Take On “Female Trouble” With Nature’s Help

Let’s face it: There’s nothing fun about periods. And as a woman, you’ve probably come to accept the occasional cramps, the bloating, the cravings and the mood swings that monthly menstruation brings. Fortunately, this only lasts for a few days out of the month.

But it’s a different story if you happen to be among the roughly ten percent of women who suffer with ovarian or uterine concerns.^1-2 In fact, these ongoing common gynecological issues can take the term “female trouble” to a whole new level.

What’s worse, these concerns are hard to pin down and poorly understood—leaving you with limited conventional options when it comes to effective support.³ But that doesn’t mean you have to “suck it up” and suffer. Luckily, there are natural solutions that can give your reproductive system the beneficial support it needs. Research shows that select nutrients and botanicals can support your body’s hormonal balance, while safely addressing blood sugar metabolism, insulin sensitivity, weight control and more.

The phytonutrient diindolylmethane (or DIM, the featured ingredient in VRP’s BioDIM®) promotes healthy hormonal balance. DIM is a potent antioxidant prominent in cruciferous vegetables, and studies have shown that it can facilitate beneficial estrogen metabolism and suppress androgen activity.⁴

For women requiring ovarian and reproductive health support, addressing the maintenance of healthy insulin sensitivity with blood-sugar-balancing nutrients is also vital. For example, research indicates that a chemical in bitter melon extract has structural similarities to insulin, and that supplementation may help you to maintain healthy blood glucose levels, support your insulin-producing beta cells, enhance insulin sensitivity and soothe the oxidative stress that accompanies blood sugar imbalances.^5-7

Select antioxidants—including vitamin C, vitamin E and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC)—will also help to mop up free radicals and ease oxidative stress, with research showing that NAC enhances insulin sensitivity in women, as well.^8-10 Additional botanicals such as Goat’s Rue can boost your body’s carbohydrate metabolism—while supplements of cinnamon bark extract, vanadium and quercetin have all been shown to support healthy blood sugar levels and normal insulin activity.^11-14 You can find all of these critical glucose-balancing ingredients combined in a single synergistic formula called GluControl™, also available from Vitamin Research Products®.

And don’t forget Gentle Changes®—always a woman’s best friend!

References:

1. Endometriosis. Available at: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/271899-overview. Accessed on: 9-8-10.

2. Knochenhauer ES, Key TJ, Kahsar-Miller M, et al. Prevalence of the polycystic ovary syndrome in unselected black and white women of the southeastern United States: a prospective study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1998 Sep;83(9):3078-82.

3. McLeod BS, Retzloff MG. Epidemiology of endometriosis: an assessment of risk factors. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Jun;53(2):389-96.

4. Bovee TF, Schoonen WG, Hamers AR, et al. Screening of synthetic and plant-derived compounds for (anti)estrogenic and (anti)androgenic activities. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2008 Feb;390(4):1111-9.

5. Basch E, Gabardi S, Ulbricht C. Bitter melon (Momordica charantia): a review of efficacy and safety. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2003 Feb 15;60(4):356-9.

6. Shih CC, Lin CH, Lin WL, Wu JB. Momordica charantia extract on insulin resistance and the skeletal muscle GLUT4 protein in fructose-fed rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 May 4;123(1):82-90.

7. Yin J, Zhang H, Ye J. Traditional Chinese medicine in treatment of metabolic syndrome. Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets. 2008 Jun;8(2):99-111.

8. Neri S, Signorelli SS, Torrisi B, Pulvirenti D, Mauceri B, Abate G, Ignaccolo L, Bordonaro F, Cilio D, Calvagno S, Leotta C. Effects of antioxidant supplementation on postprandial oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction: a single-blind, 15-day clinical trial in patients with untreated type 2 diabetes, subjects with impaired glucose tolerance, and healthy controls. Clin Ther. 2005 Nov;27(11):1764-73.

9. Meletis CD. Insulin Resistance: The Surprising Cause Behind This Highly Destructive Process. Vitamin Research News. Available online at www.vrp.com.

10. Fulghesu AM, Ciampelli M, Muzj G, Belosi C, Selvaggi L, Ayala GF, Lanzone A. N-acetyl-cysteine treatment improves insulin sensitivity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril. 2002 Jun;77(6):1128-35.

11. Muller H, Reinwein H. Pharmacology of galegin. Arch Expll Path Pharm. 1927;125:212-28.

12. Solomon TP, Blannin AK. Changes in glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity following 2 weeks of daily cinnamon ingestion in healthy humans. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2009 Jan 22. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2009 Jan 22. Published Online Ahead of Print.

13. Cusi K, Cukier S, DeFronzo RA, Torres M, Puchulu FM, Redondo JC. Vanadyl sulfate improves hepatic and muscle insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001 Mar;86(3):1410-7.

14. Rivera L, Morón R, Sánchez M, Zarzuelo A, Galisteo M. Quercetin Ameliorates Metabolic Syndrome and Improves the Inflammatory Status in Obese Zucker Rats. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2008 Jun 12. Published Online Ahead of Print.