Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a cluster of physical and emotional symptoms associated with the menstrual cycle. Between 50 and 70% of women experience some degree of PMS regularly. Common complaints include fatigue, irritability, breast tenderness, headache, food cravings and bloating. According to health expert Lorna Vanderhaeghe, author of An A-Z Woman’s Guide to Vibrant Health, [...]
The levels of vitamin K in healthy menopausal women are inadequate to maintain bone health, says the lead researcher of a recent study from the University of Michigan School of Nursing. The researchers found that one early effect of declining estrogen is the impairment of vitamin K function, and that the deficiency could seriously compromise [...]
A University of Minnesota Cancer Center study found that women consuming more than 800 mg of calcium each day reduced their risk of colorectal cancer by as much as 26 to 46%. A 26% reduction in risk of colorectal cancer occurred regardless of whether the calcium intake was from diet or supplement. Among women who [...]
A low-fat, plant-based diet is more effective at helping women lose weight and improve insulin sensitivity than an omnivorous diet, shows a new study on 59 overweight, postmenopausal women. In the study, conducted by Neal D. Barnard, MD, half of the participants followed a vegan diet, while the other half followed a control diet based [...]
A diet rich in calcium and vitamin D may lower the risk of developing premenstrual syndrome (PMS), according to a new study. While most women may experience mild emotional or physical premenstrual symptoms, as many as eight to 20% of women experience symptoms severe enough to meet the definition of premenstrual syndrome, characterized by moderate [...]
According to a new study, women with a high dietary intake of vitamin B6 over several years have a decreased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Women who consume moderate to large amounts of alcohol in addition to vitamin B6 have more than a 70% reduced risk of developing CRC. "Consuming a diet high in vitamin [...]
Postmenopausal women who consumed high daily levels of soy protein had reduced risk of bone fracture, according to a new study. Xianglan Zhang, MD, MPH, from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine examined the relationship between soy food consumption and bone fractures in 24,403 postmenopausal women. The women were part of the Shanghai Women’s Health [...]
Black cohosh is one of the most well researched herbs for menopausal symptoms, particularly hot flashes. In fact, several clinical studies indicate that black cohosh is as effective as hormone therapy for relief of this symptom. The herb was shown to be as effective as low-dose hormone therapy within a month. At the University of [...]
A new study led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, has found that a diet containing kelp seaweed lowered levels of the potent sex hormone estradiol in rats, and raised hopes that it might decrease the risk of estrogen-dependent diseases such as breast cancer in humans. These new results shine a new light [...]
Low vitamin D status often may be overlooked by doctors, leading to inadequate vitamin D supplementation in patients with osteoporosis, say researchers. A study of 1,554 postmenopausal women showed that 52% of these women had suboptimal vitamin D concentrations. Most study participants were healthy, ambulatory, community-dwelling, white women who were well educated. These results underscore [...]
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