For this study, researchers enrolled a total of 693 women aged 45 to 84 who already had begun experiencing menopause. Approximately 28 percent of the participants reported that they began the condition before the age of 46, which is defined as early menopause.

During a series of follow-ups, investigators monitored patients who had suffered from different forms of heart complications, including heart attacks, strokes, chest pain or cardiovascular-related death.

The results of the study found that women aged 55 years and older didn’t experience any of the health problems, but participants who had experienced early menopause were more than twice as likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease.

"It is important for women to know that early menopause is a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease—the number one killer of American women," said Melissa Wellons, a fellow at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB). She added that "they can then work harder to improve their modifiable risk factors, such as high cholesterol and blood pressure, by exercising and following a healthy diet."

More than one out of every three women in the United States have suffered from some form of cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

During a five-year study, researchers monitored the risk of suffering fractures in more than 690 men with an average age of 72 years. Over the course of four years of follow-ups, the investigators discovered that a total of 100 participants suffered from at least one type of heart disease, such as a heart attack.

After taking blood samples from each of these individuals, the team found that all of these patients had naturally high testosterone levels. In fact, men with the highest amount of the hormone in their blood were twice as likely to suffer from heart disease.

The researchers concluded that despite the need for further research, they were able to confirm that these findings proved that after 65 years of age, men with high testosterone levels are at a higher risk of developing a cardiovascular-related health problem.

In 2006, a total of 398,563 men in the United States died from a form of cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

Using breast cancer tumors in an animal model, a team of researchers observed how commonly used estrogens and progestins affected the body. Because their ovaries become inactive, women take these supplements in order to replace the hormones no longer being created.

The results showed that all types of progestin used during the study increased the risk of breast cancer, and the use of estrogen and progestin together or alone would still have the same medical effects. The researchers also concluded that women who have family history of breast cancer should avoid taking progestin supplements.

The team hopes further research will lead to the development of a progestin that wouldn’t cause an increased risk of breast cancer, but still protect the uterus.

"Progestins increase the number of blood vessels that are responsible for transporting existing cancer cells," said Salman Hyder, a biomedical sciences professor at the College of Medicine and the Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center. He added that "the more the blood vessels increase, the higher the chance of cancer cells metastasizing."

A total of 191,410 women were diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 patients died from the disease in 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.

The AR has been found to be the central area that maintains testosterone levels and can also greatly affect several other organs.

For this trial, a team of researchers used a mouse model and introduced the animal to the hepatitis B virus, which has been proven to lead to liver cancer. Using an experimental drug called ASC-J9, the researchers were able to suppress the AR, which prevented the mouse from developing the disease.

The researchers concluded that while the trial was successful, it may only be able to help patients who are in the early stages of liver cancer.

According to the paper, "it will be interesting to see if targeting AR at different stages or in different liver cancer cell types may also lead to differential effects during the progression of cancer."

In 2009, more than 16,000 men were diagnosed with liver cancer, and approximately 18,160 patients died from the disease, according the American Cancer Society.

A team of researchers collected data from 40 studies conducted nationwide and observed how Tai Chi affected participants who had been diagnosed with depression, stress, anxiety and other mood illnesses.

The investigators found a connection between patients who practiced this form of martial arts and the lowering of their symptoms. The researchers also discovered that these individuals also had an increase in self-esteem and an enhancement in mood.

The conclusion of this study stated that while there is a confirmed association, further research will be needed in order to find what all the health benefits are of practicing Tai Chi.

"[Tai Chi] is believed to improve mood and enhance overall psychological wellbeing, but convincing evidence has so far been lacking," said Chenchen Wang, an associate professor at the Tufts University School of Medicine. Wang added that this discovery "may lead to new approaches to promote health, treat chronic medical conditions, better inform clinical decisions and further explicate the mechanisms of successful mind-body medicine."

More than 15 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with a form of depression, according to DepressionStatistics.org.

According to the American Medical Association’s (AMA) Council on Science and Public Health’s recent report, the use of hormones for anti-aging purposes may be detrimental to health and may not provide the results that the users are looking for.

Researchers suggest that even physicians may be prescribing hormones that they believe are "all natural," but they may be involve ingredients that are not good for the body.

"The terms bio-identical or all-natural, particularly in the case of the drugs prescribed by endocrinologists, misleadingly convey a sense of safety to the gullible customer," researcher Thomas T. Perls said. "Arsenic is all-natural to, and it even has some medical uses, but it is anything but safe."

The council suggested that after reviewing these risks, consumers should try to stay away from anti-aging hormones, as they may do more harm than good.

After evaluating 10,000 women for one year, the WHI trial showed that the risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke and blood clots increased for those who were prescribed synthetic hormones.

There are several safe and natural alternatives to help ease the symptoms of menopause. To help alleviate hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings and joint pain, you should try to:

• Consume a diet rich in fruits and vegetables
• Use compounded natural hormone creams
• Increase your intake of calcium and vitamin D
• Exercise at least 30 minutes a day, three times a week
• Decrease your alcohol intake

By taking steps now to balance your hormones with effective solutions instead of risky and synthetic HRT, you can avoid the dangerous side effects that could wreck your health for years to come.

This overabundance of estrogen is responsible for a variety of health problems such as…

• Weight gain―especially belly fat―without eating more
• Hot flashes and uncomfortable menopausal symptoms
• Unwanted facial hair
• Vaginal dryness and painful intercourse
• Bloating and water retention
• Memory loss and “senior moments”
• Depression and anxiety
• Migraines or headaches associated with the menstrual cycle
• Irregular or skipped menstrual cycles
• Trouble sleeping
• Low sex drive
• Dry skin and wrinkles
• Brittle bones
• Breast tenderness

To help prevent estrogen dominance, Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP, indicates that the two primary female sex hormones—estrogen and progesterone—must be in balance. Estrogen is responsible for stimulating tissue growth and progesterone is the hormone that signals the body to absorb and remove it.

What throws off this delicate balance? Aging can play a part because, unfortunately, as you get older, your hormone levels change and create more estrogen in your body than you need.

An overabundance of estrogen can also be brought on by environmental, dietary and lifestyle factors.

The question of estrogen dominance and what causes it is as complicated as each individual is unique—therefore, you should discuss your individual complications with a physician who is open to natural alternative hormone therapy.

According to a study found in Cancer Prevention Research, pomegranates, which are rich in anti-aromatase phytochemicals, can help decrease the risk of breast cancer.

The phytochemicals help suppress estrogen production, which prevents the growth of cancer-related tumors in the body.

While previous research has indicated that phytochemicals in grapes can also help in restraining estrogen production, scientists point out that there has not been studies conducted on pomegranates, which offer a different kind of phytochemical.

After finding the compounds in pomegranates, some medical experts believe that researchers should begin to study the effects of the phytochemicals on animal and human subjects to determine the benefits.

This study does suggest that studies of the ellagitannins from pomegranates should be continued," explained Dr. Powel Brown, a medical oncologist and chairman of the Clinical Cancer Prevention Department at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.