 30: 1 in 2,525

By age 40: 1 in 217

By age 45: 1 in 93

By age 50: 1 in 50

By age 55: 1 in 33

By age 60: 1 in 24

By age 65: 1 in 17

By age 70: 1 in 14

By age 75: 1 in 11

By age 80: 1 in 10

By age 85: 1 in 9

The reason cancer risk increases with aging is that the genes that help regulate healthy cell growth can mutate. Optimal Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT protects women from breast cancer.

Dr. Dalal Akoury elaborates: to fully understand the hormone symphony Estrogen should be better explained in light of Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT is Women Age Management.

To fully appreciate the complexity of HRT, it is important to understand the various forms of estrogen and their effects in the body. The estrogen family include smore than 15 forms of estrogen naturally created in a woman’s body (Taioli, 2010). These include the three major players Estrone is the criminal and cancer promoter, Estradiol, and Estriol is the cancer police.

Each of these estrogens has particular functions.

Estradiol (E2), the predominant form in reproductive-age non-pregnant women, primarily aids in the cyclic release of eggs from the ovaries for potential fertilization and preparation of the uterus for pregnancy. Estradiol also has beneficial effects on heart, bone, brain and colon. Reduction in the level of estradiol causes common menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats. That is why bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is important for women health.
Estrone (E1), produced in the ovaries but also generated in fat cells, is another relatively potent form of estrogen, and is the dominant estrogen in postmenopausal women.
Estriol (E3) is secreted in large quantities during pregnancy by the placenta; however, it is a comparatively weak estrogen, and the form of estrogen least associated with hormone-related cancers. In Europe and Japan, estriol is frequently used for HRT (Head 1998; Kano 2002, Moskowitz 2006, Holtor 2009);

Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT in Women.

The three estrogens convert into many metabolites. Estrone, for example, may convert into three different forms:

2-hydroxyestrone

4-hydroxyestrone

16-alpha-hydroxyestrone

Scientists have identified 2-hydroxyestrone as a “good,” or chemoprotective estrogen; while 16-alpha-hydroxyestrone and 4-hydroxyestrone have been associated with cancer (Bradlow 1996; Muti 2000). The relationship between 2-hydroxyestrone and 16-alpha-hydroxyestrone is sometimes expressed as the 2:16 ratio; Good understanding of Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT is a must.

By increasing the ratio of 2-hydroxyestrone to 16-alpha-hydroxyestrone, it may be possible to reduce the risk of estrogen-related cancers (Bradlow 1986; Taioli 2010); Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT.

3,3’-Diindolylmethane (DIM) and indole-3-carbinole (I3C), found in appreciable concentrations in cruciferous vegetables, favorably affect estrogen metabolism and help to optimize the 2:16 ratio.

Estrogen Receptors and a Closer Look at Estriol

As mentioned previously, estriol (E3) is the form of estrogen least associated with cancer. Estriol’s protective effects become apparent when examining the differing actions that each of the three primary estrogens exerts upon the estrogen receptors. On breast cells there are two distinct classical estrogen receptors that bind estrogens:

Estrogen receptor alpha
And estrogen receptor beta.
In addition, there is one non-classical estrogen receptor, GPR30 (Paruthiyll 2004; Paech 1997; Katzenellenbogen 2000; Nilsson 200; Wang 2010).
- The binding of estrogen hormones to estrogen receptor alpha promotes breast cell proliferation, which can exacerbate the spread of existing breast cancer.
- The binding and activation of estrogen receptor beta attenuates breast cell proliferation and may slow the development of a cancerous tumor (Helguero 2005; Bardin 2004; Isaksson 2002; Weatherman 2001); Proper Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT is critical.

Estriol, on the other hand, binds to and activates estrogen receptor beta (Zhu 2006; Rich 2002). This critical fact helps to explain estriol’s “anti-estrogenic” activity, which led a noted researcher in hormone replacement therapy to state, “This unique property of estriol, in contrast to the selective ER [estrogen receptor] alpha binding by other estrogens. Because of its differing effects on ER alpha and ER beta, we would expect that estriol would be less likely to induce proliferative [potential cancerous growth] changes in breast tissue and to be associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer” (Holtorf 2009); Proper undertanding of Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT is essential.

Estriol, through its estrogen receptor modulatory capacity, combats the proliferative effects of estrone and estradiol (Melamen 1997; Wang 2010). These scientific findings highlight the importance of emphasizing estriol in any Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT program intended to restore youthful hormone balance and guard against breast cancer development.

Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT is women age management

Age-Related Hormone Decline is dangerous explains Dr. Dalal Akoury this is why Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT is Women Age Management.

By the time a woman enters menopause, she may have already experienced two decades of hormonal imbalance. After menopause, when sex hormone levels decrease significantly, aging women are at increased risk of major diseases, including the following:

Heart disease Rates of heart disease in postmenopausal women gradually climb until they equal the rates typically seen among men. A number of negative changes in cardiovascular health are provoked by menopause, including elevations in blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglycerides. At the same time, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels drop significantly. Elevated levels of homocysteine, C-reactive protein, and interleukin-6 (an inflammatory cytokine) are all associated with estrogen deficiency (Cushman 2003; Davison 2003; Dijsselbloem 2004). Estrogenic activities are vital for maintaining integrity of the vascular endothelium, where atherosclerotic changes begin (Arnal 2009). Finally, lack of estrogen replacement in the postmenopausal state may predispose women to forms of cardiac muscle disease. That is why bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT is an important treatment option.
Osteoporosis: Hormone deficiencies are clearly associated with bone loss and osteoporosis, beginning as early as the third decade of life. By the time women reach 50, they are at significantly increased risk of an osteoporosis. Estrogen deficiency results in increased inflammation, which cause increased bone breakdown and osteoporosis (Weitzmann and Pacifici 2006). Combined estrogen and androgen therapy increases bone mineral density (BMD) this confirm Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT is important for women.
Alzheimer’s and dementia Loss of hormones is associated with neuronal degeneration and increased risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease (Amtul 2010; Rocca 2008). Estrogen stimulates degradation of beta-amyloid protein, noted to accumulate in the brain of Alzheimer’s disease patients, by increasing production of protective proteins (Liang 2010). Deficiencies in pregnenolone and DHEA, which are both neuroprotective hormones, are also linked to reduced memory and brain cell death associated with Alzheimer’s disease. These two hormones play an important role in regulating neurotransmitter systems that are involved in learning, stress, depression, addiction, and many other vital functions. This is another example of why Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT is helps to optimize women hormones.

Dr. Dalal Akoury describes the Progesterone’s Balancing Act in lue of Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT in Women.

Estrogen is only a part of women hormonal story. Progesterone is equally important in the hormonal story. In a healthy young woman, progesterone serves as a balance to estrogen. While estrogen builds up during the first half of a menstrual cycle, progesterone levels do not start rising until the middle of the cycle. When properly administered Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT helps Women.

Studies have shown that progesterone has anti-proliferative effects on at least two different types of breast cancer cells, as well as leukemia cells (Formby 1998; Hayden 2009; Hilton 2010). Breast cancer is 5.4 times more common in pre-menopausal women with low progesterone than in pre-menopausal women who have favorable progesterone levels (Cowan 1981). Data suggest that while natural, bioidentical progesterone does not increase breast cancer risk, synthetic progestins used in conventional HRT do raise the risk; Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT is women age management

Natural progesterone has also demonstrated neuroprotective properties. Progesterone deficiency has also been linked to migraine (Colson et al 2005); Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT is Women Age Management

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy formulations in doses tailored to individual patients can be obtained from a compounding pharmacy after a physician’s prescription has been submitted. The use of bioidentical estrogens has been utilized extensively in Europe and Japan for several years (Kano et al 2002); that is Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT.

Estriol has shown beneficial effects in women at risk for cardiovascular disease.Japanese scientists found that a group of menopausal women treated with estriol had a significant decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure (Takahashi 2000). Another study demonstrated that estriol replacement for 30 weeks improved arterial relaxation (Hayashi 2000). Estriol accomplishes these effects by strongly activating nitric oxide signaling systems and stabilizing atherosclerotic plaques (Kano 2002); This shows that Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT is essential for Women.
Estriol may further reduce cardiovascular risk through its beneficial effects on lipid profiles. One Japanese study found that estriol prevented a postmenopausal rise in total cholesterol, and did not induce the elevated triglyceride levels, a side effect frequently seen after treatment with conventional estrogen therapy (Itoi 2000). Estriol, in combination with a statin drug, can reduce carotid artery intima-media thickness, a measure of atherosclerosis, in postmenopausal women with elevated blood lipids (Yamanaka 2005); that is why Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT is Women Age Management.
Estriol also increases bone mineral density, a vital parameter in post-menopausal women at risk for osteoporosis. Bone mineral density significantly increased in women who received estriol, while those who did not take estriol experienced a decrease in bone mineral density (Nishibe 1996). In a summary statement, the researchers wrote, “the acceleration of bone turnover usually observed after menopause was prevented by treatment with E3 [estriol].” (Nozaki 1996);
Estriol also supports sexual and urinary health. One study showed that estriol-treated women had a 68% reduction in symptoms of incontinence. Women with recurrent urinary tract infections experienced a 91% reduction in infections following treatment with an intravaginal estriol cream. Another study demonstrated that locally administered estriol therapy significantly increased the number of blood vessels surrounding the urethra, thereby improving its ability to keep urine in the bladder until urination is desired (Kobata 2008). The addition of estriol to standard therapy for prevention of urinary tract infections reduced the number of recurrences 11-fold. That demonstrates that proper use of Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT is helpful to Women.
Stress incontinence refers to intermittent loss of urine with pelvic floor stress from laughing, coughing, etc. Pelvic floor muscle exercises are effective in reducing stress incontinence, and studies suggest that estriol adds substantially to the beneficial effect (Ishiko 2001).
Estriol can offer relief for women suffering from atrophic vaginitis, the symptoms of which include vaginal dryness, vaginal burning, and painful intercourse. After 4 weeks of treatment with an intravaginal estriol cream, researchers noted,“atrophy of vaginal epithelium and chronic vaginitis stopped or significantly decreased… The subjective complaints relating to the estrogen deficiency (vaginal burning and dryness, itching, dyspareunia [painful sex] and urinary dysfunctions) ceased. Side-effects and complications during the treatment were not found.” (Koloszar 1995) More objective improvements to vaginal dryness and acidity have been demonstrated in recent studies (Chollet 2009); For healthy sex Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT is essential.
Topical estriol creams applied to the face and neck can also reduce many of the symptoms of aging skin, such as dryness and wrinkling. Animal studies demonstrate that estriol cream promotes collagen production and enhances the elasticity of treated skin (Ozyazgan 2005); Remove your wrinkles through Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT is Women Age Management.
Studies have also shown estriol to be effective in the treatment of menopausal symptoms. In one investigation of women given varying doses of estriol for six months, vasomotor symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, decreased. The improvements were found to be dose-dependent. There were no detrimental effects on uterine or breast tissue (Tzingounis 1978);

Progesterone complements and balances the impact of estrogen in aging women. Combined with estrogen, progesterone substantially improved the amount of time women with a history of heart attack or coronary artery disease could work out on a treadmill before reducing blood flow to the heart. Use of non-bioidentical progesterone produced no effect (Rosano 2000). Another mechanism by which progesterone enhances cardiovascular health is its ability to maintain or even increase HDL levels in women receiving estrogen replacement therapy (Bernstein and Pohost 2010; Ottosson 1985; Jensen 1987).

Progesterone has a major role in relieving menopausal symptoms as well. Four head-to-head studies comparing progesterone to non-bioidentical progestin reported that women experienced greater satisfaction, improved quality of life, and fewer side effects when they were switched from non-bioidentical progestin to progesterone (Hargrove 1989; Montplaisir 2001; Ryan 2001; Lindenfeld 2002). In a landmark study at the Mayo Clinic, the beneficial effects of progesterone compared to nonbioidentical progestin included a 30% reduction in sleep problems, a 50% reduction in anxiety, a 60% reduction in depression, a 25% reduction in menstrual bleeding, a 40% reduction in cognitive difficulties, and a 30% improvement in sexual function. 80% of women in the study reported overall satisfaction with the bioidentical progesterone formulation (Fitzpatrick 2000).; Progesterone is an essential part of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.

What You Need to Know about Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT is Women Age Management? asks Dr. Dalal Akoury

Non-bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT are chemically different from hormones naturally produced within the body. The use of non-bioidentical estrogen and synthetic progestin in the Women’s Health Initiative trial was associated with the risk of breast cancer, heart attack, venous blood clot and stroke.
Non-bioidentical, oral conventional hormone replacement therapy is associated with an increase the risk of uterine cancer.
Bioidentical hormones have the same molecular structure as the hormones produced naturally within the body. The body does not distinguish between supplemental bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and the hormones produced within the body. As a result, bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT are properly utilized, and are able to be naturally metabolized and excreted from the body.
Current literature suggests that bioidentical progesterone is associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer.
A scientific literature review suggests that bioidentical progesterone may be superior to non-bioidentical, synthetic progestogens (progestins) in treating menopausal symptoms. Estriol (see below) is also highly effective in the treatment of menopausal symptoms.
Research on bioidentical progesterone has shown beneficial effects on cardiovascular health, including decreasing the risk of blood clots, protecting against atherosclerosis, and maintaining healthy HDL levels;

Three major types of estrogen are produced naturally in a woman’s body: estriol, estrone, and estradiol.

Estriol has been shown to improve bone density, promote youthful skin, and enhance sexual and urinary health.

Beyond Estrogen and Progesterone: The Complete Hormonal Picture; Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy BHRT is Women Age Management

In addition to estrogen and progesterone, it is also important to monitor levels of the hormones Pregnenolone, DHEA, and testosterone. Ideal bioidentical HRT goes beyond the mere suppression of symptoms caused by declining ovarian hormone levels. The real goal of Life Extension’s approach to female hormone restoration is to restore hormones to youthful levels. Such an approach has wide-ranging benefits throughout the body and significantly enhances physical and psychological well-being.

DHEA is a natural steroidal hormone secreted by the adrenal gland, the gonads, and the brain (Maninger 2009). Although women usually have less DHEA than men, both sexes lose DHEA over time, suggesting that its decline is age-related (Labrie 2010). Peak levels are typically reached when women are in their third decade of life, after which they begin to lose approximately 2% per year. Decreased levels of DHEA are associated with cancer, diabetes, lupus, and psychiatric illness (Genazzani and Pluchino 2010). Low levels of DHEA are also associated with higher levels of insomnia, pain, and disability (Morrison et al 2000).

DHEA has been shown to improve mood, neurological functions, immune functions, energy, feelings of well-being, and the maintenance of muscle and bone mass (Kenny 2010; Weiss 2009). A combination of DHEA and pregnenolone has been shown to improve memory (Ritsner 2010). DHEA may also improve insulin sensitivity and lower triglyceride levels (Genazzani 2010; Casson 1995).

AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center suggests that maturing women strive to keep their DHEA-sulfate (DHEA-s) levels in a range of 250 – 380 µg/dL in order to promote optimal health and vitality;

Testosterone levels in women also gradually decrease with age (Schneider 2003). Loss of testosterone affects libido, bone and muscle mass, vasomotor symptoms, cardiovascular health, mood, and well-being (Simon 2001; Watt 2003). Testosterone therapy, in conjunction with estrogen therapy, has been shown to improve quality of life, vigor, mood, ability to concentrate, bone mineralization, libido, and sexual satisfaction (Al-Azzawi 2010; Simon 2001; Braunstein 2002; Cameron 2004). This combination therapy also helps reduce hot flashes, sleep disturbances, night sweats, and vaginal dryness (Guillermo 2010). Because DHEA converts into testosterone, it is possible to raise testosterone levels with DHEA (Cameron 2004; Schneider 2003).

Studies also suggest that testosterone, in the context of hormone restoration, may prevent or reduce estrogenic cancer risk in the treatment of women with ovarian failure (Dimitrakakis 2003; Zhou 2000). In addition, testosterone is effective in the treatment of decreased libido in women (Guillermo 2010).

AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center encourages females to maintain a total testosterone level of 35-45 ng/dL and a free testosterone level of 1 – 2.2 pg/mL.

Pregnenolone levels also decline with age. As the initial hormone in the overall steroid hormone cascade, pregnenolone is derived from cholesterol. As is the case with other hormones, a significant reduction begins when women reach their early thirties (Havlikova 2002). Pregnenolone deficiencies have been associated with diminished brain function and dementia (Mellon 2007).

Aging women should attain a pregnenolone blood level of 130 -180 ng/dL for optimal performance.

It is very important that women have their hormone levels checked before beginning bio-identical hormone restoration therapy. To ensure safe and adequate levels, testing should occur one month after commencing HRT, and then again after two more months. Those women who wish to enhance their sexual desire and have already tried DHEA and pregnenolone therapy, should talk to their physician about options that may include small amounts of testosterone. Women should always consult a physician before beginning HRT, especially if they have had a hormone-responsive cancer (e.g., breast or endometrial) or are at high risk (e.g., have a first-degree relative with breast cancer);

Moving Forward with Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy BHRT

Given the wealth of data demonstrating the superiority of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy BHRT, a noted researcher in hormone replacement therapy proclaimed, “Physiological data and clinical outcomes demonstrate that bioidentical hormones are associated with lower risks, including the risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease, and are more efficacious than their… animal-derived [non-bioidentical] counterparts. Until evidence is found to the contrary, bioidentical hormones remain the preferred method of HRT.” (Holtorf 2009)

Compounded prescription bioidentical estrogen formulas include Bi-Est and Tri-Est. Bi-Est consists of estradiol and estriol, while Tri-Est contains estradiol, estrone, and estriol (Taylor 2001). Bi-Est typically consists of 80% estriol and 20% estradiol. Tri-Est usually contains 80% estriol, 10% estradiol, and 10% estrone. In some situations these proportions do not meet the needs of every woman. For example, the proportions observed naturally in reproductive age women were 90% estriol, 7% estradiol, and 3% estrone (Wright 1999). In these cases a prescription is tailored to the needs of the patient by an experienced physician, and is based upon the results of hormone tests and assessment of symptoms.

A comprehensive hormone restoration program should also include progesterone, DHEA, pregnenolone, and perhaps testosterone.

There are two differing philosophies regarding the dosing of hormones. The first encourages using the lowest possible dose that will ameliorate the symptoms. This is a very conservative approach that may appeal to some women and their treating physicians. This approach is also unlikely to cause a menopausal woman to generate bleeding associated with a menstrual cycle.

The second approach involves significantly higher hormone dosages. The idea here is that a woman needs to “trick” her brain into thinking she is still of reproductive age. According to this strategy, the goal is to achieve levels that mimic the hormonal fluctuations of a menstruating young woman, thereby restoring the menstrual cycle.

AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center Physicians are experienced in bioidentical hormone replacement and can help women find an optimal dosing strategy based on the results of hormone testing and clinical evaluation. Most women find they respond desirably to bioidentical hormone replacement therapy when the dosing strategy combines aspects of both of the aforementioned approaches.Reclaim your life with Lifestyle by following AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center

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