Guest guest Posted March 21, 2003 Report Share Posted March 21, 2003 From a book: progesterone - the natural hormone by Kimberley Paterson Progesterone - What its all about? Progesterone and Nutrition - Part 2 A fibre-rich diet protects against breast cancer. Particularly effective (because they change the way the body processes oestrogen) are the Indol-3-carbinal or cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. Buy as much locally grown produce as possible and eat what is in season. Don't be scared to experiment. Asian cultures, where the rates of hormonal problems and cancer are significantly lower than ours, may eat up to 200 different vegetables on a regular basis. We are more likely to eat 20. Low fat is an important consideration in hormonal health. One study found that women consuming a moderate-fat (30% calories from fat) high-fibre diet were excreting up to three times the amount of oestrogen from their bodies as those on a typical Western high-fat (40% of calories from fat) low-fibre diet. High fat consumption repeatedly stimulates the breast structure leading to raised oestrogen production and increased chance of cell proliferation. Other pointers are: ~ Avoid food additives, colourings, chemicals and preservatives: Read the label on every pack and can. Don't buy anything with colourings, preservatives or food additives. Additives are linked with our soaring rates of asthma, allergy, immune problems and general unwellness. ~ Buy as much organic food as possible: Health becomes a self-refining process. Once you discover the energy and life-giving qualities of fresh whole food, you begin to get an inkling of what food free of any chemical residues might mean to you. ~ Cut down on red meat and chicken: Dr John Lee suggests his patients eat meat and chicken no more than two or three times a week. He encourages them to see meat as a side dish, rather than the focus of the meal. Modern farming methods of raising cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens include treatment with antibiotics and stimulants to hasten growth and weight. Many of these substances remain in the flesh we eat (though for what it's worth, health departments assure us these residues are set at 'safe levels'). ~ Avoid hydrogenated oils: Hydrogenation changes the molecular structure of fats to create solid or semi-solid masses of fat, chemical structures unlike those found in nature. These oils can be found in many processed foods and margarines. Hydrogenated oils are considered a big risk to your health. ~ Drink pure water: Making sure we stay well hydrated is important for mineral balance, for good digestion and for clearing the body of wastes and toxins. Once you begin to eat more high-fibre plant-based foods, you'll naturally start drinking more water, simply because your body tells you that's what it needs. Make sure your water is as clean as possible, uncontaminated by chemicals and additives such as fluoride: invest in a water purification system for your home. ~ Reduce milk and dairy intake: Years of advertising tells us that milk and dairy products are the answer to osteoporosis. In fact milk is full of fat, likely to contain chemical residues and has poor calcium to magnesium balance. The majority of natural health practitioners say our bodies simply can't tolerate it. There are far better sources of calcium in plant-based foods such as leafy green vegetables; a pint of carrot juice contains eight times as much calcium as milk. ~ Cut down on sugar: Processing sugar cane strips it of its fibre and nutrients like chromium which are needed for its assimilation in the body. Sugar is deadly to body balance and hormonal well-being. It's highly addictive, causes extreme energy bursts followed by deep lows and can severely damage blood sugar levels. ~ Phyto-oestrogens: Phyto-oestrogens are weak naturally-occurring oestrogens found in a number of plant-based foods. They appear to block the effects of excess oestrogen stimulation in the breast and uterus and to have over-all protective quality. Phyto-oestrogens occupy the same receptor sites in the body as oestrogen and therefore tend to protect women from xenoestrogens. Phyto-oestrogen foods include: apples, almonds, corn, barley, rice, wheat, carrots, cabbage, potatoes, garlic, beetroot, cherries, onion, olive oil. ~ Well-being: lifestyle choices: ~Stop Smoking ~Cut down on Alcohol: studies published in Ob-Gyn News in 1998 found that drinking more than two alcoholic beverages a day increases your breast cancer risk by 63%. ~Supplement your diet with a high-quality multi-vitamin, multi-mineral and anti-oxidant. Dr Lee favors a regime for hormonal balance that includes: vitamin C 1000-2000mg daily, vitamin E 400iu daily, B-complex vitamins including at least 50mg of B6, magnesium 500-1000mg daily at bedtime. ~ Think Selenium: Selenium is an essential micro-nutrient and works with vitamin E to exert antioxidant effects that help keep the immune system strong. Other high nutrient supplements to consider as part of your daily regime: spirulina, chlorella, green barley and wheatgrass. ~ Find an exercise you love and do it regularly. ~ Take time to relax. It's been discovered that just 20 minutes a day of meditation or deep relaxation can reduce your chances of needing hospital services. Regular meditators have been found to be biologically younger than their more stressed counterparts. Resting helps avoid the adrenal exhaustion that comes from living in a state of prolonged stress. ==^=============================== Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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