Tag Archives: soy

Phytotherapy: a safe and effective solution for hormonal help

Published May, 2011
Update Sept, 2019-  at end

Many women using synthetic hormones stopped when the Nurse’s Initiative published the negative side effects. Now more women use natural treatments to help with hormonal challenges, ranging from acne to weight gain and hot flashes.

Phytotherapy is the use of plants, either from food or herbs, for healing purposes. Phytotherapy is a wonderful alternative for hormonal balance because it works with your body to give you what you need, and has a proven track record of safety and efficacy.

Both women and men have hormone receptor cells that can be filled (like a key fitting into a lock) in several ways: EDC’s: endocrine disruptors produced by industrial by-products; xenoestrogens: prevalent in plastics, household, personal care products, fertilizers, pesticides; our body’s own hormones, AND plant precursors to hormones, or phytohormones.

The healthiest choice when our own hormones are out of balance is to use phytohormones to fill our natural hormone receptor sites, so that the toxic forms have no sites available, and will be eliminated via liver, kidneys, lymph and bowel.

One example is Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)(US). This herb acts positively to reduce hot flashes, in addition to its long historical uses as an antidote for snake bites, fevers, phlegm, and a tonic for the central nervous system. Many women have had exceptional relief from hot flashes and night sweats with a standardized formulation of Black Cohosh combined with Dong Quai. This formula, known as FE (Flash Ease) can work within the week, without the negative side effects inherent in drugs.

Maca (Lepidium meyinii) is another herb that has hit the American market in the last 10 years. To learn more about these and other natural aids for overall female hormonal health, join us for fun and informative dinner classes in Duncan. The next class will deal with Hormones for both Women and Men. This $10 investment can make a difference in your life! We’ll discuss Men’s health,  Monday June 13th. Call 250-748-6802 to register.

You can also learn everything you ever wanted to know about herbs that grow in the Cowichan Valley, in our Annual Herbal Intensives.

Also be sure to understand the more about the phyto hormones from soy, in our article: The Soy Controversy  and Soy and Breast Cancer .

UPDATE September 16, 2019

There are other herbs that one may have unwarranted warnings due to the general misunderstanding about the different  human interactions  of phyto hormones, human hormones, pharmaceutical hormones and environmental, toxic hormones (xenohormones) such as xenoestrogens mentioned above.

Some more common herbs that carry warnings are: licorice, red raspberry, dong quai, ginsengs, wild yam, red clover, chaste-tree berry,  evening primrose, ginkgo and saw palmetto.

Brassinosteroids (BS) are natural low-molecular-mass bioregulators, i.e., plant hormones that are present in all vegetable matter and possess growth-modulating and adaptogenic activity. Many common foods including plum, pear, apple grape berries, beans, sprouts, cabbage, spinaches, soybeans, grains, hops, garlic, onion would also be contra-indicated if one followed this (il)logic.

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine recently published a summary stating that they have found no credence to the suggestion that soy may be harmful to human health. See my article on Soy Controversy from 2010 that supports this finding.

You may also want to refer to Soy and Breast Cancer .

These plants all have their benefits, so do not be scared off by medical warnings that are based on biochemical mis-information.

© Lorene Benoit, BEd, MHH, CHC, CI, CRA.

Master Holistic Health, Certified Herbal Consultant, Educator author of The Paw Paw Program, A Christopher Columbus Approach to Cancer……

Contacts:

Phone: 250-748-6802

Email:      Lorene@NaturalPathRemedies.com   or   TakeTheNaturalPath@gmail.com

Website Contact: http://www.naturalpathremedies.com/blog/contact/

Super Foods and Super Shakes still going strong!

Ten years after originally posting this article, I still maintain this is one of the easiest and best ways to attain, regain and maintain optimum health. Nutrition provides the building blocks for our body to heal and repair on a daily basis.

In 2014, total pharmaceutical revenues worldwide had exceeded one trillion U.S. dollars for the first time. CNN reported October, 2018that the pharmaceuticals  sector spent $194.3 million on lobbying government as of. They lobby to promote their products and spread mis-information about natural health. While  BIG Pharma continues to log record profits and executives take home massive salaries and bonuses, the North American people bear the cost in taxes and ever worsening health and loss of life.

So it is worth my time to update and repost this information, and YOUR time to read it. Please get in touch if I can be of assistance to you in your natural health journey.

Superior nutrition can be accomplished regardless of age or sex, and the results can be noticeable within as little as four weeks!  Experience a healthier immune system, more positive outlook, greater energy and longer life expectancy.   Combining healthy eating habits, regular exercise, pure water, fresh air and Nature’s Sunshine products will make for optimal health!

For those times when you just don’t feel like preparing a nutritious meal, shakes are a great way to get the nutrition your body needs, without all the calories.  A well-balanced shake can provide protein, green super foods, herbs, fruit, fibre and vitamins and minerals.

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Here are suggestions with Nature’s Sunshine Products that help ensure you get a full dose of protein, carbohydrates and essential fatty acids to keep you healthy. Our family has used these since 1985, and used them  as our first choice  for our business of helping others since 1991.

One – half to one cup of berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries)

One serving of Ultimate GreenZone  – alkalinizes, and provides whopping servings of green nutrition. When you have cups of organic, fresh greens available, such as kale, beet greens, lettuce – not iceberg, sprouted vegies, swiss chard – you don’t need GreenZone. Otherwise you do!

One serving of Protein Powder: see excellent choices below.

Please contact Benoit & Associates to discuss which of these would be best for you, as well as to set up a direct ordering account for the best price, plus professional support.

Note that links and product names change to meet customer needs,  Health Canada and US FDA requirements, a guaranteed by Nature’s Sunshine.

This is why we offer personal service to get you started on the best track to health.

Optional: 1/2 to one serving Flax Hull Lignans (CA)  or other superfoods

1.5 cups of clean water or ice cubes

Thoroughly mix all ingredients and enjoy!

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These Superfoods help make life easy and health full.

 Ultimate Green Zone :  Provide the body with Superior Nutrition from whole foods.  One serving equals six servings of healthy greens. Contains the finest blend of some of the most https://www.naturessunshine.com/us/product/greenzone-ultimate-powder-368-g/1103/?upline=1143615-CAnutritious land- and sea-based herbs, plus minerals, amino acids, fatty acids and bioflavonoids. Zone balanced 40-30-30.  A low calorie, nutritionally dense whole food that leaves you feeling vibrant and alive. Blood sugar stablizer,  balance weight, increase metabolism, detoxify. Aids healing and regeneration; strengthens body’s ability to cope with stress.

Nature’s Harvest (US) and Nature’s Harvest (CA) which contains a host of super nutrition, including Beta Glucanswhich may help slow tumour growth via anti-angiogenesis.Pea

Aivia Plant Protein  (US  and Sunshine Direct to CA) . Metabolic Age support products are cornerstone to effective Weight Management and muscle building. Supplementing with protein helps build lean muscle and increase metabolism.

Nutri-Burn Whey Protein: Vanilla CA – enhanced with CLA (conjugated linoleoic acid), a natural polyunsaturated fat that research has shown has powerful weight-loss potential, particularly for abdominal fat. Health benefits include decreased hunger, improved stress response, increased metabolism, improved insulin sensitivity and immunity, better sleep, increased endurance during exercise, and reduced food-induced allergic reactions.

Collatrim Plus is another complete protein designed to build and tone muscle. It also helps heal leaky gut.

Love and Peas (US only)- is a vegan option, dairy free gluten free, lactose free that fulfills 75% of daily requirements for 18 vitamins and minerals.

There are other great protein super shakes to choose from, in both Canada and US.: IN.Form Metabolic Age Support Soy and Pea Protein, Love & Peas….

Contact the author for suggestions of the best one for you and to place your first wholesale priced order – no charge – for 10 minutes. 

Other healthful additions: Fresh or frozen fruit: banana, berries, pear, free range eggs or locally grown vegetables. Concentrated Zambroza, Thai Go (US) , Liquid Essential Minerals OR Chinese Mineral Chi Tonic, Nature’s Gold, Flax Hull Lignans – a herb specialist can help choose your best Super dense nutritional foods.

Prepared by:  Lorene Benoit, M.H.H.CHC; 250-748-6802  TaketheNaturalPath@gmail.com

Mar/09 Updated October, 2013, February, 2019

Soy and Breast Cancer

Myth: Soy is harmful for those who have or have had breast cancer because it contains estrogen.

In 2011, data from the Women’s Healthy Eating and Living study (WHEL) were used to examine the effect of soy intake on breast cancer prognosis in 3088 breast cancer patients who were followed for 7.3 years. As soy isoflavone intake increased the risk of breast cancer related death decreased. This is the third epidemiologic study to report: no adverse effects of soy on the prognosis of breast cancer: it does not counteract with the effects of tamoxifen and it may in fact provide potential benefits in decreasing risk of recurrence or death from cancer.

Soy contains Phyto hormones, which are not the same as human hormones. They are precursors which help to balance healthy estrogen, progesterone and testosterone in humans. To understand this better, please read Phytotherapy: A Safe and Effective Solution for Hormonal Health 

Thanks to  Health Action Network Newsletter, a group which has worked tirelessly and successfully to help promote natural health awareness in Canada since 1981 – many years. A great non-profit to join! http://www.hans.org/

Please read  the soy controversy for more in-depth, which also discusses sources, quantity and more research. For your health, please use only non-GMO soy.  This is why it is included as one of the Super Foods in my book: The Paw Paw Program. 

 

Soy controversy

There are many controversial views about soy and soy products.

This article was updated December, 2018.                                           Truth stands the test of time.

The negative talk about soy usually relates to it being indigestible and its phyto estrogens promoting early puberty, sterility in males,  estrogen receptive breast cancer, depressing thyroid function.

The positive side refers to it being a viable, environmentally green protein source,  and its phyto estrogens helping with menopausal symptoms and preventing breast and other cancers.

Our take on soy uses the same approach that we encourage our clients to embrace concerning ALL  natural health issues:

1. Do your research and try to find out who has paid for the research you are reading – this is not always easy to determine and untangling sponsorship connections can take some time!

2. Look at historical perspectives from whatever part of the world this plant (or herb,  product, diet, etc.) originates from.

3. Pay attention to YOUR body if you implement something new. Learning to listen to your body will tell you more than anything else.

This being said, these are our additional thoughts concerning soy:

  • People have to be moderate in their consumption of soy – we do not need a 1/2 lb. slab of tofu – look at how Japanese have traditionally used small pieces in soups and stir fries
  • Avoid over consumption of sugar laden soy products, milks and yogurts filled with guar gum and other fillers and thickeners – not a Japanese staple
  • Fermented soy products DO add other benefits – miso is one of the most nutritious
  • Understand that phyto estrogens are not hormones. Only animals have hormones. Phyto estrogens are plant (phyto) estrogens. They act beneficially in the body by filling hormonal receptor sites, which prevents the body from utilizing more potent or toxic hormones, such as the type of estrogen that does promote ER breast cancer, and chemical hormones, called xeno estrogens. So most people experience positive results.
  • In our office we used a non-GMO soy isolate based protein powder for more than 20 years. Our clients loved this product and after so many years, not one had any thyroid issues; many experienced most of the benefits listed below.
  • It has become more difficult to obtain reasonable quantities of non GMO soy based protein at competitive prices, plus people have been unduly scared off with soy misinformation. Nature’s Sunshine has replaced soy proteins with other excellent protein blends. Three favorites available in both Canada and US are:   In.Form Metabolic Age Support Pea Vanilla Shake, which is vegan, gluten free and contains phytosterols; IN.Form Metabolic Age Support Whey, and Nature’s Harvest, containing protein, vitamins, minerals and vegetables. In the US many people also love the Love and Peas Sugar Free.
  • Some of the benefits that any quality protein supplement will provide for people are:
  1. weight management
  2. endurance and energy for athletics
  3. balancing blood sugar levels for both hypo and hyper glycemia
  4. reducing negative hormonal symptoms of menopause and andropause

On pages 203 -204 of Lorene Benoit’s book:  The Paw Paw Program – The “Christopher Columbus” Approach to Cancer – The World IS Round and Cancer CAN Be Treated Naturally, a recipe for Super Shakes is given, which can include this SynerProtein.

For more information, and personal advice for supplements specific for YOU,  or to order  from our same supplier at wholesale discount, please contact our office.

Should you wish a document of soy related research which has helped form this opinion, we will gladly share a multi-page reference list gratefully provided by Dr. Hugo Rodier, Board Certified MD  PLUS Nutritional and Integrative Doctor. Just email us and ask for “Dr. Rodier’s Soy Research”.