Ever since I’ve seen this book on Amazon, I’ve been craving to read it, and I finally have. Boy, am I glad I did. If you know anything about me and my company, you know how individualization is such a central part of our methodology, and that’s why I like this book so much.

Rather than saying “all menopausal women are deficient in estrogen”, Dr. Joseph Collins instead says that there’s more going on during menopause. He focuses on the three major sex hormones: testosterone, progesterone and estrogen. Although he does not neglect to explain the role of the others, like cortisol, insulin, DHEA and more. Dr. Collins says you must specifically test your hormone levels, because if you don’t know, you could be doing more damage than good.

Here are other things I really like about this book:

- It identifies the 12 different menopause types
- It gives several treatment options for different imbalances. The options range from simple nutrients, to herbs, to glandulars, to homeopathics, and of course, to straight up hormones.
- Dr. Collins encourages testing hormones, and not assuming that every menopausal woman who walks around is deficient in estrogen.
- It has lists of specific substances that are antiandrogenic (lower testosterone), antiestrogenic (lower estrogen) and anti-progestogenic.

Here are some of the most interesting tidbits from this book:

- Many women don't have an estrogen deficiency when it comes to menopause. They can also have a testosterone deficiency and a progesterone deficiency. They could also have an excess of testosterone as well as estrogen.
- Before menopause, most estrogen is produced by the ovaries. During and after menopause, estrogen is made by the adrenal glands (they are almond-sized glands that sit on top of the kidney). So if you take good care of your adrenal glands before menopause, you'll have a much more comfortable menopause.
- Yes, women do have testosterone, and it's essential to their health. It's responsible for things like keeping your bones strong, and repair from daily activities, among other things.
- For women with too much testosterone, hops can help lower testosterone. Which has me thinking: hops are found in beer. So do men who drink beer also lower their testosterone? You bet.
- Many cholesterol-lowering medications also lower testosterone. Makes sense, because testosterone is made from cholesterol (so are estrogen, progesterone and cortisol)
- The ideal menopause diet includes foods that are high in plant estrogens. These include things like beans, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels Sprouts, flaxseeds, etc.
- Most of the time, "natural" hormones come from a horse. After all, it wasn't synthesized in the laboratory.
Does anyone else see any problems with this?

The practical applications for our clients of this are immense, and now, we have another tool in our toolbox to help our menopausal clients. If you need help, fill out this form, and let’s talk.