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Book Review – Period Repair Manual

Written by naturopathic doctor Lara Briden, Period Repair Manual is an excellent book.

This is a great resource for women who have symptoms during their period. I also recommend it for any teenage girl. During a women’s life, many doctors will offer various tests and treatments for hormonal and reproductive symptoms. If she does not know how her body work, how is she expected to respond to all of this.

Image of Period Repair Manual by Lara Briden

If any Naturopathic students are reading this review, Period Repair Manual will tell you what you need to know to help women. Too many times professional lectures over-complicate things far more than necessary, while leaving out essential information. This book will fill in the gaps to help with the more common cases you see all the time.

The first half of the book, “Understanding Your Period” explains what a normal period should be like, what can go wrong and proper diagnosis. Dr. Briden points out numerous misconceptions that women have about their periods. Such as the true effect of birth control pills and true diagnostic criteria for certain illnesses. The reader will be able to know why she gets symptoms.

The second part of the book is more focused on treatment. Dr. Briden’s approach is truly holistic, and she covers factors such as heavy metals , environmental toxicity and nutrition. She does give general recommendations about what herbs or supplements to use. So this book can be used for self treatment.

I think the recommendations she gives are fine. However I would add that at times more specific protocols can be given by working with a practitioner one-on-one. Such individualized support can not be given in a book.

Overall this is not just a great book on women’s health, it’s one of the best health books I’ve ever read. I’d recommend it for any women who has symptom’s related to her cycle. If you know any young women or teens who are just starting to have their symptoms treated conventionally, give them this book. It can literally save them from decades of suffering.

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Alcohol Dependence and Naturopathic Considerations

The purpose of this article is to review nutritional issues related to alcohol abuse. I do not claim that other forms of treatment are not needed. The psychological aspect of alcohol dependence and need for counseling is important. For the purpose of this article I am focusing on nutrition as it is within my area of expertise and something which I feel is often over looked when it comes to alcohol addiction.

Alcohol and The liver

Alcohol is detoxified in the liver. Two enzymes are responsible for this are:

  • Alcohol dehdrongenase

    This enzyme convert alcohol into aldehyde. The nutrient NAD+ is needed for this to happen.

  • Aldehyde dehydrongenase

    Once alcohol is converted into aldehyde, the aldehyde must further be detoxified. In fact, it is the aldehyde which is believed to be the cause of many harmful effects of alcohol. Aldehyde is broken down into acetate, which is eventually converted into long chain fatty acids.

Leptin is a hormone which helps to regulate appetite and energy metabolism. High levels of leptin are known to contribute to fatty liver. It is elevated with chronic alcohol use.

Ways alcohol causes fatty liver

  • Increase fatty acid production
  • Oxidative stress in liver from processing alcohol
  • Increased leptin

Alcohol and blood sugar

Basic nutritional facts about caloric content is as follows:

  • Carbohydrates have 4 calories per gram
  • Proteins have 4 calories per gram
  • Fats have 9 calories per gram

What is not appreciated is how many calories are in alcohol

  • Alcohol has 7 calories per gram

This makes alcohol very calorie dense. This is one reason why alcohol causes weight gain.

Alcohol also causes and immediate rise in blood sugar. However, in large amounts and over time it actually lowers blood sugar. Alcohol can lower blood sugar so much that it leads to hypoglycemia.

Hypoglycemia is a state of too little blood sugar. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include:

  • Sweating
  • Tremors
  • Increased heart rate
  • Anxiety
  • Hunger
  • Dizziness
  • Headaches
  • Visual disturbance
  • Decreased mental acuity
  • Confusion
  • Depression

Hypoglycemia causes people to crave things that raise blood sugar; either sugary foods, or alcohol. This causes a viscous cycle, as those foods don’t elevate blood sugar for long, before leading to another bought of hypoglycemia.

B vitamin deficiency

Alcohol can cause deficiencies in B vitamins. Once of particular importance is vitamin B1 (thiamine). B1 is essential in order to convert sugar into energy. Without enough B1 people feel tired. They will also tend to crave simple sugars because the body is trying to get more energy. Unfortunately, without B1 it can’t convert sugar into energy.

Cravings for sugar and snacks is commonly caused by a B1 deficiency. In those with alcohol dependence instead of craving sugar to raise blood sugar, they will want alcohol instead.

Additional support for the adrenal glands may be needed. The stress hormone cortisol is produced by the adrenals and has a profound effect of blood sugar regulation. High cortisol raises blood sugar. It cortisol is too low it can cause hypoglycemia.

Go to this page for more information on adrenal support and supplementation

Nutrients and Alcohol

Alcohol will deplete the body of nutrients. People who drink also tend have alcohol instead of food, which means there may be less nutrients coming in.

Coconut oil and MCTs

The medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) in coconut can be easily converted into energy without raising blood sugar. For this reason, MCTs may be useful in conditions where blood sugar is not well regulated.

Minerals

The two enzymes that detoxify alcohol in the liver (Alcohol dehdrongenase and Aldehyde dehydrongenase) depend on zinc. Alcohol also may interfere in the absorption of zinc from the digestive tract and increase the loss of zinc in the urine. Therefore drinking can lead to zinc deficiency.

Magnesium status may also be low. Alcohols causes increase urination of magnesium.

Anti-oxidants

Lipid peroxidation is a process in which free radicals degrade fats in the body causing them to harm cells. This is on the main ways that alcohol leads to liver disease.
Antioxidant nutrients are needed to protect the body from free radicals. They also tend to be low in alcoholics, which makes the damage caused by lipid peroxidation worse. Key nutrients needed to protect the liver include: vitamins A, C, E and selenium.

Carnitine is a supplement commonly used to enhance energy production. The body needs it to converts fat into energy. Alcohol consumption seems to deplete the body of carnitine and supplementing can help to inhibit alcohol induced fatty liver disease.

Fatty acids

Alcohol may interfere in the metabolism of essential fatty acids. Fish oil may therefore be helpful. Fatty acids profiles may also be tested on blood work.