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Aggression

A drop in the blood sugar level makes the body release adrenalin which causes the cells to release their stored sugar. Adrenalin is the ‘fight, flight, fright’ hormone. As progesterone cannot be used by a cell if too much adrenalin is in the blood, the limbic region of the brain is badly affected, as it has the greatest concentration of progesterone receptors in the body. The limbic system is an area in our brain controlling rage, violence, panic, anxiety, sleep, hormones, depression, learning and our immune response. Researchers have found that too low a level of cholesterol causes an increase in aggressive behaviour. An interesting fact this, because cholesterol is the precursor to progesterone. It is essential to eat small, starchy meals every 3 hours to keep the blood sugar stable. Progesterone helps to stabilise blood sugar.

Allergies

One in two people now suffer from allergies in industrial countries. It has been found that the bodies reaction to an allergen, with the production of histamine, can be lessened if there are good levels of the anti-inflammmtaory hormone cortisone. Women who are susceptible to allergens find their reaction worse in the two weeks before menstruation and the five to ten years before menopause, when the level of oestrogen is high compared to that of progesterone. Much of the ‘allergic’ reaction is nothing more than water retention causing the problem. Cortisone is made in the adrenal glands from progesterone. Keeping adequate levels of progesterone in the blood would ensure a good supply of cortisone.