Category: Hormone

What You Can Expect as a New Patient

You’re tired of being at the mercy of your hormones. You’ve noticed all kinds of troubling symptoms since you reached middle-age. It’s the point when your reproductive system is getting ready to eventually shut down. As a result, your reproductive hormones are dropping. This can wreak havoc on your system. Fatigue, a loss of stamina, weakness and insomnia are only a few of the troubling symptoms that can come with hormonal fluctuations. Loss of libido and the inability to concentrate are common as well. Unexplained weight gain is another problem. If you’ve decided to take charge of your hormonal imbalance with hormone therapy, it is likely that you want to know what to expect as a new patient doing hormone therapy.

How Soon Will You See Results?

As a new patient, you need to understand that hormone therapy is going to make a difference in your life. However, these changes didn’t happen overnight to your body. As such, you can’t expect an instant fix. With consistent treatment, however, you will begin to see positive changes. In the first few weeks that you start your hormone therapy regimen, improvements should begin to happen. Your energy levels will go up. Your moods will become more balanced. You’ll find it easier to stay focused and get a good night’s rest. You’ll no longer be crushed by fatigue.

“[NLW Nurse Practitioner named] Angela was very informative and made me feel comfortable with moving forward. Can’t wait for the test results.”

– Kathryn, NLW Patient in Clive, Iowa

As time goes by and you continue with hormone therapy, your libido will make a comeback. You’ll be able to get your weight under control again and may even see those excess pounds melting away. Positive changes in your eating habits and exercise routines can also help you to have positive results.

Our Doctor Can Monitor Your Progress and Make Changes

Your hormone therapy program is going to be tailored to suit your needs. After a simple blood test to detect hormonal changes, our doctor can prescribe your hormone therapy, the dosage will meet your needs. Our team will monitor your progress as a new patient over the course of the coming months, note any concerns and make adjustments, if necessary. The main thing you need to remember is you have to be patient and stick with the program. You will gradually feel more like yourself as you continue with your hormone treatment.

“Where to start…Everything! New Leaf hormone replacement has changed my life! I have more romantic desire, no more hot flashes or night sweats and my focus and physical stamina is off the charts! I have been a client for over 2 years and my husband makes sure I get here for appointments as he does not want me to go back to the “old” me! Thank you New Leaf!”

– Jacquie, NLW Patient in Clive, Iowa

Learn More About Natural Hormone Therapy

The only way that you are going to restore balance to your hormones is to replace depleted levels. New Leaf Wellness providers can help you to get on the right track. Come to our office for an appointment to discuss your bothersome symptoms. As you begin your hormone replacement therapy, pay attention to the changes in your body. You are going to see a difference.

Contact us today to schedule a new patient appointment for natural hormone therapy!

Early Signs Of Fading Hormones

On a weekly basis, we have patients saying, “I wish that I had come in to see you sooner”. Often they did not recognize the early signs of hormone deficiencies. If they did recognize the signs, they have usually attempted to get answers by utilizing their insurance and seeing their regular doctor. Either way, they have suffered longer than they had to and are happy that they now feel better.

Are Hormonal Imbalances Normal?

Men and women both suffer from hormonal imbalances at around 30 to 50 years old due to many reasons: hormone disrupting chemicals (in products we use on ourselves and our house, in our food, in our water), stress, poor overall diet, poor sleep, etc. We age poorly when our hormones decline. Signs of hormonal decline are irritability, depression, anxiety, insomnia, poor muscle tone, inability to lose weight, increased aches/pain, brain fog, decreased memory, decreased vitality, etc. Men may get a decrease in morning erections and women may get hot flashes and/or night sweats. There are a lot of symptoms of hormone imbalance that get ignored because they often come on gradually.

TRUTH: It is not normal aging for you to feel “old”.

It is not normal aging for you to feel “old”. When you optimize your Testosterone, Progesterone, Estrogen, Thyroid, and Growth hormone it enables you to live your life fully and do the things that you enjoy doing. Replacing your missing hormones with bio-identical hormones is a piece of the wellness puzzle.

Common Misconceptions

The first step is recognizing that you may have a hormonal imbalance and not waiting to get it evaluated. The second step is realizing that health insurance is focused on disease and not wellness. In order to have proper treatment you must seek the care of a physician specially trained in hormone balancing. Put your health and well being first and don’t be a person who regrets waiting. Don’t just take it from us, see what Karen, our patient had to say:

“I decided to try New Leaf Wellness because my libido was nonexistent and while I wouldn’t say I was experiencing hot flashes, the slightest activity (like emptying the dishwasher) would leave me literally soaked with sweat! It was so embarrassing that I didn’t want to leave the house. After one implant, what a difference! My libido is much improved and the extreme sweating has completely stopped! I couldn’t be happier!”

– Karen, NLW Patient for Hormone Therapy in Clive, Iowa

Ready to check your hormone levels?

Take our Hormone Health Quiz by clicking the link below!

For WOMEN

For MEN

Sleep and Recovery

Do you sleep enough? Are you able to recover well? Do you have a good quality of sleep? These questions arise regularly…. but why?

Sleep and Recovery

The answer is very simple. Sleeping is a physiological function essential to the proper functioning of our body and is essential to ensure our mental, emotional and physical health. When we have a poor quality of sleep or have too little sleep, every facet of our body can feel harmful effects; Whether it be our appetite, our level of energy, our performance or our well-being. You may feel that sleep is synonymous with inactivity; But on the contrary, a good night’s sleep is one of the most effective remedies ever! By sleeping, your system benefits from countless benefits such as having more energy, better stress management, preventing weight gain, strengthening the immune system and many others.

“My husband and I appreciate New Leaf so much, we joke New Leaf treatments are cheaper than a divorce! Before the treatments, I had terrible hot flashes and night sweats that woke me laying in a pool of sweat. I was moody and very much against my nature, very irritable over little things. Our sex life had tapered off somewhat, but, it is now as great as when we first married. I very much recommended New Leaf to my menopausal friends!”

– Kelly P., New Leaf Wellness Patient in Clive, Iowa

At New Leaf Wellness, we firmly believe that the quality of sleep is essential to the proper functioning of the body and the mind. That’s why many of our treatments have benefits closely related to sleep! Among the many ways we can treat, Natural Hormone Therapy is at the top of the list and helps reduce insomnia. This amazing therapy equals the benefits of deep sleep and so much more so call for information!

Don’t wait until your quality of life is challenged or your relationships suffer due to your stacking symptoms. Natural Hormone Therapy has a wide range of benefits. Take our quiz to see how you score on your current hormone related symptoms.

Take Our Hormone Health Quiz!

For WOMEN

For MEN

Treating Skin Changes During Perimenopause

What Is Perimenopause?

What could be more frustrating than having wrinkles AND pimples? It is not uncommon for an esthetician to see a client in her 50’s coming in for both anti-aging and acne treatments. And as with so many of life’s irritating moments, women can blame it on hormones. Hot flashes, moodiness and sleep disorders are some of the uncomfortable symptoms every woman going through Perimenopause has experienced to some degree. New Leaf Wellness specializes in hormone care and treating skin changes during Perimenopause and more.

While these symptoms are well-known, the hormonal changes ushering in menopause can cause a wide spectrum of skin disorders, ranging from acne to extreme skin dryness. Lower levels of vital female hormones such as estrogen can also accelerate skin aging. While some women go through perimenopause without problems, others experience great changes, especially with their skin.

Let’s look at how fluctuating hormones can affect the skin, as well as suggest effective treatments and ingredients to mitigate conditions brought on by these unavoidable hormonal changes. We also will offer suggestions to help soothe Perimenopause symptoms such as sleep disruption and hot flashes, which can affect skin health.

Hormones and the Skin

Perimenopause is the time period during which a woman’s body is transitioning to complete loss of fertility—menopause. A woman can enter Perimenopause at different ages. It usually starts in the mid-40s, but can begin as early as the mid-30s. During this time, the ovaries gradually shut down, which results in the fluctuation of hormones.

Although Perimenopause may not commence until the 40’s, a gradual decrease in ovarian activity already has begun, which leads to reduced estrogen and progesterone production. These lower levels of hormones lead to decreases in collagen and elastin fibers, in turn causing wrinkling and sagging known as elastosis.

The woman’s body is thrown off balance due to the declining production of the dominant female hormones such as the common estrogen β-estradiol and progesterone. Conversely, although women produce only a small amount of male sex hormones (androgens), the effects become more dominant due to the depletion of estrogen and progesterone. This can lead to skin becoming excessively oily as well as excessively dry during different times of the month, a kind of skin crazy that can really add insult to injury.

How New Leaf Can Help

First, we offer a combination of services including natural hormone therapy as well as professional aesthetic services. Our hormone therapy is personally designed to restore and rebalance your hormones to the levels appropriate for your life and health. And we find hormones and skin care have such a correlation. At your complimentary consultation, we can provide solutions for you that addresses your concerns, irritants and help you live a better life!

 

To get started, contact us for a consultation!

For WOMEN

For MEN

Want to take our Aesthetics Quiz?

For WOMEN

For MEN

Testosterone and Heart Attacks

Testosterone replacement is safe and helps reduce the risk of heart attacks. Let’s take a look at the link of testosterone and heart attacks.

Due to media hype and the misrepresentation of studies done on Testosterone, let’s revisit this topic. Sadly, there are news reports that discourage the use of Testosterone despite overwhelming evidence. Properly administered Testosterone actually helps patients with many medical issues, including reducing the risk of heart attacks. It is actually low levels of Testosterone and higher levels of Estrogen in men that have been shown to be associated with an increased heart disease risk. The misrepresentation of Testosterone arose from studies that did not look at Estrogen levels. Testosterone replacement without looking at Estrogen levels can cause problems. Proper Testosterone replacement while addressing Estrogen elevation is a different story. When Testosterone is optimized while making sure Estrogen stays in an optimal range, the men studied had fewer heart attacks and also felt more vital.

In fact, A common cause of disability and death is actually related to low Testosterone. Low levels of Testosterone are associated with diabetes, increased belly fat, insulin resistance, and various arterial changes that increase the risk of heart attacks. Conversely, when Testosterone is replaced to optimal levels by a specially trained physician there is increased muscle mass, decreased belly fat, improved insulin sensitivity, improved memory, increased energy, better sleep, happier moods, and an improvement in cardiovascular health.

In conclusion, testosterone is simply not evil. In fact, it is critical for your optimal health and well being. The key is to have it replaced with proper oversight and the hormone experts at New Leaf Wellness can do this!

Get started today and get heart healthy by checking your hormone levels with a New Leaf Wellness medical staff! Yes, I want to be healthy!

Take our Hormone Quiz:

For MEN

For WOMEN

How To Naturally Better Your Sex Life

Increase Your Sex Drive

A decreased sex drive can arise for many reasons and it can affect both women and men. A healthy sexual relationship with someone that you love is important. It is sometimes too easy to ignore this fact and let this part of your life slip away. But we want to help you learn how to naturally better your sex life!

Balancing your hormones is one part of having a healthy libido. Without a proper balance of Estrogen, Progesterone, and Testosterone it is difficult to have a healthy sex drive. Our hormones get out of balance for many reasons and utilizing bio-identical hormones helps to fix that problem. Balancing your hormones is like putting gas into your car.

Just like there are many other parts to your car to make it run, there are also other things that affect your libido. Stress can greatly diminish your desire. Being unhappy in your relationship or being unhappy with yourself has a definite impact with sex drive. Medications can also have an affect.

I love New Leaf because it gives me more energy, my sex life is so much better. I could tell my joint pain in my shoulders does not hurt like it has before. All is so much better now. – Joyce D., Patient of New Leaf Wellness

Yoga + Your Partner

It is important to take time out to unplug and relax. Yoga is a great way to learn to relax and keep your body limber. Turn off the phone, TV, and computer and breathe deeply and clear your mind. Transformational breathing is a perfect to aide you in any relationship issues–with your partner and with yourself.

1. Get comfortable.

2. Let go of negativity.

3. Keep your mouth open at all times.

4. Don’t hold your breath.

5. Practice often.

6. Change positions…Once you’ve mastered lying down, try sitting up

7. Perfect the technique

Yoga alone and even with your partner can relax your body enough to deeper connect with your partner. The deeper connection allows for growth in your closeness and increasing your sex life.

No more hot flashes, enjoying making love to my husband what could be better. – Becky S., Patient of New Leaf Wellness

Having a healthy sex drive can make you feel better about yourself and can enhance your relationship. With a balanced Natural Hormone Program at New Leaf Wellness and a desire on your part to increase your libido, you should be able to regain your libido!

To learn more about our Natural Hormone services, contact us today at 888-728-7555 or email us.

NLW Patient Testimonial: Meet J.M.

Meet J.M.

New Leaf Wellness is proud of our patient’s success, and it makes it why we’re so passionate about educating and learning to live your life better. J.M. came into our office with a very common issue, and so we are proud to share his patient testimonial so that it may help others.

J.M. is a 55 year old fireman and over the past few years he had noticed that he could not run in and out of buildings like he used to. He found himself getting irritated more easily and felt like he had passed his peak. Even though he was working out, he had a difficult time building muscle. He even noticed a little muscle loss and a hard time losing fat.

We see a lot of patients initially accepting the feeling of ‘degenerating’ is just a part of aging….. this is why we’re so thankful for J.M. sharing his patient testimonial.

J.M. was examined by his primary doctor and was told that his lab work was normal and that he was just getting older. Luckily, he did not accept that as fact and sought out help. His hormone lab work was definitely not optimal.

Did you know that in a typical routine blood exam, hormone counts are not even reviewed? Do you know where your hormone levels? And if they are optimal?

What You Need To Know

Normal ranges at the labs are determined by testing a part of the population and then coming up with the average numbers. But what happens when the people they are testing are out of balance hormonally? In modern society, the average person does have a hormonal imbalance and this results in the “normal” lab values being incorrect.

Your hormone lab values may be interpreted as “normal” when in actuality they are low–the imbalance is missed simply because the “normal” lab values are incorrect. The medical profession gets pressured from many angles and most doctors are hesitant to look outside the “normal” values. They tend to accept the “normal” lab values without question. They forget to really look at the person and see that there is a hormonal imbalance. They are simply not questioning the validity of the “normal” values. This is not their fault–due to the nature of insurances, they do not have the luxury of time to treat “outside the box”.

Hormonal imbalances exhibit specific symptoms and it takes time to get to know the patient and determine what he/she requires to achieve and maintain proper balance.

Lab work is just a piece of information, and it needs to be interpreted looking at optimal values, not the “normal” values.

Optimal lab values are the values we see in people who are functioning at a high level and feel great. Unfortunately, these values can be flagged as “abnormal” on lab results. This can scare the uninformed. “Abnormal” is often optimal. Look around you at the general population’s health. This is a sad truth.

The goal of proper hormone balancing is to get rid of your symptoms and prevent future medical issues like dementia, heart disease, certain cancers, osteoporosis, etc. This is only possible by taking the time and investing in yourself by seeking the help of a specially trained hormone specialist.

The truth is we can share about our services and show proven methods, but it is a patient testimonial like J.M. that really inspire us all to understand just how life changing hormone balancing can be.

How NLW Helped J.M.

When J.M. came across New Leaf Wellness, he got the lab results he needed to see. He was found to have a significant Testosterone deficiency. We also found a B-12 deficiency and slight thyroid imbalance. Once these deficiencies were corrected, he regained his vitality. His workouts are creating a muscle gain and fat loss. J.M has the energy to enjoy his free time and is now really living his life thanks to his treatment at New Leaf Wellness. And we’re so thankful we were able to aid in J.M. living life better!

For more patient testimonials, visit our pages by clicking the links below.

Testimonials from MEN

Testimonials from WOMEN

To learn more about how to get the RIGHT lab results, give us a call or contact us TODAY!

Inflammation & Healthy Living with Hemp Protein

We would like to invite you to listen to the Inflammation and Healthy Living with Hemp Protein webinar. Dr. James Blum and Dr. Sam Alawieh dive into the fascinating concept of strategic protein substitution and the new research involved in hemp’s abundance of necessary amino acids.

Guidance and suggestions will be presented on how individuals can eliminate inflammation with Biotrinetix Labs and enhance the quality of life with Hemp Protein and breakthrough medicine from New Leaf Specialty Pharmacy.

V I E W   V I D E O

http://view.vzaar.com/12640109/video

 

For more on Hemp Protein, see our recent article https://newleafcenters.com/nlrx-nutrition-hemp-webinar/

Be sure to like us on Facebook – @NewLeafWellnessCenters

Replenishing the Essentials

Welcome Kristin Dwyer, Pharmacist In Charge at New Leaf Specialty Pharmacy, today for her guest blogging for New Leaf Wellness.
IV therapy is the most efficient method of delivering vital nutrients and vitamins to the body.  When they are given via an IV, there is 100% absorption and they are immediately available in the bloodstream for use.
Dr. John Myers was the pioneer of intravenous micro-nutrient therapy, which he started studying in the 1950’s.  He used the “Myer’s Cocktail” to treat a wide variety of medical conditions, including (but not limited to!) fatigue, depression, chest pain, palpitations, asthma, fibromyalgia, and migraines.
The version of the Myer’s Cocktail specially formulated for New Leaf Clinic contains a combination of magnesium, calcium, vitamin C, and multiple B-vitamins.  It is a 45-minute infusion that hydrates the body and leaves most patients feeling refreshed and energized. It is a great introduction to IV micro-nutrient therapy for patients who are new to IV treatments.
The Liquid Health Cocktail contains a blend of magnesium, B-vitamins, vitamin C, calcium, and folic acid. It contains higher concentrations of nutrients than the Myer’s cocktail, so it requires a longer infusion time.  This IV therapy results in even greater cellular hydration and nutrition and may assist with flushing out toxins from the body.
The Super Immunity Infusion is made up of high dose vitamin C, magnesium, B-vitamins, and calcium.  Supplementation with vitamin C has been shown to improve various functions of the immune system.  When people are stressed or ill, the concentration of vitamin C in the plasma and white blood cells declines, so this IV assists in replenishing the body with vitamin C. Vitamin C can also shorten the duration of respiratory infections and colds.
I would like to invite you into New Leaf Wellness to try one of these amazing IV’s, as a Pharmacist, I have personally approved of all of them.  The benefit you will get of repairing, rebuilding and vitamin nourishment at the cellular level is 100% that will last weeks possibly months depending on which IV you choose.

Losing Weight + Keeping It Off

Have you struggled with losing those few extra pounds that you put on? Or are you struggling to lose more? Do you seem to yo-yo up and down with your weight? You are not alone. Everyone knows what to do to lose weight and yet if it were that simple, no one would have any weight issues. Losing excess weight and keeping it off for the long term involves balancing a complex network of your mind, your diet, your sleep patterns, your hormones, your exercise and your toxic load.

TIPS FROM NEW LEAF WELLNESS

Our suggestion is to start with one piece of the puzzle and get that piece working, and then move onto the next. If you can work on several pieces at once, that is great; however, many people feel overwhelmed and fail if they take on too much at once. Your goal is long term weight loss, with you maintaining a healthy weight: feeling vital and having the energy to do the things that you want to do in life for the long term. With that goal in mind, it makes sense to focus on one piece of the puzzle and then another, and another; doesn’t it? It is a continual process that gets you to your goal and keeps you there. And, yes, change takes work and change does not always come easily; but it is worth it!!! First decide that you want to achieve a healthy weight, then next decide what you want to focus on first.

I have been doing New leaf Wellness weight loss program for approximately 4 months. I have lost 35 pounds and have felt wonderful. My energy levels are higher and my attitude is better. I eat real foods and my hunger levels are very low. – Lori. H from Coralville, Iowa

Then next, break it down into small easy steps that are achievable until you reach your major goal. The key is to set achievable goals each week so that you can attain them and reach success. It may seem slow at times, but slow and steady wins the race!! (remember the story of the tortoise and the hare??) You want long term results, not the yo yo frustration that so many people live through.

Many people do not relate hormone imbalance with weight but they are intimately connected. As I stated above, hormone balance is a significant piece to the optimal weight puzzle. Hormones are chemicals in your body that stimulate reactions and bodily functions to take place. A bodily function such as weight loss is definitely affected by hormones. When your hormones are out of balance you can experience difficulty in losing weight. Insulin, Thyroid, Cortisol, Testosterone, and Estrogen are key hormones in the weight loss game.

HORMONAL IMBALANCE

Many things can affect your hormone balance: stress, aging, nutrition, toxins. By balancing your nutrition you can actually help your hormones. This can be done by eliminating foods that you are sensitive too, by eating healthy foods, and by focusing on a balanced vegetable, fruit, protein diet. People underestimate the effect that nutrition has on their body but it is a major player for affecting how you feel, as well as the weight that you carry. Food sensitivities are highly under diagnosed and unrecognized by patients and doctors alike. Do not rely on blood tests to diagnose food allergies. Be aware of your body and pay attention to how it responds to certain foods. If you know that a food makes you feel bloated or tired, avoid it; even if a test showed you that you were not allergic to that food. Trust your own body! But a Food Sensitivity Test is really the best way to determine if you have any food sensitivity and New Leaf Wellness can conduct this for you. The results are very specific and exact.

I was always been a big kid, but ten years after football I found myself at 420 Ibs., and nowhere near the athlete I used to be. Last October I knew something drastic had to change and that’s when I went to New Leaf Wellness. I had heard about HCG years ago but thought it was just another fad. But instantly after meeting with the staff I knew that with the support of New Leaf’s incredible staff I was going to be successful. Like any diet, at first it was hard. But because of the drastic changes I saw almost overnight it was easy to stay dedicated. Three months later, I’m down almost 70 Ibs. and I’m starting to get the athleticism I’d lost back! I feel better than I ever have and continue to see drastic changes every week, even 3 months in! I will never be able to thank the amazing staff at New Leaf Wellness enough for giving me my life back. – Sam M. from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

STRESS + THE BODY

Stress reduction is a key component to your overall well being as well as helping to keep your hormones and weight balanced. Turn off the news and focus on positive things in your life. Breathe out for longer than you breathe in–this is a great way to immediately reduce stress. Take a few breaths throughout the day where you breathe in slow for the count of 3 and breathe out for the count of 5 – 7. This also helps you if you are having trouble sleeping. Remember to regularly allow yourself to have fun and to turn off your phone as much as you can. You do not have to be connected 24/7. And, of course fit exercise into your schedule no matter how small amount the time is. Some movement is better than no movement.

BALANCED HORMONES

Achieving hormone balance and a healthy weight is complex but we hope that these tips have helped you to focus on a few things to start with. Even when prescribed a customized bio-identical hormone  Rx, we highly encourage patients to do the above things at New Leaf Wellness. Everything is important for your health–they are all pieces to the optimal health puzzle!! Decide that you want change, and then start with a small step now to achieve your long term goals!

When you are ready to get started, give us a call at 888-728-7555 or contact us!