by ROSEMARIE GLANVILLE

Created on: October 18, 2007

New Approaches to Menopause Help Women and Reduce US Cancer Rates

Doctors over the last twenty years or so had an easy solution for menopause. They simply wrote prescriptions for HRT, estrogen, progesterone or a combination of the two drugs. Then research data revealed significant increases in breast cancer of up to twenty six percent and other serious illnesses like heart attack by nearly thirty percent.

Women were encouraged to stop taking HRT and millions abide by this decision. This then left the problem of what to do about the irritability, brittle bones, sleeplessness, hot flashes and the general wearing down that accompanies menopause.
It was considered that a new approach should be adopted to provide an all inclusive and holistic approach to address the menopause. It was acknowledged that although it is a decline in estrogen levels that give rise to the symptoms of menopause, nutritional support was needed to address and improve the physiological symptoms.

For many years scientists have know that women who eat certain types of plant based nutrients are less likely to experience hot flashes, osteoporosis, heart disease and breast cancer. This led to further research into the effectiveness of numerous established herbal products that can safely incite estrogen receptors and produce estrogen-like responses. Findings suggest that non-prescription botanical extracts can treat a wide range of menopausal symptoms and support a new approach to effectively and safely manage menopause.

Plant lingams offer important protection against cancer in women approaching menopause. These fibrous compounds are found in whole grains, vegetables and flaxseed and are converted by bacteria in the digestive tract, into valuable estrogenic compounds. Other benefits include better cognitive function, protection against cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.

The evergreen tree, in particular, the knot wood, is exceptional source of the most powerful and potent lignans and studies have demonstrated it effective in reducing the number and size in existing tumors and prevented new ones forming.
The pomegranate has long been respected for promoting health but it is now being recognized as a source of valuable compounds that protect against cancer and heart disease. New research points towards pomegranate being particularly useful in the prevention of breast cancer.

Phytoestrogens are compounds derived from plants that strongly mimic the natural estrogen's produced by women. It has long

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