Metabolism – Page 5 – New Leaf Wellness

YOUR HEALTH IS YOUR WEALTH

You Only Get This One Body, So Treat It Accordingly.

We live in a world that often encourages us to prioritize convenience and overlook the long-term health effects of our daily decisions. It’s also no secret that our healthcare system is flawed in many ways; some of those flaws make it easy for us to write off certain precautionary measures in favor of spending less money. Here’s the thing, we can “save” money in the short term but lose out big time in the long run if we’re not careful about where we spend our wellness budget.

Here’s the thing…Being Well Costs Money!

t’s just the truth of the matter. It is, undeniably, cheaper (at least in the short term) to be unhealthy: Fast food/junk food is cheaper than organic whole foods, gym memberships and trainers can be expensive, and the amount of time it takes to focus on wellness is just something not everyone can afford.

However, with that unfortunate truth comes an even more worrisome reality: Those of us who don’t take care of ourselves now will be forced to face the repercussions later in life. Think about it – if you drive a car and you’re skipping regularly scheduled maintenance, you’re putting cheap gas in the tank, and you’re going thousands of miles over your oil recommended lifespan, you wouldn’t expect your car to drive to 300,000 miles… you’d be lucky to hit 100k!

But this isn’t a car we’re talking about… it’s your body!

This compilation of studies shows, as predicted, the positive relation between weekly physical activity and the occurrence of Coronary Heart Disease in over 15,000 individuals. Meaning there is a direct correlation between exercise and preventing heart disease. That’s something you can do for FREE and it will help you avoid the #1 killer in America. How’s that for return on investment?

Your Health is Your Wealth!

Maybe you’ve heard that phrase before, or maybe this is your first time; either way, the sentiment rings true. If you want to live the long, healthy, happy life you deserve, now is the time to invest in yourself. We plan for retirement, we plan for our kids’ college, we plan our big purchases and vacations, but where’s the wellness plan in your life? How do you expect to be your grandchildren’s best friend? How do you see yourself at your 50th wedding anniversary? I bet in your vision of the future you’re beaming with life! Well, there’s really only one way to achieve true wealth: Health.

There are LOTS of ways to make sure you’re aging well and setting yourself up for a graceful second half of life. If you ask me, one of the greatest investments you can make in yourself is beginning Bio-identical Hormone Optimization Therapy. Men and Women alike get AMAZING results with our treatment plans here at the New Leaf Wellness, and I can tell you firsthand that the patients we’ve had for over 10 years now are living proof that healthy aging is possible.

Our Bio-identical Hormone Optimization Therapy is incredibly powerful in combating the tell-tale symptoms of aging. The reason so many of us begin to feel old as we age is a decline in hormone production. Hormones control our bodily functions and mental wellbeing. Hormone replacement therapy gives us back our youth, literally.

“If you think you might be experiencing the ravages of hormone decline,
listen to me: There’s a better way to age.”

– Dr. Robert Sieman

Schedule a FREE consultation to learn more about Bio-identical Hormone Optimization Therapy.
WE’RE HERE TO HELP!

SHOULD I BE TAKING VITAMIN D?

Known as the “sunshine vitamin,” Vitamin D is crucial to keeping you healthy and feeling good. It is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in very few foods. Some of these include fish, fish liver oils, egg yolks, and fortified dairy and grain products.

Since it is found in very few foods, it is difficult to rely solely on diet to fulfill your body’s need for Vitamin D. It is also produced by the body in response to skin being exposed to sunlight. In short, when ultraviolet rays contact the skin, Vitamin D synthesis occurs. Depending on where you live or your particular job or lifestyle, Vitamin D production could be decreasing, or even absent, during certain months of the year. What’s even more interesting is that sunscreen, while extremely important in keeping us youthful and protecting our skin, can also decrease Vitamin D production.

Unfortunately, many people today are not getting enough Vitamin D and it is having negative consequences on their health. For this reason, the use of Vitamin D supplements is on the rise (and for good reason)!

Why do I need Vitamin D?

Without Vitamin D, your bones become brittle, soft, and fragile. This happens because your body needs Vitamin D to absorb calcium and promote bone growth. Even more concerning, Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to the following (and more):

Breast cancer
Colon cancer
Prostate cancer
Weight gain
Heart disease
Depression
Osteomalacia
Rickets
Decreased cognitive health

Now that we’ve seen why Vitamin D deficiency is so important to avoid, let’s take a look at all the wonderful things Vitamin D can do for you and how to incorporate more into your life!

Benefits of Vitamin D

1. Regulates phosphorus & calcium absorption
Perhaps the most vital benefit of Vitamin D is its ability to regulate the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in your body. This is crucial to facilitate a normal immune system function. Getting a sufficient amount of Vitamin D is important for the normal growth and development of bones and teeth, as well as maintaining your bone’s health and strength. If you can keep your bones healthy, you can avoid many chronic diseases processes that stem from the bones.

2. Increases ability to fight disease
Vitamin D plays a vital role in the immune system. The immune system is your body’s defense system to ward off unwanted disease processes. It helps protect it against infections and other illnesses. Studies show that it can help prevent you from getting the flu, decrease chances of developing heart disease, and may also play a role in reducing your risk of multiple sclerosis, as shown in a study by the Journal of American Medical Association.

3. Blocks parathyroid hormone & helps maintain bone strength
Vitamin D plays a role in blocking the release of parathyroid hormone. Keeping this hormone in check and balanced is crucial for your health and wellness. When parathyroid hormone levels run too high, this hormone reabsorbs bone tissue and makes bones thin and brittle. The parathyroid glands are part of the endocrine system and are located in the neck. Their role is to secrete parathyroid hormone (PTH), which regulates calcium and phosphate, which in return regulates PTH. Having good Vitamin D levels help the body be able to absorb calcium and also keeps the PTH levels in check.

4. Reduce symptoms or feelings of depression
Research shows that Vitamin D plays a part in controlling mood and also helps lower feelings of depression. Scientists found that increasing Vitamin D decreased feelings of depression and that people reported a noticeable improvement in their symptoms and overall sense of well-being.

How can I get more Vitamin D?

As we learned above, Vitamin D is available in a very limited number of foods. Therefore, getting enough Vitamin D from your diet alone is difficult. While sun exposure does produce Vitamin D, too much sun exposure is not good for our health. Therefore, many people need Vitamin D supplements.

What’s even better? Studies show a link between taking a daily Vitamin D supplement and weight loss which can be accredited to its ability to suppress your appetite.

Visit NLRxNutrition.com to get the supplements you need!

NLRxNutrition Vitamin D3 capsules are the perfect supplements to boost the immune system, keep your heart healthy, mood lifted, and fight off the flu.

All NLRxNutrition supplements are available online or at any New Leaf Centers.

HORMONES AND SUCCESS…WHAT’S THE CORRELATION?

“Planning is the key to success. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail,
so come up with a plan and follow through.”

– Gordon Tredgold, Founder and CEO, Leadership Principles

We found a study that shows exactly how important planning is to success. In fact, we’ll cover the findings which show us proof that Gordon Tredgold was right. Just how right was he, and how does this relate to Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy? Let’s go there!

Here’s the thing: That study applies to more than work or school.
Think about it… when we plan we have the opportunity to see many possible scenarios and prepare ourselves so that we’re equipped to take on the future. We plan our weekends, we plan for holidays, we plan our careers, and we plan for retirement.

It makes sense that we do so much planning. Sure, life can be unpredictable, but when you have a specific goal or vision for your life, it’s a lot more likely to happen when you plan your path there.

So Why Isn’t Everyone Planning For Wellness?

Nobody wants to grow old and feeble… yet many people ultimately do exactly that. Sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets, bad habits, etc., all lead people to age poorly and ultimately suffer through the last leg of this race we call life.

Forget that!
So we know that you CAN plan for success in life, but how do you plan for wellness? How do you make sure you age gracefully and maintain your independence, mobility, and YOUTH!

We help our patients plan to live their best lives every day. Here’s how we treat men, and here’s how we treat women using Bio-identical Hormones to get fantastic results.

Schedule a FREE consultation to learn more about Bio-identical Hormone Optimization Therapy.
WE’RE HERE TO HELP!

REFERENCES
Gray, Stephanie. Your Longevity Blueprint, Advantage Media Group, 2017.
Donovitz, Gary, and Cotten, Mandy. Breast Cancer Incidence Reduction in Women Treated with Subcutaneous Testosterone: Testosterone Therapy and Breast Cancer Incidence Study. European Journal of Breast Health (2021): 17, 2. 150-156.
Donovitz, Gary. Testosterone Matters… More! The Secret to Healthy Aging in Women, Wheatmark Publishing, 2020.
Sieman, Robert S. Live Life Better with Natural Hormone Therapy, New Leaf Wellness, 2017.

SLEEPLESS NIGHTS? WE CAN HELP!

Are you tired during the day, then when you try to fall asleep at night your brain just will not turn off? Your body’s cortisol may be imbalanced which could be due to stress. When getting interrupted sleep or wakefulness at night, your immune and nervous systems start to become compromised. This means your ability to fight off bacteria, illness and viruses is also compromised. While you sleep, your body releases hormones that boost your immune system which we need for restoration.

So, if you are not sleeping well, you may consider testing and supplementation to help calibrate your body’s cortisol rhythms. You can make an appointment at any New Leaf Wellness location or order a hormone relief testing kit to be sent to you. It is worth figuring out any existing imbalance that may be causing you daily distress. While stress may be the culprit, stress can be detrimental to your health, so how you feel now should never be dismissed as JUST stress. You may want to consider the supplements Stress Reset & B Complex to help improve your cortisol rhythm and support your daily stress cycle.

Visit NLRxNutrition.com to get the supplements you need!

Schedule a FREE consultation to learn more about NLRx Supplements and how they can help you
GET THE RESTFUL SLEEP YOU NEED!

INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS ARE GREAT FOR YOUR HEALTH!

Most of us know that a healthy intimate relationship feels good and improves all of our relationships while giving us a bit of pep in our step the following day. However, most women have no idea that good intimate relationships release hormones that improve how our entire body works. Hormones are pretty incredible.

They serve as messengers between body systems to regulate behavior, digestion, metabolism, respiration, tissue function, sleep, stress, growth, movement, reproduction, and mood. Hormones tell your body when you are hungry, sleepy, stressed, or getting a little frisky.

Orgasms increase the brain chemical dopamine, which provides a sense of well-being, even in the midst of high stress. Overall, orgasms immediately induce a calming effect on the nervous system and move us from a state of “survival” to a state of “rest and relax,” which our entire system is crying out for at the end of a stressful day. This Valentine’s Day enjoy all your relationships including your intimate ones! ❤️❤️❤️

Schedule a FREE consultation to learn more about bioidentical hormones and how they can help you
FEEL AMAZING AGAIN!

FEEL AMAZING AGAIN…OPTIMIZE YOUR HORMONES

By Brenda Lee Herrod, APRN, MSN, WHNP-BC

PART II

Some people think of estrogen as the female hormone and testosterone as the male hormone. The truth is that testosterone is very important to women too. Testosterone is important for men and women as it protects every organ and body system. Your overall well-being and life quality are maintained by testosterone. It is a source of youth, longevity, and vitality. By age 40, a woman has lost half of her testosterone production. In today’s environment, we also have a lot of endocrine-disrupting chemicals that reduce our testosterone too. They are found in personal care products that we use daily, like lotions, make-up, nail polish, soap, pharmaceuticals, and plastics.

By having your hormone levels optimized, you can feel your energy increase, enjoy better sleep quality and mental clarity, be able to achieve your goal body composition, increase your sex drive, and protect your bones, brain, heart and lower your breast cancer risk as a woman. You will be able to gain confidence, feel stronger and be more vibrant to enjoy life more. Isn’t that what life is all about?

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) using pellets is the best way to optimize your testosterone levels to achieve energy, longevity, and wellness. The hormone powder of wild yams is compounded in a special pharmacy and pressed into a tiny pellet, the size of a grain of rice. Lidocaine is injected into the fatty tissue of the upper buttocks and the pellet is inserted using sterile technique and secured with steri strips and a small dressing. The gradual release of pellets simulates the body’s natural hormone release of testosterone and estradiol. The pellets are released slowly over three to six months according to your cardiac output. They are conserved when you are sleeping, as you don’t need high levels of hormones while you are in a state of rest and relaxation.

Pellets are more convenient than other methods of HRT such as using daily types of hormones like messy creams, gels, sublingual troches, or getting weekly injections. Another important benefit is that your hormone levels do not fluctuate with pellets like they do with other forms of HRT. Pellets mimic the natural release of estradiol and testosterone and levels stay steady much longer, avoiding the ups and downs of your hormones. Hormone levels are allowed to rise higher because they are placed subcutaneously and not metabolized in the liver such as injectable testosterone or oral forms.

At New Leaf Wellness, we will work with you to set expectations, closely monitor your labs and symptoms to help you safely achieve the full benefits of hormone optimization. We want to improve your outcome so you can have an improved sense of well-being and outlook. This stage of life can be very fulfilling and rewarding when you feel amazing again! You deserve this!

Schedule a FREE consultation to learn more about bioidentical hormones and how they can help you
FEEL AMAZING AGAIN!

MOVE FORWARD WITH JOY

Moving forward and finding joy or connecting to the feeling of joy gives us hope. Having a healthy lifestyle helps us heal and move forward! Some tips to move forward from the point that we are at:

MOVE FORWARD WITH A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE…
• Eating a balanced diet. Choose a variety of colorful fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Limit processed foods, caffeine, and alcohol.
• Drink water!
• If you are a smoker, try to quit. Smoking can trigger hot flashes, weaken bones, and irritate the bladder.
• Incorporate regular physical activity into your daily routine. Exercise improves bone density, reduces weight gain, and elevates your mood.
• Stress management techniques like meditation and yoga improve coping skills.

ANOTHER TIP TO HELP MOVE FORWARD…
Balance your hormones! Hormone therapy is an option for men and women. Your New Leaf Wellness health provider will help educate you regarding the benefits and together you will decide on a treatment plan that is right for you.

Schedule an appointment to review your symptoms, medical history, family history, and lifestyle. Your provider will work with you to tailor a treatment to meet your needs to reduce symptoms, improve your quality of life!

When you are busy with your own emotions – worrying about the future, regretting the past, thinking about what others have done wrong – you are missing what this moment has to offer.

What is really important right now is living life with JOY. But you cannot fill a cup that is already full. You have to empty the cup to let new energy come in. Follow the tips above to empty “your cup”! If you are open, you can find joy, things to be grateful for, and move forward. However, if you are filled with all types of stress and negative emotions it is challenging to move forward.

Let lifestyle changes and balanced hormones help you move forward and better yet…move forward with JOY!

Schedule a FREE Consultation to start moving forward with Joy!

OMAHA LOCATION NOW OPEN

Please join me in the celebration of the opening of New Leaf Wellness, Omaha. My name is Brenda Herrod and I am a nurse practitioner with an incredible passion for overall wellness! Please come for a free consultation at New Leaf Wellness to find out how we can support you in your journey for a healthier lifestyle! You deserve to feel confident, strong, and healthy. Self-care is very important and YOU are the only one who can do it for yourself. We have so many personalized services to offer.

FOR A LIMITED TIME, RECEIVE…
• Free B-12 injections with Free consultations
• Free Express Back Facial with Hot Stones! Enjoy the relaxing, relieve your stress treatment!
• Free Revision samples with a skin analysis
• Free samples of Myers Immune Boost
• 50% off one area for Plasma Pen – new clients
• 50% off Microneedling with PRP – new clients
• 50% off Lash Lift – new clients
• 25% off Dermaplaning – new clients
• $9.00 Botox with the Glow Plus package
• Free tours through the new facility

GIVEAWAYS!*
• Plasma Pen Treatment (valued at $600)
• Microneedling with PRP (valued at $349)

*Giveaways will be drawn after the final event. Must meet with a consultant to confirm eligibility!

FEEL AMAZING AGAIN…OPTIMIZE YOUR HORMONES

By Brenda Lee Herrod, APRN, MSN, WHNP-BC

PART I

Do you suffer from brain fog? Do you complain of anxiety and have endless nights without sleep, resulting in a lack of energy, fatigue, and mood swings? Are you frustrated from gaining fat around the midsection and losing muscle, no matter how well you are eating, or how hard you are working out? How is your libido? Many women (and men too) suffer from these symptoms, as well as hot flashes, incontinence, vaginal dryness, accelerated skin aging, and joint pain. They are discouraged when told that it’s just “midlife changes” and to deal with it.

You don’t have to live with it and continue to suffer. There are options available. If you have decreased hormone production and some of the before-mentioned symptoms, I strongly recommend checking into bioidentical hormone therapy to optimize your hormones. Age-related decline in hormone production is one the most common causes of hormone imbalances. Poor nutrition, lack of sleep, stress, and lifestyle choices can also cause hormonal issues and make you feel like “crap.” In our early 30’s our hormones start diminishing and continue to plummet as we age, especially by the time we are in our 50’s and 60’s. Chronic disease can develop if left untreated. Restoring your hormones can actually slow down the aging process and prevent issues like cardiovascular disease, which is the number one cause of death in men and women. Other health issues that can result from low hormones are Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and likely breast cancer.

Often the biggest fear that people have is that hormones can cause cancer. Cancer is not caused by hormones. The elderly have the greatest risk for cancer and they have the lowest level of hormones, while twenty-year-olds have the highest levels of hormones and a much lower risk of cancer. The important part is the type of hormones, the safest dose, route of administration, and having a provider closely monitor your labs, as well as the patient’s individual symptoms. It is essential and the best practice to treat patients on symptoms they are experiencing, as well as doing frequent lab work to monitor blood levels.

Bioidentical hormones are structurally identical at the molecular level to those naturally produced by our bodies and are made from wild yams. Synthetic hormones are derived from animal parts or urine and have a different molecular structure than what our body produces. Biodentical replacement therapy can be a part of a personalized health management program, but only when administered by providers specializing in natural hormone replacement therapy. These hormones include estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.

STAY TUNED FOR PART 2 OF THIS ARTICLE COMING IN JANUARY!
In the meantime, you can use the form below to…
Schedule a free consultation to learn more about bioidentical hormones and how they can help you!

SYMPTOMS RELATED TO HORMONE IMBALANCE

Are you experiencing symptoms like WEIGHT GAIN, DIFFICULTY SLEEPING, or DECREASED ENERGY?
Frequently related to these symptoms is…hormones!

HORMONES
Hormones play an important role in our overall wellness. They are part of the endocrine regulatory system and secreted by endocrine glands acting as messengers to trigger or subdue parts of our body. Hormone-sensitive target cells in tissues and organs make changes when exposed to hormones. The hormones are broken down or metabolized slowly, but function in very powerful ways. Even tiny amounts cause big changes, controlling and coordinating activities throughout cells, organs, or even our whole body. These changes control most major bodily functions from basic needs like hunger to complex systems like metabolism, growth and development, reproduction, and even emotions and mood.

Major endocrine glands: pituitary, pineal, thymus, thyroid, adrenal glands, pancreas, ovaries, and testes.

Hormones you may have heard of: thyroid, insulin, cortisol, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.

HORMONE IMBALANCE
Starting as early as age 25-30, our hormone levels can start to change becoming imbalanced and producing effects like weight gain, insomnia, fatigue, lack of energy, mood fog, anxiety, and depression. Often a hormone imbalance goes unrecognized. We might just identify the symptoms and chalk it up to getting older or being stressed and might possibly take medications to treat individual symptoms. These symptoms and more are why too much or too little of a certain hormone can be serious.

Schedule a free consultation if you are experiencing any of these symptoms.