Women’s Health

Thanks to Oprah, women are, again, talking about hormones. And to my relief they are talking about more than the sex hormones AND women of all ages are talking about them.

The major hormones work as a symphony and all need to be in balance for harmony. In fact, it is difficult to achieve the good results from the sex hormones if thyroid, adrenal and insulin are not also in tune.

Hormones are messenger chemicals that carry information from one cell (or group of cells) to another. There are literally thousands of hormones circulating throughout the body and some are active for only a millesecond to do their job. This communication capacity is essential for all metabolic processes to take place. The major hormones are: insulin, thyroid, cortisol (from the adrenal glands), testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, growth hormone, melatonin and DHEA.

Safe, effective hormone balance copies nature. Hormone replacement should match the molecular structure of the hormones your body produces (bio-identical), in dosages and rhythm designed by the human body.

Laboratory assessment and monitoring of hormone levels is essential for effective and safe natural hormone therapy. Bio-identical hormone therapy must be matched to the individual metabolism. Saliva testing plays a limited (but important) role in sound assessment; serum or blood testing is the backbone of good information. A 24-hour urine test provides, yet, one more important piece of information: how is the body utilizing the hormones?

Balanced hormonal levels are essential for over-all health and vitality, contributing to weight management, emotional well being, immune function, allergies and avoidance of chronic disease.

Osteoporosis

Although 33% of women and 15 % of men in the US experience osteoporosis as they age, it is not a natural part of aging. Osteoporosis is the result of one or more imbalances in the body. These imbalances affect either the ability of the body to absorb calcium and other bone strengthening nutrients or the ability for the body to create an internal terrain to recruit rescuing calcium from the bones to restore balance.

Excess phosphorus (soft drinks, etc.) salt, sugar, fats, caffeine, alcohol and excess protein pulls calcium from the stores in the bones to recover the healthy balance that the body knows.

In order for calcium supplementation to be effective the diet must include 17 additional nutrients for maintenance of strong, flexible bones. Absorption of these nutrients requires a healthy digestive process; in particular, adequate hydrochloric acid production in the stomach and a balanced alkaline/acid internal terrain as measured by blood pH.

Finally, endocrine balance enables metabolic function. The parathyroid, thyroid, adrenal and sex hormone producing glands are all involved in managing the calcium utilization of the body.

Osteoporosis is reversible by creating strong, flexible bones through balanced nutrition, endocrine function and physical stimulation.