Understanding Women's Health

Normal Hormone Fluctuations. Hormones are involved in almost every function in the body from the reproductive cycle to how fast your heart beats and your skin grows and wrinkles, how much you remember and how sharp your thinking is, to how much energy you have on any given day. They affect how your bones and muscles grow or disintegrate, normal symptoms of PMS, where your body puts on fat, and the strength and direction of all your emotions. In the child bearing years, it is essential for women to understand the impact of normal monthly hormone fluctuations on their quality of life.

Hormone Metabolites. The liver is responsible for safely metabolizing and excreting chemicals from our body. The normal metabolism of hormones in our body results in unique ratio of two different metabolites - 2-hydroxyestrone and 16-alphahydroxyestrone. The ratio of these metabolites produced by the liver is unique to every woman. 2-hydroxyestrone is a neutral metabolite produced in a healthier ratio in people who are at a healthy body weight, consume a diet low in fat and high in fruits and vegetables, and exercise frequently. It is important to incorporate diet and lifestyle choices that help the liver to increase production of healthy metabolites, such as 2-hydroxyestrone, while decreasing production of undesirable metabolites, such as 16-alphahydroxyestrone. These choices should be incorporated into a women's diet and lifestyle from an early age for health benefits throughout life.

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