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Women’s Health

IS DIET HELPFUL IN ENDOMETRIOSIS?

Endometriosis occurs when non-cancerous tissues that resemble the ones lining your uterus , begin to grow outside of the uterus in places like the ovaries, the fallopian tube, pelvis and bowel. 

It is a hormone dependent type of condition (especially steroid based hormone estrogen).

The tissues in the uterus becomes  thicker than normal, breaks down and leave the body during menstruation, but these tissues that grow outside of the uterus also thicken and break down but cant leave the body thereby leading to pain, inflammation, formation of scar tissue and most likely, potential fertility problems. 

According to a study, about 70 million women all over the world  are affected by endometriosis. Surprisingly, the disease is even more common than breast cancer and diabetes.

Endometriosis usually occurs during active menstruation when there is still much release of estrogen (i.e it is hormone dependent), it rarely occurs after menstruation. 

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? 

Symptoms always vary from one woman to another, might come in as mild or moderate or severe.

The degree of pain doesn’t always equate the severity of the condition; you might have very excruciating pains and it’s a mild condition. 

Symptoms involved in endometriosis include: 

  • excruciating pains during period
  • pain experienced in the lower abdomen and back either before or during menstruation 
  • cramps around menstruation week
  • heavy bleeding 
  • infertility problems 
  • pain after sexual intercourse
  • Diarrhea or constipation 
  • Bloating 

WHAT EXACTLY CAUSES ENDOMETRIOSIS? 

The etiology behind endometriosis is not known yet, but according to some theories put forward, these suggested causes might be linked to the condition: 

  • Genetics: the condition most likely runs in families and affects people of some ethnic groups more
  • Retrograde menstruation: this happens when some of the womb lining flows up back through the fallopian tubes and hangs on to some organs of the pelvis instead of leaving the body as period.
  • When the immune system is malfunctioning 

These suggested theories don’t fully explain the causes of endometriosis; it is a condition caused by many factors put together.  

RISK FACTORS 

Some other factors include: 

  • AGE: usually affects women from the ages of 25-40, symptoms can be seen from puberty though. 
  • FAMILY HISTORY
  • PREGNANCY HISTORY: pregnancy might have the tendency of decreasing the risk of endometriosis, those who haven’t had children might have higher risks of endometriosis.
  • MENSTRUATION HISTORY:  issues associated with this can include shorter cycles, heavier and longer periods and might place the individual at higher risks. 

HOW CAN I PREVENT ENDOMETRIOSIS?

Sadly, there is no known way to prevent endometriosis. The possible ways are to create awareness, ensure early diagnosis and management to help slow down or halt the natural progression of the disease. 

HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED? 

Endometriosis can be suspected from history; tender masses might be visible on the vagina and cervix during pelvic examination. 

TREATMENT OPTIONS 

Even though there is no known treatment option for endometriosis, it can be managed to help reduce symptoms. Possible ways to help manage endometriosis includes: 

  • nutritional therapy
  • exercise
  • pain medication
  • hormone therapy
  • surgery

These options totally depend on the severity of the condition. 

HOW ENDOMETRIOSIS MAY BE LINKED TO DIET 

Diet may have a potential role in the cause of endometriosis through its influence on hormones derived from cholesterol. Hormones like oestrogen which are cholesterol based are the major culprit in endometriosis. So, studies have shown that a plant-based and high fibre diet increase oestrogen secretion and reduce the availability of oestrogen, and this might help reduce endometriosis progression. This diet would help to modify the risk of endometriosis by altering the metabolism of cholesterol based hormones. 

FOODS THAT MAY NEGATIVELY AFFECT ENDOMETRIOSIS 

Endometriosis can be influenced by your lifestyle, and this determines the severity of the condition and the pain experienced. 

The following factors might negatively influence the condition: 

  • High intake of transfat : research has it that women who consumed high amounts of transfat especially from fried and processed foods had a higher rate of diagnoses. 
  • Red meat consumption
  • Gluten: A study showed that most women experienced a decreased pain while they went on a gluten free diet
  • High FODMAP diet: low FODMAP diets are majorly prescribed to people who has irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A research found out that those with IBS and endometriosis that followed a low FODMAP diet had reduced symptoms

Alcohol, caffeine, gluten, red meat, saturated and trans fat can negatively affect hormone regulation in people with endometriosis as they lead to progression of the disorder. So, they should be totally avoided 

FOODS THAT MAY POSITIVELY AFFECT ENDOMETRIOSIS 

A nutrient dense and well adequate diet can help to reduce symptoms from endometriosis. you should consider: 

  • A high fibre diet: a diet high in fibre helps reduce the production of oestrogen which is implicated in the mechanism of endometriosis, and also helps to reduce insulin production, which relates to the progression of endometriosis. foods high in fibre includes green leafy vegetables, legumes and whole grains. 
  • iron-rich foods, such as dark leafy greens, broccoli, beans, fortified grains, nuts, and seeds
  • foods rich in essential fatty acids, such as salmon, sardines, walnuts, chia, and flax seeds
  • antioxidant-rich foods found in colorful fruits and vegetables, such as oranges, berries, dark chocolate, spinach, and beets. Studies has linked oxidative stress to the progression of the disease, so its important to also consider these antioxidant rich food sources. 

SUPPLEMENTS ALSO HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY

Apart from an adequate diet, nutritional supplements also have unique roles to play while managing endometriosis. 

For example, supplementing with 1200 IU of vitamin E and 1000 IU of vitamin C was shown to reduce pelvic pain in some women with endometriosis after a clinical trial. 

Also, curcumin, vitamins A and D proved to help in the management of endometriosis

EXERCISE AND OTHER ALTERNATIVES 

 Exercise could help to manage endometriosis as it reduces the production of estrogen and helps in the release of serotonin “the feel good hormone”. Some relaxation techniques can be explored

  • meditation
  • yoga
  • accupunture
  • massage

SUMMARY 

Lifestyle changes and dietary patterns could help to reduce the symptoms associated with endometriosis, you can speak to a dietitian and a doctor to help you through this condition as everyone’s body’s are different and should be handled individually.

 

SOURCES

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3941414/
  2. https://nutritionguide.pcrm.org/nutritionguide/view/Nutrition_Guide_for_Clinicians/1342065/all/Endometriosis
  3. Zondervan KT, Becker CM, Missmer SA. Endometriosis. N Engl J Med 2020; 382:1244-56.
  4. Agarwal SK, Chapron C, Giudice LC, et al. Clinical diagnosis of endometriosis: a call to action. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2019(4):354-64.
  5. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247770015_Diet_-_A_New_Approach_To_Treating_Endometriosis_-_What_Is_The_Evidence
  6. Harris, H. R., Chavarro, J. E., Malspeis, S., Willett, W. C., & Missmer, S. A. (2013). Dairy-food, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D intake and endometriosis: a prospective cohort study. American Journal Of Epidemiology, 177(5), 420-430.
  7. Missmer, S. A., Chavarro, J. E., Malspeis, S., Bertone-Johnson, E. R., Hornstein, M. D., Spiegelman, D.,  Hankinson, S. E. (2010). 
  8. A prospective study of dietary fat consumption and endometriosis risk. Hum Reprod, 25(6), 1528-1535.

 

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LifeStyleUncategorized

THE LINK BETWEEN YOUR GUT AND HORMONES

The talk about gut health and hormones isn’t yet hitting the internet as it should. Rather, everyone is more concerned about their shape and the size of their belly. Your gut and hormones are intrinsically connected and affect your health in ways you can’t imagine.
This write up helps explain the link between your gut and hormones.

What Is The Estrobolome?
The estrobolome is a collection of bacteria in the gut which is capable of metabolising and modulating the body’s circulating estrogen. It is the bacteria in the gut, and the estrobolome, that affects estrogen levels, which in turn can impact weight, libido and mood. The estroblome modulates the enterohepatic circulation of estrogens and affects circulating and excreted estrogen levels.

Hormones And Gut Health: Why should I care about my Gut Health?
Scientific research has demonstrated that gut microbes regulate many aspects of human physiology, including intestinal permeability, the absorption of nutrients from food, and immunity.

Optimising our gut health is key to keeping our hormones in balance. Gut health is so important because the microbiome has many functions as listed below:
• Aids the synthesis and regulation of hormones and neurotransmitters
• Facilitates absorption of macro and micronutrients
• Has an essential role in the immune system
• Contributes to regulation of estrogen levels in the body
Estrogens are primarily made in the ovaries and adrenal glands. There are three different types, which are Estradiol, Estriol, and Estrone. All of which have vital roles in the body. In women, estrogens help regulate body fat, are essential to female reproductive function, cardiovascular health, bone health, and brain function (including memory). In men, estrogens aid in the maturation of sperm and maintenance of libido, oh yes! Male folks has estrogen too.
When the gut microbiome is healthy, the estrobolome is producing optimal levels of an enzyme called betaglucuronidase – there is an imbalance in estrogen when there is too much production of this enzyme.
Betaglucuronidase also has an important role in breaking down complex carbohydrates and the absorption of bilirubin and flavonoids. A healthy, diverse gut microbiome with a rich collection of different bacteria is critical for hormonal balance.
A healthy estrobolome minimises reabsorption of estrogen from the gut allowing safe removal as waste in stool and urine again ensuring hormone balance.
Gut dysbiosis is an imbalance of the gut bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. Elevated betaglucuronidase levels are associated with conditions including:
• Pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS)
• Obesity
• Metabolic syndrome
• Estrogen-related cancers (breast and prostate)
• Endometriosis
• Infertility
• Mood swings (the feel good hormones are produced in the gut, if the gut is not healthy, it sends wrong signals)
• Heart disease
Unfortunately, gut dysbiosis and gut microbiome imbalance are very common and the delicate balance of the microbiome and estrobolome can be affected by many different factors which include genetics, age, weight, diet, alcohol, antibiotics, environmental pollutants and more.

Signs of an Unhealthy Gut
There are many signs of an unhealthy gut, which can often be misdiagnosed as something else.
• Digestive issues (bloating, gas, diarrhoea or constipation)
• Weight changes
• Food sensitivities
• Fatigue
• Skin irritation
• Autoimmune conditions
• Hormonal imbalance

Factors that affect Gut Health And Hormone Balance
To correct hormone imbalance, there are ways to ensure that the gut stays healthy and those ways include:
1. Dietary considerations
“The food we eat not only feeds our cells, but also determines what kind of inner garden we are growing in our guts.” – Dr. Mark Hyman.
Well, the saying “you are what you eat” comes to limelight here. Diet plays a vital role in shaping our gut microbiome. A low GI (glycaemic index) diet which contains a diverse range of fruit, vegetables and fibre, high in phytonutrients – the so-called ‘rainbow plate’ – can encourage microbial diversity.
It is important to go moderate on what is referred to as ‘white carbs’ such as pasta, rice and potatoes which contain resistant starch; a type that promotes healthy gut. Cutting them out totally would mean cutting out the sources of resistant starch.
Bear in mind that cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, contain compounds that ease detoxification of estrogen. The supplement DIM (diindolylmethane) contains concentrates of such compounds and can be effective in lowering more toxic estrogen byproducts.
Prebiotics and probiotics should also be considered. Prebiotic foods such as garlic, onion, asparagus and bananas provide the material that gut bacteria like to feed on. Probiotic foods such as kefir, kombucha, kimchi, plain yoghurt and other fermented foods are really useful for introducing beneficial bacterial strains, like lactobacillus, to the gut.
It’s important to note that the supplement calcium D glucarate is a betaglucuronidase inhibitor and allows estrogen to remain conjugated, and therefore safely eliminated by intestinal detoxification.
2. Your environment matters a lot
Phytoestrogens from plants such as soya, tofu and tempeh are consumed as food while others are synthetically manufactured and called Xenoestrogens. These are found in common household products such as fragrances, pesticides and plastics, and can easily be obtained from the environment around us. It is important to find ways of reducing these toxic substances that impact our health and find more environmentally friendly solutions. Xenoestrogens are absorbed by the body and stored in liver and fat cells. They act synergistically with endogenously produced estrogens and influence cell proliferation and disrupt the delicate balance of hormones.
3. Antibiotics
So many people abuse antibiotics, if not prescribed, please desist from using them. The use of antibiotics disrupts the ecology of the gut microbiome, and can cause overgrowth or dysbiosis. A study by the University of Copenhagen found that six months after stopping antibiotics, most healthy people can recover the microbiome composition and function. However, the gut can still lack some of the beneficial bacteria and we then need to reintroduce the good guys!
4. Alcohol
No one really wants to hear that overconsumption of alcohol is detrimental to the health. Our society has made it look like consuming alcohol doesn’t make you vulnerable at all. But alcohol consumption can have a negative impact, not only on the gut microbiome but also on the liver and its ability to detoxify. This contributes to estrogen dominance symptoms and an increased risk of estrogen related cancers. Its festive season and you must unwind with friends and families, so we won’t put a knife to your throat not to take alcohol. 1 drink a day for women and 2 drinks a day for men( 1 drink equates 12 ounces of beer, 8 ounces of malt liquor, 5 ounces of wine, 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits and liquor). A single large glass of wine can contain up to 3 units of alcohol!
5. Physical activity
Physical activity can never be overemphasised. Exercise is an excellent way to support the detoxification that happens in the liver. Regular, moderate intensity exercise can lower levels of circulating estrogens. It can also reduce the stress hormone, cortisol, which can have a negative impact on our sex hormones. However, we do need to be mindful of individuality as different people have different stress levels/thresholds. Activities that stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system or the body’s ‘rest and digest’ mode, such as yoga, are also very beneficial to hormonal health and keeps the hormones balanced.
Summary
Lifestyle, nutrition, physical activity and stress management all play important roles in helping to balance your estrobolome and also ensuring that we keep our hormones balanced and optimal.

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General Research

IS OBESITY RELATED TO CANCER

Does Body Weight Affect Cancer Risk?

Being overweight, obese or having a BMI over 30kgmsq (since the society wants to scrap out the word obese) seems to be  linked to an overall increased risk of cancer. According to research from the American Cancer Society, excess body weight is thought to be responsible for about 11% of cancers in women and about 5% of cancers in men in the United States, as well as about 7% of all cancer deaths.  

Being overweight or obese is clearly linked with an increased risk of 13 types of cancer, which includes:

  • Breast cancer (in women past menopause)
  • Colon and rectal cancer (diet related)
  • Endometrial cancer (cancer of the lining of the uterus)
  • Esophagus cancer (diet related)
  • Gallbladder cancer (diet related)
  • Kidney cancer (diet related)
  • Liver cancer (diet related)
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Pancreas cancer (diet related)
  • Stomach cancer (diet related)
  • Thyroid cancer (diet related)
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Meningioma (a tumor of the lining of the brain and spinal cord). Notice that there is a correlation with diet and almost 80% of all stated cancers. Most part of your body more vulnerable to cancers are the ones exposed to whatever dietary choices you make.

Being overweight or obese might also raise the risk of other cancers, such as:

  • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
  • Male breast cancer
  • Cancers of the mouth, throat, and voice box
  • Aggressive forms of prostate cancer

The bond between cancer and  body weight is stronger for some cancers than for others. For example, excess body weight is thought to be a factor in more than half of all endometrial cancers, whereas it is linked to a smaller portion of other cancers.

Understanding the link between body weight and cancers is quite complex and might tip you off balance a bit. For example, while studies have found that excess weight is linked with an increased risk of breast cancer in women after menopause, it does not seem to increase the risk of breast cancer before menopause. Reasons best known to science (giggles).

The time of an individual’s life in which they gain weight might also affect cancer risk. Being overweight during childhood and young adulthood might be more of a risk factor than gaining weight later in life for some cancers. For example, some research suggests that women who are overweight as teenagers (but not those who gain weight as adults) may be at higher risk for developing ovarian cancer before menopause.

More research still needs to be carried out to back up some of these claims 

 

How might body weight affect cancer risk?

Excess body weight may affect cancer risk in a number of ways, some of which might be specific to certain cancer types. Excess body fat might increase cancer risk by affecting:

  • Inflammation in the body
  • Cell and blood vessel growth
  • Cells’ ability to live longer than they normally would
  • Levels of certain hormones, such as insulin and estrogen, which can fuel cell growth
  • Other factors that regulate cell growth, such as insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)
  • The ability of cancer cells to spread (metastasize)

Does losing weight reduce cancer risk?

Research on how losing weight might lower the risk of developing cancer is limited. Still, there’s growing evidence that weight loss might reduce the risk of some types of cancer, such as breast cancer (after menopause) and endometrial cancer.

Some body changes that occur as a result of weight loss suggest it may, indeed, reduce cancer risk. For example, overweight or obese people who intentionally lose weight have reduced levels of certain hormones that are related to cancer risk, such as insulin, estrogens, and androgens.

While we still have much to learn about the link between weight loss and cancer risk, people who are overweight or obese should be encouraged and supported if they try to lose weight. Aside from possibly reducing cancer risk, losing weight can have many other health benefits, such as lowering the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Losing even a small amount of weight has health benefits and is a good place to start.

It’s important to lose body weight, but much more important to lose body fat rather than just water fat (glycogen stores). So rather than cutting out carbs with chain saws and axes, reduce the amount of trans fat and ensure you take in quality nutrients. 

 

The science around it all

Overall, the majority of hypotheses proposed over the past 20–30 years have been based around the physiological functions and pathological correlations of compounds intimately involved in general metabolism of adipose tissue or its regulation by systemic factors and the relevance of those compounds to cell proliferation or development that could contribute to abnormal proliferation and migration leading to oncogenesis (development of tumors). The more recently developed concepts to be described below adopt a wider perspective in which the interface between adipose metabolism, inflammation and carcinogenesis is mediated by newly uncovered links involving biochemical pathways which open new perspectives on the obesity/cancer relationship in a more holistic, biologically integrated manner.

 These ideas include the inflammation-induced activation of the kynurenine pathway and its role in feeding and metabolism by activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and by modulating synaptic transmission in the brain. Evidence for a role of the kynurenine pathway in carcinogenesis then provides a potentially major link between obesity and cancer. A second new hypothesis is based on evidence that serine proteases can deplete cells of the tumour suppressors Deleted in Colorectal Cancer (DCC) and neogenin. These enzymes include mammalian chymotryptic proteases released by pro-inflammatory neutrophils and macrophages.

The kynurenine pathway represents the dominant pathway of tryptophan catabolism, accounting for the disposal of around 95% of the tryptophan not used for protein synthesis.

According to a research carried out by Jin in 2015, he stated and i quote that “the relevance of the kynurenine pathway is that not only do its components affect the regulation of metabolism, feeding and body mass, largely via the modulation of NMDA receptor activity, but they are also implicated in aspects of carcinogenesis’. Expression of the central enzyme of the pathway – kynurenine-3-monooxygenase (KMO) is greater in human hepatic carcinoma cells than controls and is known to influence cell proliferation and migration.

Other factors like insulin resistance, high glucagon and leptin levels (in obese and diabetic patients), adipokines (adiponectin) which is reduced in obese patients, highly concentrated levels of ceruloplasmin in adipose tissues of obese patients, might also increase an obese patients risk to several types of cancer. 

 

Dietary consideration 

Bowman-Birk inhibitors are relatively small proteins found in plant based foods, highly stable within the intestine and generally resistant to heating and cooking, which are known to be absorbed from the intestine into the blood. 

Several studies suggest that the presence of bowman’s birk inhibitors (BBI) are capable of inducing apoptosis in human breast carcinoma. The BBI is also capable of suppressing carcinogenic processes that include colon, oral leukoplakia, esophageal tumors, leukemia, prostatic hyperplasia and breast cancer (quite elusive though).

An overall healthy diet and lifestyle cannot be over emphasized, whether you choose a ‘only plant based diet’ or you choose to do a variety, make sure you do the right thing for your body MODERATION! 

 

Sources: https://www.nature.com/articles/cddiscovery201567

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/diet-physical-activity/body-weight-and-cancer-risk/effects.html

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5952217/

 

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LifeStyleUncategorizedWomen’s Health

Breastfeeding and its hormones

There are obviously benefits attatched to breastfeeding that you already know; so lets see the ones you might not be aware of:

I’m sure many new parents aren’t prepared for the effect that having a new baby can have on their desire for lovemaking and intimacy.

Keeping it together is really hard trust me.

There are hormones responsible for some behavioural changes after childbirth and lactation period.

Lets pick these hormones and see how they play a major role in sexuality.😉

🍌ESTROGEN: All women have low levels of estrogen for the first couple of months after giving birth. Continued breastfeeding extends this period for at least six months and for some women the lower levels may last as long as they are breastfeeding. Lower estrogen levels may cause vaginal dryness, tightness and tenderness. You could apply water based lubricants during lovemaking.😁

🍉OXYTOCIN: The milk ejection reflex is triggered by the release of the hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin is also released in men and women at the time of orgasm and is recognized to increase bonding.  If mother, or her partner, has concerns about milk ejection during lovemaking she can feed the baby or express beforehand to reduce milk flow. Direct pressure with the heel of the hand to the nipple can stop milk ejection or the couple can keep a towel handy to deal with leaking milk.

🍆PROLACTIN: Prolactin levels increase when baby is breastfeeding or mother is expressing milk. . Prolactin is also a part of the hormonal cascade involved in lovemaking. It counteracts the effect of the hormone dopamine which is responsible for sexual arousal and provides the body with a feeling of sexual gratification. The release of prolactin during breastfeeding creates a feeling of calm and relaxing.

🌶TESTOSTERONE : This is an androgen hormone which is usually thought of as a male hormone. It is also naturally occurring in the female body where it is produced in the ovaries and adrenal glands. Testosterone appears to contribute positively to the health of vaginal tissue and to contribute to genital sexual arousal.

Well, the hormones involved during breastfeeding might dampen sexual desire in the early months of childbirth, support from the male spouse is very important.  Some mothers feel that stopping breastfeeding might reduce tendencies of high libido, and shr might also feel unhappy that she’ll deprive her infant its right, which might reduce her desire for lovemaking.

You really need to sit down as a couple and balance things between breastfeeding , parenting and being a couple.

Find time for parenting and merge it with time for intimacy😎.

Life is not hard.

Source: https://www.lllc.ca/thursdays-tip-breastfeeding-and-hormones-sexuality

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