Hi everyone,

I wanted to share our exciting news - we welcomed Isla Jane Donald into our family on August 22. Our family is doing really well and Isla is a happy and healthy baby. A lot of people have been asking about her name. It's pronounced "eye-la", has Scottish origins, and means island.

Angela

Introduction

A hormone is a chemical released by a cell in one part of the body that sends out messages affecting cells in other parts of the body. It is essentially a chemical messenger that transports a signal from one cell to another. A hormone imbalance is when there is too little or too much of a particular hormone in one's body.

Hormones play a vital role in every woman’s health and well-being. When hormone levels fluctuate, this can affect mood, energy, sexual desire, fertility, ovulation, among other things. Hormonal balance is essential for good health and immunity. There are very effective ways to treat hormonal imbalance. However, a proper diagnosis must be established to determine the best treatment options to correct it.

It is for this reason that I’m actually a bit hesitant to post this blog about symptoms of hormonal imbalance. I ALWAYS recommend testing to establish what hormonal imbalance is actually occurring instead of treating people based solely on the signs and symptoms you will read below. People are often anxious to save money and opt against hormone testing but because hormones affect numerous aspects of health, it is best to know specifically what imbalances are occurring instead of just “guessing”. Just “guessing” can actually lead to imbalances in people whose hormones were nice and balanced to begin with. Therefore, I’m going to start this post by discussing how to diagnose hormonal imbalance and then go on to discuss the potential resultant signs and symptoms.



Many women are convinced that their hormones are imbalanced because they are suffering from PMS, going through menopause, etc. When women mention this to their medical doctors, a blood test might be requisitioned. When the results arrive, many women are disappointed to find out that there’s nothing wrong with their hormones and that hormones cannot be blamed for their symptoms. However, what most people don’t realize is that blood tests are not the best way to measure hormones. In fact, this leads to hormonal imbalance being under-diagnosed. I’m going to take this time to differentiate between the 2 major ways to assess for hormone levels: blood tests and saliva tests.

Serum blood tests are what your doctor sends you to the lab for. These tests measure hormone concentrations in the serum or plasma part of the blood. Serum and plasma, being watery, contain water-soluble substances (ie. water-soluble vitamins, carbohydrates, and proteins). Serum and plasma do NOT contain fat-soluble substances. This is a key piece of information because the sex hormones, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, are fat-soluble steroids. The hormones found in blood are largely protein-bound, which makes them water-soluble. Protein-bound hormones are not easily bioavailable to receptors in target tissues throughout the body (ie. where they exert their effect). Thus, hormones measured in the blood are mostly a measure of hormones that are not easily used by the body, meaning that blood hormone levels tend to underestimate bioavailable hormone levels.

A very small percent of blood hormones are "free" or non-protein-bound. It is this hormone that is available to target tissues and to saliva. Hormones pass into saliva from the cell membranes of the salivary gland. In other words, hormones must pass through saliva gland tissue to get into saliva, which means that a saliva hormone level measures delivery of hormone to tissue (cells) from the various reservoirs in blood. In contrast, a blood hormone level reflects hormone, which has not yet been delivered to tissue. Because saliva reflects what actually gets into tissue rather than what might eventually get into tissue, it better reflects tissue (bio-available) hormone levels.

Saliva hormone testing is the most useful way to uncover hormone imbalance. For example, discovering that someone has insufficient progesterone to balance high estrogen levels or that high cortisol levels are interfering with the action of progesterone and testosterone. Once a hormone imbalance has been uncovered, then the appropriate therapy can be instituted. Saliva testing can also be used to monitor treatment in that it allows practitioners to approximate whether hormone levels are too high or too low as a result of supplementation.

What are common signs and symptoms of hormonal imbalance? Continue reading to learn more about estrogen, progesterone, and the androgens.



Estrogen is a hormone that includes a number of different compounds, such as estrone, estradiol and estriol. It is the main sex hormone in women and is essential to the menstrual cycle. Estrogen is also found in men but it is found in much higher amounts in women (especially those capable of reproducing). In fact, estrogen contributes to the development of the defining differences between men and women, which in women includes breasts, a widened pelvis, less facial hair, smoother skin, and increased amounts of body fat in the buttock, thigh and hip region.

Estrogen is also an essential part of a woman’s reproductive process. It regulates the menstrual cycle and prepares the uterus for pregnancy.

Estrogen is manufactured mostly in the ovaries (ie. by developing egg follicles). In addition, estrogen is produced by the corpus luteum in the ovary, as well as by the placenta. The liver, breasts and adrenal glands also contribute to estrogen production, although in smaller quantities.

Estrogen is important to a woman’s health, not only as it relates to her reproductive cycle. Although it can cause women to retain fluid, and early exposure through early menstruation can increase a woman's risk of developing breast cancer, estrogen has its health benefits. It can contribute to increasing high density lipoprotein (HDL), which is considered the “good” cholesterol, and lower the low density lipoprotein (LDL) which is the “bad” cholesterol, while also helping to prevent osteoporosis.

As a woman ages, levels of estrogen begin to decline. This gradually leads to menopause and this can lead to a whole host of symptoms. Women often assume that because they’re going through menopause, that they need hormone replacement therapy or supplements to increase their estrogen levels. Many women actually don’t require this method of treatment at all. In fact, some women are estrogen dominant and have too much estrogen relative to progesterone. This estrogen dominance can arise due to the drop in progesterone that also occurs with menopause, along with the accumulation of xenoestrogens (estrogenic compounds that have been implicated in numerous health conditions) in our diets and environment. The balancing effects of progesterone can be essential to resolving the issues of excess estrogen. Conversely, increasing progesterone can make the estrogen receptor more available to estrogen and therefore naturally increase estrogen levels in those suffering from low estrogen levels. Therefore, normalizing the balance between estrogen and progesterone is essential to resolving symptoms of menopause (or symptoms of hormonal imbalance in general).

Some common symptoms of estrogen imbalance are as follows:

Estrogen Deficiency
Hot flashes
Night sweats
Vaginal dryness
Foggy thinking
Memory lapses
Incontinence
Tearfulness
Depression
Disturbed sleep
Heart palpitations
Bone loss

Estrogen Excess
Mood swings
Breast tenderness
Water retention
Foggy thinking
Irritability
Anxiety
Fibrocystic breasts
Weight gain (hip area)
Bleeding changes
Headaches
Uterine fibroids
Cold body temperature
Fatigue



Progesterone is a hormone produced in the body that helps to regulate the menstrual cycle of women. Men also produce a small amount of this hormone, but it is less important to sexual maturity in men than is testosterone.

In women, progesterone is produced just before ovulation in order to enhance the possibility of becoming pregnant. The rise in levels prior to ovulation has a number of different biological effects, such as: increasing the body temperature slightly; creating more vaginal mucus, which makes sperm more likely to survive to reach and fertilize an egg; and makings the uterus muscles less likely to contract.

When a woman becomes pregnant, main production of progesterone switches over to the developing placenta around the eighth week of pregnancy.

When a woman does not become pregnant, progesterone levels begin to decline after ovulation, enough so that the uterine lining is shed. Along with estrogen, progesterone maintains the balance of the women's menstrual cycle, producing monthly periods or menstruation.

Progesterone also serves several other important functions in the body. It aids in immunity, reduces swelling and inflammation, stimulates and regulates the production of the thyroid gland, keeps blood-clotting levels at normal values, maintains strong bones, produces collagen, and helps keep nerves functioning at appropriate levels.

As a woman ages, levels of progesterone begin to decline. This gradually leads to menopause. Other tissues still produce tiny amounts of progesterone but the major source (corpus luteum) no longer exists. After menopause, progesterone comes predominantly from the adrenal glands and can be depressed when there is a high demand for cortisol (ie. as occurs with chronic stress, allergy, and inflammation). In addition, the abundance of xenoestrogens in our diets and environment contributes to estrogen dominant/progesterone deficient symptoms. Normalizing the balance between progesterone and estrogen is essential to resolving these symptoms.

Some common symptoms of progesterone imbalance are as follows:

Progesterone Deficiency
Mood swings
Breast tenderness
Water retention
Foggy thinking
Irritability
Anxiety
Fibrocystic breasts
Weight gain (hip area)
Bleeding changes
Headaches
Uterine fibroids
Cold body temperature
Fatigue

Progesterone Excess
Drowsiness
Breast swelling
Nausea
Depression
Foggy thinking
Oily skin
Increased acne
Excess facial hair



Androgens are a group of hormones that are often referred to as the “male” hormones. Testosterone is the most abundant and important androgen. The adrenal gland also produces androgens, such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androstenodione, androstenediol, and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). These adrenal androgens cause the same effects as testosterone, but are produced in much smaller quantities.

Testosterone is responsible for the development of male sexual characteristics. In normal males, it is produced at the onset of puberty by the testes and causes boys to acquire the sexual characteristics of men. In response to testosterone, the penis, testes, and scrotum grow and the voice deepens. Hair grows on the body and face and the skin becomes coarser. Androgens also stimulate growth. Not only do boys grow taller during puberty, they also develop larger, bulkier muscles in the arms, shoulders and thighs that give them their distinctly masculine shape. After puberty, the testes produce testosterone for the rest of a man's life, but in decreasing amounts as men reach their late 40s or early 50s.

Women produce androgens in the ovaries and adrenal cortex. Most of a woman's androgens are converted by the body into estrogens and the amount of androgens that remain unconverted can play a role in the development of symptoms in women. If a woman’s adrenal function is low, then it can most definitely lead to low androgen levels.

Some common symptoms of androgen imbalance are as follows:

Androgen Deficiency
Depression
Fatigue
Bone loss
Vaginal dryness
Decreased sex drive
Sleep disturbances
Decreased muscle mass
Incontinence
Memory lapses
Muscle aches/stiffness
Foggy thinking

Androgen Excess
Acne
Oily skin
Excess facial/body hair
Weight gain
Insulin resistance
Polycystic ovaries
Irritability
Loss of scalp hair

If you feel that you may have a hormonal imbalance, contact the Natural Way Clinic for an appointment and we can discuss diagnosing the imbalance, as well as specific treatment strategies.

Angela MacNeil ND, MSc
angela_macneil@thenaturalwayclinic.com

Introduction
Calcium is a critical component of human bone and contributes 1% to 2% of body mass (Institute of Medicine 1997). Because calcium cannot be manufactured within the body, all needed calcium must be consumed through the diet, after which it is transferred to the bones, where 98% of the calcium is stored (Prentice 2000). In addition to contributing to bone strength, calcium stores are concentrated in teeth and bone to act as reservoirs for a variety of functions during periods of decreased calcium consumption or increased calcium requirements. As such, when insufficient calcium is consumed to meet these needs, depletion of calcium stores in the bone can weaken the bones (Heaney 2000).

During pregnancy, the growing fetus receives its total nourishment from maternal sources (Institute of Medicine 1997). Therefore, if adequate bone has not been built before pregnancy and adequate calcium is not part of the maternal diet, maternal bone can be broken down in order to supply the fetus with necessary calcium. This means that calcium is an absolutely essential nutrient during pregnancy and lactation.

Calcium has many other functions within the body apart from being involved in bone health (Bland 1999), including being:
• a vital component in blood clotting systems and helpful in wound healing;
• involved in controlling blood pressure, nerve transmission, and release of neurotransmitters;
• an essential component in the production of enzymes and hormones that regulate digestion, energy, and fat metabolism;
• helpful in transporting ions (electrically charged particles) across the cell membrane;
• essential for muscle contraction;
• involved in the maintenance of all cells and connective tissues in the body.

Current Intakes of Calcium
Although the benefits of calcium are well-recognized by the general public, turning this high awareness into action has proved difficult. Less than 1/2 of the female population meets the daily recommended calcium intake and ironically, 63.5% of adults who believe that they consume the correct amount of calcium actually consume less than the recommended daily levels (US Department of Agriculture 2004). Furthermore, at no stage in a woman’s life are the recommended intake levels for calcium achieved (Ervin 2004).

Bone Loss During Pregnancy
Bone health can be measured in terms of bone density and bone mineral content. Reductions in total bone density values up to 3.6% have been detected after pregnancy (Sowers 2000). In a study by Pearson (2004) >5% of bone mass was lost in the spine, sometimes reaching 7%. Although some of the bone mass that is lost during lactation is regained after weaning, the bone mass only partially returns to pre-pregnancy values. In fact, the rate of bone loss during pregnancy and lactation is greater than the annual rate of loss in women after menopause (Kalkwarf 2002).

Calcium Supplementation During Pregnancy
Studies indicate that an increased calcium intake reduces, and in some cases counteracts, the bone loss during pregnancy and lactation (Janakiraman 2003, Krebs 1997, Chan 1987, Cross 1995, Kalkwarf 1999, Koo 1999). Calcium supplementation during pregnancy can also be linked to a number of other health benefits:
• reduced risk of pregnancy-induced high blood pressure (Carroli 1994, Hofmeyr 2003, Villar 2000);
• higher birth weight babies (Hofmeyr 2003, Yang 2002);
• reduced risk of preterm delivery (Carroli 1994, Hofmeyr 2003, Crowther 1999);
• decreased fetal lead exposure (Gulson 1998, Crowther 1999);
• lower infant blood pressure (Hofmeyr 2003, Hatton 2003, Belizan 1997);
• reduced incidence of preeclampsia - a serious condition that is a major cause of maternal sickness and death and a contributor to preterm delivery, intrauterine growth restriction, and perinatal death (Yang 2002, Morris 2001).

Because many women experience heartburn during their pregnancy, calcium-based antacids (such as calcium carbonate) can be used both for heartburn relief and as a calcium supplement to provide the above-mentioned benefits. Antacids are the preferred first-line defense for treating heartburn symptoms. They are used by 30% to 50% of pregnant women to control heartburn symptoms and are available in a variety of forms (Lewis 1985). Calcium antacids are safe for use during pregnancy and result in an 80% improvement in symptoms (Tytgat 2003, Black 2003).

Calcium Recommendations During Pregnancy
The Institute of Medicine currently recommends 1000 mg/d of calcium for pregnant and lactating women who are 19 to 50 years old and 1300 mg/d for pregnant and lactating women who are <19 years old (Institute of Medicine 1997). The Natural Way Health Clinic recommends 1500 mg calcium daily for pregnant women. And good news - the evidence indicates that the beneficial effects of calcium can be obtained equally from both diet and supplementation.

Angela MacNeil ND, MSc
angela_macneil@thenaturalwayclinic.com

» Read More

Do you have a hard time resisting buying unnecessary items when you go shopping, whether your weakness is shoes, home decorations, or junk food? Well, most of us don’t connect what we eat with our subsequent choices. However, research conducted at the University of Utah shows that people eating foods, such as turkey, behave less impulsively and find it easier to restrain their impulsive urges and choices. Tryptophan-rich foods (ie. protein shakes, turkey, chicken, tofu, nuts, dairy) along with carbohydrates can increase your levels of serotonin, a chemical produced in the brain that affects many functions in the central nervous system, including mood, appetite, sleep and some cognition. Serotonin levels have also been shown to correlate with impulsive behaviors, meaning that someone with increased levels of serotonin (ie. someone who recently ate a turkey dinner or a turkey sandwich) is less prone to impulsive purchases. Keep this in mind the next time you’re headed out to go shopping – eating a turkey sandwich or having a protein shake beforehand might help to keep you in line.

Mishra A, Mishra H. We are What We Consume: The Influence of Food Consumption on Impulsive Choice. Journal of Marketing Research. LINK

The Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes a low glycemic index diet including lots of vegetables, legumes (beans), fruits, nuts, whole grains, olive oil, fish, and red wine, has been suggested to play a beneficial role in improving health and increasing lifespan. A study was conducted to determine its relation to overall mortality on 214 284 men and 166 012 women in the National Institutes of Health Diet and Health Study. In subjects following the Mediterranean dietary pattern, there was a significant decrease in death from all causes, heart disease deaths, and deaths due to cancer. Specifically in women who followed the diet closely, risk reduction ranged from 12% for cancer mortality to 20% for all-cause mortality. These results provide strong evidence for a beneficial effect of following the Mediterranean diet on risk of death from all causes, including deaths due to heart disease and cancer.

Panagiota N. Mitrou, Victor Kipnis, Anne C. M. Thiébaut, Jill Reedy, Amy F. Subar, Elisabet Wirfält, Andrew Flood, Traci Mouw, Albert R. Hollenbeck, Michael F. Leitzmann, Arthur Schatzkin, Arch Intern Med. 2007;167(22):2461-2468. LINK

A new study reports that supplementation with certain antioxidants could boost eye health. Researchers from the University of Georgia found that after 6 months of daily supplementation with 12 mg of lutein and zeaxanthin, the discomfort associated with staring at lights for too long was eased significantly. These nutrients can help the retina absorb the blue light that makes up glare, which can lessen eyestrain. These antioxidants can be found in such foods as kale, spinach, and collard greens.

Stringham JM, Hammond BR. Macular pigment and visual performance under glare conditions. Optom Vis Sci. 2008 Feb;85(2):82-8.

If you can’t stop yourself from eating packaged junk food, like mini chocolate bars, leave the empty wrappers in plain sight. People who save this visual reminder of their indulgences eat about ½ as many candies over the course of a few hours as those who get rid of the evidence according to a study from Cornell University. Keeping the wrappers in plain sight keeps us honest!

Researchers at Greece’s Athens University Medical School found that people who polished off a dish of ice cream in 5 minutes had 27% lower levels of a hormone that makes you feel full, called peptide-YY (PYY), than those who took 30 minutes to eat the same meal. This means that eating quickly decreases your production of PYY, which can lead to overeating. With the way we are always rushing, we wonder why North America is suffering from a phenomenon called “portion distortion”….

Have you ever heard that you should chew each mouthful 100 times before swallowing? Well, although this may be inconvenient and not necessarily fit with our busy lifestyles, it can help decrease overeating while improving the absorption of your vitamins and minerals. To slow you down, try setting down your utensil a few times during each meal or enjoy some friendly conversation with your dining partner instead of rushing through your meal. And of course, try to avoid eating on the run - eating in the car or while walking to work inevitably leads to gulping down your food too quickly.

A new Swedish study shows that a teaspoon of cinnamon sprinkled on a sweet food helps you digest it more slowly, staving off rapid spikes in blood sugar that can make you more prone to developing diabetes. Balancing blood sugar can have far-reaching effects with preventing diabetes and metabolic syndrome, improving energy, reducing sugar cravings, assisting in weight loss, preventing chronic disease, etc. What a cheap and effective way to improve health!

Antioxidants in pomegranate juice may help prevent colds. The polyphenols found in this juice helps to kill viruses in the mouth before they spread to the body. Drink 4 ounces of pomegranate juice daily during cold season.