by Louis Cruz

Treating ovarian cysts and PCOS with natural remedies and life-style requires that the cause be ascertained in each case. Many dietary and life-style habits can be involved in the cause of these conditions. One organ that is often over-looked is the thryoid gland.

The ovaries are located in the abdomen or pelvic region and the thyroid in the throat area. Because they are located at distant areas in the body many will not even think that the thyroid is related with PCOS or ovarian cysts. But there is an intimate connection.

The thyroid gland functions are important in controlling our metabolism. Metabolism may be simply defined as the rapidity in which the body processes energy and chemical reactions. It also controls the speed of our organ functions. If the thyroid is slow, all bodily functions are slow and the person tends to gain weight. If too fast, then the opposite is true. An underactive thyroid can produce up to 75 different symptoms.

The most classical symptoms are:

1. Weight gain

2. Hair loss

3. Brittle nails

4. Depression

5. Dry skin

6. Muscle aches

7. Tiredness or easily fatigued

8. Constipation

9. Feeling cold when everyone is hot and the weather is hot

Young ladies with hypothyroidism tend to have multiple cysts in the ovaries. When young girls develop ovarian cysts before puberty,the thyroid should be checked[1].

A low thyroid causes an excessive production of male hormone (testosterone). This explains the facial hair in women

with PCOS and irregular menses. Experimental rats with an underactive thyroid tend also to develop cysts in the ovaries. Keeping the thyroid healthy is crucial in correcting these female problems. Why do women develop thyroid problems? This requires a complex answer that would not fit in this article, but let’s shed some light on this.

Factors that may cause or predispose to thyroid problems in women are:

1. Stress

2. Too much soy products

3. Too much vegetables of the cabbage family such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussel sprouts.

4. Problems with the immune system. This happens in Hashimotos thyroiditis.

5. Iodine deficiency

I know that the common view is that we get enough iodine from iodized salt, but many health professionals are doubting this and are starting to prove that more iodine is needed to keep the thryoid healthy and working in its optimum level.

You can purchase powdered kelp at any health foods store and sprinkle on food and salad. This will provide the thyroid with more iodine plus a whole gamma of nutrients and minerals that are important for the body.

Keeping your immune system healthy by getting enough sleep, exercise, and avoiding stress as much as possible are also factors that will maintain the thyroid and keep a healthy metabolism working at its finest.

So if you feel any of the symptoms above and suffer from PCOS or Ovarian cysts, consult with your doctor for a thorough check-up of your thyroid gland.

1. Chen, C.H., et al., Congenital hypothyroidism with multiple ovarian cysts. Eur J Pediatr, 1999. 158(10): p. 851-2.

by Louis Cruz
Woman are some way are concerned with ovarian cysts during adulthood, adolescence and after menopause. Because these are the times when
these problems are more prevalent. But times and people are changing. Ovarian Cysts in early childhood is becoming more and more common. It is a shock to the medical establishment how a child can develop not only ovarian cysts but also ovarian tumors and cancers.

What is more surprising is that many children are even born with ovarian cysts of the follicular type. You don’t believe me, well might as well check out this study done and published in the Arch Dis Child. 1975 Jan;50(1):45-50. It was found that of 332 stillbirths and recently born babies who died at their 28th day a good amount of them already had ovarian cysts. Cysts larger than 1mm was found in 113 babies. While multiple cysts were found in 48 of the cases and 65 babies had singular ovarian cysts.

This is really a shock. But why? Is this natural or is this due to the life-style and health of the parents? The same study seems to indicate that life-style and other medical factors are greatly involved. This study indicated clearly that the prevalence of ovarian cysts were high in those babies who’s parents suffered from diabetes. Also the Rhesus isoimunization seemed to be implicated in this problem.

What can be done to avoid these problems? First the cause of the problem needs to be addressed. Diet and life-style habits that in some way affect negatively the weight and hormonal balance in the human body must be avoided. Some of these habits are:

1. Consuming excess animal products
2. Consuming too much fat in the diet
3. Too much weight
4. Lack of fiber in the diet
5. Not consuming fresh raw fruits and vegetables
6. Preventing and controlling diabetes
7. Eating meats that are high in hormones and chemicals

These are just some of the life-style habits recommended for future parents who want to have healthy children without ovarian cysts. Because it is the habits of the parents that lead to these problems. Our children will have to suffer the results of our violations of the laws of nature that govern our body.

by Louis Cruz

There is an epidemic of obesity in America. In conjunction with obesity, there
is a rise in ovarian cysts and ovarian cancer also. Woman who develop ovarian cysts after menopause are usually at higher risk for ovarian cancer. This is due to higher amounts of “bad estrogen” known as estradiol. Even though the general levels of all estrogens are low, the balance of “good”(estriol) and bad estrogens is usually not optimal.

Is their a connection between being overweight and suffering with ovarian cysts? In what way can obesity influence the body to produce ovarian cysts or agravate them? The answer to the previous question is a definite Yes.

Many years ago science thought of fat as just a layer of grease building up under our skin. In other words fat was fat and other than making us look ugly, it doesn’t really have any other effect on the body.

Today science has discovered that adipose tissue (fat) can be classified as an organ or a functional tissue. In simpler words, fat has many functions and produces different chemicals that affect the body in many ways.

An example would be diabetics who many times develop a fatty liver. Fatty liver will ocasionally lead to cirrhosis of the liver and sometimes liver cancer. Why? Because fatty tissue produces chemicals that cause inflammation. Constant inflammation dammages tissue (cirrhosis) and may lead to cancer.

Fatty tissue is also known to produce various hormones especially estrogen. So this is connection. Excess fatty tissue will produce hormones and stimulate ovarian cysts, fibroids, fibrocystic disease, endometriosis etc.

Another important correlation between obesity and ovarian cysts is that eating and life-style habits in persons who have too much weight are usually predisposing factors for ovarian cysts.

So by avoiding life-style habits that promote to much weight, ovarian cysts can also be prevented.Habits such as:
1. Lack of exercise
2. Too much calories in the diet
3. Low fiber diet
4. To little consumption of fruits and vegetables especially of the cabbage family

Lack of exercise and low fiber in the diet increases estrogen levels. Many fruits and vegetables interfere or block excess estrogen from stimulating the ovaries. Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussel sprouts are the main ones. They are also high in fiber and nutrients.

Adding 2 tbs of ground flaxseeds to the diet can also help in regulating the bodies hormonal system.

Conclusion: By maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding the life-style habits that predispose to weight gain, can be an important step in the prevention and cure of ovarian cysts.

by Louis Cruz

There is a great confusion about one of the main cause of ovarian cysts. Excess estrogen! Or what we know in alternative medicine as estrogen dominance. Prior to ovulation, there is supposed to be a surge of progesterone to help the egg to be released and at the same time prevent the formation of permanent cysts. When this doesn’t happen, these cysts will grow with every menstrual cycle. The problem becomes chronic. We see health practitioners recommending hormones to shrink these cysts with no attempt in trying to get the body to regulate it’s own hormonal problem. Estrogen is the culprit. Progesterone is the good guy (or should I say gal). There are many factors that cause estrogen dominance:

1. Obesity - Fat is a producer of estrogen
2. Diet high in fat - the more fat you eat the more fat you have and as a result more estrogen
3. Lack of Fiber
4. Dysfunctional liver
5. Not eating enough cruciferous vegetables such as Broccoli and Cabbage
6. Lack of exercise - woman who are athletic tend to not get their menses

Since the discovery of Soy and it’s benefits many have started to use Soy products liberally. We also have some form of Soy almost in everything we buy in the supermarket ( soy oil, soy isolates, soy lecitthin to mention a few).  Studies have shown clearly that cultures that use soy as part of their diets have less:

1. Heart attacks
2. Lower cholesterol levels
3. Lower incidence for female cancers such as breast cancer
4. Stronger bones
5. Lower rates of prostate cancer

These studies found out that the main reason for this was a substance called genistein which had phytoestrogenic properties. In other words, Soy has a form of estrogen that binds to receptors and blocks the bad estrogen of the body preventing these diseases. So after this discovery Americans started using Soy products exessively.  Soy milk for the cereal, soy yogurt, soy patties, soy burgers, soy everthing! The result of this was the opposite of what was expected and opposite to the results that the other cultures were obtaining.

What is the Reason

Most asian and oriental cultures that use Tofu or Soy products use it in small amounts. It is more like a once or twice a week condiment or used in small amounts of food.  Used this way soy is beneficial.

Soy and Ovarian cysts

So the question is: Can a woman who has Ovarian cysts use soy products. If Soy has a substance that acts like estrogen wouldn’t soy cause more estrogen dominance? My answer is if you use large amounts of soy products on a daily basis you find yourself in trouble and causing those ovarian cysts to grow. The phytoestrogen in soy will stimulate too much these cysts and cause trouble.

But if you use Soy products in small amounts no more than 2-3 times per week, then the answer is soy will actually help in preventing this problem and may even help improve.  Small amounts of Soy protect while large amounts of Soy cause trouble. This is why we see these opposite reports of the bad and the good of soy. Some defend it and some hate it.

Conclusion: Use small amounts of soy 2-3 times a weeks and you will not have any trouble or make your ovarian cysts get worse. Tamoxifen is a medication that is given to young woman who have breast or female cancers that are due to estrogen . Tamoxifen is a weak estrogen that prevents the estrogen of the body to stimulate cancer growth.  The same principle applies to Soy. Use small amount and it will protect you. Large amounts will hurt you!!

Health Liver

By Louis Cruz