(Dr. Stephen Holt's first chat)

Dearest:  My guest tonight, Stephen Holt, M.D., has practiced medicine since 
1972. A Professor of Medicine, Scientist, Board certified gastroenterologist 
and internist in the U.S., England and Canada, with higher training in 
nutrition, clinical pharmacology and medicine of addictions. 

Most of Dr. Holt's referred patients have been seen by several physicians 
previously and they often have complex disorders. Dr. Holt is the author
of 12 books including the Random House bestseller, The Soy Revolution,  
Combat Syndrome X, Y & Z and his upcoming book, The Meno Plan: Women's
Wellness. Natural Ways To Healthy Menstruation and Menopause. 
You can read more about the Menoplan™ here.

It's a pleasure to welcome you to Power Surge, Dr. Holt. 


Stephen Holt, M.D.:  Thanks you very much! It's a great pleasure to be here. 


Dearest:  Dr. Holt, we hear a lot about Syndrome X these days. Can you please
explain exactly what it is for our audience?  


Stephen Holt, M.D.:  Syndrome X, in simple everyday, after dinner conversation 
in America, is specifically, the combination of obesity, high blood 
cholesterol, high blood pressure  all linked together by the resistance 
to the hormone insulin. 

Syndrome X affects 70 million people and we are very complacent about this 
staggering public health problem.  Syndrome X has emerged as an important cause 
of female reproductive problems, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and it has a 
negative impact in mature women around the time of the menopause. 

It is a cause of disability and death from many diseases especially 
cardiovascular disease in spite of the common nature of this problem, doctors 
are only just beginning to diagnose this condition on a regular basis and this 
disorder is best considered to be a type of pre-diabetes.  You do not need to 
have a full house of problems to have Syndrome X.  Insulin resistance can be 
associated with one or more of these risk factors such as being overweight or 
having high blood or cholesterol problems.  

My book, Combat Syndrome X, Y and Z attempts to show that this constellation
of problems is a unifying disease where Syndrome X is caused by lifestyle with 
genetic disposition.  Statistics show that about 1/2 of all Hispanic and other 
women have Syndrome X between the age of 45 and 65 years.  Between 30
and 40% of Caucasian women in the same group have the disease.  The key is
public awareness. 

Diet and lifestyle are the best defense.  Lower carb diet is best, such as the 
Atkins diet.  The low carb diet is preferred as a primary way to combat insulin 
resistance.  Simple sugars cause insulin surges in the bloodstream.  Excess 
insulin tells the liver to make more cholesterol, and the body to store fat.  
The kidneys force higher blood pressure.  Now you can see how all these link 
together to form excess insulin. 

The condition is sometimes confused with diabetes, but in common types of 
diabetes, the body doesn't make insulin.  Syndrome X is a forerunner to 
Diabetes Type 2. 


Dearest:  These disorders, hypertension, high cholesterol have been around
for years. To what do you attribute the almost epidemic levels of ALL of
these disorders today among American women and men today?


Stephen Holt, M.D.:  A lot of factors tipped the balance.  There is no doubt 
that lack of exercise and poor diet has contributed to weight gain.  We have 
increased our calorie intake and fallen in love with fat food. We are eating 
too much fast food and taking in too many calories.   Lack of exercise is a big 
problem.  Real exercise is very important in Syndrome, it will take care of all 
the symptoms.  Lack of exercise is the big problem in kids getting Syndrome X.


Dearest:  Do autoimmune disorders play any part in the picture? Such as thyroid 
disease? 


Stephen Holt, M.D.:  Yes.  There's no doubt that there is an increase in 
Thyroid Disease. Syndrome X is the most common endocrine problem in 
premenopausal women. Syndrome X is loading the gun, and perimenopause is 
pulling the trigger.  This is part of the challenge of midlife.  
This is why I perceive menopause in a much broader perspective. 


Healthymeno:  Can you tell me a little bit about the "Soy Revolution?" 

 
Stephen Holt, M.D.:  Yes. The book, The Soy Revolution, was a follow up to a 
monograph for health care givers.  I wrote that in the late 80s and it sparked 
a lot of interest.  I tried to make my interest in soy more accessible to the 
lay person, because I thought it was very important.  It was even sold in 
grocery stores, so that the lay person could get more of this information.

The Soy Revolution is a global account about soy and a key area is menopause.  
The new controversies about soy are covered in my newer book on Syndrome X. 

I think that soy is very important to help combat Syndrome X. It lowers 
cholesterol and blood pressure and is low in calories.  It is good for 
cardiovascular health.
 

Linda48:  I have like 20 questions but I guess I will ask you only one right 
now. Wish I could afford your book, but I am unemployed.  I saw that you are an 
expert in addictions also. Could you talk a little bit more about that? Are you 
talking about drugs and alcohol addictions or food or what? Thank you.


Stephen Holt, M.D.:  I was very privileged to have training in addictions and 
did research on alcohol problems, mainly.  I wrote a book 20 years ago that was 
an attempt to explain alcohol in young people.  I have written several papers 
on alcohol abuse.  I worked in the late 1970s in Canada on alcohol abuse.

Soy may play a role in putting people off drinking excessively.  It has an 
interesting effect on enhancing alcohol absorption in ways that are not clear. 


MSDane420:  Is there a substitute for soy--due to allergies? 


Stephen Holt, M.D.:  It depends for what purpose you're using soy. There are 
many other natural substances that share some common actions with soybeans.  
For example, the soy isoflavones are valued for their benefits such as reducing 
hot flashes but there are other plant estrogens that can do the same thing. 

One finds compounds in lignans that ultimately convert into isoflavones and 
these can be beneficial.  Lignans can be found in fruits, vegetables and seeds.  
Another substance could be chickpeas, lima beans or even alfalfa.  So there are 
some other natural isoflavone-producing substances, but soybeans are the king 
or queen of phytoestrogens. Red clover is also a good source of isoflavones. I 
have written extensively on the subject of foodology - Natural Ways to 
Digestive Health.


Dearest:  MSDane, you say you have an allergy to soy. I'm curious, but what 
"form" of soy were you using? 


MSDane420:  This was allergy testing done a few months ago. 


Stephen Holt, M.D.:  I am not always convinced that allergy testing is all that 
accurate.  In fact, about 15 years ago, I showed that some elaborate types of 
allergy testing were no better than a good clinical history.  There is a lot
of misunderstanding about food allergies and I would be more impressed that
you have a real soy allergy if you had symptoms after eating actual soy foods. 
Some testing isn't that predictive of a true allergy.


Dearest:  So, MSDane, you base the allergy you have to soy on tests you had? 
You've never actually tried using soy? 


MSDane420:  My allergies, food and airborne, have increased substantially since 
my hysterectomy 10 years ago, to include 2 emergency room admits, soy 
byproducts. 


Stephen Holt, M.D.:  I think that soy allergy is overstated.  Many more people 
are allergic to milk products than soy products.  I have much experience with 
many people taking soy in many forms and I believe that true soy allergy is 
quite uncommon.


Dearest:  Dr. Holt, what are some of the symptoms of allergy to soy? 


Stephen Holt, M.D.:  There are no special symptoms of allergy to soy.
They are general symptoms such as you would have to other foods.  

For example, if you are allergic to soy, it could be similar to shellfish 
allergy: breathing problems, rash, nausea, palpitations, chest pain.  All
sorts of things, even migraine, can be attributed to food allergies, even 
stress and anxiety. Symptoms of food allergy are similar no matter what the 
food.


Dearest:  Remember, too, that Dr. Holt is a board certified gastroenterologist 
and internist in 3 countries! 


Healthymeno:  In your opinion, what is the best way to consume Soy, the Soybean 
itself in its natural form or Soy products such as shakes, bars and processed 
forms of Soy?  


Stephen Holt, M.D.:  There is no doubt that is preferable to take soy foods
in their most natural form.  However, such foods do not often fit the Western 
palate.  There are popular types of soy these days such as steamed young 
soybeans, tofu and soymilk beverages.  If you want to get the medicinal 
benefits, you have to take it in a continuous manner and many people just 
cannot stick to a soy enriched diet.  Many women are on the go and cannot
shop in a meticulous manner for standardized soy food. 

I think it has been a little academic for some people to devalue the use of soy 
products.  Like it or not, they are a convenient way to get a continuous stream 
of soy food. 


Healthymeno:  So the women on the go have to sacrifice the total benefit,
is what you are saying, Dr Holt? 


Stephen Holt, M.D.:  I recommend that people take soy food as a first choice, 
but I also believe that soy must be used.  It is easy for academic dieticians 
to be against soy supplements, but they need to be more practical in their 
thinking.  I'm just saying it's not practical. 


Healthymeno:  In what way Dr. Holt? 


Stephen Holt, M.D.:  If you want to suppress meno symptoms with tofu, expect to 
eat half a pound of tofu a day and many people cannot get enough tofu in their 
diet.  Soy products are not standardized. 


Healthymeno:  How about the whole soybean? 


Stephen Holt, M.D.:  Whole soybeans are not friendly food, impossible to digest 
and cause a lot of gas. That's why we process it, to make it more acceptable in 
our diets.


Dean:  I'm 52 years old and I haven't had my menstruation in 4 years and I'm 
scared that this may be irregular. 


Stephen Holt, M.D.:  You must see your doctor.  Bleeding after a long time of 
no periods requires a medical assessment.  Do not worry, but you have to rule 
out other conditions. 


Dean:  I read that it is natural. 


Stephen Holt, M.D.:  You should see your doctor and have it checked out.  It 
could be natural, but you cannot take the risk. You must exclude other disease.


Dearest:  In short, Dean, please go and see your physician or health care 
provider!  Don't ignore bleeding.


TiddyTi:  I have heard that soy may cause thyroid problems, is this true? 


Stephen Holt, M.D.:  That has been a systematic attempt by some people to 
undermine the safety of soy.  There are studies showing the effects of soy
on thyroid function, but I have never seen a credible account of clinically
significant thyroid disease.  I do not believe that soy should be avoided
in the presence of thyroid disorders.  I believe that this issue has been
hyped by the anti-soy brigade.  There are studies implying that soy may both 
increase AND decrease thyroid functions. 


Marlo:  Hi! Have you ever heard of the soy product Revival? If so what do you 
think of it? I have been on it three years now and it's helped me tremendously 
with menopause.


Stephen Holt, M.D.:  I developed the first dietary supplement in the market in 
the early 90s that was similar to Revival Soy that was a soy protein isolate. 
it was called Genestar and was very successful.  Then I started concentrating 
soy into pill form. 

I think that Revival Soy is a very good product and that there are other good 
products.  I have developed a new product using soy technology in a more 
comprehensive approach to menopause.  I believe that soy isoflavones alone have 
some disadvantage to using soy combined with other products involving other 
types of isoflavones.  I believe that this is the leading approach where these 
products work in an additive manner - synergy - where many natural components 
work to each other's advantage. 

I am writing a new book about herbs, soy, botanicals. We are desperate to find 
relief for menopause.  In Menoplan, the new product, I have extensively 
reviewed all the literature on clinical trials that have looked at herbs and 
botanicals that have worked for symptoms of menopause.  There are about 4 dozen 
important studies and what came out of my own personal research that soy 
combined with black cohosh and further combined with red clover is particularly 
effective in relieving menopausal symptoms.  I also added other extracts that 
are calming.  One very important is L-Theanine which comes from green tea.  I 
have been impressed with the research on this and think it is very valuable in 
dealing with blood vessels and hot flashes.  I have also added dong quai. 

Standardized extracts are showing great results.  Menoplan is showing very good 
results, more than other menopause supplements.  I strongly believe in synergy 
in herbs and botanicals.  You can use less when you use more.  In the absence 
of any allergy, the low dose is very effective. 

My new book is called "The Menoplan", because I do not want anyone to believe 
that there is a magic bullet.  Menopause is a normal transition and it is not
a disease requiring treatment as such first line, gentle options are the way
to go.  Menoplan suggests lifestyle changes, as well as other ways to deal
with menopause. I expect my book to reach the shelves in late December and
is very up to date on this year's chilling news  on the adverse effects of 
hormone replacement therapy.  I try to give the facts in the most realistic 
manner.  

I address the gender differences between women and doctors, and that can be
a problem.  There has been a tendency to blame male stereotype as a cause of 
women's ailments.  I think that this is nonsense in many causes. Most doctors 
have dropped their chauvinistic tendencies.  Things have changed for the better 
over the last several years.  I am asking women to be much more discerning in 
their choice of doctor, and there must be a good patient/doctor relationship to 
work through these problems.  We have looked at a Bill of Rights for patients, 
and I encourage patients to question in detail.  The flash of a pen on a 
prescription pad or the quick flash of the surgeon's knife is not attractive 
anymore.  

There are many issues that have led to what I consider to be a modern tragedy 
with modern HRT.  Women must be able to make better judgment. 

Just as Power Surge has been telling you for years, you must be in charge of your 
own health care.  I have admired Power Surge for many years, and this strong 
message has always been present. 

Here I sit, an andropausal male, trying to help menopausal women. Men can be 
objective and sincere and form a partnership with their loved ones.  However, 
an objective opinion is worth listening to, assuming that men can be objective 
about these issues.  I believe that we should work together instead of worrying 
about gender difference, which stands in the way of proper treatment of women's 
diseases. 


Linda48:  I have always had good blood pressure: 106/60 was my last reading,
I guess better low than high. But I'm battling with my cholesterol. It's high.
I know you are big on exercise, but can you give me some motivation to exercise 
when I'm so depressed lately? I'm about 20 pounds overweight and unemployed
and depressed and don't know how to even look for motivation to clean my house.
I have been trying so much to look for work, but my state (Oregon) is the highest 
in unemployment rates. Also, why do you promote Atkins? I would think that diet 
is not nutritional. Thanks. 


Stephen Holt, M.D.:  It's easy for me to sit here and give you advice, but I do 
not know the whole story.  You are clearly under a great deal of stress.  Let's 
take a deep breath together and try to think about your priorities.  I don't 
know what your cholesterol is, but that's not your most important problem  
right now.  

You need to confront your depression head on. There are natural ways to elevate 
your mood. Exercise is one.  You are placing unnecessary bar.  You are not 
entering the Olympics.  Get out of the house and walk 20 minutes a day.  Many 
medical centers of excellence have shown that walking 20 minutes will improve 
your mood and your health. 

You WILL get a job. It's just a matter of when. So, you must focus on your 
motivation.  You are in good company because as many as 2/3 of all people will 
go through some form of depression.  If you are having severe symptoms of 
depression, you must seek medical help.  At this stage, look to your friends, 
start with the simple issues.  Looking for a job is forcing you to network. you 
cannot afford to lose your motivation. 

If your stress is overcome, your cholesterol may go down.  You have many 
issues.  Make a list and put emotional well-being at the top.   

By the way, high cholesterol is often encountered in perimenopause.  If you 
want to look at simple measures for lowering that, diet, exercise will help. 
Also soy protein has been shown in well-constructed scientific studies to lower 
cholesterol.  Also fish oil and dietary fiber. 

Fish oil has been shown to elevate mood. Large doses have been shown to be 
equivalent to tranquilizers. They are important to brain structure and are the 
best thing you can do for cardiovascular health.  I made a product called Fisol 
many years ago in a coated capsule, so there is no taste, It is now sold by 
Nature's Way.  I'm working on a newer product to use the Omega 3 fatty acids 
which support a lot of body functions.  It gives you a lot of help - improving 
mood, lowering cholesterol and may aid weight control. It is an inexpensive 
substance to try, provided you don't have an allergy to fish. 

I have made a number of dietary supplements.  Some are available at 
www.NaturesBenefit.com. Take a look for your own benefit.  I am proud that I 
developed these products and that I can make them available.  There are many 
other fine supplements that you can explore. 

My most recent book is Sleep Naturally."  I hope to be able to talk
to you about that sometime, because it is a cause of illness. Sleeping well in 
menopause is a very hard job for many women. There are simple, natural methods 
to get good, restful sleep.  Without good sleep, you just will not feel well. 


Soulnight:  My original question was about soy and we covered it for the most 
part, thanks, however I am interested in hearing about the sleep book.


Stephen Holt, M.D.:  You can see more about my book and an overview of its 
contents on www.SleepNaturally.com.  In brief, I describe many natural 
approaches to healthy sleep and my emphasis is to try and have people avoid 
drugs which have very common and sometimes serious side effects that many 
people do not know about. My approach is a comprehensive one to avoid sleep 
deprivation which is a common cause of mood disturbance and medical disease.  
In fact, sleep deprivation sets us a major stress response in the body and 
everything gets out of control, hormones, too.  Sleeplessness is related to 
insulin resistance, and Syndrome X.  Sleeplessness can cause obesity. 


Dearest:  Dr. Holt, thank you for an *excellent* chat tonight. I strongly recommend 
everyone read Dr. Holt's books, starting with Combat Syndrome X, Y and Z 
and The Soy Revolution. 

You can  read more about Syndrome X and about Dr. Holt at www.StephenHoltMD.com and 
www.NaturesBenefit.com. Dr. Holt has joined Power Surge's "Ask The Experts." 
Feel free to ask him any questions you wish at Ask Dr. Stephen Holt.

There's additional contact information for Dr. Holt and Natures Benefit on the  Power Surge 
Resources page.


Stephen Holt, M.D.:  It was wonderful to be here - I hope to do this again soon! 


Dearest: Excellent. I plan to hold you to that :) 
 


Read Dr. Stephen Holt's second transcript
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Read Dr. Stephen Holt's fourth transcript


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Dearest
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Power Surge
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