Category: Weight Loss

Hormone Evaluation and Replacement Therapy

Are you feeling down and worried that you might have depression? Do you have memory problems or trouble focusing and are worried that you might have ADD? Are you gaining weight and don’t know why? It could be your hormones!

Hormones are chemical messengers produced in the body that control and regulate the activity of certain cells or organs. Neurohormones have an important impact on the brain. The human body produces hundreds of hormones, but the following four of them have a very direct influence on brain health/mental health:

• Thyroid—energy regulation
• Estrogen—mood modulator
• Progesterone—nature’s anti-anxiety hormone
• Testosterone—mood, motivation, sexuality, strength

NEUROHORMONES AND THE BRAIN

Communication between the brain and hormones goes both ways. The brain sends out signals that instruct your body’s glands to produce and release hormones, and hormones from within the body send messages back to the brain that influences its activity.

When hormones are healthy, you tend to feel vibrant and energetic. When the hormones that affect your brain neurohormones are off, you are off. You may experience symptoms that change the way you think, feel, and act in negative ways. It also makes you more vulnerable to conditions like anxiety, depression, and even psychosis. If nobody checks your hormone levels, you will never know the root cause of your issues. And if your hormones are the problem, no amount of psychiatric medications will get you right.

THYROID: THE MOOD AND ENERGY REGULATOR

The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in your lower neck that plays a powerful role in keeping your brain and body healthy. This gland regulates how your body uses energy, and it also has a strong impact on the brain because it controls the production of many neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, serotonin, and GABA. Problems occur when thyroid dysfunction causes the gland to produce too little hormone (hypothyroidism) or too much hormone (hyperthyroidism).

Hypothyroidism: Brain SPECT scans of people with hypothyroidism show overall decreased brain activity, which often leads to depression, cognitive impairment, anxiety, and brain fog.

Hyperthyroidism: An overactive thyroid produces too much hormone, making everything in your body work too fast. It can feel like you’re in hyper-drive—you feel jittery and edgy, as though you’ve had way too much caffeine.

COMMON SYMPTOMS OF THYROID DYSFUNCTION

Hypothyroidism

• Fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating
• Memory problems
• Depression
• Attentional problems
• Psychosis

Hyperthyroidism

• Sleeplessness, restlessness
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Racing thoughts
• Difficulty concentrating
• Memory problems
• Depression
• Mania
• Psychosis

5 Things Your Gut is Trying to Tell You

The Importance of Maintaining a Healthy Gut

It’s surprising how much you can tell about your overall health from the condition of your gut. The state of your gut has been known to have a direct correlation between overall health and wellness and can even indicate problems in other parts of the body. Because research indicates that 70 percent of the immune system may be found in the gut, paying attention to your gut health is incredibly important because problems with the gut can be the first signs of problems elsewhere in the body. If you are experiencing gastrointestinal problems, your gut may be trying to indicate a mild or serious problem. Here are a few of the ways that gut health and overall health are connected

1. The Link Between Gut Health and Depression

The gut is sometimes referred to as “the second brain,” thanks to a multitude of studies indicating a strong link between gut health and brain health. From depression and anxiety to brain fog and fatigue, your bathroom habits and the presence of other gut-related conditions like the rapid onset of nausea, vomiting, acid reflux, abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea can tell you quite a lot about your mental health.

How Gut Health Affects the Brain

The link between gut health and brain health indicates the state of our brains and our stomachs have a direct connection. Numerous research studies have indicated that individuals with chronic depression experience frequent bouts of constipation, diarrhea, stomach discomfort, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. This is believed to be caused by the bacteria in your gut since evidence suggests those with depression tend to have higher chances of having gut biomes that contain a large amount of “bad bacteria” or inadequate amounts of “good bacteria.” An imbalance of gut bacteria can lead to many additional side effects, including:

  • Acid Reflux
  • Delayed Digestion
  • Delayed Gastric Emptying
  • Flatulence
  • Heartburn
  • Nausea
  • Upset Stomach
  • Vomiting

2. The Link Between Anxiety and Gut Health

As with depression, there’s evidence to suggest a direct link exists between anxiety and gut health. This is again believed to be the result of an imbalance of bacteria, and it makes sense. When you don’t feel well, you can become more agitated, restless, and anxious, so if there’s a chronic or permanent problem in the stomach, the lining of the intestines, or other digestive areas, it’s easy to see how anxiety can become a chronic problem.  

3. Celiac Disease and Gastrointestinal Problems

Gastrointestinal problems are the biggest signs and symptoms of food-related autoimmune disorders like celiac disease. Celiac disease is a serious condition in which an individual’s small intestine is unable to ingest gluten, a common ingredient found naturally in wheat, barley, and rye but also as a thickening agent in salad dressings, packaged foods. In individuals with celiac disease, the immune system triggers a response to gluten, and in addition to stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation, this can also lead to physical symptoms elsewhere, including fatigue, headaches, joint pain and inflammation, and even seizures. Over time, the small intestine can even sustain permanent damage from the ingestion of gluten.

4. Vitamin Deficiencies and Gut Health

If you’re experiencing gastrointestinal issues and food allergies and sensitivities have already been ruled out, it’s possible your symptoms are related to a Vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D and it is anti-inflammatory and immune system regulating effects can boost your mood and your overall health. Studies have shown a vitamin D deficiency, however, may be linked to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), colon and rectal cancer, breast cancer, and other serious health concerns.

5. Hormonal Imbalances and Gut Health

The human body produces around 50 different hormones that are essential to the proper function of essential organs and processes. When too little or too much of these hormones are secreted, the result can be a decrease in vitality, focus, and overall health and wellness. One of the ways hormonal imbalances can manifest is through gastrointestinal problems. When the endocrine system (which is in charge of the organs that secrete hormones) isn’t functioning properly, this can also mean the digestive system, circulatory system, and other parts of the body can malfunction. Through a hormone test, your wellness provider can determine whether or not a hormone deficiency or imbalance can be the cause of your gut health concerns.

Ready to change your gut health for the better?

Contact us today to get your body back on track or feeling better than ever before because at New Leaf Wellness, our mission is for our patients to ‘live their best life’. Get started with a totally free consultation or call us at 888-728-7555.

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What is progesterone? 

What is progesterone? Progesterone is a hormone. Its name comes from “pro” — meaning to support, and “gest” — meaning gestation. It triggers pregnancy and keeps it going.

How It Works

Progesterone initiates birth by helping sperm get attracted to, swim towards, and penetrate into the deeper layer of eggs produced by the female. Once pregnant, the soon-to-be mom’s body secretes increasingly high levels of progesterone (up to 400 mg/day) to help “hold” the pregnancy to full term. Thus, progesterone is mostly thought of as a female pregnancy hormone.

But it’s so much more.

What Is It?

Progesterone is a natural anti-inflammatory agent, a brain protector in both sexes of all ages, a natural Ambien, and new science suggests it is so breast protective that some breast cancer survivors should be taking it!

Brain and nervous system. Progesterone protects your brain. Progesterone is part of a critical group of endogenous (naturally made) steroids (hormones) called neurosteroids. Neurosteroids protect brain and nervous system tissues. Progesterone is produced locally right inside the brain and throughout the mass of nerves inside the spinal cord to do just this. Progesterone production inside our brain and entire nervous system, including the one in our gut, happens in boys, girls, men, and women.

Neuroprotective. In the brain, gut and throughout the spinal cord, progesterone is neuroprotective. This means progesterone protects these tissues from damage from excess inflammation, regulates synaptic conversations, lubes neurotransmitters, and even protects outer nerve sheaths called myelin (one reason why progesterone therapy is helpful in some demyelinating diseases).

Progesterone protects brain volume. A healthy brain has an optimal size or volume. Aging shrinks brain volume, especially in the area where we keep memories and our sense of who we are (the hippocampus). Anything that protects brain volume promotes better thinking and loss of it (cognitive decline).

Progesterone therapy is even used to hasten brain recovery after brain injury or stroke. Progesterone does this by reducing cerebral edema, reducing excessive inflammation, and making the flux of minerals in and out of the brain more Zen-like. Both you body and brain adore ZEN.

Not many practitioners yet appreciate that progesterone wears so many protective nervous system “hats.”  At New Leaf Wellness, progesterone is one of 3 main hormones that Providers watch, monitor and adjust for Patients.

Want To Learn More?

We produce less progesterone as we age, so aging is a natural anti-progestin. But modern life is filled with unnatural molecules that can also block healthy progesterone signals and act as synthetic or environmental or toxic anti-progestins. One example is the pain medication family, many found over-the-counter, called NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents. Many studies show that regular daily use of NSAIDs, like Motrin, is linked to an increased risk of gut inflammation and ulcerations. Why? Motrin is an anti-progestin. It blocks the benefits of progesterone. And especially at the gut lining, as this medication is swallowed so it directly exposes the gut lining. For more information, contact your New Leaf Wellness!

Symptoms and Causes of Low Estrogen

Explaining everything you need to know about low estrogen and helping you identify if you may be in need of treatment if you resonate with any of the red flags below! Here are symptoms and causes of low estrogen…

What are the symptoms of low estrogen?

First, women of all ages can develop low estrogen.

Common symptoms of low estrogen include:

  • painful sex due to a lack of vaginal lubrication
  • an increase in urinary tract infections (UTIs) due to a thinning of the urethra
  • irregular or absent periods
  • mood swings
  • hot flashes
  • breast tenderness
  • headaches or accentuation of pre-existing migraines
  • depression
  • trouble concentrating
  • fatigue

In fact, you may also find that your bones fracture or break more easily. This may be due to a decrease in bone density. Furthermore, estrogen works in conjunction with calcium, vitamin D, and other minerals to keep bones strong. If your estrogen levels are low, you may experience decreased bone density. What causes all this? Glad you asked!

What causes low estrogen?

Estrogen is primarily produced in the ovaries. And unfortunately, anything that affects the ovaries will end up affecting estrogen production. And this isn’t for just mature age women.

Young women may experience low levels of estrogen due to:

  • excessive exercise
  • eating disorders, such as anorexia
  • a low-functioning pituitary gland
  • premature ovarian failure, which can result from genetic defects, toxins, or an autoimmune condition
  • Turner syndrome
  • chronic kidney disease

In women over age 40, low estrogen can be a sign of approaching menopause. This time of transition is called perimenopause.

During perimenopause, your ovaries will still produce estrogen. Production will continue to slow until you reach menopause. When you’re no longer producing estrogen, you’ve reached menopause. So, check your levels today!

T​est Your Gut Health by Doing the Food Sensitivity Test

All the supplements on the market for gut health nowadays, and did you know we can t​est your gut health by doing the food sensitivity test with a simple in-office process?

What’s Going On In Your Gut

Changes in the gut microbiome can have a therapeutic response which has led to the use of probiotics in traditional medicine since long before probiotics were identified and acknowledged as the mechanism of this response. Therefore as the use of probiotics grows, so to does the body of knowledge we have about the relationship between the microorganisms that inhabit our gut and our overall health. So now, we are able to realize the delicacy of our gut’s environment. In fact, negative changes to the gut microbiome result in altered activity of neurotransmitter systems and immune function which can be potentially detrimental and contribute to a number of disorders or conditions. Similarly, targeted positive changes to the gut microbiome may reduce the symptoms of and possibly even reverse certain conditions.

More On Gut Health Research

Today, links have been made between gut health and depression, anxiety, stress, even sleep. Actually, a recent study tested this relationship in mice, which provide a very useful model of our own digestive and nervous system. This study found that treatment with a lactic acid producing strain of probiotic may help to reduce stress as well as depression and anxiety. The lactic acid producing bacteria “induced region-dependent alterations in GABAB1b mRNA in the brain with increases in cortical regions (cingulate and prelimbic) and concomitant reductions in expression in the hippocampus, amygdala, and locus coeruleus, in comparison with control-fed mice” and more importantly, “reduced stress-induced corticosterone and anxiety- and depression-related behavior” (Bravo, 2011).
 

You should test your gut health by doing the Food Sensitivity Test if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms:

  • Stomach Pains
  • Gastrointestinal Dysfunction
  • Complexion Blotchiness and Acne
  • Bloating
  • Chronic Pain
  • Poor Sleeping Habits
  • Slow Problem Solving
  • Low Energy & Fatigue
  • Impaired Memory
  • Joint Pain and Achiness
  • Poor Attention and Focus
  • Weight Gain
If you would like to learn more, please contact us below!

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Have You Tried DIM?

What is it?

DIM stands for Diindolylmethane. It is a natural plant-based chemical found in many cruciferous vegetables. DIM works to create a health balance of estrogen and testosterone in your body.

Causes of Estrogen Dominance

  • Processed foods and sugar
  • Alcohol and caffeine
  • Artificial fragrances
  • Makeup and hair products
  • Cleaning supplies
  • Pharmaceuticals

Benefits of DIM

  • Anti-cancer properties (may prevent estrogen driven cancers like breast and cervical)
  • Weight Loss
  • Helps to restore a better ratio of “good” and “bad” estrogens
  • Anti-inflammatory effects
  • Decrease hormonal acne
  • Decrease menopause symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats)

Do You Have These Symptoms?

  • Hair loss
  • Fatigue
  • Headaches
  • Breast tenderness
  • Insomnia
  • Irregular Periods
  • PMS
  • Thyroid Issues
  • Depression or Anxiety
  • Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
  • Low Libido
  • Cramps

These symptoms may be clues that you have estrogen dominance symptoms and could benefit from DIM supplements. To purchase online, visit our supplement store, New Leaf Rx Nutrition Shop.

 

Sources: https://universityhealthnews.com/daily/aging-independence/dim-supplements-provide-estrogen-dominance- relief-cancer-prevention-and-more/

https://www.thefamilythathealstogether.com/estrogen-dominance-signs-symptoms-causes/

What Do You Know About Vitamin B12 Deficiency?

So, what do you really know about vitamin B12 deficiency? Fatigue is the most common symptom of people who have low levels of vitamin B12. But fatigue by itself, can be a sign of almost any health condition — or just that you haven’t been sleeping enough! Other signs of B12 deficiency include confusion, cognitive impairment, unsteady gait, numbness, tingling and fatigue.

What Causes B12 Deficiencies?
Vitamin B12 deficiencies may happen when you aren’t getting the right nutrients in your diet, when your body can’t absorb nutrients properly, and when you have various other problems of the digestive system.

Since most B12 in our diets comes from animal products, vegans are at risk for B12 deficiency. Furthermore, Crohn’s and celiac disease, weight loss surgery, and chronic alcoholism can all interfere with a person’s ability to absorb enough of the nutrients they need. Actually, seniors have more problems with nutrient absorption and malnutrition as well.

In fact, vitamin B12 is a critical nutrient that helps your body make healthy red blood cells. If you have a chronic lack of B12, your body can’t make the amount of red blood cells that it needs, which can lead to anemia.

Is B12 Deficiencies Treatable?

Most people with vitamin B12 deficiencies have a mild problem. But in some cases, vitamin B12 deficiency can have serious consequences. You can develop mental problems, including confused thinking, memory loss, and dementia, which in some serious cases can be irreversible. Low levels of B12 can also cause nerve damage and anemia and weaken your bones.

What Are The Best Natural Sources of Vitamin B12?

Animal products like meat, poultry, and seafood, and dairy foods like milk, eggs, yogurt, and cheese are the best sources of vitamin B12. In fact, honey, vegetables, and fruits are not really sources of vitamin B12, which is why people who follow a vegan diet may not get enough of it. If you’re a vegan, think about eating a breakfast cereal fortified with B12. To add to it, you can also take a B12 supplement, which is recommended for pregnant and nursing mothers who are vegans or even strict vegetarians.

Please note, sometimes B12 deficiency is caused by conditions other than diet. If your body can’t absorb B12 properly, you’ll need a doctor’s help to boost your B12 to safe levels.

In this case, describing your symptoms to your doctor may give him a clue that you could have low levels of vitamin B12. But you’ll need blood tests to confirm it. Some people can easily fix low levels of B12 by simply changing their diet, while others will need a doctor’s help.

What’s Best For YOU?

All of these drugs can interfere with your body’s ability to break down vitamin B12 from food.
For some people, taking a vitamin supplement or eating more animal products (or both) can help boost their B12 levels back to where they should be. But other people may have a severe deficiency or may have an underlying health condition that causes their B12 to drop.

Doctors can treat a B12 deficiency in several ways. If your symptoms are mild or moderate, you may start with an oral B12 supplement, which you take once a day; a vitamin B12 nasal spray used weekly; or vitamin B12 injections, which you need less frequently. Check out our products >

What’s Next?

First, give us at New Leaf Wellness a call to assess your symptoms and determine next steps. If you would benefit from some lab work to check your vitamin deficiencies, we can help you with next steps! Call today to get started to living your best life!

Adrenal Fatigue

If you are overwhelmed by chronic stress, the adrenals can get burnt out from constantly producing cortisol. The result is adrenal fatigue. Initially, the body’s biochemistry tends to react to stress in an orderly fashion. In fact, stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, which is part of the autonomic nervous system, activates the secretion of hormones from endocrine glands and constricts both the blood vessels and the involuntary muscles of the body. So, when the endocrine glands are stimulated, then heart rate, glucose metabolism and oxygen consumption increase. These responses can culminate into what’s known as the “fight-or-flight” response.

Some Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue Might Be: 

  • Difficulty getting up in the morning
  • High levels of fatigue each day
  • Inability to handle stress
  • Cravings for salty foods
  • Higher energy levels in the evenings
  • Overuse of stimulants like caffeine
  • A weak immune system
  • Anxiety
  • Dark circles under the eyes
  • Depression
  • Extreme tiredness an hour after exercise
  • Insomnia
  • Loss of muscle tone
  • Low blood pressure
  • Low blood sugar
  • Low sex drive
  • Lower back pain
  • Poor circulation
  • Weight gain

Benefits of Treatment:

  • Not having difficulty getting up in the morning.
  • Not having high levels of fatigue each day.
  • Not struggling with inability to handle stress.
  • Not having cravings for salty foods.
  • Having higher energy levels in the evenings.
  • Not having to overuse stimulants like caffeine.
  • Not having a weak immune system and more

What’s Next?

First know, you’re not alone. Over 80% of Americans struggle with hormonal imbalances, but it doesn’t have to control you. So, we have a few common questions we ask in the initial consultation in the office, but to help more people, we made a “quiz” to take online so, you can see results immediately, if this may help you. Click one of our quizzes below.

Hormone Health Quiz for Women>

Hormone Health Quiz for Men>

Follow Up Treatment:

Lab tests and meeting with the Provider should be done every 3 months. It is also recommend to eliminate hard-to-digest foods and toxins from  your diet and to have a Food Sensitivity Test completed. Adrenal Fatigue can take up to 2 years to completely heal so follow all of the Providers recommendations.

Patient Care at New Leaf Wellness

Who We Are

The patient care at New Leaf Wellness is like no other. You will be greeted with a warm smile and know that you are going to be treated with great care. Once you get through the doors of wellness you feel the compassion New Leaf staff has for its patients. Patient care and making the patient feel worthy, heard, and respected is what New Leaf strives for!

“He made a tremendous difference in my life. I wish I would have started the program years ago. Have recommended it to many others.”

-Beverly A., New Leaf Wellness Patient, see more >

10 Small Ways We Provide Great Customer Service to Patients

  1. Make sure each of our our employees are capable of making a good first impression.
  2. Keep our promises.
  3. Show appreciation and gratitude to our patients.
  4. Provide solid training. Meet Our Staff >

  5. Listen and act when our patients complain.
  6. Go above and beyond what our patients expect. Learn More >

  7. Make it easy on our patients. Learn More about Online Visits >


“I started New Leaf in November of 2014. I weighed 285 pounds. New Leaf treatments gave me the energy to start working out again and over 18 months I lost 95 pounds through exercise and healthy eating, NOT DIETING, I’m too old for that. During my 18 months I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, I was told I would miss several weeks of work and take months to recover. I missed 10 days of work and returned to the gym 2 weeks after my treatments which I attribute to my hormone therapy at New Leaf.”

-Van P. New Leaf Wellness Patient, see more >

Are you curious if New Leaf Wellness could help with your current symptoms? Not ready to contact us? That’s ok. You’re welcome to take our short symptom quiz that emails your results immediately! Click the quiz that fits you below!

Take Our Quiz for WOMEN!

Take Our Quiz for MEN!

Have Questions? Contact Us Today At 888-728-7555!

Schedule an Online Visit!

Introducing telemedicine visits, you can now schedule online visits with our physician! It reminds us of the old commercial….

I don’t know how many of you are old enough to remember the old Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups commercials from the 80’s, but they are classics. In the most famous, two young men are walking down the street in opposite directions, one is enjoying a chocolate bar, the other eating peanut butter out of a jar. Then, they bump into each other and one says, “Hey, you got peanut butter on my chocolate!” The other says, “No, you got chocolate in my peanut butter.” Simultaneously, they both shrug, have a bite, and are delighted with the results. At the end, the narrator helpfully adds, “Chocolate and peanut butter, two great tastes that go great together.”

What’s Doxy.me?

Thus, we would like to introduce the chocolate and peanut butter of New Leaf Wellness – Doxy.me. Together, we are able to have scheduling and clinical efficiency. Unlike the story played out in the Reese’s commercial, bringing them together was no accident.

How It Works

First, Doxy.me is designed for healthcare, and it is the platform of choice for New Leaf Wellness Providers for Telemedicine. So, Doxy.me securely transmits data, and patient privacy is a top priority. In fact, Doxy.me utilizes state-of-the-art security and encryption protocols, making  Doxy.me compliant with HIPAA and HITECH requirements. At New Leaf Wellness, Telemedicine complements, it does not replace, traditional care. So, Doxy.me provides a simple and convenient way for Providers to meet with patients remotely, improving the health care experience.

See Our Full Listing of Services for WOMEN>

See Our Full Listing of Services for MEN>

How To Get Started

First, go to www.doxy.me/NewLeaf There is no need to create an account.

Please note, if you are checking in for the first time, please click on the video link below. Let us know if you need anything else at 888-728-7555.

Doxy.me Tutorial Support Videos

Next, enter your first and last name to be placed in the waiting room. Then, you will stay in the waiting room until it’s time to start the call. Please enter the waiting room 5 minutes prior to call.

Helpful Tips:

  • Allow Doxy.me to access your camera and microphone.
  • Please access your telemedicine visit via a computer with a webcam/microphone or personal cell device. Please call your office if you have any questions or need help with troubleshooting.

Have questions? Speak with a New Leaf representative. Call us at at 888-728-7555.