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The more I learn of endometrial hyperlaysia .. the more I question the amount of Soy Protein I've had in my diet the past two years. Studies are conflicting on the effects of soy on estrogen levels .. but I've read enough to be very wary about eating so much soy protein. Perhaps I should have done my research BEFORE starting on the Jenny Craig program two years ago?
Odds are I already had a susceptibility to this disorder. The first of my female problems occurring when I was in my early 20's - my cycle coming every two weeks. Then suffering and recovering from a 13cm Cyst on my right ovary a few years following my sons birth. {that's the size of a grapefruit ... in case you need a visual reference}. The past two years have been somewhat hellacious for me each month .. and if I think about it really it's been closer to three years since my recent problems have started.
BUT the last two years I've had this same biopsy done the results have come back normal. So I have to look at the events that have happened between last October ... and this October. I've just recently been diagnosed with anemia. I've just recently had to increase my synthroid dosage. My monthly cycle has been almost non-existent in the past two months. I started taking Phentermine one month ago. AND - I started on the new Soy Protein diet from my doctors office. All of these changes took place between July and now. Now I've been diagnosed with edometrial hyperplaysia. You have got to see there is some sort of connection here.
But even the experts are mixed on the results of increased soy protein consumption. The most recent :
Soy and Endometrial - this most recent study found that the consumption of high levels of soy protein over a 5 year period did lead to hyperplasia - but that there was no indication of hyperplaysia whatsoever prior to that 5 year time frame - and only 3% of the women studied developed the disorder. This is in line with the percentage of women entering menopause that might also develop the disorder.
Should You Eat Soy - is an article that also explores this great debate between the doctors. The article states that YES - Soy Protein is safe to eat - in moderate doses. Like any other food item we consume ... soy should be treated teh same way. It's only when high doses of Soy Protein are consumed that any issue arises.
Cancer.org shows that science has already proven that hyperplasia begins when the estrogen and progesterone levels within a woman's body become out of balance. It's this imbalance that makes the body think things aren't working properly - and it starts to split the endometrial cells in two. That's what hyperplasia is - the dividing of cells to create MORE. In fact - hyperplaysia of the fat cells seems to be one cause of obesity in the US which makes me wonder if this can't all be related and would make great fodder for another post .. before I digress .. let's move on.
Soy protein produces a substance that is similar to estrogen ... it in fact has been toted as a natural supplement for women going through menopause and women battling breast cancer often are encouraged to increase their Soy consumption. Which some doctors feel is bad form! A new study has show even that an increased diet of soy may cause women who had breast cancer to relapse!
I've also just learned that fat cells can often turn other hormones into estrogen - increasing the levels in a woman's body - and creating the imbalance! To me it's all starting to make sense ... and I wonder why physicians can't see the correlation between Soy, obesity and hyperplasia that I can?
These arguments are leading me to come to the conclusion that perhaps my consumption of Soy based products strictly over the past two years HAS indeed contributed to my hyperplaysia. That those women fighting obesity - who are in their perimenopausal years - should perhaps stay away from consuming large doses of Soy based proteins. I have spoken with my weight-management counselor on the phone this morning and told her I want the doctor to sit in with us tomorrow afternoon to discuss my options.
I KNOW that his argument will be the studies are inconclusive on the development of hyperplasia .. but I want to make sure that he understands how I feel .. and then find out if I can still utilize their services without the Soy Protein supplements. I would still benefit from the weekly weigh-in accountability, having access to the nutritionist, and then having my synthroid levels monitored every month by the doctor.
I will be starting from scratch basically ... and will probably head over to the bookstore tomorrow searching for some great low-fat, high protein recipes. I've now got a solid understanding of what I need to eat every day as far as nutrients go - and will stick to my 100g of protein - 1200 calories - a day program. This leaves me more susceptible to cheating ... and I'll probably have to go out and buy a food scale and really and truly lose weight in a more organic way. My grocery bills are going to be sky high .... but I think that I'm worth it!
Now ... who wants to help me write up a menu for next week? I don't like seafood or dairy. I don't eat eggs. I can't stand smoothies or shakes of any kind. What does that leave me as far as good for me food?
Odds are I already had a susceptibility to this disorder. The first of my female problems occurring when I was in my early 20's - my cycle coming every two weeks. Then suffering and recovering from a 13cm Cyst on my right ovary a few years following my sons birth. {that's the size of a grapefruit ... in case you need a visual reference}. The past two years have been somewhat hellacious for me each month .. and if I think about it really it's been closer to three years since my recent problems have started.
BUT the last two years I've had this same biopsy done the results have come back normal. So I have to look at the events that have happened between last October ... and this October. I've just recently been diagnosed with anemia. I've just recently had to increase my synthroid dosage. My monthly cycle has been almost non-existent in the past two months. I started taking Phentermine one month ago. AND - I started on the new Soy Protein diet from my doctors office. All of these changes took place between July and now. Now I've been diagnosed with edometrial hyperplaysia. You have got to see there is some sort of connection here.
But even the experts are mixed on the results of increased soy protein consumption. The most recent :
Soy and Endometrial - this most recent study found that the consumption of high levels of soy protein over a 5 year period did lead to hyperplasia - but that there was no indication of hyperplaysia whatsoever prior to that 5 year time frame - and only 3% of the women studied developed the disorder. This is in line with the percentage of women entering menopause that might also develop the disorder.
Should You Eat Soy - is an article that also explores this great debate between the doctors. The article states that YES - Soy Protein is safe to eat - in moderate doses. Like any other food item we consume ... soy should be treated teh same way. It's only when high doses of Soy Protein are consumed that any issue arises.
Cancer.org shows that science has already proven that hyperplasia begins when the estrogen and progesterone levels within a woman's body become out of balance. It's this imbalance that makes the body think things aren't working properly - and it starts to split the endometrial cells in two. That's what hyperplasia is - the dividing of cells to create MORE. In fact - hyperplaysia of the fat cells seems to be one cause of obesity in the US which makes me wonder if this can't all be related and would make great fodder for another post .. before I digress .. let's move on.
Soy protein produces a substance that is similar to estrogen ... it in fact has been toted as a natural supplement for women going through menopause and women battling breast cancer often are encouraged to increase their Soy consumption. Which some doctors feel is bad form! A new study has show even that an increased diet of soy may cause women who had breast cancer to relapse!
I've also just learned that fat cells can often turn other hormones into estrogen - increasing the levels in a woman's body - and creating the imbalance! To me it's all starting to make sense ... and I wonder why physicians can't see the correlation between Soy, obesity and hyperplasia that I can?
These arguments are leading me to come to the conclusion that perhaps my consumption of Soy based products strictly over the past two years HAS indeed contributed to my hyperplaysia. That those women fighting obesity - who are in their perimenopausal years - should perhaps stay away from consuming large doses of Soy based proteins. I have spoken with my weight-management counselor on the phone this morning and told her I want the doctor to sit in with us tomorrow afternoon to discuss my options.
I KNOW that his argument will be the studies are inconclusive on the development of hyperplasia .. but I want to make sure that he understands how I feel .. and then find out if I can still utilize their services without the Soy Protein supplements. I would still benefit from the weekly weigh-in accountability, having access to the nutritionist, and then having my synthroid levels monitored every month by the doctor.
I will be starting from scratch basically ... and will probably head over to the bookstore tomorrow searching for some great low-fat, high protein recipes. I've now got a solid understanding of what I need to eat every day as far as nutrients go - and will stick to my 100g of protein - 1200 calories - a day program. This leaves me more susceptible to cheating ... and I'll probably have to go out and buy a food scale and really and truly lose weight in a more organic way. My grocery bills are going to be sky high .... but I think that I'm worth it!
Now ... who wants to help me write up a menu for next week? I don't like seafood or dairy. I don't eat eggs. I can't stand smoothies or shakes of any kind. What does that leave me as far as good for me food?
