Dr. Peter Ellison of Harvard University, who pioneered the use of salivary testing that I incorporate in my practice, found that women in industrialized nations have abnormally high levels of estrogen, which he links to our high levels of breast and uterine cancer.
Dr. Peter Ellison of Harvard University, who pioneered the use of salivary testing that I incorporate in my practice, found that women in industrialized nations have abnormally high levels of estrogen, which he links to our high levels of breast and uterine cancer. As documented in Dr. John Lee's book Natural Progesterone, the results of Dr. Ellison's studies demonstrate a relationship between hormone levels, diet, and exercise worldwide. Inactive women who consume more calories than they burn have elevated levels of estrogen, which may help explain high estrogen levels among American women, a majority of whom are overweight and obese. The natural drop in estrogen levels with the approach of menopause will be steeper in these women, leading to a corresponding rise in cortisol production. This intensifies any symptoms related to stress, and gives rise to a host of problems related to cortisol, including insomnia, hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings. This may help explain why women in technologically advanced Western countries with higher estrogen levels report more pronounced menopausal symptoms than women in less-developed nations. A 1998 study of 625 female runners in the United States supports Dr. Ellison's theory. The runners had higher levels of physical activity and far less obesity than average women, and reported being able to reduce the discomforts of menopause with increased exercise. Indeed, for some women, changes in diet and exercise alone can eliminate many menopausal symptoms.
