Tag: Weight gain

PROGESTERONE: NATURE’S ANTI-ANXIETY HORMONE

Progesterone is the other major hormone in a woman’s monthly cycle. It affects the brain in the following ways:

  • Supports GABA, which helps the brain relax
  • Protects your nerves
  • Supports the myelin that “insulates” and protects neurons

When progesterone is in balance with estrogen, it calms you, brings feelings of peacefulness, and promotes sleep. But when they are imbalanced or when the relaxation hormone drops too dramatically, calmness can give way to irritability, anxiety, depression, sleepless nights, and brain fog. For some women, when progesterone and estrogen plummet right before menstruation starts, mood stability goes out the window.

COMMON SYMPTOMS OF LOW PROGESTERONE

  • Anxiety/Depression
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Fibrocystic breasts
  • PMS
  • Premenstrual headaches
  • Postpartum depression
  • Bone loss

ESTROGEN: THE MOOD MODULATOR

Estrogen is one of the primary hormones involved in a woman’s menstrual cycle. When estrogen levels are healthy and balanced, it helps optimize neurotransmitter production and brain function so you feel good all month long. When estrogen levels are off, it causes problems.

Too much estrogen in relation to progesterone can lead to a condition called estrogen dominance. This causes the gentle monthly hormonal rise and fall to turn into a series of intense spikes and dramatic drop-offs that disrupt important brain processes and make you anxious and irritable.

Too little estrogen leads to feeling depressed and confused. The loss of estrogen also hinders critical thinking, short-term memory, and other cognitive functions. These problems can worsen during perimenopause when estrogen levels can fluctuate wildly and during menopause when the hormone drops and stays low.

COMMON SYMPTOMS OF ESTROGEN IMBALANCES

ESTROGEN DOMINANCE
• Mood swings, depression
• Fatigue
• Sluggish metabolism
• Low libido
• Headaches or migraines
• Brain fog, memory loss
• Weight gain, especially in the belly and hips
• Thyroid dysfunction
• Sleep disturbances
• Fibrocystic breasts
• Bloating
• Vaginal or oral yeast (thrush)
• Heavy bleeding
• Carbohydrate cravings

LOW ESTROGEN
• Mood changes, depression, weepiness
• Fatigue
• Heart palpitations
• Osteoporosis
• Painful intercourse
• Brain fog, memory loss, focus problems
• Weight gain
• Bladder incontinence and infections
• Sleep disturbances
• Pain
• Hot flashes

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

The Benefits of Estradiol

Estradiol protects the nervous system from the body’s fight against its effort to detoxify free radicals that damage all components of the cell, including proteins, lipids, and DNA. This stress is increased without estradiol, causing the toxic effects of free radicals, and is dangerous to the central nervous system. The consequences of being without the protection of estradiol may be neurodegenerative diseases including gene mutations, chronic fatigue syndrome, heart and blood vessels disorders, heart failures, heart attacks and inflammatory diseases. Further insults on the body come from disruptions in normal mechanisms of cellular signaling, which may cause cancer, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s atherosclerosis, fragile X syndrome, Sickle Cell Disease, lichen planus, vitiligo, autism, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

“Estrogen replacement therapy is associated with improvement of cognitive deficits and reduced incidence of Alzheimer’s disease.”

The beneficial effects of bio-identical estradiol was touted in an article published by The Endocrine Society in 2002: “Estrogen replacement therapy is associated with improvement of cognitive deficits and reduced incidence of Alzheimer’s disease. This combination, protected against glutamate toxicity. Without becoming too complicated, glutamate is a neurotransmitter. It is especially important in the brain to keep us thinking and remembering. Having just the right amount is paramount. Too much glutamate is toxic to the brain and results in memory loss and eventually Alzheimer’s. Estradiol and progesterone ,that are natural to humans, protect the brain from excess glutamate.

Check your levels TODAY
for healthy cognitive processes TOMORROW!

How does hormone health impact your immune system?

With all of us trying to stay healthy and avoid getting sick, it seems like everyone is willing to try anything to strengthen their immune system for better protection from disease. Many adopt a healthy lifestyle by eating better and getting more exercise. Others stock up on supplements. And some try getting more sleep. But few people realize that all of these habits may not be enough if your hormones are unbalanced. That’s because your hormones have a direct effect on the strength of your immune system. See, balanced hormones equal better immunity. If you’re experiencing hormonal imbalance, it’s more important than ever to discover the root and the remedy to keep your immune system strong and tip the scales in favor of better health. 

The Balancing Act Between Hormones and Your Immunity

So how do your hormones affect your health and your life? Well, hormones are chemical messengers produced by your body that regulate many processes, from your mood and your energy level, to your blood pressure, appetite, sex drive, physical performance—and yes, your immune system. As a result, hormones control how you feel and function.

The Impact of an Imbalance

The hormones that play the biggest role in our health and our quality of life are estrogen, progesterone and androgens like testosterone. As we age, our body’s natural levels of these hormones can drastically fluctuate. This sudden shift can also result from menopause, obesity and other medical conditions.

No matter the cause, the result is a hormonal imbalance that completely disrupts the many processes that your hormones normally control. That’s why so many women and men that have a hormonal imbalance experience fatigue, weight gain, mood swings, loss of sex drive, lack of strength—and yes, a weakened immune system which leaves you more likely to feel run down and makes it harder to stay healthy.

Don’t Get Mad, Get Even

You should never ignore a hormonal imbalance. Not only because the symptoms are too uncomfortable to ignore, but because one of the processes it impacts and impairs is your immune system. And the longer your hormones are out of whack, the harder they are to get back in sync. So if you’re trying to boost your immunity but your hormones are unbalanced, you can take an alphabet of vitamin supplements or completely change your lifestyle, but nothing you do may do any good.

Help for Hormonal Imbalance

If you’re worried about a hormonal imbalance, you need to speak to a healthcare provider, like New Leaf Wellness, to discuss your different options. One possible and popular treatment is hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Several studies support its benefits, with research showing that estrogen plays an important role in a woman’s immune response, along with medical evidence that HRT can reverse the hormonal changes that women naturally face after menopause. Another alternative is nutrient IV therapy, which infuses high doses of vitamins and minerals directly into your bloodstream to help support and strengthen your immune system. But only your New Leaf Wellness provider can help you find the remedy that’s right for you.

Take the Next Step

By getting to the root of the issue and getting your hormones back in balance, you will be able to get your immune system and your life back on track. Set up a FREE consult today!

New Leaf Wellness offers comprehensive, individualized, and a healing approach to total wellness and age management. By focusing on customized medicine, New Leaf Wellness helps patients earlier in the aging process in order to help prevent, rather than treat age-related issues. Dr Robert Sieman, Medical Director, is dedicated to helping patients identify the root causes of any issues in order to restore the body to its peak performance, alleviate symptoms and ultimately, reverse the effects of aging and prevent age-related diseases. New Leaf Wellness creates personalized treatment plans with proven, effective and safe anti-aging solutions that include highly advanced testing, bioidentical hormone therapy, nutrient therapy, sexual health programs, medical aesthetics, weight loss and much more.

Effects of Low Estrogen

Estrogen is an essential hormone so the effects can be quite wide-ranging. Learn about just what all the effects are of low estrogen.

Symptoms of low estrogen may include the following:

  • Irregular periods: Estrogen is one of the main hormones driving the menstrual cycle. Low estrogen may lead to missed or irregular periods.
  • Infertility: Low estrogen levels can prevent ovulation and make getting pregnant difficult, leading to infertility.
  • Weak bones: Estrogen helps keep the bones healthful and strong. As estrogen levels decrease, bone loss may occur. For example, women who are post-menopausal are at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis and bone fractures.
  • Painful intercourse: Estrogen can affect vaginal lubrication. If levels become too low, vaginal dryness can occur, which often leads to painful sex.
  • Hot flashes: Hot flashes often happen during menopause due to low estrogen levels.
  • Depression: Estrogen is thought to increase serotonin, which is a chemical in the brain that boosts mood. Estrogen deficiency may cause a decline in serotonin that contributes to mood swings or depression.
  • Increase in urinary tract infections: Increased urinary tract infections may occur due to the thinning of the tissue in the urethra, which can develop with decreased estrogen.

See What Our Patients’ Are Saying About Their Experience With Our Comprehensive Natural Hormone Therapy Program >>

Effect on Weight

Hormones including estrogen can play a role in weight management and how much fat the body stores. Low estrogen levels, such as during perimenopause and menopause, may contribute to weight gain.

The areas where women store fat may also change during menopause. Typically, women store fat in their hips and thighs. But that changes as estrogen levels drop. According to the Journal of Climacteric, the decrease in estrogen at midlife is associated with an increase in abdominal fat.

Although weight gain due to low estrogen levels is typical, it does not have to be inevitable. Eating a healthful diet and getting regular exercise can help women reduce their chances of weight gain.

“I always wondered why at such a young age my energy, concentration, and libido were so low. How could a 25 year old not have any desire?! Natural Hormone Therapy saved my sanity. I no longer wondered why I was different. Knowing that other women and men struggled with the same issues was comforting. I have never doubted the effectiveness of NHT. This is one aspect of my life I will never give up. I hope other men and women can find what I was looking for at New Leaf.”

– Amanda L., New Leaf Wellness Patient

Diagnosis

A diagnosis of low estrogen often starts with a physical exam, medical history, and a review of symptoms. Telltale indicators of low estrogen include hot flashes and missed periods. But some of these symptoms can also occur as a result of other conditions, including thyroid problems.

To determine the cause of low estrogen, New Leaf Wellness does a blood test to check hormone levels. The Provider may also recommend additional tests to rule out other conditions that might be causing symptoms similar to low estrogen.

What Should You Do Now?

Don’t wait. Contact us today and start living your best life. Fill out the form below to schedule an appointment with us.

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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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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.

Is Your Food Making You Sick?

Are you suffering from a stubborn health problem that will not go away no matter what you try? Have you left the doctor’s office feeling like are not any closer to relief? Or perhaps the medications and treatments you are taking are not actually getting at the root cause of your illness but addressing the symptoms you are experiencing? Bottomline, is your food making you sick?

What You Need To Know

If you feel this way, or know someone that does, consider some important facts:

  • Medical research has shown that sensitivities to food and food-chemicals can be involved in a wide array of painful symptoms and chronic health problems.
  • Sensitivities are a type of inflammatory reactions that is entirely different than food allergy and most doctors are unaware they are different.
  • If foods and additives in your diet are contributing to your illness, whatever medications you take will ultimately fail because they only mask the symptoms. They don’t treat the underlying cause of the symptoms – hidden inflammation caused by sensitivity reactions to foods and food-chemicals.
  • And as is too often the case, many medications have side effects that can lead to other health problems.
If food sensitivities are causing your illness, and you do not properly address them, you could easily end up suffering for many years, spending thousands of dollars for treatments that will never work the way you want. You are not alone. Unfortunately, this is the experience of millions of Americans who have mis-diagnosed or neglected food sensitivities.

Questions To Ask Yourself

  • Are you not feeling the full effects of Natural Hormone Therapy?
  • Do you have low energy and fatigue?
  • Do you have joint pain and achiness (including headaches)?
  • Are you seeing an increase in weight gain?
  • Are you suffering from impaired memory or brain fog?
The above are all signs of INFLAMMATION.
“Now, let me tell you about the New Leaf Food Sensitivity Test. I lost weight on the New Leaf Weight Loss programs, but some of the pounds had inched back on and I couldn’t figure out why. That’s when I took the Food Sensitivity Test and found out there were 35 foods I shouldn’t be eating. I’ve lost 15 pounds since making the change…1 pound per week!”
– Bonnie Lucas, WHO Radio Host & New Leaf Wellness Patient, see more
We may be ingesting foods that cause low to severe levels of inflammation. Actually, food sensitivities lead to imbalances in the gut, these sensitivities may or may not manifest a symptom right away (some reactions can be delayed up to 7 days after consumption, making it very hard to pinpoint what the sensitivity is to). Therefore, food is medicine and you can start to heal your endocrine system through nutrition. You first have to identify and remove any barriers that are preventing your body from healing and creating balance.
A good place to start is with a food sensitivity test to see what foods are causing inflammation in your body.

Follow Up Treatment:

Follow the Dr’s recommendation on the elimination diet. Test yearly for the latest information on what is causing inflammation in your body. Be sure you are getting your follow up tests completed and you will not have chronic health problems due to inflammation caused by sensitivities of food.