hormonal imbalance

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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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

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.

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!