I couldn’t have made it through perimenopause without natural progesterone.
If there was ever such a thing as a single natural remedy for the widest number of conditions, bio-identical progesterone would lead the pack. It is by far the most deficient hormone found in salivary hormone testing—whether the issue is PMS or postpartum depression—or perimenopause, menopause or beyond.
I have always wondered why progesterone levels seem to be so universally low. As I discovered in Before the Change, progesterone – not estrogen – is the first… Continue reading Categories
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Taking Charge of Hormone Havoc: The Progesterone Connection
November 1st, 2011I couldn’t have made it through perimenopause without natural progesterone.
If there was ever such a thing as a single natural remedy for the widest number of conditions, bio-identical progesterone would lead the pack. It is by far the most deficient hormone found in salivary hormone testing—whether the issue is PMS or postpartum depression—or perimenopause, menopause or beyond.
I have always wondered why progesterone levels seem to be so universally low. As I discovered in Before the Change, progesterone – not estrogen – is the first… Continue reading The Great Masquerader
May 12th, 2011
The many faces of B complex deficiency.
In today’s crazy world, the B complex family of vitamins has all but been forgotten. Stress, sugar, alcohol, the Pill, medications, a low-carb diet, and coffee rob you of your already dwindling reserves of this critical water-soluble vitamin family—which must be replaced daily.
Once a foundational supplement for anybody suffering from hypoglycemia, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, irritability, and even heart disease, it’s high time the B complex made a real comeback.
It really concerns me that we are all so eager to try the latest greatest "bandaid" in the form of moisturizers or concealers to hide our stress lines, skin rashes, or overly… Continue reading The Mother of All Hormones?
January 10th, 2011
Recharge your body and your brain.
"Mother of All Hormones?" Yes, you read that right, and we're not talking DHEA here.
Without this "mother" hormone your body couldn't produce other hormones like estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, or dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), for that matter. The hormone—that nobody is really talking about—has really powerful effects on aging, memory, mood, sexuality, and even sleep. It is the critical building block in the production of all other hormones that you have heard me writing, talking, or blogging about these days.
In fact, this uber hormone may be the ultimate raw material in your entire body. It's so… Continue reading Why Perimenopause Can Strike As Early As Your Mid-30s
November 8th, 2010
Balance hormones when signs of the "Change" come too early.
Bloating, brain fog, depression, dizziness, fatigue, insomnia, loss of libido, menstrual irregularities, migraine, thinning hair, swollen ankles and/or feet, vaginal dryness, water retention, and weight gain are common symptoms among menopausal women. But while they don't recognize the cause, all too many women start to experience these complaints—signs of perimenopause—starting in their mid-30s.
"It's not unlike a bad case of premenstrual syndrome," explains Gloria Bachmann, MD, professor and chief of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine. But… Continue reading Get Hair, Where You Want It
June 16th, 2010
Women want a shiny head of hair, not whiskers!
Facial hair can be the bane of women as they grow older—right around the same time, sadly, when their "crowning glory" starts to become thinner and grayer. One recent study shows that 10% of menopausal women complain of facial "fuzz," but unwanted hair can start sprouting as early as perimenopause.
Women who are younger with facial hair, in their 20s and 30s, may have another—more serious—concern, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), especially if they're overweight, experience menstrual irregularities, and/or acne. While the direct cause of PCOS… Continue reading Testosterone Works for Women, Too
November 27th, 2009
Boost Libido and Protect Your Heart.
Wendy (name has been changed) and her husband used to make love at least three times a week. But for the past six years, she's lost interest. "All of a sudden I didn't have any desire," she says.
She's not depressed and she loves her husband. "But after our second child was born, I just lost interest in sex," Wendy says.
Ever since Viagra and pills for male sexual dysfunction hit the market, drug companies have been searching for a female version. However,
sexuality is very different for women.
"Attempting to… Continue reading
Wendy (name has been changed) and her husband used to make love at least three times a week. But for the past six years, she's lost interest. "All of a sudden I didn't have any desire," she says.
She's not depressed and she loves her husband. "But after our second child was born, I just lost interest in sex," Wendy says.
Ever since Viagra and pills for male sexual dysfunction hit the market, drug companies have been searching for a female version. However,
sexuality is very different for women.
"Attempting to… Continue reading Get on the Flax Track!
August 7th, 2009
The benefits of flax are popping up all over.
A new review in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition just reported on 28 different studies on flaxseed and its derivatives. This vegetarian source of omega-3s was found to lower both total cholesterol and LDL, the “bad” cholesterol.
Flax appears to be especially beneficial for post-menopausal women. Why? The lignans in the fibrous shell of the flaxseed work to quench free radicals in the body and combat the cell-proliferating power of excess estrogen.
No wonder other research finds flaxseed helps fight cancer, makes insulin more effective… Continue reading
A new review in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition just reported on 28 different studies on flaxseed and its derivatives. This vegetarian source of omega-3s was found to lower both total cholesterol and LDL, the “bad” cholesterol.
Flax appears to be especially beneficial for post-menopausal women. Why? The lignans in the fibrous shell of the flaxseed work to quench free radicals in the body and combat the cell-proliferating power of excess estrogen.
No wonder other research finds flaxseed helps fight cancer, makes insulin more effective… Continue reading The Thyroid & Menopause
May 26th, 2009This week I reviewed several new health books that will be making their debut later this year. The one that stood out the most was "The Menopause Thyroid Solution" by Mary Shomon. Like the others, I was asked to write a professional endorsement, which was my pleasure for this publication, because Mary and I are on the same wavelength if you read "Before the Change" and/or "Hot Times."
In the intro to her book, she writes the following about menopause and the thyroid:
* Thyroid problems can send you into a far too early perimenopause – starting as early as age 40!… Continue reading Balance Your Hormones, Safely!
January 26th, 2009
So...wouldn't you know that the most dramatic decrease in breast cancer incidence came between 2002 and 2003. It simply plummeted by a stunning 15% in women over the age of 50. So, what was it that created such an impressive statistical decline?
Could it have been Tamoxifen? A new drug, perhaps? Maybe new guidelines from the National Cancer Insititute? Flaxseeds in every Long Life Cocktail :)
Well...the truth is that this impressive decline in the breast cancer rate was due to one thing and one thing only: hundreds of thousands of very educated women suddenly stopped taking their Premarin and Prempro. Why?… Continue reading
Visionary, health guru, diet/detox expert, author, spokesperson, role model, and natural foods icon, Ann Louise Gittleman has always been a trendsetter. 
