I thought we had heard the worst about synthetic hormone replacement, but it would appear not.  Whether a women is using estrogen alone, or estrogen and progestin, the results are in and they are not pretty. 

Bottom line ,whether you started young or after menopause, whether you have taken it for a long time or a short time, the risk of stroke increases by about 39%.  If you are on high doses, the increased risk is 62%

"The advice to women is, if you are on HRT, you should be on the lowest dose that will control your symptoms," Liu said. "In addition, you should be monitored and evaluated, and if you are going to continue on it; you need to understand what the risks are."

We need to make everyone aware that there is another option, without the grief, and that is a NATURAL approach to hormonal imbalances.

The Vitamin Lady writes about Menopause - first class passage.

HRT increases stroke risk

Progesterone cream with herbs

Estrogen Cream

 

 

I know of nothing that makes me angrier than having the Goverment step in to regulate against information. 

It really makes me wonder where this is all going to end - even the most inconsequential  problems are being codified.  As an example, they are introducing legislation in California to make it illegal to drive with your dog in your lap - can they really believe it possible to legislate against all manifestations of lack of intelligence?? - do they have data on pooch-in-lap-caused accidents? 

What set me off this time is far more serious, however - Monsanto (incredibly rich makers of recombinant bovine growth hormone) feels that it is UNFAIR to label milk that is not hormone laced, hormone free - why?  Because it may suggest that the hormone free milk is in some way BETTER.  We certainly feel that it is better, but that is not the point:  we have the right to know! 

Citizens for Health has more information about this attempt to flummox us, together with a little reward (for those of us who eat Ben and Jerry's icecream) for doing the right thing.

Find out more about it here.

 

These attacks on supplementation are getting to be so old hat, I almost didn't react to this one.  But I know some people must be wondering whether to give up vitamins, or give up reading, so I am posting a rebuttal which I hope will lay those fears at rest.

Bad science+ bad media+vested interests=confused consumers 

And on the positive side:

Health Impact Study Shows Dietary Supplement Usage Could Save Billions in Health Care Costs

Health Impact II Study Finds Seniors Who Take Certain Dietary Supplements Live Longer, More Independent Lives - posted by a Senior who is living a long, independent life taking LOTS of vitamins! Moi-meme.

Health Impact Study IV Updates Previous Studies, Shows Select Dietary Supplements Could Save $24+ Billion In Health Care Costs

I have been saying for years that the more the hands of people interfere between the original food and our mouths, the worse off we are.  Seldom, however, do I come across quite such an excellent illustration.

In my article on Prostate health I wrote"There is a connection between drinking milk and prostate cancer - and the worst offender is low fat milk,  as researchers at the Fox Chase Cancer Center (Philadelphia) discovered. Men who reported the highest intake of low-fat milk were 1.5 times more likely to develop prostate cancer compared to men who had the lowest intake, but whole milk intake was NOT found to be linked to increased risk."

Now it appears that whole fat milk is not only not connected to increased risk, but is found to reduce risk.

Dietary intake of vitamin K and risk of prostate cancer

Effect of food composition on human absorption of Vitamin K

Even better would be whole, RAW milk - got REAL milk?

In view of the truly astonishing number of people who are taking antacids, this research is of great importance: as we know, many elderly people are being diagnosed with mental deterioration, when a B12 deficiency should be suspected.
 

Keywords:	HEARTBURN, ACID REFLUX, STOMACH ULCER - Vitamin B12, B12 Deficiency, Proton-Pump Inhibitors, PPI, Histamine(2) Receptor Antagonists, H2 Blockers
Reference:	"Do Acid-lowering agents affect vitamin B12 status in older adults?" Dharmarajan TS, Norkus EP, et al, J Am Med Dir Assoc, 2008; 9(3): 162-7. (Address: Department of Medicine, Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA. E-mail: dharmarajants@yahoo.com ).
Summary:	In a cross-sectional study involving 659 elderly subjects, aged 60-102 years, results indicate that prolonged use of proton-pump inhibitors (PPI) may be associated with a significant decline in serum vitamin B12 levels. Patient demographics, serum B12 levels, use and duration of use of histamine(2) receptor antagonists (H2 blockers) and PPIs, and oral vitamin B12 supplementation were assessed. Acid-lowering agents (H2 blockers and PPIs) were used by 54% of the participants, where the average duration of use was 18.2 months. No association was observed between the use of H2 blockers and serum vitamin B12 levels. On the other hand, PPI use was associated with diminished vitamin B12 levels. Additionally, oral vitamin B12 supplementation (RDA) during PPI use was observed to slow the decline in B12 status, but not prevent it. Thus, the authors of this study conclude, "B12 status declines during prolonged PPI use in older adults, b ut not with prolonged H2 blocker use; supplementation with RDA amounts of B12 do not prevent this decline. This report reinforces that B12 deficiency is common in the elderly and suggests that it appears prudent to monitor periodically B12 status while on prolonged PPI use, to enable correction before complications ensue."

 B12 Status Declines during Prolonged Use of Proton-Pump Inhibitors (Acid-Lowering Agent)

The liquid B12 (Methylcobalamin) I personally use and recommend.

The Vitamin Lady writes about helping indigestion naturally

The FDA is after the bio-identical hormones again.  For an interesting review of what has been going on, and links to contact Congress, go to the American Health Freedom site:

Act Today to Preserve Your Access to Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy!

 

In 2008, a study at P. Wilmot Cancer Center at the University of Rochester Medical Center showed for the first time that a natural antioxidant found in grape skins and red wine can help destroy pancreatic cancer cells by reaching the cell's core energy source, or mitochondrion, and crippling its function. The study is published in the March  2008 edition of the journal, Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology.

The study also showed that when the pancreatic cancer cells were doubly assaulted (pre-treated with the antioxidant, resveratrol, and then irradiated) the combination induced a type of cell death called apoptosis, an important goal of cancer therapy.

Mounting evidence shows red wine antioxidant kills cancer

I am proud to say I still have my appendix - and since my 71st birthday was yesterday, I think I am probably going to hang on to it on a life long basis.

I remember how they used to casually whip out tonsils when I was a child, assuming (such hubris!) that nature had hiccuped and tonsils had no function to speak of in the human body.

Despite the debunking of the "useless tonsils" theory, the same attitude has prevailed for appendixes (I know - it should be appendices, but this is English as she is spoken).

Now, finally, the function of the appendix may have been discovered:

The Appendix Has a Purpose After All: Repopulating the Gut with Friendly Flora