(Ann Louise Gittleman's second visit to Power Surge)

Dearest:    My guest tonight is one of the country's foremost nutritionists, 
the best-selling author of TEN health books, the former Nutritional Director 
of the Pritikin Longevity Center.  She maintains a private practice, consults 
for medical establishments, is a popular guest on TV and radio (no doubt, 
you've seen her on TV as The Rejuvex Woman), and a savvy women's health 
advocate whose writings address women's health, especially 
menopause, holistically - as everything is connected.

ANN    LOUISE    GITTLEMAN is the recipient of numerous awards for her expertise and 
communicative savvy, and has been interviewed by numerous national newspapers and 
magazines.

Among her 10 best selling books are "Super Nutrition For Menopause", 
"Your Body Knows Best", "Super Nutrition For Women", and her newest book, 
"Before The Change: Taking Charge Of Your Perimenopause".

Ann Louise, a very warm welcome back to Power Surge. The book is wonderful. 
A "tour de meno-force" -- and I'm honored that you include Power Surge as a 
resource :) You say in your book, "Some of Premarin's and Provera's 
side effects are life-threatening."  Can you share your thoughts on this with the 
audience, please? Thanks.


Ann Louise Gittleman:   It a pleasure to be here again.  Now, in reference to 
Premarin's side effects, consider that often times blood clots, depression, 
fibroids and uterine cancer can be toxic side effects.  With reference to
 Provera, we now believe that the rising number of heart attacks among
women may be due to its effects on vascular spasms in women's arteries.


Velda d:   Can you have an allergic reaction to Premarin?


Ann Louise Gittleman:   Absolutely, Velda.  In fact many women find their entire immune 
response becomes depressed over the months and years with continued use 
of Premarin. 


Dearest:    Thanks, Ann Louise. I'm puzzled by a number of physicians who've 
been to Power Surge and stated, unequivocally, that depression isn't caused 
by menopause. What are your thoughts?


Ann Louise Gittleman:   Dearest, obviously those physicians have not experienced menopause, 
and the shift in hormones which I believe creates terrible depression 
due to either estrogen dominance or a lack of progesterone.


RCHCTH:   Do you find and problems with creams like Progest or Femgest?


Ann Louise Gittleman:   Sometimes women experience breakthrough bleeding with topical 
progesterone creams.  This may be due to the fact that estrogen receptors 
are also sensitized by the use of topical progesterone initially.  Usually 
this situation takes care of itself, however, within two cycles by cutting 
back on the amount of topical progesterone used on a daily basis.


Kef123:   what do you suggest for HRT?


Ann Louise Gittleman:   I suggest that for women in their early forties up to age 
forty five the use of topical progesterone cream 2 weeks before the period 
may be all that is needed in addition to 2 tablespoons of flaxseed oil 
and evening primrose oil.  For women over forty-five, I believe that 20 
to 40mg of folic acid taken on a daily basis is important for its estrogenetic 
effects.  Women over the age of forty-five do need a phytoestrogen source, 
in my experience because the topical progesterone may not be enough.


Dearest:    Ann Louise, I was reading the updated Aeron Life Cycles list of 
natural progesterone cream contents and was surprised that some of the creams 
contained upwards of 900 mg per OUNCE. Isn't it true that more isn't always
better.. especially in the case of natural progesterone creams? 


Ann Louise Gittleman:   The answer is yes.  I recommend that about 20 mg of natural 
progesterone can be safely used as a progesterone replacement.  This amount 
of course is per application.


Dearest:    Thank you :)  Catalina, go ahead.


Catalina5:   Can you elaborate on how Premarin might exacerbate depression.  


Ann Louise Gittleman:   Yes, Premarin, a synthetic estrogen can create a biochemical 
situation know as estrogen dominance which makes a woman retain fluid, 
fat, and salt in the tissues. This will occur if there is a lack of progesterone 
which has a diuretic and balancing effect on the system. 

Progesterone also acts as a natural anti-depressant and sedative to the nerves.  
This is most common, especially when Premarin alone is used or is balanced 
with a synthetic progesterone which does not possess the natural diuretic 
or anti-depression effects of the natural substance.


Dearest:    Ann Louise, are women going a bit overboard when they mix HRT with 
"natural" hormone precursors, such as dong quai and black cohosh?  


Ann Louise Gittleman:   Excellent question, Dearest!  Many herbs like Dong Quai, Black 
Cohosh, and even Ginseng are phytoestrogens and are adding to the estrogen 
dominance condition that Premarin has set the stage for.  This is why a 
natural progesterone source or progesterone-based herbs like Wild Yam, 
Chaste Berry, and Yarrow are my favorites.


Dearest:    I think the medical establishment is scaring the living daylights 
out of women - take hormones! take hormones or be relegated to a life of heart 
disease and osteoporosis. Balderdash! 


Sja4home:   Is a progesterone cream a better choice rather than Prometrium 
for a prematurely POST-menopausal woman ? 


Ann Louise Gittleman:   I believe it is.  The progesterone in Progest cream as well as 
Progestacare is identical to the progesterone that your body should be 
producing on its own.  Therefore there are minimal side effects.


Dearest:    Ann Louse, another thing that disturbs me is doctors telling 
women who smoke they can use HRT.. women with breast cancer can use 
HRT and women with Phlebitis can use HRT. When do we draw the line? 


Ann Louise Gittleman:   Dearest, we draw the line with women who have a history of 
circulatory problems, blood clots, diabetes, and allergy.  All women should 
be aware of the natural options to the synthetics.


Dearest:    I told a new gynecologist 4 years ago that I had a history 
of Phlebitis and she gave me an Rx for Estrace and Provera. I handed it back 
to her and told her to use it as an ink blot (g)


Ann Louise Gittleman:   :-)


Dearest:    Please remember that Ann Louise Gittleman, although a brilliant 
medical author, is not a physician.


Velda d:   So many of these natural supplements are not FDA approved. 
and it scares me. It seems that you are leaning towards this side of the spectrum.  
How do we know how safe these are? I have some and am afraid to use them


Ann Louise Gittleman:   Good question, Velda.  The natural progesterone that I am leaning 
towards has been widely researched by physicians such as Dr. John Lee, 
and Joel Hargrove.  Dr. David Zava is now researching the effects of natural
progesterone on the regeneration of bone tissue.  I suspect that as soon as 
the medical establishment can figure out a way to patent natural medicines, 
you will see more of the natural options FDA approved.  Much of the FDA 
regulation or nonregulation of natural substances is driven by the 
pharmaceutical companies.


SMe4726227:   After a person has gone through menopause do they ever feel 
mentally sound again as before perimenopause? 


Ann Louise Gittleman:   I think there is hope after menopause precisely if a woman 
is balanced with progesterone because it has everything to do with mood, 
and well being and is related to the way in which a woman handles stress.  
I would also like to suggest that women are over-medicating with Calcium.  
More than 500 mg of Calcium daily in a supplement can often be toxic to the 
system.  I suggest at least 800-1000 mg of Magnesium is much more important 
for well-being and bone health.


JPLJAXX:   Are forgetfulness, word-finding difficulties common symptoms 
of perimenopause? Can they be alleviated?  


Ann Louise Gittleman:   All these symptoms are related to perimenopause.  Taking natural 
progesterone and supplementing with at least 35-50 mg daily of Zinc will 
help brain function tremendously.  Also, cut the sugar out of your diet 
which depletes Magnesium and Zinc.


Dearest:    (and raises triglycerides :)  RCH, go ahead.


RCHCTH:   Are there any harmful side effects from using primrose oil on a 
regular basis?


Ann Louise Gittleman:   Another good question.  I would suggest that primrose oil be 
used with a source of Ome-3s on a regular basis (like flaxseed oil) which 
will prevent the Ome-6s from building up in the system.


Geebee2000:   I'm in perimenopause now. I'm about to go to a new gynecologist 
(female :->). What tests should I ask her to run?


Ann Louise Gittleman:   Ask her to run a Salivary Hormone Test, which is the most 
accurate test to assess progesterone levels.  Also, ask her to take a blood 
test for current estrogen levels, and a full blood panel so that we can 
see how your cholesterol and triglycerides are.  Elevated triglycerides 
particularly with women, are a better indication of heart disease than 
some other lipid-based tests.


RoseMDP:   Can you advise about racing heart and palpitation symptoms?  
They are so worrisome to me.


Ann Louise Gittleman:   Racing heart and palpitations are a sign of hormone imbalance 
which can be treated naturally with 400 mg of Magnesium at least 2 to 
3 times a day.


JVill28876:   what can you tell me about Levoxyl?


Ann Louise Gittleman:   Why are you currently using Levoxyl?


JVill28876:   thyroid is slow


Ann Louise Gittleman:   Ok.  I suggest that the best source of natural thyroid hormone 
replacement is Armour Thyroid  I believe that Levoxyl is a synthetic.  
Be aware that if your progesterone levels are low, so is your thyroid.  
So, once your progesterone levels are normalized, then you can see 
how your thyroid is.


Catalina5:   How is magnesium related to bone health?


Ann Louise Gittleman:   Magnesium is a catalyst that allows Calcium to be deposited 
into the bone.  Studies have shown greater bone density when 400-800 mg of 
Magnesium are added to the diet without any additional Calcium at all.


SMe4726227:   Is it okay to take the 1,000 mg of magnesium and 50mg of zinc 
at the same time and is vitamin E good ? 


Ann Louise Gittleman:   I would not suggest taking 1,000 mg of magnesium at one dose, 
or else you will have very loose bowels.  Divide the amount throughout 
the day, the same with the zinc.  I think Vitamin E from 400-1200 iu per day 
is an excellent estrogen replacement on a cellular level without side effects.


Dearest:    But caution women with a history of 
hypertension about taking vitamin E, right?


Ann Louise Gittleman:   Yes.  If you have high blood pressure, check with your physician 
if you are taking more than 400 iu of Vitamin E a day.  In some cases, 
higher doses of Vitamin E can elevate blood pressure.


JPLJAXX:   Is it possible for the racing heart and palpitations to be due 
to hormonal imbalance in an 80-yr old woman?  


Ann Louise Gittleman:   Absolutely.  I would suggest the natural progesterone cream 
as well as the magnesium. 


Dearest:    Thank you, A.L. :) Wendi please ask your question.


WendiS:   A two-fold question...what is a DEXA screening and is there a 
standard natural medications-supplement-vitamins daily "menu" that you 
recommend?


Ann Louise Gittleman:   A DEXA screening is a bone density screening.  My standard 
natural prescription for women ages 18 to 80 is found in my book "Before 
the Change" (Do not judge the book by it's cover, it is for women of all ages.)


GMAMATT:   What causes a woman's triglycerides to be high?  What can we do 
to lower them? 


Ann Louise Gittleman:   Elevated triglycerides are due to too much sugar (even fruit 
and fruit juice)and carbohydrates like bread, potatoes, corn, and bagels.  
To lower them, add more protein to the diet and healthy fats to stabilize 
appetite and consider supplements like 35-50 mg a day of zinc 200-400 mcg of 
chromium.


Dearest:    How about CoQ10 and selenium and L-Carnitine? 
Aren't they helpful for heart health, cholesterol levels? 
(and triglycerides)


Ann Louise Gittleman:   Dearest, while CoQ10, Selenium, and L-Carnitine are helpful 
for all around cardiovascular health, they are not as specific for elevated 
triglycerides which are connected to carbohydrate metabolism that the 
Zinc and Chromium specifically address.


Dearest:    Yes, you're absolutely right. I've been following the Atkins 
program of restricted carbohydrates to lower my triglycerides. 
Thanks :)


Howard1978:   I've been on progesterone cream for 3 months.I have started 
cycle again, and I feel better, but my breasts are huge. why?  and they are 
also very tender.


Ann Louise Gittleman:   How much progesterone cream are you using on a daily basis, 
and when?


Howard1978:   Morning & evening started with 1/4 , but occasionally use 
1/2 tsp. at night for hot flashes or night sweats


Ann Louise Gittleman:   I would suggest that you cut back to 1/4 tsp. once a day and 
that you consider 400-1200 iu of Vitamin E.  It sounds like the progesterone 
may have sensitized estrogen receptor sites.


Howard1978:   Thank you!


Dearest:    Ann Louise, thank you for joining us in Power Surge tonight, 
and for so wonderfully fielding our questions about perimenopause, hormones, 
natural methods of treating the "pause" and for helping us to "take 
charge of our perimenopause" :)

You can obtain a copy of Ann Louise's newest book, "Before The Change.." 
directly from www.power-surge.com/menobook.htm - as well as her NINE other 
health books! Be sure to visit Ann Louise's Web site at: www.annlouise.com

I've found all your books so packed with information! We all hope you'll 
come back to visit with us again very soon. Thank you for another 
stimulating and very informative chat in Power Surge Live!


Ann Louise Gittleman:   Thank you, and good luck to all of you!  :-)



Read Ann Louise Gittleman's first transcript



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