No two women are alike
"What is interesting about women's cycles is that no two women are alike, yet when they get treated, they usually all get treated alike," states Fishman. He examines a 28- or 37-day test, which gives him an overview of what a woman's hormones are doing throughout her cycle.
"Even women who have had hysterectomies or have gone through menopause still have cycles. The key is to see which hormones are deficient and which hormones are in excess and correct the imbalance. Balancing progesterone for example, may correct the problems of infertility or miscarriages, along with many other diseases women face," declares the hormone specialist.
Hormones are responsible for thousands of chemical reactions in the body's temperature regulation, weight, water retention, immunity, reproduction and even the shape of your body. Our bodies are filled with hormones, and not just the hormones we associate with our sexual functioning.
Insulin carries glucose into cells to keep us alive, melatonin helps put us to sleep, thyroid facilitates our metabolism, HGH (Human Growth Hormone) stimulates growth and provides vitality, testosterone builds muscle and is responsible for libido, progesterone builds bone and estrogen causes ovulation and supple skin.
Reasons for Imbalance
Stress, aging, exposure to pesticides, man-made chemicals, too much or too little exercise, steroids in food, or improper nutrition can all affect the delicate balance of hormones. When the hormones return to balance, the organs and tissues can return to their proper functioning. Recent studies show that sex steroids also exert a significant effect on brain functioning. Intense hormonal fluctuations have been associated with premenstrual anxiety and peri-menopausal depression. Most women over 35 who have signs of depression are usually put on antidepressive drugs like SSRI's while a possible hormone imbalance may be overlooked.
Diet is strongly connected with our hormones. Plants contain sterols which are precursors and activators of our hormones. Women from Japan who eat predominately plant-based diets have fewer menopause symptoms than women in the U.S. Eating organic food that does not have pesticides and hormones is important too. Plastics, drugs like marijuana, meat and milk that contain synthetic hormones can all have a detrimental effect on hormones and stimulate estrogen.
As we age our hormones decrease: at 25, our human growth hormone decreases, at 35 progesterone decreases. As progesterone decreases, women begin to get uterine fibroids, endometriosis and ovarian cysts.
Peri-menopause may bring on weight gain, tiredness and fatigue, difficulty sleeping and anxiety. Then at 50, estrogen, DHEA and pregnegalone sharply decline. Women experience hot flashes, night sweats, may not be able to sleep and feel depressed. Men also have a decrease of hormones as well and go through andropause. For the last 50 years doctors have turned to synthetic (chemically altered and produced) hormones found in birth control pills to regulate women's hormones. But now the most recent evidence has found the dangers of taking these products may not be worth the risk.
What Can Women Do to Be in Balance?
# 1. Put themselves first when it comes to health. When women are healthy, everyone who needs them benefits.
# 2. Walk, garden or relax in the sun for 20 minutes. This produces vitamin D for immunity and bone health and melatonin for sleep.
# 3. Get plenty of sleep. Cortisol from not sleeping and stress promote weight gain and depression.
# 4. Eat organic green vegetables and drink organic fresh squeezed juices which contain natural plant sterols.
Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables are particularly helpful in balancing estrogen.
# 5. Cook in glass or stainless steel. Plastic can have an 'estrogenic effect' on the body.
# 6. Increase exercise, which increases DHEA and other important hormones.
# 7. Increase weight-training exercises to help build bone mass and stimulate Human Growth Hormone that keeps us young with a positive attitude.
# 8. Take time to do yoga, meditation and other relaxation exercises which stimulate hormone functions, decrease anxiety and balance brain chemicals.
# 9. Read books on hormone balance by Johnathan Wright, MD, Uzzi Reiss, MD, or others.
# 10. Get saliva tested for hormone levels over a period of a month. This test examines your total cycle and is more relevant than a blood test.
# 11. Go to a health care practicioner who has a long history with hormone balancing. It is a very intricate science.
# 12. Take a good vitamin made from natural ingredients with antioxidants for food cell function, bone health and hundreds of other body functions.
# 13. Have fun and laugh. This simple and enjoyable part of life decreases the stress chemicals and helps build the immune system.
The bottom line is there are alternatives to the dangerous synthetic hormones that have been prescribed for decades. There always have been. It is up to us to be proactive and seek the solutions that have been around for centuries.
Lynn Lafferty, Pharm.D., MBA is a hormone and nutritional counselor. She is author of A Pharmacist's Secret Cures: You May Never Have to Take a Prescription Drug Again(2008).
Reprinted by permission
© Balance Magazine Winter 2007
Website: Personal Growth for Women
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