Acute Stress: • This comes from quick surprises that need a response. • Our adrenal gland secretes adrenaline, creating the “Flight or Fight” response. • Acute stress or “bad” stress in itself doesn't take a heavy toll if we find ways to relax quickly. • Once the stressor has been dealt with, we need to return our body to homeostasis, or its pre-stress state, to be healthy and happy. Good Stress: • "Good stress," or what psychologists refer to as “eustress” - type of stress when we feel excited. • Our pulse quickens and our hormones surge, but there is no threat or fear. This keeps us feeling ..read more

What is melatonin and the circadian rhythm? The production of melatonin, often referred to as our sleep hormone, increases with evening darkness and is a central part of our bodies sleep-wake cycles. The circadian period of sleep/wake is around 24.2 hours and there are many endogenous and exogenous factors that can shift a circadian rhythm. Cortisol and melatonin are inversely related; cortisol peaks highest in the morning and melatonin is highest in the evening. Reasons you can’t fall asleep: anxiety/stress, low melatonin levels, excess light/electronic stimulation, hormonal imbalances, medi ..read more

Xenoestrogens aka endocrine disrupters are chemicals that mimic estrogen in the body. They are found in a variety of everyday items and can alter the way our body naturally functions. Estrogen is important in reproduction, bone growth, cardiovascular health, and cognitive health. When xenoestrogens enter the body they increase the total amount of estrogen resulting in a estrogen dominance. Xenoestrogens are not biodegradable so, they are stored in our fat cells. Below are some ways to limit exposure. Recommendations: 1. Choose organic foods whenever possible. Many pesticides have been found t ..read more

Before we discuss what is the estrobolome, let’s first dive into the three forms of estrogen. Estrone (E1) – mostly produced in the ovaries, as well as adipose tissue, and adrenal glands Estradiol (E2) – this is the strongest form of estrogen. It plays a vital role in reproductive tissues, as well as bone growth, cardiovascular health, and cognitive function. This is most abundant during oru reproductive years. Estriol (E3) – least potent form of estrogen and is predominant in pregnancy. Liver is where all hormones are metabolized - so liver health is important! come join me for a liver detox ..read more

High cortisol in the body is often an adaptive response. Anxiety from sleep deprivation, hunger, and social stress are often part of the high cortisol environment. Unburdening the body, by meeting nutritional requirements, removing inflammatory foods, and solving chronic mental stress are three key factors to lowering cortisol. Addressing those three factors paired with adjunct therapies like bio-identical hormone replacement therapy and targeted treatments can be very effective in minimizing overall stress and achieving healthy cortisol levels. Cortisol impacts our sex hormones including est ..read more

According to a recent article, "Half of females aged between 11 and 18 were consuming below the minimum recommended level of iron and magnesium." Magnesium is an essential mineral responsible for a number of functions in the body. In the realm of hormones, magnesium plays a very important role in the production of all steroid hormones because magnesium is required for the production of cholesterol (the raw material of hormones). Magnesium assists in hormone regulation because it helps regulate the pituitary gland, which produces Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and ..read more

You may have heard of vitamin E as a solution for skin issues and for heart disease, but did you know vitamin E has a powerful effect on hormones and has been shown to be an estrogen antagonist? Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin with several forms, with alpha-tocopherol being the most biologically active form. This fat-soluble nutrient plays an important role in vision, reproduction, brain health, and skin health. It is also an antioxidant that stops the production of reactive oxygen species formed when fat undergoes oxidation. We mostly absorb vitamin E through the food we eat, and since vi ..read more

Which herbs can help balance hormones? We often use herbs to treat hormone issues. When utilized correctly, they can be a useful way to boost hormone health and overall well-being. It should be noted though that herbs can vary greatly in quality. Testosterone boosters: -Cistanche: Herba Cistanche has been used for thousands of years for sexual health and neuroprotection. A recent study has demonstrated that an ethanol extract of C. tubulosa (Cistanche) could increase the sex hormone levels by inducing testicular steroidogenic enzymes (Wang et al., 2015). -Cordyceps: Cordyceps may exert testos ..read more

What hormone test do you need to know if your hormones are balanced? The answer lies in what you want to learn about your body! There are over 50 hormones identified in the human body. Although hormones are similar in shape, each of them has different effects and purposes, and these arise from the slight variation in their molecular structure. There are hormones associated with different parts of the body and different stages of life so deciding what hormones you need to measure can be tricky. To make matters more complicated, doctors have different biomarkers they value. Everlywell’s Perimen ..read more

Bloodwork, saliva, and urine testing can tell us a lot about our bodies. A few insights of bloodwork, saliva, and urine tests include finding out if you have low testosterone, if you have high estrogen, if your sugar is high, if you have inflammation, and can even help determine what is going on with your thyroid. But first, why would you even want to measure hormones? Hormones regulate everything in our body. From sleep to metabolism to weight to energy. As hormone levels begin to decline over time, a wide array of symptoms of can arise. During a time like menopause, it is especially importa ..read more