HOW TO CONTROL YOUR HORMONES WITH COMMON VEGETABLES & HERBS
Talk by Health Researcher Sue Visser October 2008 Organics Expo Cape Town
How hormones take effect
Hormones are hard to evaluate as they are only active on individual cell receptors. They travel in the blood, but are often in a bound up form. Blood tests are a poor indicator, for example of thyroid hormones. They may be in the blood, but are being blocked from the receptors or displaced by oestrogen. Hormones are present in saliva and can be measured, but it is still no guarantee of what they are up to! They change between various forms of testosterone and estrogen as the basic structure is very similar. Even thyroid hormones can convert to a reverse hormone that shuts down metabolism on purpose. We excrete hormones, favouring estriol in the urine and estradiol and estrone via the gut. Harvesting hormones for medicinal use from both humans and animals is not an ideal option. There are plenty of green alternatives and some of them are in your kitchen, just waiting to be explored!
Testing the hormone ratios
1 Urine 2/16 test. Home kit available, collect urine samples for 24 hours. 2 hydroxyestrogen should exceed 16 hydroxyestrogen. This is the most vital test for cancer potential and you can them monitor and control levels yourself.
2 Saliva test for levels of estrogen ratios : ideal is: 8:estriol 1:estradiol 1:estrone. Details: s.a.s.i.m@telkomsa.net
Symptoms of excess estradiol and estrone (unopposed estrogen) : hormone related cancer: breast, uterus, prostate. Blood clots leading to heart problems and stroke. Also: increased low density cholesterol, liver, gallbladder and kidney congestion, abnormal vaginal bleeding, endometriosis, swelling bloating, depression, weight gain, lower thyroid function and moodiness.
Observe your symptoms, go with gut feelings. Eat clean, live clean. Clearing parasites, out unhealthy fats, starches and sugars is essential. A healthy liver can break down and excrete excess hormones and prevent their build up. It also helps with hormone circulation in the bloodstream. Vegetarians and those who consume a lot of raw, fibrous foods seldom get cancer because they excrete more harmful cancer-producing hormones every day. Be aware that some plant forms of steroid hormones can be harmful when taken in excess: consuming too many whole soya bean products, or alfalfa; for instance. The instant warnings are: swelling up, bloating, sore breasts or sudden weight gain. Watch out, it can also mean your blood may be clotting and too much prolactin or the wrong kind of estrogen is circulating. If men develop breasts, is can be from a zinc deficiency: they make too much estrogen.
4 common vegetables
Cabbage 1 cup raw cabbage eaten per dayshuts down thyroid hormone, (it is very good for stomach ulcers and overactive thyroid.)
Red sweet potato 1 golf ball (35g)chewed slowly for mouth absorption boosts endogenous progesterone. This large dose can immediately reduce hot flushes, it opposes estrogen and can inhibit menstruation. Small doses restore menstruation and ovulation.
Pumpkin seeds – fresh is best 2 tablespoons in blender with morning juice stops testosterone converting to DHT. This helps alleviate prostate problems, male baldness, adult acne, and in females: polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Broccoli 1 – 2 cups raw juiced will restore favourable estrogen ratios of 2/16 hydroxyestrogen. We need more of 2, the good one and less of 16 – the bad one. This affects: cancer, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Also take Lugol’s iodine for this. You need very active stomach acid levels to digest raw cruciferous vegetables, so top up with Betaine HCL supplements.
Popular herbs with hormonal effects
Alfalfa stimulates pituitary function. Rich in vitamin K – clots blood. Not for pregnant or breast feeding ladies. Interferes with or autoimmune conditions and immunosuppressant drugs and blood thinners like Heparin.
The SERMS: selective estrogen receptor modulators; Red clover and Black Cohosh contain. 4 bioflavonoids, They reduce estrogenic effect on cell receptors, favouring estriol which is weaker. Soya isoflavones can also assist, but eating the whole soya bean is not advised. It contains trypsin inhibitors that encourages excess proliferation inexcess – including tumours and cancer.
Hormone binding effects: eat 1-2 tablespoons of ground up flaxseeds to keep stripping excess E16 estrogen out of the liver. The Omega 3 oil is also a benefical plant source.
Coleus Forskolii. Not so well known, but it enhances cyclic AMP activity to help produce hormones and energise the thyroid gland.
Tribulus Terrestris (dubbeltjie doring) facilitates the release of testosterone. It is also an excellent all-round male remedy for prostate, adrenal endurance and the urinary system. Females need 1% of that testosterone, so it works well for them too.
Thyroid malfunction Hypothyroidism: symptoms: fatigue, coarsening of skin, dark eyelids, loss of outer eyebrow, sluggish metabolism, hair loss, weight gain, poor circulation, cold fingers low body temperature. Extreme deficiency: swollen neck. Treatment: Lugol’s iodine. Coleus tincture. Sudden weight gain: test for RT3 (reverse thyroid hormone) Omega 3 oil, vitamin D, Calcium and magnesium. Check for gluten or wheat intolerance. Avoid large regular servings of cabbage.
Toxic thyroid: Symptoms: swollen neck, retracted eyelids (pop eyes), metabolism too rapid, heart palpitations, restless, nervous. Calcium and magnesium, antioxidants, vitamin D, Omega 3 oils. Lugol’s iodine – see article.
Low testosterone Symptoms: fatigue, poor concentration, lacking motivation, loss of competitive spirit and sex drive.
Tribulus Terrestris tincture. Males:take more zinc: 30mg per day to prevent aromatization of testosterone into estrogen.
Excessive dihydrotestosterone (DHT): Males: Prostate problems, male adult acne and baldness, BPH, cancer.
Saw palmetto, Chasteberry, nettle root, zinc, fresh pumpkin seed juice (most effective for quick fix). Diet: reduce carbohydrates and fats. More fresh fruit, vegetables and fibre. Cleanse liver, maintain its health: milk thistle, antioxidants.
Females: PCOS Symptoms: androgenic effects; facial hair, male type baldness, adult acne, weight gain (insulin resistance), menstrual irregularities, infertility, cysts on ovaries, uterine hyperplasia due to irregular ovulation.
1 Bind up the hormones: stimulate sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in bloodstream: nettle root supplement, 1-2 tablespoons of flaxseeds, increased caffeine (green tea.)
2 Reduce unopposed estrogen – SERMS like black cohosh, red clover. Progesterone stimulation.
3 Inhibit 5-alpha reductase enzyme in liver: fresh juice of pumpkin seeds: 2 tablespoons per day, Saw palmetto tincture. Stops conversion to DHT. Helps with hair loss on scalp. Reduce carbohydrates trans fatty acids and sugars.
4 Knock off DHT from receptors: Chasteberry (agnus castus)
5 Regulate glucose metabolism, insulin resistance. Chrome supplements, zinc, Vitamin D (cod liver oil) Calcium and Magnesium.
6 Stimulate breakdown and excretion of excess hormones: a diet rich in fibre and fresh, raw vegetables. Reduce fats and meat. Plenty of exercise and fresh air. Keep the liver functioning well: milk thistle and regular gallbladder flushing .
Menstrual / menopausal: use SERMS to deal with menstrual or menopausal difficulties according to symptoms. Enhance progesterone production only when there is no risk of estrogen sensitive cancer. The Nature Fresh hormone balancing tinctures help to alleviate discomfort. They work best with a cleaner diet, exercise, blood type and allergy compensations and supplementation.
Read more about SUE'S CURE FOR HOT FLUSHES