Tag: Hormones

Testosterone Series: Lacking Testosterone?

As you are reading this and the words on this screen are going through your mind, you may be wondering if you or someone you know is suffering from a hormonal imbalance. If you are a man or woman over 35 years old the odds are that you do have a hormonal imbalance (and this can be the case even if you are younger).

A hormonal imbalance can present as fatigue, sleep issues, an inability to lose weight, depression, anxiety, a lack of vitality, an increase in aches and pains, difficulty healing and recovering, etc.

Hormone imbalances are not just about hot flashes and night sweats, and both men and women are affected by imbalances.

The symptoms can come up suddenly or gradually–everyone is different. If left untreated hormone imbalances can lead to osteoporosis, dementia, and other hormone related diseases including a frailty and decline of health in the last few decades of life.

Most people simply feel their slow deterioration is simply a part of aging and they settle for not feeling their best.

A great case showing this is the story of Brian. Brian’s wife had great success with Natural Hormone Therapy so, she sent her husband to the office.

BRIAN’S STORY:

Brian did not think anything was wrong with his hormones–a common issue.

Brian still had a good libido and was exercising. However, he was tired and did not want to do much outside of work. He was also slightly more irritable and grumpy. Upon further questioning, New Leaf Wellness’ physician found that he was not gaining muscle or recovering from workouts like he should. He was only 45 years old but was slowly losing vitality. He thought this was normal aging but it is not. His primary doctor had told him he was fine and he had accepted his symptoms as normal.

After a personalized evaluation of his symptoms and lab work, Brian was found to have sub-optimal testosterone and a few vitamin deficiencies. Testosterone replacement for men is safe and effective when the estrogen level is properly monitored. High estrogen and low testosterone is what poses dangers for a man’s health. Optimal testosterone levels and keeping estrogen levels low help to prevent certain diseases as well as eliminate symptoms for men.

After optimizing Brian’s testosterone and correcting his vitamin deficiencies, he finds himself having the energy to enjoy his family and life outside work. He is sleeping better and has improved memory, mood and focus. He runs his own business and has found his productivity and revenue have grown. Brian is saving time and money by functioning at a higher level. He is now living his life at an optimal level thanks to Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) at New Leaf Wellness.

Check your hormone levels with our quick quiz!

We will email you your results immediately!

Hormone Quiz- FOR MEN

Hormone Quiz- FOR WOMEN

 

Adrenal Fatigue – What You Need To Know

Adrenal Fatigue Explained:

The adrenal gland is located on top of each kidney–the human body has a total of two adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are responsible for producing a variety of hormones. They produce aldosterone–which helps with blood pressure, epinephrine–the fight or flight hormone, cortisol–affects the immune system and metabolism, and precursors that allow our bodies to make sex hormones– Progesterone, Estrogen, and Testosterone. In today’s world our adrenal glands are getting overwhelmed and this can lead to what we call adrenal fatigue.

The adrenal glands are not equipped to handle the constant stress that we have today. They are equipped to deal with intermittent stress and then be given a chance to recover. But, in today’s world of 24/7 emails, texts, negative news, traffic, increasing work demands, decreasing sleep, etc we demand more from the adrenal glands. These glands are not being given the rest that they need.

Adrenal fatigue is the term that we give to overworked adrenal glands. When the adrenal glands are overworked they are unable to keep up with the demand for the hormones that they produce. The result can be one or more of the following: feeling fatigued, having lower sex hormones, a decreased immune system, salt cravings, trouble getting up in the morning, increased energy at night, an increased reliance on caffeine, and an inability to handle stress.

Most people in today’s world have some adrenal fatigue.

Treating it takes a multifactorial approach…. Ways to get started:

  • The first thing to do is unplug and give your body rest.
  • Turn off your phone alerts and check your phone when you want to.
  • Turn off your phone at night and one day a week if you can.
  • Give yourself quiet time to sit and simply breathe.
  • Avoid watching or listening to news since they over dramatize things and cause mental stress.
  • Take yoga or tai chi.
  • Ensure that you get to bed at a reasonable time.
  • Picking one day per week to recharge and completely unplug would be a great goal to have.

You can also support your adrenal glands by balancing your hormones with Bio-identical hormones. By doing this you take the stress of producing the sex hormone precursors off your adrenal glands. In today’s world Bio-identical hormones are needed by the majority of men and women over 35 years old in order to live optimally. Our hormones are depleted by the stressors and chemical toxins that are in today’s world. Our bodies need assistance to deal with this.

B vitamin complexes are helpful in supporting the adrenal glands. They help to lower cortisol naturally and to help metabolism. Beans, eggs, and dairy products are a great food source of B complex vitamins. I have also found B complex injections to be an effective way to ensure absorption of the B vitamins. In the beginning you may need B complex shots quite often, but as your adrenal glands recover you will find that you won’t need them as often.

TEST YOUR ADRENALS:

TEST – for Women

Test – for Men

There are also adrenal support supplements that contain herbs that assist the adrenal glands. Typically these are only needed for a short time if you are taking the actions mentioned above.

Blood ozone therapy is also effective for rebooting your mitochondria and this includes regenerating your adrenal glands. Your mitochondria are the sources of energy in all of your cells. IV Ozone therapy can improve your overall energy and well-being by assisting your body in repairing itself. This is done in the office and takes about 45 minutes.

Adrenal fatigue is rampant in today’s world. If you have any of the symptoms mentioned it is advisable to get advice from a physician trained in Bio-identical hormones. Adrenal fatigue is not diagnosed by traditional tests. It takes the expertise of someone who understands the nuances of hormones.

You can lead a healthy and happy life if you take the time to take care of yourself. Be patient and give it some time. Adrenal fatigue did not happen over night and it won’t fix over night but it can be fixed.

Ready to learn more >>

Morning or Night Workouts: Which is Best for Weight Loss?

Welcome Kris Wiese, fitness expert from MyGenetx today for her guest blogging for New Leaf Wellness.

Whether you are an early bird that gets the worm or a night owl that burns the oil, a workout regimen based on your optimum time of day can provide benefits. According to many sources, one is not better than the other. They both have advantages.

Morning Workout Benefits:

  • Boosting endorphins in the morning revs up your metabolism for the day!
  • Raising your body temperature helps wake you up quickly.
  • The quiet of the morning can mean less distractions and temptations to to ditch the workout.
  • When you finish an early workout, the tone is set for the day and you are more likely to eat healthy.
  • Sleep should come easy after a morning workout and full day of activity.

Evening Workout Benefits:

  • Late afternoons and early evenings are great to work off any stress of the day, which will reduce your levels of the stress hormone, cortisol that can lead to over eating.
  • Less warm-up time is required. (You may need an hour or two cool down before bed to prepare your body for good night’s sleep.)
  • Between 2pm-6pm is the peak time for a workout based on enzyme activity and muscular function.
  • If the workout is the last task of the day, you will have no time constraints.

On days when you feel great, you can extend your workout time!

When combined with a healthy diet, four workouts a week are encouraged for weight loss. If you are not sure what your optimum time is, try two morning workouts and two night workouts the first week to determine the best fit.

Information provided by Kris Wiese, Healthcare Content Specialist Director of Communications at MyGenetx. For more on fitness, contact Kris at info@newleafcenters.com.

 

For more helpful articles, check out:

http://www.self.com/story/is-it-better-to-work-out-in-the-morning-or-at-night

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/best-time-to-work-out

http://www.shape.com/blogs/fit-list-jay-cardiello/which-better-am-vs-pm-workouts