Nutrition for Your Brain and Central Nervous System
Many neurodegeneratives diseases have similar brain shrinkage, namely Huntington’s, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease. One common denominator is poorly functioning mitochondria. Mitochondria manage the energy supply to the cell, and unless you consume the correct nutrients, eventual mitochondrial malfunction is the obvious result.
Nutrients in particular are essential for proper mitochondrial function:
1. Animal-based omega-3 fat
2. Creatine
3. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
myelin is an insulating, waxy substance that sheathes the nerves in your central nervous system. Your myelin also needs specific nutrients to function properly, such as:
Vitamin B1
Vitamin B9
Vitamin B12
Iodine
Furthermore, the neurotransmitters in your brain need sulfur and B6 for optimal functioning. Eat whole unrefined foods is needed for optimal mitochondrial, myelin, and neurotransmitter function, because while your body can create some nutrients, others must be provided through your diet.
The majority of Americans eat high amounts of processed foods, which are loaded with high fructose corn syrup, processed grains, and harmful chemical additives such as MSG, and artificial sweeteners like aspartame. Unfortunately, this kind of diet is a prescription for chronic disease and stress to the body. Not only are you getting lots of what you don’t need, you’re quite simply not getting enough real nutrients!
Less than half of all Americans get enough vitamin B6 and magnesium in their diet. More than 70 percent do not get sufficient amounts of iodine, and more then 80 percent do not get enough omega-3 fat from their diet. This, by the way, is why animal-based omega-3 is one the supplements I recommend to everyone.
An unprocessed good nutrient rich diet should include:
3-4 cups daily (equal to one dinner plate, piled high) of green leaves, such as kale, chard, in all varieties which are high in vitamins B, A, C, K, and minerals
3 cups daily of sulfur-rich vegetables from the cabbage- and onion- families
3 cups daily of brightly colored vegetables, fruits and/or berries, which are a good source of antioxidants
Wild fish for animal-based omega-3′s (salmon, sardines, anchovies)
Grass-fed meat
Organ meats for vitamins, minerals and CoQ10
Seaweed for iodine and selenium
Eliminate processed foods, grains, and starches (which includes potatoes, peas and corn).
Vitamin D deficiency can play an important role in MS, chronic fatigue, memory, loss and many other underlying symptoms.
It’s easy to make sure your vitamin D levels are optimized to between 50-70 ng/ml year-round for general health, and between 70-100 ng/ml when treating autoimmune diseases such as MS, heart disease, or cancer.
As for dosage, if you’re taking an oral supplement, it’s important to understand that there’s no dosage at which that magic number happens. The most important factor is your serum level, so you’ll want to get your level measured regularly to determine if you need to take more or less than the general recommendation to stay within the optimal range. Most people need somewhere between 5000IU-10,000IU per day and others benefit by having 50,000IU once a week. So it’s important to be tested and to work with a Natural Doctor, Doctor, Or Nutritionist who is familiar with therapeutic vitamin D levels.
Finally, Eliminate sugar, particularly fructose – Cutting out processed foods and sweetened beverages will go a long way to reduce excess fructose, in addition to eliminating the majority of damaging fats in your diet. You simply must keep your daily total fructose intake below 25 grams. If you haven’t yet grasped the toxic nature and profound health dangers of fructose, now’s the time to get with it. Sugar can contribute to the development of a number of autoimmune diseases, such as arthritis, asthma, and multiple sclerosis. It also increases uric acid levels, which leads to chronic, low-level inflammation, which has far-reaching consequences for your health.
There are many easy steps to start living a healthier more productive lifestyle with good healthy eating and the addition of some key quality supplements. For more specific information for your body always talk with a qualified health care professional.
Incredibly fast and safe weight loss You are able to keep the weight off
Let HCG help you to shed unwanted and unhealthy pounds. Everyone deserves to be healthy and happy.
The HCG Diet has become a leader in the weight loss industry and has helped millions of people achieve their weight loss and health goals. HCG weight loss has been publicized on hundreds of TV shows including Fox News, NBC, Oprah and on CBS. The biggest reason for this explosive growth is that the Hcg Diet Plan really WORKS.
The unique program at Advanced Health Concepts approaches weight loss and body contouring hormonally, metabolically and sculpturally with underlying detoxification of the body to enhance the physiology and health of every individual. Fat tissue accumulates in our bodies for different reasons which affect everyone differently.
• WITH HCG WEIGHT LOSS & HORMONE BALANCING: Lose up to 30 lbs. of abnormal fats per cycle. Patients average 25 lbs loss in 30-40 days
• For Lifestyle programs following HCG each individual is given a Computerized Scan allowing us to assess your body metabolism, organ function, hormone imbalances to maintain a healthy body following the program completion.
• We provide and do not deviate from the original Dr Simeons protocol. Dr Simeons established a reproducible and proven method of weight loss in 1954 utilizing the fat burning benefit of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin ) with 5 decades of success.
• The program includes a comprehensive blood analysis (optional for those who have had blood work completed in the past 6 months, and other tests deemed necessary by the physician after your initial consultation. Testing for hormones and common food allergies may be prescribed . Laboratory testing ultimately provides vital information for hormonal levels and metabolic health to approach medical weight loss from the root of the problem. Testing can be performed by blood, saliva, or our computerized program depending on your analysis and body needs.
• Our Weight Loss Screening Assessments are very comprehensive and can include:
Saliva and/or Blood Testing for Cortisol and DHEA
24 Hour Hormone Urine Sampling
Hormone Blood Panel
Metabolic Blood Panel
Thyroid Function Blood Panel
Adrenal Screening
• All weight loss assessments are done by Doctor on site.
• Our highly skilled team can assist you through to successful weight loss and maintenance and we offer personal email support with the doctor directly and not a computerized drone or automated site.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAMS WITH OUR FREE CONSULT AT 626-799-0557. MEET DR. STEPHANIE KING IN PERSON WHO HAS BEEN IN THE SAN MARINO AREA FOR OVER 15 YEARS.
There are many fantastic anti-cancer foods and lifestyle changes that can reduce your risk of getting breast cancer here are some simple tips you can incorporate into your life right away to help get you on the right path:
1. Increase the fiber in your diet since high fiber diets have been shown to decrease breast cancer (along with other cancers such as colon cancer) risk by up to 54 percent. That could be because fiber binds to harmful substances in the intestines and escorts them out of the body. Increasing fiber in your diet is easy: sprinkle flax seeds or chia seeds on your oatmeal or cereal or add to your smoothies, choose whole grains over refined (that’s the white stuff we can do without), add beans to soups and stews, and snack on almonds through the day.
2. Add sea vegetables to your diet. Research by Jane Teas, Ph.D., of the Harvard School of Public Health shows that rats fed kelp had less breast cancer than rats who were not fed kelp. Kelp and other forms of seaweed are full of nutrients, reduce radioactive waste in our bodies, and strengthen the glands.
3. Eat more cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and cabbage. They contain sulfur compounds called indoles, which help eliminate excess estrogen (the bad type) from the body and prevent it from triggering the growth of breast cancer. Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) is particularly powerful at inhibiting cancer cell development in the breasts. For those who don’t like cruciferous vegetables you can take this as a supplement we use Oncoplex by Xymogen.
4. Reduce animal fat in your diet. In a British study, researchers found a high consumption of animal fat was linked to more cases of breast or colorectal cancer, while fish oil was linked to fewer cases. Additionally, excess amounts of animal fat in the diet causes the production of chemicals in the intestine that bacteria can convert to carcinogenic estrogens.
5. Eat more Omega 3 fatty acids, which have been shown in many studies to inhibit the effects of inflammatory substances called prostaglandins. These substances not only depress the immune system, they weaken its ability to identify tumors. Omega 3 fatty acids in flax seeds, flax oil, raw walnuts, and fish, reduce prostaglandins and inflammation, reducing the breast cancer risk. In a study in Finland, breast cancer victims were found to have lower levels of two types of omega 3 fatty acids in their breast tissue than women without the disease. Can’t get enough a simple Omega 3 fish oil supplement will do the trick.
6. Choose organic produce as much as possible. Many pesticides have been linked with an increased risk of breast cancer. They also have an affinity for fatty deposits in the body, including the breasts.
7. Be sure you’re getting adequate amounts of the mineral selenium in your multivitamin. Research by Larry Clark, PhD., M.P.H, at the University of Arizona found that supplementing with selenium could cut cancer rates in half. Earlier research supports his conclusion that the higher the selenium levels, the lower the breast cancer rate. Be sure to choose selenium in its organic form, selenomethionine.
8. Supplement with alpha lipoic acid. This miracle nutrient and antioxidant not only kills harmful free radicals that can lead to the formation of cancer cells, extensive research by Lester Packer, PhD shows that it recycles other antioxidants like vitamins C and E to maximize their free radical scavenging ability. Research by Richard Passwater, PhD, found that alpha lipoic acid may prevent the activation of the gene that triggers cellular cancer growth.
9. Drink green tea. Green tea contain cancer-fighting substances called epigallo catechin gallate (ECGC). These substances protect against cancer by reducing free radicals. In one study drinking high amounts of green tea significantly lowered cancer risk.
For more specific changes for your body you can contact the office for a detailed nutrition program for you!
Zerona Laser has been FDA approved as a safe and effective way to lose inches in combination with lifestyle and nutritional changes. Non-invasive and no downtime. In clinical trials the the average patient lost 3.64inches off there hips, waist and thighs in just two weeks.
At Advanced Health Concepts we combine Zerona Laser with lymphatic massage (to enhance the removal of fat and reduce appearance of cellulite), detoxification, and lifestyle changes to enhance the process for the ultimate non-invasive weight loss and healthy lifestyle change. Find out more about Zerona Laser for your body with our Free Consultation at 626-799-0557.
Hormonal imbalances, how do you know if it’s Thyroid, Adrenals or Sex Hormones…here are the most common symptoms:
Thyroid imbalance
Sex hormone imbalance
Adrenal imbalance
Extreme fatigue, lack of energy
Unexplained weight gain
Depression and depressed mood
Joint and muscle pain, headaches
Paleness, dry skin
Brittle nails
Brittle hair, itchy scalp, hair loss
Irregular periods
PMS symptoms
Breast milk formation
Cold/heat intolerance (especially when everyone else is comfortable)
Constipation
Sleepiness
Low sex drive
Heart palpitations
Hypertension
Puffiness in face and extremities
Swelling, tenderness, or feeling of tightness in neck or throat
Hoarseness or coughing
Difficulty swallowing or breathing
Bruising/clotting problems
Allergies
Slowness or slurring of speech
Memory loss, fuzzy thinking
Irritability
Mood swings
Worsening PMS
Headaches, menstrual migraines
Sleep problems
Irregular periods
Heavy bleeding
Uterine fibroids
Hot flashes and/or night sweats
Breast tenderness, cysts, or nipple discharge
Decreased libido
Joint pain or stiffness
Vaginal dryness
Dry eyes
Skin changes
Heart palpitations
Urinary incontinence
Difficulty getting up in the morning
Never feeling well-rested, even after sleep
Nocturnal waking
Anxiety, nervousness, mild depression
Dizziness on standing
Low blood pressure (hypotension)
Salt cravings
Reliance on sugar and caffeine to bolster flagging energy
Problems coping with stressful situations
Frequently feeling angry and frustrated
Struggling to get through the day, but feeling much better after an evening meal
Frequent infections
Abdominal/upper body weight gain
Hair loss, especially outer eyebrows
Acne
Cold intolerance
Lack of mental focus, decreased productivity, absentmindedness
Feeling like everything’s “too hard” and overreacting to minor situations
Even if your symptoms seem to run in all 3 categories don’t worry — we can help you figure out between your symptoms, labs and our specially designed computerized stress testing which areas best fit your system, and design an approach that best fits your unique hormonal picture.
What do adrenals, menopause, and thyroid have to do with each other?
Many women are confused by the fact that symptoms associated with adrenals, menopause, and thyroid imbalances can overlap. Imbalances between the adrenal, thyroid, and sex hormones are connected by their root origins in the parts of the brain known as the hypothalamus and pituitary. This important part of the endocrine system helps control the increase and decrease of hormones released by the adrenals, thyroid, ovaries, and other endocrine tissues.
When one system gets thrown out of balance (for many women this begins with the effects of chronic stress on the adrenal glands), other systems can become affected. The feedback loops for each system interact with and affect the other two systems, which sometimes makes symptoms worse and this can increase and decrease throughout the month especially if you are still cycling.
Women experiencing all three of these imbalances can be helped with nutrient support, Herbal Equilibrium (if needed), deliberate dietary and lifestyle changes, and emotional guidance. But at our office we’ve put together an individualized Program drawing a combination of information from you, stress testing via computer and labs as needed to put together the most specific formulas of herbs, minerals, homeopathics, and other key nutrients to create an Adrenal Health Program and Thyroid Support Program, in addition to our Personal Program for Hormonal Imbalance.
For more information about what we can do for you, call for a free consultation at 626-799-0557.
Women with PCOS are typically dealing with the following:
High amounts of androgens (including testosterone), in combination with…
Insulin resistance (impaired sugar tolerance)…
Interacting in a positive feedback loop (meaning the one amplifies the other).
Some of the factors that can influence these different hormonal scenarios are genetics, environment and lifestyle. Let’s take a closer look at the hormonal imbalances connected to PCOS.
Increased insulin. In about 80% of the women we see with PCOS, the imbalance that most immediately needs to be addressed is the overproduction of insulin (called hyperinsulinemia). This situation, over time, eventually leads to insulin resistance, but it also stimulates the production ofandrogens, which are sex hormones like testosterone that we usually consider to be “male” hormones. It seems as though circulating insulin may also be one of the factors that confuses the ovaries and when it’s reduced, the ovaries often function better. In the other 20%, research suggests that they are not insulin resistant, but they are still producing excess androgens for some reason — and it’s not clear why.
Increased androgens. Excess androgens disrupt hormonal balance and produce some of the characteristic signs of PCOS. It’s normal for women to have some androgens, but when a woman produces excessive androgens, she can start to have hair growth or hair loss in “male” patterns (facial hair and/or male pattern baldness).
Increased estrogen. Excess androgens can also be converted into estrogen, and this excess estrogen in turn suppresses the surge in follicle-stimulating hormones (FSH) that triggers ovulation. When this happens, ovulation generally doesn’t occur, elevating luteinizing hormone (LH) and leading to low progesterone. Without enough progesterone, the body can’t fully support normal ovulation and pregnancy.
Irregular/absent periods and cyst formation. Many women with PCOS have irregular periods or stop menstruating altogether. At the same time, when eggs aren’t released, cysts form. If ovaries produce an abundance of egg follicles each month, but do not release any egg, a series of small cysts form that often look like a pearl necklace — hence the name “polycystic” ovarian syndrome [“poly” = “many”].
Common signs and symptoms of PCOS
Irregular or absent periods
Infrequent or lack of ovulation
Infertility
Hair growth in unwanted places
Hair loss
Acne and darkened skin patches
Central-body weight gain
Cravings
Anxiety
Depression
Fatigue
Signs and symptoms of PCOS and insulin resistance
Like most “syndrome” conditions, PCOS shows up differently in each woman, and each woman’s PCOS symptom picture will change during the course of her lifetime, too. Some women experience very few symptoms, while others have many. High androgens may cause acne, male-pattern hair growth or hair loss, or other visible changes.
Of all the health concerns that women with PCOS and insulin resistance face, women most often ask us for help with irregular periods and unwanted weight gain.
Irregular or absent periods. With PCOS, you may go for months without a period. Or you may have difficult periods, bleeding heavily for days or weeks. This occurs when the uterine lining has gotten too thick and the body must naturally shed it. With a period — even regular periods — the ovary may or may not have released an egg. This unpredictability can be very disturbing for women, especially if they are trying to become pregnant. PCOS is one of the major causes of infertility in women, affecting somewhere between 4% and 18% of women of childbearing age. (To learn more, read our article on PCOS and fertility.)
Unwanted weight gain. Extra fat cells fuel production of extra estrogen, which further disrupts ovulation. What’s more, this extra padding usually accumulates around the waist — where it can be more difficult to lose, even with diet and exercise, and more likely to have adverse long-term effects on your health, such as increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Other, less obvious clues are often missed. Polycystic ovaries (PCO) can, for example, occur with normal periods and normal androgen levels, or may come and go. Some women with PCOS do not have cysts at all.
Hormonal imbalance is variable and dynamic, so its signs and symptoms are, too. This is why diagnostic criteria for PCOS are open to interpretation — and why appropriate diagnosis and treatment are too often delayed. Fortunately, there are a lot of natural solutions for PCOS – like changing your diet and lifestyle factors — so the sooner you recognize your symptoms for what they are, the better!
Our Individualized Program is a great place to start
The one-on-one Program promotes natural hormonal balance with nutritional supplements, natural hormones, homeopathy, endocrine support formulas, and dietary and lifestyle guidance.
To learn more about our one-on-one sessions call today for your free consultation 626-799-0557
Are you frustrated by post-holiday pounds? Are you looking for a lifestyle change for the NEW YEAR? Jump start your New Year’s resolution with Zerona laser AND our lifestyle program. This innovative non-invasive treatment allows you to achieve desirable results in less time, with no discomfort and for a fraction of the cost of surgical procedures. Zerona laser is a revolutionary treatment that non-invasively addresses fat deposits by gently breaking down the fat within its cells. The body then metabolizes and eliminates the fat naturally, without any injections or incisions. Combine Zerona with our lifestyle program and change your body in less then 30 days! Find out more with our FREE CONSULTATION.
The cool-laser device used in Zerona is called the Erchonia LipoLASER, which is FDA approved for use as a fat-reduction technique. The procedure is absolutely painless, works quickly, and there is no recovery time required. The Zerona smooths cellulite and with our combined Lifestyle programs you can quickly lose that unwanted weight and change your metabolism.
Zerona Laser Liposuction works best when combined with our specific lifestyle program designed for your body and metabolism to fix the issues that created the problem to begin with. This makes Zerona a great choice for those seeking to maximize their weight-loss efforts and reach those New Year goals.
To learn more about how Zerona laser liposuction works, and to find out if it is the right body contouring option for you, contact Dr. Stephanie King at 626-799-0557.
Having your sweetheart rub your back is sweet, but it’s tough to compete with the hands of a pro–especially the skills at our office. A good massage therapist can make you feel like a new person. And now research suggests massage can ease insomnia, boost immunity, prevent PMS, and more. Maybe that’s why hospitals are making it a standard therapy.
“All of our surgery patients are offered the treatment — I call it ‘service with a smile’ — and it’s a mandatory weekly prescription I give myself,” says Mehmet C. Oz, M.D., director of the Cardiovascular Institute at New York Presbyterian Hospital–Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and a member of the board at LLuminari, a health-education company.
Our advice: Enjoy your hands-on time with your sweetie, but set aside some time for a real massage, too. Here are some feel-good reasons:
Goodbye, pain
It sounds like a no-brainer, but massages are especially effective for aches like low-back pain. Researchers at the Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle, Washington, found that massage works better than common treatments including acupuncture. It’s not clear why, but several studies show massage reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol while boosting the feel-good hormones serotonin and dopamine. Those changes slow your heart rate, reduce blood pressure, and block your nervous system’s pain receptors. Massage also increases blood flow to the muscles, which may help them heal.
A bonus: Massage also seems to ease distress from migraine, labor pain, and even cancer, as well as the body tenderness seen with fibromyalgia, says Tiffany Field, Ph.D., director of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine. Plus, the benefits may last as long as a year after just a few treatments, says Partap Khalsa, Ph.D., a chiropractor and a program officer at the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, the agency funding many major studies on massage.
Hello, dreams
Fluctuations in several types of brain waves either relax you or wake you up. Massage increases delta waves — those linked with deep sleep — according to a study at the Touch Research Institute. That’s why it’s easy to drift off on the massage table, Field says.
Nice to have you back, brain power
The Touch Research Institute study that connected massage to sleep also found that a 15-minute chair massage boosted alertness. “Subjects reported that it felt like a runner’s high,” Field says. Tests also show that brain-wave activity stimulated by massage is linked to improved attention.
Take that, colds
Massage helps ward off bugs by boosting your “natural killer cells,” the immune system’s first line of defense against invading illness. “We know that cortisol destroys natural killer cells,” Field says. “Therefore, since massage decreases cortisol, your immune cells get a boost.” Massage even seems to boost immunity in those people with severely compromised immune systems, such as breast-cancer patients.
Blues, be gone
Less cortisol and more serotonin and dopamine in your system may also mean less stress, anxiety, and depression. “We know that the right side of the frontal lobe of the brain is more active when we’re sad, and the left side’s activated when we’re happy,” Field says. “Our studies have observed that massage decreases activity in the right lobe and increases functioning in the left.” The well-being people feel after a massage is a big reason why some hospitals offer it to anxious patients preparing for surgery and cancer patients going through chemo.
Shove off, PMS
A small study of 24 women with severe PMS found that massage reduced symptoms such as pain, water retention, and mood swings. Try it with proven remedies such as exercise (and who-cares-if-they-work solutions like a little dark chocolate).
LOSE 30 POUNDS IN 30 DAYS WITH DR. KING’S HCG WEIGHT LOSS, HORMONE AND NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAM
Is hCG safe and effective for weightloss?
hCG is a natural hormone found in both men, women during pregnancy and even non-pregnant women. It was discovered in 1954 by Dr. Simeons that hCG could accelerate fat mobilization if combined with a Very Low Calorie Diet (VLCD). At that time, Dr. Simeons had been using hCG to treat obesity. It has continued to gain popularity to this day as a natural approach to weight loss.
No other weight loss program addresses and corrects low metabolism, emotional eating and cravings for sweets. With hCG you lose fat rapidly and maintain muscle mass.
Why the 500-Calorie Diet?
You are restricted to a 500 Calorie Diet while on the hCG protocol because the hCG injections in itself releases 1,500 to 4,000 calories from your stored fat per day. Regardless of your size or weight, 500 calories from food is sufficient because you will be utilizing stored fat for energy. Most individuals on this diet will lose about 1 pound of fat per day. A pound of fat = 3500 calories, so that in addition to the 500 calories of food you consume a total of 4000 calories are consumed daily. That’s why most people on this protocol do not experience hunger and some even have trouble eating the 500 calories each day.
We offer a FREE CONSULTATION TO DISCUSS YOUR CASE and our programs specifically as we have two versions to tailor to best suit your needs and what will work for your body. Call us today to find out more and start losing weight to look amazing EVERYTIME YOU LOOK IN THE MIRROR. I know that being able to fit into all your clothes is sooo important and this program will do that for you!
“I lost 58 pounds and gave up my addiction to sweets, I never thought I would get back to my highschool weight or waist size let alone give up my daily drive to the Winchells . Thank you Dr. King and Thank you for this amazing hormone diet that has changed my life. The diet I can afford but buying all new clothes I don’t know.”
Are you experiencing symptoms all over the map — anxiety, night sweats, extreme exhaustion — and to make it worse,you’ve gained weight can’t fit into your clothes? Most days, life seems utterly overwhelming.
If this sounds like you struggling with symptoms that run the gamut — hormonal and adrenal and everything in between — this article can help you sort things out. If you still have questions at any point, you can call us here at Advanced Health Concepts 626-799-0557.
Take a look at the following table and see if you can align yourself more closely with one group of symptoms than the other.
Common symptoms of hormonal imbalance
Common symptoms of hormonal imbalance
Irritability and mood swings
Worsening PMS
Headaches
Sleep problems
Irregular periods
Heavy bleeding
Problems with uterine fibroids
Hot flashes and night sweats
Breast tenderness, cysts, or nipple discharge
Decreased libido
Joint pain or stiffness
Vaginal dryness
Dry eyes
Skin changes
Heart palpitations
Urinary incontinence
Common symptoms of
adrenal imbalance
Difficulty getting up in the morning
Never feeling well-rested, even after sleep
Nocturnal waking
Anxiety, nervousness, mild depression
Lightheadedness on standing
Low blood pressure (hypotension)
Salt cravings
Reliance on sugar and caffeine to bolster flagging energy
Problems coping with stressful situations
Frequently feeling angry and frustrated
Struggling to get through the day, but feeling better after an evening meal
Frequent infections
Abdominal weight gain
Hair loss
Acne
Cold intolerance
Lack of mental focus, decreased productivity, absentmindedness
Feeling like everything’s “too hard”
Sometimes, when a woman simply can’t decide which way to go, we suggest she begin by supporting the adrenal glands and working toward minimizing the effects of stress on her body. In our experience, this will help rebalance sex hormones and minimize menopausal symptoms as a welcome “side effect.”
Why do menopause and adrenal imbalance overlap?
You may be wondering how sex hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone could be related to the stress hormone cortisol, especially since the ovaries are supposed to produce sex hormones and the adrenal glands cortisol… right? Well, our endocrine (“hormone-releasing”) system isn’t quite so simple.
The connection between adrenal health and hormonal balance originates in our brain. The areas of the brain known as the hypothalamus and pituitary are responsible for controlling whether to increase or decrease the release of hormones by the adrenal glands, ovaries, thyroid, and other endocrine tissues. These parts of the brain receive information in the form of stimulus from our environment, as well as internal feedback loops from the rest of the body, so that if there is need for more of any one hormone, the brain can respond appropriately.
For many years, your body can and will accommodate long-term stress. Yet even though the body’s stress and sex hormone pathways lead back to the same place — the brain — the stress response takes priority because it’s more immediate to your survival.
As women enters perimenopause, the adrenal–reproductive hormone connection becomes even more pronounced. Here’s why: your adrenals are responsible for so much more than pumping out stress hormones. One of their secondary jobs is to make and release sex hormones, to pick up the slack as production in your ovaries tapers off. If you’ve spent the bulk of your adrenal resources on chronic stress, by the time you reach perimenopause there’s little reserve for keeping peace in the sex-hormone camp. This is why adrenal imbalance can sometimes lead to worsening menopausal symptoms this is why many women have both adrenal and perimenopausal symptoms.
Here’s a simplified scenario of what happens when a woman who has been stressed-out for many years transitions into menopause:
The brain perceives stress.
The stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol are released by the adrenals to help the body respond to the stressful event — whether it’s emotional or physical.
This occurs daily over many years, cortisol remains continually high, and symptoms of adrenal imbalance result (see list above).
During perimenopause, the ovaries naturally slow down production of sex hormones.
Under stressful circumstances, the adrenals moderate stress first, leaving very few resources for maintaining sex hormonal balance.
Menopausal and adrenal symptoms are intensified.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP?
Over 95% of the patients in our Personal Program report significant improvement in their symptoms.
Our Personal Program for Hormonal Imbalance is a one-on-one unique approach to balancing sex hormones that is designed to optimize the ratios between estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. But supporting the adrenal glands allows for a more appropriate stress response, levels out cortisol spikes, restores sound sleep, and, ultimately, provides for more physiologically balanced sex hormones in the process. By doing a combination of supporting the adrenals while optimizing these ratios we find our patients feel amazing in as little as 2 weeks. Find out more with our Free Consultation call or email today!
Nutrition for Your Brain and Central Nervous System
