If you are a woman who is worried about hormone replacement therapy, you should be!

Most of us by now have heard about the dangers and consequences of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) as a way to deal with the symptoms of menopause.

These dangers include an increase in the risk for breast, endometrial and ovarian cancers.

But, is there an safer alternative?

Let’s take a look at Resveratrol

The problem is that menopausal women who experience severe symptoms such as depression, night sweats, hot flashes, and weight gain may think that there is nothing else that can help. That is rarely the case, but occasionally the symptoms become so disrupting to normal life that HRT may be the only option for a short time.

Promising research shows that Resveratrol might be safer (no known side effects) than HRT. Also, there is a strong possibility that it will actually reduce the risk of breast cancer.

This research shows that Resveratrol suppresses abnormal cell formation that precedes the development of most types of breast cancer. This strongly indicates that it might help to prevent breast cancer by blocking the first step of the process that leads to cancer, the formation of estrogen DNA adducts, (Adducts are chemical compounds that form from the addition of two or more substances, in this case, estrogen and DNA). Dr. Eleanor G. Rogan, Ph.D, a professor in the Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, suggests that this could stop the whole progression leading to cancer.

The steps leading up to breast cancer are complex, and they differ, on a number of factors.   We do know that many breast cancers are fed by higher levels of estrogen which interact with DNA molecules to form these adducts.   Resveratrol suppresses the formation of these adducts and remarkably require only a relatively low concentration to do the job.

Researchers also found that Resveratrol acted as a chemo-preventive against breast cancer (known as a potential side effect of HRT) because of its strong ant-tumor activity.

There are at least two other known risk factors that seem to be positively affected by Resveratrol.  More on those as new info comes out.

Now that Resveratrol is being considered as a replacement for HRT, we are hearing conflicting views about whether natural compounds can take the place of known pharmaceutical agents.

Let’s consider what we already know about HRT and natural alternatives to HRT

1) Estrogens, with or without progestin, have been used for HRT in postmenopausal women, but they, without argument, do increase the risk of breast cancer.

2) A number of clinical trials consistently show that phytoestrogen supplements such as soy isoflavones and red clover are safe, natural alternatives to HRT.

The contention that soy stimulates cancer cells has been disproved by many newer studies.   Several population studies have shown that women who eat a high-soy diet tend to have lower incidences of cancer.

Resveratrol and phytoestrogens were compared In a study that assessed the estrogen-like effects and anti-tumor effects of each. The analysis compared their effect on tumor cell growth, cell cycle and apoptosis, (naturally programmed cell death). Both the phytoestrogens and Resveratrol decreased tumor cell growth and cycle and increased tumor cell death, but only Resveratrol significantly affected hormonal activity.

Because of these results, researchers concluded that Resveratrol is the most promising candidate as an HRT alternative and chemo-preventive reagent for breast cancer. (Sakamoto T. et al. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. Published online ahead of print: doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2009.06.010)

How do you choose?

It is difficult to know because so many companies are claiming that theirs is the best.

Here are some factors that are important according to the “father of the science of anti-aging”, Dr. David Sinclair.

• It should provide 100 grams per day, the amount of Resveratrol that Dr. Sinclair found to be the appropriate amount,

• The Resveratrol should be pure trans Resveratrol and not cis Resveratrol. Higher amounts, the so called “super Resveratrol” products may have no more benefit than the recommended amount, and simply may not even be absorbed enough to get the higher amounts.

• It should not contain grape solids or juice, just resveratrol.

Research shows that Resveratrol has four beneficial effects in combating cellular aging.

• First, it protects the DNA within the cell from genetic damage caused by free radical attacks.
• Second, it enhances the cell’s natural ability to repair itself.
• Third, it increases the cells energy to carry out its various functions rapidly. Because this affects every cell in your body, this means that you will also feel more energetic.
• Fourth, it inhibits the formation of the AGE protein which clogs the cells and causes them to die off earlier. HOWEVER, this area of impact of Resveratrol is the weakest part. (It has been shown that the addition of Muscadine grape skin and seed components in a fresh extract form actually increases the activity of this function by ten fold).

So…what is my bottom line, and what is yours?

To me, it makes sense to use Resveratrol regularly. If later research proves that it helps to prevent breast or any other kind of cancer, I’m that much ahead of the game for using it earlier. If I wait for scientific certainty, which may never happen or could take many years, I might very well be unable to avoid some of the ailments that it has the potential to prevent right now. As far as I am concerned, with more than 2,300 research studies confirming a myriad of benefits that accrue to Resveratrol, and no negative downsides to it, I say again, I choose to use it regularly right now.

I’m looking forward to the results of al the ongoing studies about Resveratrol vs. HRT and to all the other studies that are being done on numerous other areas right now.

I know of one that not only follows these guidelines precisely, but has the advantage of utilizing ongoing anti-aging research that discovered that polyphenols from the Muscadine grape increased the inhibition of the AGE protein by ten times more than just Resveratrol alone.  So far, I haven’t found any other resveratrol product that fully addresses all four causes, and as for me, I don’t want to have to choose  which area of cellular aging do I really want to skip over and let just go ahead and age earlier than it should.

Some people may find it more enjoyable to get their Resveratrol from red wine. Just think how much fun that would be, since it only requires drinking 100 glasses a day to get the recommended amount!

Forget about the fact that for some women, just a moderate amount of alcohol can cause breast cancer!

Hmmm….Maybe it would be safer and ultimately more efficacious to get your Resveratrol in a great tasting fresh extract.

Wanna talk?   Questions?  I’d love to connect with you. Just click here!