The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves all estrogen therapy medications. Some hormones are sold as “bio-identical hormones” and are not FDA-approved. They are available without a prescription, and they are not held to the same safety standards as prescription medications.

Promensil will be the first medically-tested menopausal treatment in Britain which is available from chemists without a prescription. Existing herbal remedies such as Evening Primrose Oil have not been clinically proven to help cure menopausal symptoms.

Food

• Soybeans and the products produced from them, such as tofu and miso, are a great source of phytoestrogens . Phytoestrogens mimic estrogen in the body by binding to estrogen receptors.
• Flax seeds also contain high amounts of phytoestrogens.
• Sesame seeds are another dietary source of phytoestrogens.

The risks of this type of estrogen therapy have been well-publicized. On its own, estrogen causes a slight increase in the risk of strokes, blood clots, and other problems. When combined with the hormone progestin, the risks of breast cancer and heart attack may rise as well.

Estrogen in high doses can cause weight gain due to increased appetite and fluid retention. So, 50 years ago they may indeed have caused weight gain in some women. Current birth control pills have much lower amounts of hormones. So weight gain is not likely to be a problem.

Estrogen is related to hair growth — and hair loss. During pregnancy, for example, a woman’s estrogen levels are higher than normal, which signals more hair follicles to “grow” and fewer to “rest.” While estrogen levels are high, women have full, thick hair.

Leptin is a hormone released from fat cells in adipose tissue. Leptin signals to the brain, in particular to an area called the hypothalamus. Leptin does not affect food intake from meal to meal but, instead, acts to alter food intake and control energy expenditure over the long term.

The best way to know if you are leptin resistant is to look in the mirror. If you have a lot of body fat, especially in the belly area, then you are almost certainly leptin resistant.

Leptin Resistance Symptoms and Diagnosis

1. Being overweight.
2. High leptin levels (Hyperleptinemia)
3. High levels of inflammation.
4. Finding yourself unable to lose weight, no matter how hard you try.
5. Experiencing uncontrollable food cravings, especially high-fat, high-sugar or “junk” foods.