Everything is Linked to Hormones! Even Brussel Sprouts and Broccoli

When you were a child, did your mother ever force the issue of eating vegetables?  If so, I think you'll realize what great advice that was after reading this blog.  It actually was life-saving advice according to what the evidence now shows us for healthy hormone metabolism, anti-cancer effects, and detoxification processes.  Go Dr. Mom, right??  I'm a huge fan of vegetables and fruits to this day and could probably exist on gatherings from the garden with no problem.  Some of my family members though, uh,....not so much.   But don't worry if you also do not have a natural desire to eat brussel sprouts, kale, broccoli, etc.  There's an option in a capsule form for you anti-vegetable people.

Cruciferous vegetables belong to a family of plants called Brassica and various human studies have shown us that increasing consumption of the Brassica's can have a very positive effect on cancers of the lung, pancreas, bladder, prostate, thyroid, skin, stomach, and colon.  They also can improve cholesterol profiles and reduce stress at the cellular level.  Other benefits appear to be liver metabolism of carcinogenic compounds and improved blood profiles for those who redirect their diets towards these health promoting foods.

So what's the magic inside the broccoli? These vegetables contain glucosinolates which contain sulfur and are easily recognized by their strong smell and taste.  When we chew these 'natural medicines', an enzyme called myrosinase is released which breaks down the glucosinolates into health boosting active metabolites. These final products are indoles and isothiocyanates and are being heavily studied for their cancer protecting properties.  In fact, they are now captured in pill forms.  Wow!!  Plants in pills.  Who could have every imagined right?

I had a nurse practitioner refer a patient not long ago who had a history of  cancer and wanted to test her hormone levels.  Her results showed that she was very estrogen dominant (too much estrogen compared to progesterone) and she wanted to know what natural therapies she could use to help her body metabolize the estrogens in a healthier way.  My answer to them both? Indoles!  I suggested a product formulated with cruciferous vegetables and folic acid to promote estrogen metabolism down a healthier pathway.  I also suggested we retest her in 3-6 months and we saw marked improvement in her levels.

This is important not only to a person with this kind of medical history, but also to those women who are also estrogen dominant.  I can tell you that this includes a LOT of women.  Taking a product containing cruciferous vegetables can be so important for detoxification, healthy hormone metabolism, and prevention of cancers.   Balancing other hormones to lessen the burden of estrogen dominance is also a critical factor.  Progesterone has shown itself to provide it's own cancer reducing properties and starts it's decline in women at about 35-40 years old.   Sadly, most women are deficient and never take the time to test or treat their imbalances.  We have tons of women in our care who are taking progesterone therapy with GREAT improvement in their symptoms.

Please call me if I can help you.   This blog is especially important for those women with cancer risks in their family medical history.  If you have high estrogen and don't know it, then you could be putting yourself at more risk also.  Don't put off your health for another day.  Often natural approaches and simple changes can provide tremendous benefit and health for the long haul.

Now, GO EAT SOME BROCCOLI and BRUSSEL SPROUTS !!!

To your good health,
Dr. Sonja