HRT Update
According to a German study, soy protein supplements containing isoflavones have no significant effect on postmenopausal hormone levels. The study involved 16 postmenopausal women, with an average age of 56, who took a 20g soy protein supplement every day for 24 weeks. The results showed no significant increase in plasma estradiol levels. (Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation 2003; 55: 135-8) In another study, reported in the July 9 Journal of the American Medical Association, red clover supplements were no better than a placebo for relieving hot flashes. Participants included 252 women ages 45 to 60 who took either placebo pills or two dietary supplements made from red clover (Promensil or Rimostil) for 12 weeks. Women in all three groups reported a modest reduction in hot flashes, from about eight per day to five.
GET YOUR COPY NOW! Hot Flash! HRT Simplified, A Guide to Everything You Need to Know About Menopause...for Women and Those Who Love Them, is available now from College Pharmacy for only $5.95 plus shipping. Visit www.collegepharmacy.com to order today!
Remember Sex?
Exercise is good for your sex life. According to the 18-year Massachusetts Male Aging Study, based at the New England Research Institutes in Watertown, Mass., men who walked briskly for two miles a day had the lowest risk of erectile dysfunction. A study at the University of Texas at Austin also showed that, in women 18 to 34, physical arousal more than doubled after exercising.
Dr. Cedric Bryant, of the American Council on Exercise, says that men and women who exercise regularly have higher levels of desire, increased confidence, an enhanced ability to be aroused and achieve orgasm, and greater sexual satisfaction.
Healthy and Fit
People who eat more often during the day have almost half the incidence of obesity as those who eat less often, according to a new study in the July 1 edition of the American Journal of Epidemiology. Among 500 people in the study, those who regularly skipped breakfast were 450 percent more likely to be obese. Moreover, eating at night did not contribute to greater weight, but eating out for breakfast or dinner did.
Pet Peeves
Based on studies of dogs, chimps and other creatures, researchers are beginning to confirm what pet lovers have always known: animals experience fear, jealousy, grief, and love. Dogs have emerged as the most emotionally complex of animals studied, able to read human emotional cues even better than chimpanzees. Samuel Gosling, a biologist at the University of Texas at Austin, cites four dimensions of canine personality: sociability, affection, emotional stability, and "competence," which combines obedience and intelligence.
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Letters
Helpful staff
"I wanted to let you know how helpful one of your pharmacists…has been. The other day he returned a call to me and walked me through all of my complicated hormone prescription questions…. He was very knowledgeable and patient with me. I learned so much that I’ve since been able to correct my dosage and feel great now. I am truly very grateful…I will continue to pass on the word to others (about) how helpful your company is."
"L.H."
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Q&A
Q: Is there any connection between menopause and indigestion?
A: Definitely. Among the more unpleasant, annoying, and embarrassing symptoms of menopause are indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, and gas. Because there are estrogen receptors in the stomach and small intestine, a decrease in estrogen causes an increase in hydrochloric acid in the stomach. At the same time, higher progesterone levels relax the intestinal tract so that waste does not move through the bowel as quickly, producing constipation and gas.
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For Men Only
Having trouble getting rid of that spare tire? Adding a strength training program that includes 8 to 12 reps for five sets, with two exercises per body part and two body parts per session, will help increase your metabolism. Weight lifting, in combination with at least three high-intensity aerobic sessions per week, will burn more calories on a daily basis to reduce fat around the middle and elsewhere.
Quote of the Month
"Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact." - William James
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