On Wed, 30 Aug 2000 01:56:57 -0400 Adrienne Smith <[log in to unmask]>
writes:
> Any paleo gals out there notice any hormonal shifts while following a
> paleo diet?  Lately, I have noticed increased  breast
> tenderness and swelling exactly as if I was premenstrual (and NO, I
> AM NOT PREGNANT).  I'm wondering if the diet could cause this.  A
friend at
> work suggested that women store excess estrogen in their fat, so when
one
> begins to lose fat, this could release the stored estrogen into the
> bloodstream and result in hormonal shifts that could cause my symptoms.


Ardeith writes:
Run, do not walk....to the nearest bookstore and acquire
the two following books........
Susan Weed's book...."The Menopausal Years".....and
a copy of Christiane Northrup, MD's book "Women's
Bodies, Women's Wisdom"....

You are approaching your Change of Life, and if you
don't know what that is all about, these books can
save your sanity..........the following is part of a
workshop I have done on the Change, and speaks
to your question above....................................


************************
Physical changes
          On the most basic level, The Change
     is the ending of a woman's Moon-times....the
     end of the monthly bleeding she has done
     since she entered puberty.....the end of her
     capability to bear a child.  Her ovaries slow
     down estrogen production.This disturbs the
     hypothalamus gland, which controls blood
     temperature, sleep and energy. Women feel
     they have no energy....they do not sleep
     well....and they experience flashes of heat
     that sweep from head to toe....sometimes
     causing a bright red flush....and copious
     sweating. The autonomic nervous system is
     also affected causing disturbing, uncomfortable symptoms.
          But the ovaries are not finished with
     their life's work as yet......they still have a
     function to fulfill....the ovaries will still
     produce androgens which promote muscle
     strength, vaginal elasticity, sex drive, and
     general health.    These androgens are con-
     verted into estrogen in direct proportion to
     the amount of body-fat a woman carries.
     The ovaries and other glands  continue to
     produce androgens for the rest of her life.
     These androgens are associated with sexual
     response and libido as well as a sense of
     well-being.
***********************************

There is a connection between the amount of
body fat you carry and the symptoms you report......
and at your age, you are almost surely peri-
menopausal.....if not actually into menopause.

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Walk The Path With Practical Feet!

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