Natural Progesterone,
Yam Extract,
Exogenous Estrogens

Although the Wild Mexican Yam plant saponins have shown to benefit women's health... However, what's at issue are biological progesterone levels, progesterone's balancing effects on estrogen and otherwise unopposed estrogen from external sources... with subsequent prevention or relief many hormore related conditions, such as PMS or Menopause symptoms, Infertility and Osteoporosis, and balancing side effects of estrogen dominance from Exogenous Estrogens.

No published studies conclude that Yam increases progesterone levels in animals or humans... The confusion is probably caused because the diosgenin molecule from wild yams can be converted to a progesterone molecule IN the laboratory, BUT NOT in the human body.

Only supplemental natural progesterone is shown to increase serum and saliva progesterone levels. This fact is verified by ample clinical and scientific research... Among these are studies done Dr. David Zava, laboratory director of Aeron Life Cycles (a highly respected hormone testing facility), who holds a PhD in Bio Endocrinology and has focused on progesterone and estrogen receptor activity. After testing progesterone levels in thousands of women, Dr. Zava notes: "In response to your question about wild yam steroids - do they convert into progesterone? The answer is NO, there are no enzymes in the human body that will convert diosgenin, the active component of wild yams, into progesterone. This does not mean diosgenin is without activity in the body as it has been used by phytotherapists for centuries as an adaptagen."

Nevertheless, there have been many false claims that diosgenin or Dioscorea Villosa (Wild Mexican Yam Extract) is molecularly the same as USP Natural Progesterone.

Some say users will find the same benefit using diosgenin as they would with a cream containing USP Natural Progesterone.

Some say: "Wild Mexican Yam makes a substance identical to the progesterone produced by the human body."

DO NOT be fooled.. Remember: Review of research reveals that supplemental Natural Progesterone produces an increase in saliva and serum levels of progesterone, but that diosgenin (Wild Mexican Yam Extract) does NOT.

Use Wild Mexican Yam FOR the benefits it can facilitate, BUT do NOT expect it to do what it can't do...

Exogenous Estrogens

To add weight and monetary value to animals in the food chain, most meat, poultry, and dairy products contain foreign estrogens. Also, pesticides and other petrochemical compounds with estrogenic properties are consumed by these animals, much of which concentrate in milk and fat of the meat.

When consumed by humans, these exogenous estrogens are deposited in human fatty tissues, as well as on estrogen and progesterone receptors, causing inteference with proper utilization and production of natural progesterone and estrogen. Exogenous estrogens are implicated in promoting serious health problems, such as fibrocystic breast disease and breast cancer.

By replacing animal proteins with saponin-rich plant foods, such as soy products, good phyto-estrogens (genistein) are provided. These good estrogens have a greater affinity for estrogen receptors than do bad estrogens. The good estrogens have demonstrated protection against breast and endometrial cancer.

The drastic increase in the amount of Hysterectomies being done, with the resulted loss of female hormnone production, is responsbile for bringing to light the foregoing information.

The surgical procedure known as a hysterectomy causes the female to become immediately menopausal.

Although it's thought that even after a complete hysterectomy, hormone production does not completely cease; some should continue to be produced by the adrenals and fat cells. But estrogen and progesterone replacement is considered critical at this time of sudden female organ removal, since optimal balance between estrogen and progesterone is necessary for optimal health; especially considering progesterone's role in bone building by osteoblasts.

For menopausal women, whether or not surgically-induced, throughout Dr. Lee's books he says: "Adding progesterone will actively increase bone mass and density and can reverse osteoporosis." Natural progesterone offers many other benefits for women who have had a hysterectomy or not... some of which are listed in the foregoing informaton... Women on artificial Estrogen Replacement Therapy need to read the DANGERS of ERT presentation...

NOTE: All information within the Liberty Zone Cafe is for education purpose only... Nothing is intended to diagnose or treat any disease.

References:

  1. Lee, John R. M.D. - 1996 - What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause - Warner Books

  2. Lee, John R. M.D. - 1999 - What Your Doctor May NOT Tell You About PREmenopause -- Warner Books

  3. Lee, John R. M.D. - 1990 - Osteoporosis reversal: the role of progesterone. Internal Clinical Nutr Rev 10:384-91.

  4. Lee, John R. M.D. - 1990 - Osteoporosis reversal with transdermal progesterone Lancet 336:1327

  5. Lee, John R. M.D. - 1991 - Is natural progesterone the missing link in osteoporosis prevention and treatment? Medical Hypotheses 35:316-18.

  6. Lee, John R. M.D. - 1994 - Slowing the Aging Process with Natural Progesterone, BLL Publishing, p. 12.

  7. Bergkvist, L., H.O. Adami, I. Persson, R. Hoover & C. Schairer - 1989 - The risk of breast cancer after estrogen and estrogen-progestin replacement. New England Journal of Medicine 321: 293-97

  8. Braverman, Eric - 1991 - Natural estrogen and progesterone research indicates health benefits of natural vs. Synthetic hormones. Total Health - October no. 5: 55.

  9. Chakmakjian, Z. - 1987 - Bioavailabliity of progesterone with different modes of adminsitration. Journal of Reproductive Medicine 32: 443

  10. Chang, K.J. - 1995 - Influences of percutaneous administration of estradiol and progesterone on human breast epithelial cell cycle in vivo. Fertility and Sterility 63: 785-91

  11. Hileman, Beth - 1994 - Reproductive estrogens linked to reproductive abnormalities, cancer. Chemical and Engineering News - January 31: 19-23

  12. Johnson, Blankenschtein & Langer - Permeation of Steroids Through Human Skin Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, September 1995 Vol. 84, No 9: 1144-1146.

  13. Leary, Warren E. - Progesterone may play major role in the prevention of nerve disease. New York Times - June 27, 1995 C3.

  14. Lees, B., T. Molleson, T.R. Arnett, & J.C. Stevenson - 1993 - Differences in proximal femur density over two centuries. Lancet 341: 673-75

  15. Ottoson, U.B., B.G. Johansson, & B. von Schoultz - Subtractions of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol during estrogen replacement therapy: a comparison between progestogens and natural progesterone. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 1985 - 151: 746-50.

  16. Prior, J.C. - Progesterone as a bone-trophic hormone. 1995 Endocr Rev 11:386-98

  17. Prior, J.C., Y. M. Vigna, & N. Alojado - Progesterone and the prevention of osteoporosis, Women's Health Care 1991 - 3: 178-84.

  18. Weiss, Rick - Estrogen in the environment. The Washington Post - January 25, 1994 10-13.

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