Lara Briden's Blog, page 5

The Power of Eating Enough

“Eat to feel good” is my advice to patients. Why? Because eating should be relaxing and create satiety, which is the feeling of being sated or full. Achieving satiety with solid meals such as meat and potatoes is 1) a good way to achieve optimal nutrition, and 2) the single best way to avoid overeating ... Read more

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How to Improve Premenstrual Mood Symptoms (A Summary of Natural Treatments)

There’s a lot more to treating premenstrual mood symptoms than just calcium, the pill, and SSRI antidepressants. Alternative strategies for premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) include iodine, magnesium, vitamin B6, vitex (chaste tree), progesterone, and a natural antihistamine approach. Different strategies work for different women because there are several variables including mast ... Read more

Lara Briden's article How to Improve Premenstrual Mood Symptoms (A...

Do Women Need Periods?

With the news that women don’t need pill-bleeds came the headlines “women don’t need periods,” which is completely wrong. It’s true that women don’t need pill-bleeds because pill-bleeds are not periods. But women do need natural menstrual cycles, and here’s why. Natural ovulatory menstrual cycles are how women make estrogen and progesterone which are beneficial ... Read more

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Cyclic Progesterone Therapy for PCOS

Progesterone has beneficial anti-androgen properties and can help to promote ovulation. That makes progesterone potentially therapeutic for polycystic ovary syndrome, as described in my recent paper The central role of ovulatory disturbances in the etiology of androgenic polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)—Evidence for treatment with cyclic progesterone. Progesterone is real progesterone, also called body-identical progesterone or ... Read more

Lara Briden's article Cyclic Progesterone Therapy for ...

Ovulation Is the Main Event of the Menstrual Cycle

A menstrual cycle is, by definition, an ovulatory cycle in which ovulation is the main event and progesterone is made. Any other kind of bleed is either an anovulatory bleed or a pill-bleed — neither of which are real menstrual cycles. Ovulatory cycles are the only way to make progesterone which is important for general ... Read more

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How Wheat or Gluten Affects Periods

Wheat is fine for most women but gluten sensitivity can play a role in endometriosis, adenomyosis, migraines, thyroid disease, and some cases of amenorrhea. The first step is to understand the difference between FODMAPs and gluten. FODMAPs are fermentable carbohydrates found in wheat and many other foods; they can cause digestive bloating. Gluten is a ... Read more

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Roadmap to Progesterone

Progesterone is beneficial because it lightens periods. It also reduces inflammation, regulates immune function, and supports healthy thyroid, brain, bones, and breasts. Do you make enough progesterone? Are you sure? The only way to make progesterone is with ovulation and a healthy luteal phase. What is a luteal phase? A luteal phase is the approximately ... Read more

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Natural Treatment of Menstrual Migraines

According to a recent Lancet study, menstrual migraines are more severe than migraines at other times of the cycle. Menstrual migraines are caused by estrogen withdrawal at the end of the cycle and an estrogen-dependent release of prostaglandins and histamine. Progesterone may play a role in preventing migraines. How hormones affect migraines  Menstrual migraines are ... Read more

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Is It Normal Period Pain or Endometriosis?

Period pain or dysmenorrhea should be mild and respond to simple treatments like ibuprofen, zinc, or a dairy-free diet. If period pain does not respond to simple treatments, it could be endometriosis or adenomyosis. Debilitating period pain is never normal. Normal period pain versus endometriosis Normal period pain (primary dysmenorrhea) is mild cramping in your ... Read more

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The Role of Histamine and Mast Cells in PMS and PMDD

Mast cell activation and histamine can play a role in premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).  That’s why mid-cycle, premenstrual, and perimenopausal mood symptoms can be relieved by antihistamines and natural histamine-reducing strategies such as vitamin B6, SAM-e, and a dairy-free diet.  What are mast cells and histamine? Mast cells are a type ... Read more

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