All Articles and Research

Here's a list of all the articles about natural hormones, nutrition and commonsense solutions for optimal health found on this website, including issues of the Virginia Hopkins Health Watch, the Health Watch Q & A, articles from the John R. Lee, M.D. Medical Letter and many articles by guest authors such as Dr. David Zava.

If you prefer to look for articles by category, check our Health Articles Subject Index.

To find articles and products, you can also use the Site Search engine located in the upper left-hand corner of each page.

To find products, try Shop for Optimal Health and Hormone Balance, or try the Site Search Engine located in the upper left-hand corner of each page.

Healthy Book Reviews 2010
Highly opinionated reviews of health books by Virginia Hopkins.

Book and Movie Reviews - Health
A list of highly opinionated reviews of health books and movies by Virginia Hopkins.

Nutrition & Supplements
A wide range of articles by Virginia Hopkins, John R. Lee, M.D. and other guest authors on the subject of nutrition and supplements.

5 Natural Headache Remedies
You'll be surprised at how simple these 5 natural remedies for headaches can be.

5 Ways to Lower C-Reactive Protein without Statin Drugs
Five nutritionally oriented ways to lower C-Reactive Protein without using statin drugs.

5 Ways to Recover from Thanksgiving

A Dr. Phil Interview about PMS
Natural progesterone, natural hormones and PMS get the spotlight when Dr. Phil interviews Holly Anderson about progesterone and PMS. Here are some excerpts with commentary.

A Story about Depo-Provera
A fit and healthy young woman drops into a nightmare of pain and disability after getting Depo-Provera shots.

ABC TV Airing Docu Series "Hopkins"
ABC TV is airing a new docu series called Hopkins.

Health and Hormone Balance for Women
Here's an extensive list of articles by best-selling authors Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins about women's health and natural hormone balance, with a special focus on natural progesterone.

Avoid Bisphenol-A During Pregnancy
Bisphenol-A is a ubiquitous plastic that interferes with sex differentiation and damages chromosomes.

Ban Phthalates from Your Life
This common hormone-altering chemical is especially damaging to the reproductive systems of boys and should be avoided by everyone.

How to Take Your Basal Body Temperature
Your body temperature is a reflection of your metabolic rate, which is largely determined by hormones secreted by the thyroid gland. The function of the thyroid gland can be determined by measuring your basal body temperature.

Bioidentical (Natural) Hormones and Breast Cancer
Bioidentical (natural) hormones, used wisely, do not increase the risk of breast cancer in women, and there is plenty of evidence-based science to back this up.

Bioidentical (Natural) Hormones and Heart Disease
Bioidentical (natural) hormones, used wisely, may lower heart disease risk in women.

Bioidentical Estrogen - How Much to Take and When
A little bit of estrogen goes a long way.

Bioidentical Hormone FAQs
Frequently asked questions about bioidentical hormones, including, what is a bioidentical hormone, and what is a synthetic hormone?

Blood Spot Test Advantages
Blood spot testing is faster, easier, accurate, and can be done in the privacy of your own home, at your convenience.

Brain Research and Progesterone
Emerging brain research shows that progesterone affects every neural cell in the brain and is made in some parts of the brain.

Breast Cancer News and Reviews
Here's where to find news about breast cancer research, and reviews of breast cancer studies by Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins

Breast Cancer Research for Your Doubting Doctor
Beautifully done research from Italy shows how progesterone protects against breast cancer and looks at the underlying causes of breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Risk Factors - New Findings
Long-term use of antibiotics is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, while long-term use of NSAIDs (ibuprofen, aspirin) is associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer.

Buyer Be Aware - Benadryl is a Serious Drug
Benadryl or diphenhydramine was the precursor to Prozac. It can make you drowsy, scramble your brain, and impair your driving more than alcohol.

Buyer Be Aware Reports
Timely articles about widely used drugs and other products that may be more dangerous than you think and may have side effects you haven't been told about.

Buyer be Aware Report on Chantix
According to the FDA, people who use the drug Chantix to quit smoking have an increased risk of agitation, depression and suicide. The Federal Aviation Administration has banned the use of Chantix by pilots.

Buyer be Aware Report on Mirena
Become fully informed about this method of contraception before you consider using it.

C-Reactive Protein (CRP) - More Info
More information about C-reactive protein as a valuable marker for heart disease, diabetes and metabolic syndrome, what causes high CRP levels, what lowers CRP levels, and research on CRP.

Cell Phones and Cancer
A study from Israel shows that cellphone use may increase the risk of tumors of the salivary gland.

Can Cell Phones Pop Popcorn?
A viral video internet campaign by Bluetooth maker Cardo shows cellphones popping popcorn. Is it for real? Is my Bluetooth safe?

FDA-Approved Medicines Prove to be Risky for Children
Even over-the-counter drugs for children can be dangerous, and free drug samples from doctors may be untested and dangerous.

Cell Phones and Electromagnetic Radiation
Your cell phone emits electromagnetic radiation that enters the brain when you hold it to your ear. The debate is whether it's harmful. Find out where the experts fall on this issue.

Hormone Balance Made Simple Chap 1
Read Chapter 1 of Dr. John Lee's Hormone Balance Made Simple by John R. Lee, M.D. and Virginia Hopkins.

Children and Vitamin D
Infants and toddlers are at risk of vitamin D deficiency if mothers are vitamin D deficient. Nursing mothers in particular need to pay attention to their vitamin D levels.

Cortisol and the Stress Connection
In this article originally published in the John R. Lee, M.D. Medical Letter, Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins explain how the adrenal hormone cortisol work in the body, and how too much or too little can affect your health.

Cortisol Levels, Thyroid Function and Aging
A fascinating interview from the John R. Lee, M.D. Medical Letter with Dr. David Zava, about how cortisol levels affect thyroid function and aging.

Deet-Free Natural Bug Repellants
Deet-free natural bug repellants may not last as long but you don't have to worry about their toxicity.

DHEA Supplements and Hormone Levels
Taking a DHEA supplement has a direct effect on other hormone levels. This small but important study demonstrates how DHEA affects other hormones.

Dietary Guidelines for Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a multi-faceted problem and not just a calcium deficiency disease. Dr. john Lee explains how a bone building diet and overall good nutrition can make all the difference in keeping bones strong.

Does MRSA Bacteria in Pigs Endanger our Pork Chops?
A strain of the deadly MRSA bacteria has found its way into pigs. Does that mean pork chops put us at risk for infection?

Does the Flu Shot Work?
Reports of flu shot effectiveness are vastly over-rated.

Articles by Dr. John Lee
Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins co-wrote hundreds of articles, most of them originally published in the John R. Lee, M.D. Medical Letter. Those available on this website are listed here.

Dr. John Lee Comments on a Progesterone Study
Dr. John Lee comments on Dr. Helene Leonetti's progesterone research.

Dr. John Lee's 3 Rules for BHRT
A Dr. John Lee classic - clear, commonsense guidelines for when and how to use bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), also called natural hormone replacement therapy (NHRT).

Dr. Julian Whitaker on Statins and Memory Loss
Dr. Julian Whitaker, of Health and Healing and the Whitaker Wellness Institute, explains why statin drugs that lower cholesterol are dangerous and overprescribed.

Dr. Phil and Anne Louise Gittleman on Natural Hormones
Natural hormones and progesterone cream make national news when Dr. Phil's wife Robin reads Ann Louise Gittelman's book about hormone imbalances and how to treat them with bioidentical hormones.

Drug Muggers by 24 Hour Pharmacist Suzy Cohen
How drugs can deplete nutrients by pharmacist Suzy Cohen, author of the 24-Hour Pharmacist.

Drugs that Cause Nutritional Deficiencies
Many common prescription and over-the-counter drugs can cause nutrient deficiencies.

Electromagnetic Field Safety & Awareness
How to manage the electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in your home, office and on your cell phone.

Electromagnetic Fields and Pregnancy
Research shows that women with greatest exposure to electromagnetic fields have a higher risk of miscarriage.

Hormone Research: Endometriosis and Progesterone
In this study, monkeys with endometriosis got relief from continuous dose progesterone. This research helps confirm Dr. Lee's endometriosis protocol that recommends large doses of progesterone.

Environmental Illness
A fascinating and informative interview from the John R. Lee, M.D. Medical Letter with William J. Rea, M.D., a pioneer and the leading researcher and clinician in the field of environmental medicine and chemical sensitivity, which is the treatment of illness caused by food and environmental factors as wide-ranging as such as pesticides, air and water pollution, solvents and formaldehyde, gas stoves, fragrances, and electromagnetic fields.

Estriol - the Safe Estrogen Hormone
Estriol is a safe estrogen hormone that has been used for decades in Europe to treat hot flashes and vaginal dryness.

Estriol: Congress Agrees We Have a Right to Use It
In response to the outpouring of protest from thousands of women across America whose right to use estriol has been taken away, members of the House of Representatives stepped up and introduced a bipartisan Sense of the Congress resolution.

Estrogen Advice from Dr. John Lee
Dr. John Lee gives straight answers to what women want to know about estrogen, including what kind of estrogen to take and how much.

Estrogen Pill vs. Estrogen Cream or Patch - Which Works Best?
Dr. Jane Murray explains why the estrogen patch or estrogen cream is better for a woman's body than an estrogen pill.

Progesterone Cream FAQs
Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins answer frequently asked questions about natural progesterone cream include: what is natural progesterone; how to use natural progesterone cream; what dosage to use; real progesterone vs. progestins; how safe is progesterone, and when to use progesterone cream.

Fibroids and Natural Progesterone
Insights from Dr. John Lee about two of the most common problems women have after 30, fibroids and uterine enlargement and how this relates to progesterone and estrogen dominance.

Fibroid Q&A with Dr. John Lee
Dr. John Lee answers a question about fibroids from a woman nearing menopause.

Fluoridation Update
For more than fifty years we have been assured that the public policy of mass medicating citizens with fluoride has been fully reviewed and all questions of safety and effectiveness resolved. Political activist Jeff Green examines whether this is really true.

Gallbladder Disease and Hormones
Women are twice as likely as men to develop gallstones, probably largely due to unidentified estrogen dominance and the excessive estrogen used in hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

How to Get Off HRT
Questions and Answers from Dr. Lee and Virginia Hopkins about how to get off HRT and onto natural hormones, also known as bioidentical hormone therapy (BHRT). How to have balanced hormones, and relief from menopausal symptoms, without using conventional HRT.

Health Risks Can Be Skin Deep
If hormones, nicotine and other medicines can move quickly and efficiently into the blood, what else are you absorbing through your skin? The potential for absorbing harmful substances through the skin is enormous.

Heart Disease, C-Reactive Protein and Statins
The JUPITER study provides valuable information about c-reactive protein (CRP) and heart disease but is not necessarily evidence that statins are the best way to lower CRP levels.

Heartburn Drugs Can Cause Fractures
The acid-blocking heartburn drugs such as Prilosec and Nexium can cause bone loss leading to fractures and osteoporosis.

Hiatal Hernia Relief Maneuver
A hiatal hernia can cause a long list of symptoms, but a simple maneuver can bring relief for many.

Hormone Balance and Nutrition
A few tips from Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins about how nutrition can affect your hormone balance.

Introduction to Hormone Balance Made Simple
Virginia Hopkins' introduction to Hormone Balance Made Simple, which she co-authored with Dr. John Lee, about natural progesterone and how to get your hormones balanced.

How Can a Woman Lower Testosterone?
Women can lower their testosterone levels naturally with the right dietary choices.

Depression and Hormones
An interview with Robert Gottesman, M.D. from the John R. Lee, M.D. Medical Letter about how hormone imbalance can cause depression.

How the EZ Dectect Test Works
More information about the EZ Detect Home Test Kit including how to use it and how it works to detect hidden blood in the stool, which can be a symptom of colon cancer.

Find a Doctor Who Uses Bioidentical Hormones
How to find a doctor who uses bioidentical hormones, and how to work with your current doctor.

How to Find the Cause of a Headache
Dr. John Lee discusses the many possible causes of headache and how to treat a headache based on the cause.

How to Prevent Osteoporosis
Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins give women helpful information on how to prevent osteoporosis by giving information on what to avoid as well as lifestyle tips.

How to Interpret Your Saliva Hormone Test
Dr. John Lee explains how to read a saliva hormone test.

How to Report Drug Side Effects to the FDA
Reporting drug side effects to the FDA should be considered a public service.

How to Sleep Better
Many menopausal women have trouble sleeping, also called insomnia, but this article on how to sleep better by Dr. John Lee will help everyone get a better night's sleep.

Note to FDA: Hands Off my Natural Hormones!
In the last issue of the Health Watch I wrote about the drug company Wyeth using the FDA to attack pharmacies that use natural hormones. I promised I’d let you know if any group called for a specific petition...

How to Treat Fibroids Naturally
An interview with Carolyn DeMarco, M.D. on natural treatment for fibroids and heavy bleeding.

HRT and Osteoporosis
Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins explain why progesterone is as least as important as estrogen when it comes to building and maintaining bone density in women around the time of menopause.

HRT, Breast Cancer and the Women's Health Initiative
An article by Dr. John Lee about why the risks of conventional HRT outweigh the benefits, and how major research, including the Women's Health Inititive (WHI) and the Million Women Study have finally made that clear.

Hysterectomy and Bioidentical Hormones
An explanation of why women with hysterectomies are so often told by their doctors that they don't need progesterone because they don't have a uterus. It's the difference between biodentical and synthetic.

Infertility: Getting Pregnant and Staying Pregnant
Dr. John Lee shares stories from his practice about helping women get pregnant and explains what causes infertility, how fertility works and how to prevent a miscarriage.

Insomnia and Hormones
Some types of hormone imbalance can contribute to sleepless nights. Find out what might be causing your tossing and turning.

Intro: What Your Dr May Not Tell You About Breast Cancer
Here's where you can read the introduction to Dr. John Lee's informative and useful book, "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about Breast Cancer."

Introduction to Dr. John Lee
Dr. John Lee was a pioneer in the field of natural hormones, also called bioidentical hormones. Here's where to find out more about Dr. John Lee and the history of his revolutionary discoveries about natural hormones, and in particular, progesterone cream.

Is DCA a Cure for Cancer?
News about a chemical called dichloroacetic acid (DCA), an inexpensive drug that may cure cancer without side effects, is making the rounds of cyber space at warp speed.

John R. Lee, M.D. Medical Letter
Free access to entire issues of the Dr. John Lee's newsletter, the John R. Lee, M.D. Medical Letter, and links to articles by Dr. John Lee originally posted in the newsletter.

John R. Lee, M.D. Medical Letter, August 98
In this issue of the Medical Letter, Dr. Lee talks in-depth about women and heart disease, and how heart disease is affected by hormones and HRT. Dr. Kent Hermsmeyer is interviewed about the effects of progesterone and progestins on the heart.

Lead Exposure, Testing and Detox
There are literally dozens of areas and items in the home and office that can be sources of lead exposure. Children are especially susceptible to lead poisoning, but it's a concern for adults as well. This page is where you'll find resources for sources of lead exposure, testing for lead, how to test for lead levels in the body, and how to get rid of lead if your levels measure high.

List of Progesterone Creams
A list of progesterone creams that contain real, honest-to-goodness USP progesterone in Dr. Lee's recommended dosage, that you can purchase at your local health food store or on the web.

Made in China: Yet Another Reason to Avoid Prescription Drugs
When drug production is outsourced, we should have even less confidence in the safety and efficacy of prescription drugs.

Make Your Calories Work for You
Your body does very different things with fats, sugars, other carbohydrates and proteins.

Melatonin Research with Comments
New research on melatonin comes out every week. Here's where to find the latest science on this important hormone, with commentary by Virginia Hopkins.

Melatonin Supplement Recommendations
Recommendations for how and when to take melatonin supplements, and in what form, along with tips for going to sleep more easily and waking up brighter.

Melatonin: Hormone of Sleep and More
Melatonin is a hormone that helps us get to sleep, but it also helps balance hormones, boost the immune system, balance brain chemicals and prevent cancer.

Men's Hormones by Dr. John Lee
Testosterone deficiency in middle-aged men is often called male menopause or andropause. Dr. John Lee discusses what hormone imbalance means in males and how to supplement with testosterone.

Men - Take the Hormone Balance Test
Men have hormone imbalances that can cause fatigue, weight gain, foggy thinking, irritability, prostate problems and loss of sex drive. Find out if you or a man in your life might be suffering from andropause.

Why Test These Hormones?
What it means when testosterone, DHEA and growth hormone are low or high in men. How testing hormones can help achieve male hormone balance. Why each recommended hormone is relevant to hormone balance for men.

Men's Hormone Research
Research about men's hormones.

Menopause Book Chapter 1
Here's where you can read chapter one of Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins' best-selling book, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause.

Metabolic Syndrome - The Disease of the New Millenium
Metabolic syndrome describes an obese person with high cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and insulin, and clogged arteries. In other words, diabetes and/or heart disease waiting to happen.

More About John R. Lee, M.D.
Dr. John Lee was a pioneer in the field of natural hormones, also called bioidentical hormones. Here's where to find out more about Dr. John Lee and the history of his revolutionary discoveries about natural hormones, and in particular, progesterone cream.

More Drugs that Can Cause Osteoporosis
Add acid-blockers for heartburn and SSRIs such as Prozac to the list of drugs that can cause osteoporosis.

More Evidence that Vitamin D Protects Against Breast Cancer
A new study shows that women with low vitamin D levels are at a higher risk for breast cancer, but women on HRT aren't as well protected.

More Info about Testing Your Risk of Heart Disease and Diabetes
More info about the CardioMetabolic Profile I, a test for 6 important markers of heart disease and diabetes risk.

Natural Allergy Remedies
Natural alternatives to drugstore allergy medicines can be both effective and gentle.

Natural Progesterone - An Introduction
An introduction to natural progesterone.

Natural Progesterone - What Women Say
What women say about how natural progesterone has helped them restore hormone balance and combat estrogen dominance, plus what natural progesterone is and its effects in the body.

Open Letter to Oprah about Bioidentical Hormones
An open letter to Oprah about her show on bioidentical hormones.

Dr. Christiane Northrup Shares Her Wisdom of Menopause with Oprah
Who better to give Oprah menopause advice than Dr. Christiane Northrup, one of the pioneers in the use of natural hormones, and an articulate, thoughtful voice for making the menopausal transition with awareness.

Your Ovaries and PCOS with Dr. Jerilyn Prior
An interview with Jerilyn Prior, M.D., one of the top researchers on the subject of women's hormones, and ovulation and PCOS in particular.

PMS and Hormones
Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins explain why premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is the most common health complaint of premenopausal women. While there are no magic bullets, hormone balance and progesterone in particular can help PMS, and why estrogen dominance is related to PMS.

PMS and the Stress Connection
Stress can be a direct cause of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and it can certainly make it worse. Stress creates high cortisol levels, which creates hormone imbalances. Excerpted from What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about PREmenopause by Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins.

Postpartum Depression, Stress and Nutrition
An article by Dr. Dean Raffelock about how stress and poor nutrition can contribute to postpartum depression.

Premenopause Book Chapter 1
Excerpts from Chapter One of What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About PREmenopause, by John R. Lee, M.D. and Virginia Hopkins, including why you might recognize your hormone imbalance symptoms in this book if you're between the ages of thirty and fifty, and why you can look forward to perimenopause and menopause.

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
No it's not all in your head! Here's where to find articles about PMS by Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins.

Prescription Alternatives - Note from the Author
Virginia Hopkins explains why it's so important to avoid prescription drugs if at all possible, and how to protect yourself from being a victim of prescription drug side effects and drug interactions.

Prescription Drug Side Effects
Many factors can influence how a prescription drug behaves in your body, from your age and gender to what you had for breakfast.

Prescription Drugs that can Cause Headaches
Almost any prescription drug can cause a headache, even those prescribed to treat a headache!

Progesterone and Estrogen Effects
Progesterone and estrogen balance each other in the body. Here is a list of estrogen's effects on the body, and the complementary effects of progesterone. Both hormones have important effects throughout the body.

Progesterone and Osteoporosis
Dr. John Lee explains that osteoporosis diagnosis usually comes around the time of menopause, when hormones are often imbalance, and how both progesterone and estrogen can help maintain healthy bones.

Progesterone Cream and Pregnancy
Which progesterone cream to use when getting and staying pregnant.

Cancer Warning on Progesterone Cream Labels
Does the warning on progesterone cream labels that progesterone may cause cancer really mean anything? Not much, and here's why.

Prostate Cancer (PSA) Testing
PSA tests are the gold standard for detecting prostate cancer, but they are fraught with problems. Dr. Lee discusses the pros and cons of various types of prostate testing, including the PSA test.

Relacore & Cortislim Review
A review of the new generation of weight loss supplements such as Relacore and Cortislim, that are designed to reduce cortisol levels and stabilize blood sugar.

This Test is Free - Resting Heart Rate in Women
A woman's resting heart rate can be a predictor of heart attack.

Mammograms - Should We or Shouldn't We?
Dr. John Lee makes a strong case that routine mammograms don't save lives and may be more harmful than helpful.

Saliva Test FAQs
Here's practical information about the process of ordering your saliva test, what to do when you receive it, how to return it, and how to read the results.

Saliva Test or Blood Spot - What's Best?
How to choose between a saliva hormone level test and a blood spot hormone level test.

Saliva Test Q & As
Questions from women about saliva testing, answers from Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins.

Saliva Tests vs. Blood Tests by Dr. John Lee
Dr. John Lee explains why it's so important to use saliva testing vs. serum blood testing when trying to determine the cause of a hormone imbalance.

Why Scented Products are not Safe
Scented products aka fake fragrances (fakegrances) are made from a chemical brew that is completely unregulated. In fact, their ingredients are a secret. We know most scented products contain the carcinogens benzene and hormone disruptors called phthalates. What else is in there?

Bioidentical Hormone Research and References
An extensive list of bioidentical hormone research and references.

Shift Work and Melatonin
If you're doing shift work, melantonin supplements and sleeping in a dark room can help you get your zzzz's.

Short Articles on Nutrition and Hormones
Short articles from the Hopkins Health Watch on how nutrition affects hormones.

Should a Teenage Girl take DHEA?
My teenage daughter has an irregular menstrual cycle. Would DHEA benefit her? Would it help regulate her cycle?

Soy and Hormone Balance
Is soy really a health food, or does it have too many antinutrients to qualify? And does it really help menopause symptoms? Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins weigh in on whether soy is really the health food it is advertised to be and whether it helps menopause symptoms.

Soy Foods and Menopause
Soy is widely touted as a cure-all for menopausal symptoms, but does it really work, and do you really want to eat that much soy?

Women, Statins and Heart Disease
There is little evidence that the cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins help prevent heart disease or death from heart disease in the majority of women, and disturbing evidence that lowering cholesterol may harm women.

Sunshine = Vitamin D
Getting a little sun every day, without sunblock, is important to vitamin D production.

Suzanne Somers and The Sexy Years
In her book, The Sexy Years, Suzanne Somers has done a wonderful job describing the perils of the hormonal imbalances that menopause can bring, and she has certainly put natural, bioidentical hormones on the map with media appearances, but she has some misconceptions about how to use bioidentical hormones.

Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance
Estrogen dominance is a term coined by Dr. Lee, and this is his famous (and much copied) list of the symptoms and conditions associated with estrogen dominance.

Symptoms of Lead Poisoning
Lead poisoning can cause damage to the liver, kidneys, brain, nerves, bones and blood. Children are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning. Here is a list of lead poisoning symptoms.

Take the Hormone Balance Test Now
The Hormone Balance Test is a wonderfully easy and useful tool for helping you decide, based on your symptoms, which of your hormones may be out of balance. At the end of this quick test we'll give you recommendations to help you decide the next steps to take to achieve hormone balance.

Teens, Birth Control Pills and Hormone Balance
An interview with Dr. David Zava about teenage girls and hormone balance.

The (Processed) Food Pyramid
The USDA food pyramid is built by the processed food industry, so take their nutrition advice with a grain of salt.

The Biochemistry of Saliva Testing
If you're a health professional or a science geek, you'll appreciate this article by Dr. John Lee on the biochemistry and physiology of saliva hormone testing, complete with references.

The Drugs May be Worse than the Heart Attack
Carl had a heart attack and then the real nightmare started with handfuls of prescription drugs and their side effects.

The Fluoride Shell Game
We’ve known for decades that excess ingestion of fluoride causes a long list of serious health problems, but now it turns out that what’s in our water is even more dangerous than what has been tested by government scientists. Dr. John Lee explains why the fluoride in our water is not as advertised.

The Importance of Testing for Colon Cancer
The dreaded colonoscopy screening test to detect colon cancer is important, but so is annual testing to detect hidden blood in the stool with a simple, inexpensive test.

The Politics of Water Fluoridation
Fluoridation has been with us for over 50 years, purportedly for the purpose of preventing dental cavities in children. Few people realize that, despite the passage of a half-century, the wisdom of this practice is still hotly debated.

Safe Drug Act Will Restrict Access to Bioidentical Hormones
The Safe Drug Compounding Act is designed to restrict you and your doctor's access to bioidentical hormones. You can act now to save your freedom to choose the hormones that work best for you.

The Wiley Protocol
The Wiley Protocol involves mega-doses of hormones and menopausal menstruation.

This is Your Brain on Hormones
Hormones can help or hurt your brain fitness depending on whether they're balanced or imbalanced.

Tips for Safer Cell Phone Use
A few tips for safer cell phone use.

Toxin-Free Lifestyle
How to create a lifestyle of toxin-free cosmetics, personal care and cleaning products. Green your home and office.

Update on the Prostate
Little progress has been made in the medical treatment of prostate problems, but we know a lot about how to prevent prostate enlargement and prostate cancer prevention.

Use Caution with Soy Foods
Soy foods have become wildly popular in the U.S. as a health food, but Dr. John Lee explains why it's wise to eat soybeans in moderation and consider how the Japanese eat soy, which is to say almost always fermented, as in miso and tempeh, and eaten with fish and seaweed to offset the antinutrients found in soybeans.

Using Progesterone with Birth Control
Is is OK to use progesterone cream if you're using chemical birth control such as pills and patches? Find out more in this interview with Dr. David Zava.

Vaginal Dryness and Hormones
Bioidentical hormones applied in normal doses work well.

Current Issue of Hopkins Health Watch
Read what Virginia Hopkins has to say about the latest natural hormone news, warnings about drugs, the best supplements and much more.

Vitamin D - How Much to Take?
The RDA for vitamin D is way too low, but there is some scientific consensus about what's the right dose, depending on how much sunshine you get and where you live.

What is Your Risk of Vitamin D Deficiency?
Adequate vitamin D levels are essential to optimal health. Find out if you might be at risk for a vitamin D deficiency and start getting more of the sunshine vitamin today!

Vitamin D Nutrient Review
Vitamin D is an essential vitamin and an essential hormone.

Vitamin D Research and References
A select list of references on vitamin D if you want to get up to speed on the science and biochemistry of this important vitamin/hormone.

Vitamin D Testing Science and Biochemistry
For health care professionals and science geeks, here's the science and biochemistry of why it's so important to test properly for vitamin D.

What Every Woman Should Know about Birth Control
Information from the Hopkins Health Watch about some of the risks and side effects of birth control.

What Your Dr. May Not Tell You about Blood Pressure
Dr. John Lee explains what your blood pressure readings really mean and recommends commonsense solutions for lowering blood pressure (hypertension) before resorting to drugs.

What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about Colon Cancer
Dr. John Lee tells us why prevention is the first and most essential defense against colon cancer, and how to prevent colon cancer.

What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about Heartburn
You don't need to take expensive drugs every day to avoid heartburn. Here are some of Dr. John Lee's commonsense solutions for reflux and heartburn.

What Your Dr May Not Tell You About Breast Cancer: Chapter 1
Here's where you can read the controversial Chapter 1 of John R. Lee M.D.'s courageous book, "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Breast Cancer," and the politics of tamoxifen, mammograms, chemotherapy and more.

What Your Dr May Not Tell You About Iron and Anemia
Iron is an essential mineral, but too much or the wrong kind can be harmful. Find out which are the best foods to increase iron, how and when to test for iron, and how to determine the underlying cause of the deficiency if you have anemia.

What Your Dr. May Not Tell You About Stress
If you think stress might be affecting your health, you'll want to read this article about how tired adrenal glands can cause poor health and hormone imbalances.

What Your Dr. May Not Tell You About Your Thyroid
Millions of people have low thyroid and take supplements such as synthroid for it. This article by Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins will explain how to tell if you have low thyroid, list the symptoms of low thyroid, how to supplement for low thyroid, and how to test for low thyroid.

What Your Dr. May Not Tell You About Cholesterol
Are cholesterol numbers really meaningful, or are we being sold a bill of goods by the pharmaceutical industry? This article by Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins explains how cholesterol really works.

What Your Dr. May Not Tell You about PCOS
A detailed article about PCOS by Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins, gives women detailed answers to their questions about causes and treatment, including info on hormones, diet and exercise.

What's a Woman to do about Birth Control?
With the side effects associated with chemical birth control pills and patches, what's a woman to do about birth control?

When Good Vitamins are Bad
It may seem obvious that taking vitamins is good for your health, but that s not always the case. Your vitamins can do you more harm than good.

Where to Test for Lead
There are dozens of places and items in the home and office that can be sources of lead exposure. Here's a list of what you may want to check for lead in your own home and office.

Why Breast Cancer Rates Dropped
Breast cancer rates dropped dramatically in 2002 and 2003 after years of rising. Why the drop and how can we maintain this trend?

Why We Like Saliva Testing
Saliva testing is fairly new to conventional medicine, so there is confusion and misunderstanding about it. This article by Dr. John Lee, Dr. David Zava and Virginia Hopkins will explain why saliva hormone testing is so important and gives the basics on how it works.

Will Wyeth Bully You Out of Your Estriol Cream?
The FDA has begun 2008 by forbidding compounding pharmacists to use estriol in their natural hormone formulations because the agency doesn’t have a specified approved use for it. They took this action because Wyeth complained about estriol.

Women - Take the Hormone Balance Test
Are your symptoms caused by a hormone imbalance? Take this test to find out if a hormone imbalance is the underlying cause of your symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, irregular periods; or PMS symptoms such as moodiness, irritability, menstrual cramps; or symptoms of ovarian cysts (PCOS) such as mid-cycle pain, menstrual cramps, excess hair and acne.

Women and Heart Disease
Dr. John Lee explains the differences in heart disease between women and men, and how hormones and HRT affect women's hearts.

Xenohormones and Your Environment
We are awash in a sea of xenohormones but with education and awareness you can avoid many of them. Find out how in this article by Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins.

Xenohormones and Your Health
Xenohormones are chemical hormone imposters that can cause hormone imbalance and cancer. Read this informative article by Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins.

Buyer Be Aware: An Aspirin a Day -- Not so Fast!
Aspirin works well to break up blood clots if you're having a heart attack, but the evidence for taking it every day is murky and ambiguous.

Red Meat is Not the Villain
Research keeps warning us away from red meat, but don't blame it on the meat--blame it on how we eat it.

Johns Hopkins Docs Say Misdiagnosis a Threat to Patient Safety
Misdiagnosis is yet another reason to stay away from the hospital. Johns Hopkins docs say diagnostic errors are a major threat to patient safety.

It's Official - Less Synthetic HRT = Less Breast Cancer
As the use of synthetic HRT has dropped, breast cancer rates have dropped, according to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Russell L. Blaylock M.D. on the Brain
This brilliant doctor shares important information about brain toxins and brain diseases.

Nanny Reilly by Annette O'Leary-Coggins
The magical adventures of an Irish girl named Nanny Reilly and her dog Henry Daly who outwit leprechauns, save a princess and sneak into a witch's territory to rescue a friend.

HR 875 The Food Safety Modernization Act
HR 875 is a bill to reorganize the FDA and improve food safety that has raised concerns about agribusiness going after organic farming. Are concerns justified?

Abnormal Pap Smears Revert to Normal with Simple Treatment
Dr. John Lee shares a simple treatment for an abnormal pap smear.

Truthiness in Advertising - Gardasil - Risks, Dangers, Side Effects
If the truth were being told in Gardasil ads, here's my version of what it would sound like, including Gardasil risks, dangers, side effects and politics.

Flu Fighters
There are many ways to fight the flu. When a flu virus gets to you, its severity and duration have a lot to do with the health of its host -- you. Here are some strategies and remedies for fighting the flu.

10 Useful Remedies for the Medicine Cabinet
Having a few key over-the-counter medicines and remedies handy can shorten healing time for minor sprains, strains, bruises, stings, cuts and stomach ailments, as well as arthritis flare-ups, allergic reactions, headaches and PMS.

Buyer Be Aware: Tamiflu and Relenza Should be Used with Caution
Be aware: when it comes to Tamiflu and Relenza, the research is contradictory, the benefits are debatable and the threat of drug resistant viruses is real.

Chiropractic Technique Significantly Lowers Blood Pressure
University of Chicago research shows that adjusting the atlas vertebra works as well or better than drugs at lowering blood pressure.

Buyer be Aware: DMSO has a Down Side
The organic solvent DMSO may be good at relieving pain, but it's super efficient delivery through the skin brings risks.

Are We Ready for the Return of Swine Flu?
The swine flu, or H1N1 will likely pay us another visit in the future. Are we ready for another round with the H1N1 flu?

Do Antioxidants Cancel the Benefits of Exercise?
Taking too many antioxidant vitamins may cancel out the benefits of free radicals, which have important jobs in the body.

Bioidentical Hormones Work Better for Premature Ovarian Failure (POF)
A small study from Scotland shows natural hormones are safer than oral contraceptives for young women with ovarian failure.

What Your Dr. May Not Tell You about Your Ovaries
This detailed article about the ovaries and ovarian cancer by John R. Lee, M.D. gives women detailed answers to their questions about causes and treatment.

Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act
Write your elected officials to express your support for the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act, which has been kicked around Congress for over a decade.

Women and Testosterone
Research shows that many benefits and few risks with a commonsense approach to testosterone replacement for women.

Qlaira® Birth Control Pill
A new birth control pill called Qlaira® is being marketed as a natural oral contraceptive. Find out the truth.

Food, Inc. A Must-See Movie
Food, Inc. gives us more inspiration to support farmer's markets and small farms, and to eat wisely.

Vitamin D and Weight Loss
Find out how vitamin D and weight loss go hand in hand.

Carpal Tunnel and Yellow Dye No. 5
Eating foods that contain yellow dye no. 5 (tartrazine) can deplete vitamin B6 and cause or aggravate carpal tunnel syndrome.

5 Ways to Increase HGH Levels - for Free!
Why spend thousands of dollars a year on HGH injections or waste your money on bogus HGH products when you can raise your HGH levels for free and reap many other health benefits while you're at it.

Hormones and Ovarian Cancer
Should users of bioidentical hormones be worried about new research showing that all types of estrogen and estrogen plus progestin hormone therapy increase the risk of ovarian cancer?

Uterine Prolapse Options
Question to Dr. John Lee from a women with a prolapsed uterus who doesn't want a hysterectomy. Dr. Lee explains the role of hormones in uterine prolapse.

Asthma and Hormones in Women
Women have more asthma than men, and it is linked to birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Hormone Testing Q & As
Questions and answers about testing hormone levels with saliva and blood spot tests.

Progesterone and Stroke
Research shows that progesterone helps rats recover better from a stroke, and it likely does the same for humans.

Saliva Test to Predict Preterm Birth Risk
A British medical group proposes using saliva testing for progesterone to assess preterm birth risk in pregnant women.

Women with hot flashes and night sweats live longer
Women with hot flashes and night sweats have a nearly 30 percent lower risk of dying than women without these classic menopause symptoms.

Gardasil Update
Now even the American Medical Association (AMA) is expressing doubts about how the Gardasil vaccine is being marketed.

Top Reasons to Avoid Hand Sanitizers
Toxic ingredients in hand sanitizers may be causing other health problems while they kill germs.

Drugs that can Harm the Immune System and Lungs
Prescription and over-the-counter drugs should be seriously considered on the list of things that could potentially make people more susceptible to having a flu that morphs into a deadly pneumonia.

Zostavax, the Shingles Vaccine
Zostavax is a vaccine against the painful chickenpox-related disease shingles that occurs most frequently in those over the age of 60. Is it worth risking the possible side effects to avoid shingles?

Bioidentical Hormone Mega-doses Cause Harm
Letter from a reader who was harmed by mega-doses of bioidentical hormones.

Hormone Q&As - lung cancer, Evamist, pregnenolone and more...
Questions and answers about hormones, including hormones and lung cancer, Evamist dosage, hormone balance and pregnenolone, and progesterone and osteoporosis.

The Flu and Pneumonia
The majority of so-called “influenza deaths” are really cases of the flu that become deadly bacterial or viral pneumonia. Why does the flu sometimes morph into deadly pneumonia?

The Truth about Osteoporosis
Early signs of osteoporosis and risk factors for osteoporosis. Lifestyles that increase the risk of osteoporosis and tips for healthy bones.

NIH Testosterone Trial for Men Over 65
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is conducting a clinical trial called the Testosterone Trial or TTrial, to find out if testosterone replacement in men aged 65 and older will help symptoms of aging.

List of Kid Nutrition Myths by Dr. John Lee
Dr. John Lee's List about what's important for nutrition in kids. Dr. Lee debunks some of the foods myths concerning what's healthy and what's not healthy for children.

10 Ways to Encourage Kids to Eat Their Veggies by Dr. John Lee
Dr. John Lee says children can learn to love vegetables and here's a list of 10 ways to get kids to eat vegetables.

Most Popular Articles and Products of 2009
Most popular articles and products of 2009.

Constipation Remedies and Causes
Constipation can be relieved with some tried and true constipation remedies and by tracking down the underlying causes.

hCG Does Not Cause Miracle Weight Loss

Why a Bit of Belly Fat is a Good Thing
For a menopausal woman, a little bit of belly fat is natural, healthy and put there for a purpose.

ABC News and Fosamax - Add Your Stories
Women using osteoporosis drugs long-term suffer from shattered leg bones. If this story is familiar, go to ABC News and share your experience.

Low Cholesterol Levels are Not Necessarily Better
Very low cholesterol levels may be more harmful to your health than moderately high cholesterol levels.

Stroke Risk and Bioidentical Hormones
Research from the French E3N study shows no higher risk of stroke among women who use bioidentical hormones.

How to Reduce Inflammation Naturally
Reduce inflammation naturally with targeted foods and supplements.

Aging Gracefully
Let's make it politically correct to age gracefully.

Yaz® Side Effects
The Yaz® birth control pill has been heavily marketed for reducing acne and severe PMS, but it's still a oral contraceptive with potentially serious side effects.

10 Ways to Increase Anxiety
10 ways to increase anxiety.

Birth Control Safety
When it comes to birth control pill safety, some progestins are safer than others.

Buyer Be Aware: Splenda® (Sucralose)
There's no free lunch when it comes to artificial sweeteners, and Splenda sucralose is no exception.

Buyer be Aware: Diet Pills Spiked with Drugs
With diet pills spiked with dangerous prescription drugs it's time to avoid products made in China, eat less and exercise more!

Buyer Be Aware: Reglan Gets a Black Box Warning
Reglan (metoclopramide), a drug prescribed for heartburn, and sometimes to nursing mothers, can cause an irreversible nervous system disorder called tardive dyskinesia and other unacceptable side effects.

Progesterone, Inflammation and Breast Cancer
The authors of a study about progesterone receptors make controversial claims about progesterone, inflammation and breast cancer.