Melatonin is well known for it's sleep enhancing effects, however, its is not just a sleep hormone. Melatonin plays a major role in the integrity of the neuroendocrine and immune systems and has an effect on cancer risk when it is consistenly low for a long time. Cancer?? Really?? Yes, unfortunately!
Melatonin levels begin to drop after the age of 15. By the time we reach the age of 60, we have only about 1/10th of the amount of our youthful levels of Melatonin. If we add the decline in hormones to the mix then we see people with extreme fatigue, irritability, anxiety, and sometimes depression. The real concern with low melatonin production though is it's link to cancer.
Melatonin has anti-cancer effects because it upregulates tumor suppressor genes and reduces the concentration of certain tumor cells. In my Anti-Aging textbooks, I was so enlightened by a study that clearly revealed a correlation to "night shift work" amongst a group of nurses and their increased incidence of cancer. The connection was directly related to the low amount of melatonin production because of their altered sleep-wake cycle and working under artifical lighting all night long. There's more information to support this and here's another interesting piece of information on this note. Blind women have higher levels of melatonin and a significantly lower rate of breast cancer than non-blind women. It clearly has to do with darkness and the secretion of melatonin in the brain once the lights go out. Conversely, night shift workers such as nurses, radio-telephone operators, and flight attendants tend to have lower melatonin levels and higher rates of breast cancer. Some studies are now appearing showing that the addition of melatonin to conventional treatments of cancer result in superior results. Remember, melatonin has an impact on cancer cells.
Not sleeping? Working strange hours? How do you know if my melatonin production is a problem for you?
I now provide testing kits (saliva) that can assess your melatonin level. It's convenient and affordable and worth checking out if you are struggling with insomnia, anxiety, or fatigue. As you see, the impact of letting the problem go can be pretty dangerous to your health. Please call me for more information and a personal consultation about your needs.
To your good health,
Dr. Sonja
Customized Medicines
Dr. Sonja O'Bryan, Pharm.D., ABAAHP Board Certified Health Practitioner Diplomate-American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine: "Creative Medicines" for Hormones-Weight-Pain-Fatigue-Skin Diseases-Pediatrics-Autoimmune Disorders-Veterinary Needs. Using Complimentary, Integrative, Regenerative, Bio-Identical, and Lifestyle Medicine For Health and Healing.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
"Risks" of Hormone Therapy. The Evidence Speaks for Itself
Conventional medicine has done very little to PREVENT breast cancer, the one disease it seems that women dread the most. The emphasis has been on EARLY DETECTION, but not so much PREVENTION. That's why everyone rushes out to get their annual mammogram and does their monthly self-exam right? I answer this "breast cancer risk" question probably more than any other in my office which is buzzing with hormone information seekers these days. That's not a good thing. That's a GREAT thing!! Why? If we want to talk early detection PLUS prevention, then hormones need to be evaluated and I'm going to share why in this blog.
There are 3 primary types of estrogens that women produce. Two strong estrogens E1 (Estrone) and E2 (Estradiol) can stimulate cancer cells particularly in the breast. Post-menopausal women have much higher levels of these estrogens in the breast-(10 to 50 times higher) than in the blood. Yikes! And fat cells around post-menopausal breast cancer have been found to have high aromatase activity which essentially just fuels the cancer. Here's what you need to know. A study of 23,000 women using bio-identical estrogen therapy (customized therapy) showed a 25% reduced risk of breast cancer because of a negative feedback loop in the endocrine system which caused inhibition of that problematic aromatase. The RISK BUSTER to all of this is the "mix" of estrogens used for patients. The true magic comes into play with the third and most protective type of estrogen, E3 (Estriol) being used in an individual custom formulation. If you are producing too much of the other estrogens (just naturally), then resetting things into healthy balance by testing each estrogen is very important.
Estriol (E3) is protective in that it keeps the other estrogens in check, binding to the receptors, and giving no place for the others to attach. Estriol levels DECREASE in menopause making it important to assess in aging women. Thus the statement above about early detection and PREVENTION. If a woman doesn't have enough E3 compared to the other estrogens, she is increasing her RISK just naturally. All Estrogens need to be checked pre-menopausal through post-menopausal years. Keep the estrogens balanced correctly and you reduce risk. Here's a little reality fact for you. Asian women have 'higher' levels of Estriol than Western women and a 'lower' rate of breast cancer. They also eat very different than we do here in the U.S. which has a profound effect on hormones. Did you know that natural supplements can be used to force metabolism of estrogens in a healthy way? They can! That's why I continue to train and educate myself in these areas of womens health. Diet, lifestyle, and natural supplementation is something I often address in patients who present with labs bordering cancer risk or who have a strong family history.
But there are other hormones besides just Estrogen right?
Yes!! I will cover another one for you. Progesterone is another anti-cancer hormone in my book. But who am I? Here's what the expert researchers have found through long term studies. In 1981, at Johns Hopkins University, and study was done following 1000 infertile women for 13-33 years. It was realized that the progesterone deficient women in the study had 5X more breast cancer than those who did not have a deficiency. That should make you gasp. 5X the risk! Also point out that I highlighted Progesterone, NOT Provera (medroxy-progesterone). In patients using Provera, the risk is increased even more. It's bad medicine!! Progesterone is the only way to go on hormone therapy supplementation and you get that through bio-identicals. It's a "natural" complement to estrogen and it's metabolism. And by the way, commercial products leave out the E3. If you are using a prescription/patented hormone therapy, you are missing out on the safest estrogen.
Are you catching this? Hormones (from natural aging) and the types used to supplement and correct imbalance (treated patients) are HUGE in the detection and prevention of breast cancer.
Why do Drug Companies hate bio-identicals?
Uh, one word, MONEY! Pharmaceutical companies can't patent something that's derived from a natural source. Otherwise, we would have patents on trees, and grass, and flowers. They did however figure out a way to make money, and that was through the use of synthetic or artifical hormones. Bottom line (no pun intended), "Tweak the structure, get a patent!" Who cares if patients are at risk right? The pharmaceutical companies should have known that a minimal change in the natural molecule-like the minimal change that turns Progesterone into Testosterone, and Testosterone into Estrogen-CHANGES THE ENTIRE ACTION AND FUNCTION OF THE MOLECULE. Hello!!!
Billions of dollars were made on patented products sold to women for many years until the Womens Health Initiative shut them down due to increased cardiovascular complications, strokes, dementia, and breast cancer. The majority of problems arose from an artificial progesterone called Provera which has been found to cause endothelial damage, inflammation, and insulin resistance. REAL PROGESTERONE, on the other hand, is protective against these problems. It's the only kind of progesterone that I would ever recommend for a person.
So, what should YOU do with this information?
Get your hormones checked!!! A hormone panel can be done to address each of the 3 estrogens, progesterone, and testosterone, all of which can affect your risks of cancer if left unregulated.
Call me about your family history of cancer, stroke, cardiovascular disease, dementia and Alzheimers Disease and let's talk preventative supplementation to help you live healthier.
I'm pretty serious about what I do. Why? Because personalized therapy based on personal symptoms, goals, and risks is the best way to do medicine. It's what our team provides everyday!
My best to you,
Dr. Sonja
There are 3 primary types of estrogens that women produce. Two strong estrogens E1 (Estrone) and E2 (Estradiol) can stimulate cancer cells particularly in the breast. Post-menopausal women have much higher levels of these estrogens in the breast-(10 to 50 times higher) than in the blood. Yikes! And fat cells around post-menopausal breast cancer have been found to have high aromatase activity which essentially just fuels the cancer. Here's what you need to know. A study of 23,000 women using bio-identical estrogen therapy (customized therapy) showed a 25% reduced risk of breast cancer because of a negative feedback loop in the endocrine system which caused inhibition of that problematic aromatase. The RISK BUSTER to all of this is the "mix" of estrogens used for patients. The true magic comes into play with the third and most protective type of estrogen, E3 (Estriol) being used in an individual custom formulation. If you are producing too much of the other estrogens (just naturally), then resetting things into healthy balance by testing each estrogen is very important.
Estriol (E3) is protective in that it keeps the other estrogens in check, binding to the receptors, and giving no place for the others to attach. Estriol levels DECREASE in menopause making it important to assess in aging women. Thus the statement above about early detection and PREVENTION. If a woman doesn't have enough E3 compared to the other estrogens, she is increasing her RISK just naturally. All Estrogens need to be checked pre-menopausal through post-menopausal years. Keep the estrogens balanced correctly and you reduce risk. Here's a little reality fact for you. Asian women have 'higher' levels of Estriol than Western women and a 'lower' rate of breast cancer. They also eat very different than we do here in the U.S. which has a profound effect on hormones. Did you know that natural supplements can be used to force metabolism of estrogens in a healthy way? They can! That's why I continue to train and educate myself in these areas of womens health. Diet, lifestyle, and natural supplementation is something I often address in patients who present with labs bordering cancer risk or who have a strong family history.
But there are other hormones besides just Estrogen right?
Yes!! I will cover another one for you. Progesterone is another anti-cancer hormone in my book. But who am I? Here's what the expert researchers have found through long term studies. In 1981, at Johns Hopkins University, and study was done following 1000 infertile women for 13-33 years. It was realized that the progesterone deficient women in the study had 5X more breast cancer than those who did not have a deficiency. That should make you gasp. 5X the risk! Also point out that I highlighted Progesterone, NOT Provera (medroxy-progesterone). In patients using Provera, the risk is increased even more. It's bad medicine!! Progesterone is the only way to go on hormone therapy supplementation and you get that through bio-identicals. It's a "natural" complement to estrogen and it's metabolism. And by the way, commercial products leave out the E3. If you are using a prescription/patented hormone therapy, you are missing out on the safest estrogen.
Are you catching this? Hormones (from natural aging) and the types used to supplement and correct imbalance (treated patients) are HUGE in the detection and prevention of breast cancer.
Why do Drug Companies hate bio-identicals?
Uh, one word, MONEY! Pharmaceutical companies can't patent something that's derived from a natural source. Otherwise, we would have patents on trees, and grass, and flowers. They did however figure out a way to make money, and that was through the use of synthetic or artifical hormones. Bottom line (no pun intended), "Tweak the structure, get a patent!" Who cares if patients are at risk right? The pharmaceutical companies should have known that a minimal change in the natural molecule-like the minimal change that turns Progesterone into Testosterone, and Testosterone into Estrogen-CHANGES THE ENTIRE ACTION AND FUNCTION OF THE MOLECULE. Hello!!!
Billions of dollars were made on patented products sold to women for many years until the Womens Health Initiative shut them down due to increased cardiovascular complications, strokes, dementia, and breast cancer. The majority of problems arose from an artificial progesterone called Provera which has been found to cause endothelial damage, inflammation, and insulin resistance. REAL PROGESTERONE, on the other hand, is protective against these problems. It's the only kind of progesterone that I would ever recommend for a person.
So, what should YOU do with this information?
Get your hormones checked!!! A hormone panel can be done to address each of the 3 estrogens, progesterone, and testosterone, all of which can affect your risks of cancer if left unregulated.
Call me about your family history of cancer, stroke, cardiovascular disease, dementia and Alzheimers Disease and let's talk preventative supplementation to help you live healthier.
I'm pretty serious about what I do. Why? Because personalized therapy based on personal symptoms, goals, and risks is the best way to do medicine. It's what our team provides everyday!
My best to you,
Dr. Sonja
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Thursday, January 31, 2013
The Link: Anxiety, Depression, Hot Flashes, and Hormones
This BLOG will be very popular, I can guarantee. Why? Because anxiety, panic attacks, and depression are so common to hear about in our society today and I see the prescriptions for antidepressants and anti-anxiety growing like never before. These are such common concerns for me to hear in my consultations with women as they come in seeking answers for what they think might be hormonal imbalance. It's interesting to me now after all of these years in this field, that even psychiatrists and psychologists are referring patients for hormone evaluations in addition to general practitioners and OB/Gyn's. That's a good thing and I hope you see why after reading this article.
So that you can relate, I will give you a scenario that might help you understand the link of anxiety, panic attacks, and depression to hormone imbalance.
53 year old Sue suffered from anxiety and panic attacks and had been prescribed Valium, Effexor, and Wellbutrin throughout the years by her primary care doctor. This "mix" of medicines was causing side effects so she stopped taking them. (Thankfully not immediately which is never a good thing to do if you are taking antidepressants). A couple of years ago she went through menopause and started noticing that the anxiety attacks were precipitating hot flashes. Sue tested her hormones and it was obvious that her estrogen and progesterone was low. Her symptoms were promptly relieved with bio-identical hormone therapy. It wasn't enough just to do that though, Sue needed some vitamin and mineral guidance and was started on B12 and magnesium supplements along with some other menopause busting naturals to provide restoration and balance in the whole. Six weeks later she was sleeping better, her anxiety was virtually non-existent, and she reported better clarity of mind. Oh, and her night sweats and hot flashes had resolved as well. Sue was a new woman!
A study published in 2005 Menopause reported that anxiety is STRONGLY associated with menopausal hot flashes, and usually precedes the hot flash episode. Numerous articles summarize the medical literature showing that low estrogen and progesterone levels cause anxiety and depression in humans.
How does estrogen help? What is the mechanism?
Estrogen receptors have been found in the brain, and estrogen increases the expression of an enzyme called tryptophan hydroxylase-2. This enzyme converts tryptophan to SEROTONIN, an important neurotransmitter which has an anti-anxiety and calming effect in the brain. It also helps with mood stabilization and is the magic neurotransmitter that is restored through most prescription anti-depressants. Long story short, the serotonin can often be reestablished in the brain by using bio-identical hormones and natural supplements instead of heading directly into the medical chart with a diagnosis of depression and anxiety. Estrogen makes things happen in the brain.
How does progesterone help? Progesterone helps to stimulate the GABA receptor in the brain. It's a calming neurotransmitter and is always under suspicion by me when a person says they don't sleep well and they are anxious all the time. Progesterone also converts to estrogen which can provide an additional benefit in restoring states of estrogen deficiency.
Each person I meet is at a different stage in their life, they have different concerns and symptoms, and often need different approaches to their care. Whether it's a young woman struggling with horrible PMS, a "40 something" woman struggling with depression, or a post-menopausal woman struggling with anxiety, the approach is the same. They each need to have their hormones evaluated.
The testing is simple and affordable, can be done from your own home, and is strongly recommended if you can relate to any part of this post. I love helping people in this area of medicine, in case you haven't noticed.(smile) I also love helping myself, because hey, I'm an aging woman just like everyone else and I practice what I preach. I'm fielding calls from all over the U.S. these days which is exciting to see. Hormones are getting a lot of attention and I think we are turning the corner in the traditional healthcare model. Hopefully when you go in to discuss this with your personal physician, you will get the attention you deserve on this topic. A pat answer of "oh, you're just getting older" or "oh, everything is normal" should never be accepted when you know there is something more significant going on inside your body.
Please don't hesitate to call me or my staff if you want more information on how to test your hormones and how to get treated.
To your good health,
Dr. Sonja
So that you can relate, I will give you a scenario that might help you understand the link of anxiety, panic attacks, and depression to hormone imbalance.
53 year old Sue suffered from anxiety and panic attacks and had been prescribed Valium, Effexor, and Wellbutrin throughout the years by her primary care doctor. This "mix" of medicines was causing side effects so she stopped taking them. (Thankfully not immediately which is never a good thing to do if you are taking antidepressants). A couple of years ago she went through menopause and started noticing that the anxiety attacks were precipitating hot flashes. Sue tested her hormones and it was obvious that her estrogen and progesterone was low. Her symptoms were promptly relieved with bio-identical hormone therapy. It wasn't enough just to do that though, Sue needed some vitamin and mineral guidance and was started on B12 and magnesium supplements along with some other menopause busting naturals to provide restoration and balance in the whole. Six weeks later she was sleeping better, her anxiety was virtually non-existent, and she reported better clarity of mind. Oh, and her night sweats and hot flashes had resolved as well. Sue was a new woman!
A study published in 2005 Menopause reported that anxiety is STRONGLY associated with menopausal hot flashes, and usually precedes the hot flash episode. Numerous articles summarize the medical literature showing that low estrogen and progesterone levels cause anxiety and depression in humans.
How does estrogen help? What is the mechanism?
Estrogen receptors have been found in the brain, and estrogen increases the expression of an enzyme called tryptophan hydroxylase-2. This enzyme converts tryptophan to SEROTONIN, an important neurotransmitter which has an anti-anxiety and calming effect in the brain. It also helps with mood stabilization and is the magic neurotransmitter that is restored through most prescription anti-depressants. Long story short, the serotonin can often be reestablished in the brain by using bio-identical hormones and natural supplements instead of heading directly into the medical chart with a diagnosis of depression and anxiety. Estrogen makes things happen in the brain.
How does progesterone help? Progesterone helps to stimulate the GABA receptor in the brain. It's a calming neurotransmitter and is always under suspicion by me when a person says they don't sleep well and they are anxious all the time. Progesterone also converts to estrogen which can provide an additional benefit in restoring states of estrogen deficiency.
Each person I meet is at a different stage in their life, they have different concerns and symptoms, and often need different approaches to their care. Whether it's a young woman struggling with horrible PMS, a "40 something" woman struggling with depression, or a post-menopausal woman struggling with anxiety, the approach is the same. They each need to have their hormones evaluated.
The testing is simple and affordable, can be done from your own home, and is strongly recommended if you can relate to any part of this post. I love helping people in this area of medicine, in case you haven't noticed.(smile) I also love helping myself, because hey, I'm an aging woman just like everyone else and I practice what I preach. I'm fielding calls from all over the U.S. these days which is exciting to see. Hormones are getting a lot of attention and I think we are turning the corner in the traditional healthcare model. Hopefully when you go in to discuss this with your personal physician, you will get the attention you deserve on this topic. A pat answer of "oh, you're just getting older" or "oh, everything is normal" should never be accepted when you know there is something more significant going on inside your body.
Please don't hesitate to call me or my staff if you want more information on how to test your hormones and how to get treated.
To your good health,
Dr. Sonja
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Is It All In Your Head?
Read these health concerns and if you notice anything that affects you personally, read on. If not, then have a great day and archive this BLOG in your records for later or pass it along to a struggling friend. The mind truly is a beautiful thing, WHEN it operates properly. You'll see what I mean.
Do you suffer from?
Poor sleep, Fatigue, Anxiety, Low Mood, Attention Difficulties, Restless Leg Syndrome, Excess Energy, Cravings, Intestinal Complaints, Poor Cognitive Function, Weight Management Difficulties, Excess Stress, Headaches, or Immune Issues. Then let me tell you, the answer to your health concerns truly could be ALL IN YOUR HEAD!!
One of the greatest areas of interest in my studies throughout the years has been the neurological and psychological aspects of health and wellness and their connection to each other. Depression, Schizophrenia, Parkinsons, Bipolar Disorder, Attention Deficit, and other neurotransmitter mediated disorders are fascinating to me. And not only "diagnosis" driven interests, but also just the everyday things that people struggle with (like those listed above). The mapping of the brain, the production or lack of neurotransmitters, and the influence of cofactors (vitamins/enzymes/genetics) ALL play in to the connection of your mind to your body. So much that I have been absolutely determined to find a way to truly test what people have been expressing to me in my office all of these years. Read on and you'll understand why.
See where you fit in terms of how YOUR brain is wired. There are 4 major neurotransmitters that make us who we are. Literally!
1. Acetylcholine (brain speed) People: This defines about 17% of the worlds population. You are more likely adept at working with your senses and viewing the world in sensory terms. You are creative, a quick thinker, have great intuition, and often sociable and charismatic.
2. Dopamine (brain power) People: Also 17% of the worlds population. You tend to be confident, extremely rational, enjoy facts and figures more than emotions and feelings, and have a very driven personality.
3. GABA (brain rhythm) People: Almost 50% of the worlds population, thank goodness. (smile) You are most likely a very stable person, very traditional, a team player, very dependable, and calm most of the time.
4. Serotonin (brain mood and synchrony) People: 17% of people who really know how to enjoy themselves. You know how to live in the moment, are very receptive to stimuli, you are in touch with your mind and body, and often described as cheerful and the "life of the party".
Poor self care, demanding lifestyles, and poor eating habits, stress, hormones, and traumatic life events can short circuit your system causing you to say, I wish I could just get back to "myself". In the traditional healthcare model, it seems that physicians and practitioners are forced to shoot in the dark in terms of identifying what the brain needs to reset. Well, there's good news for those that have STRUGGLED (maybe for years) with no significant improvement. Why are you not sleeping? Why are you anxious? Why can't your child pay attention? Why is your stomach always nervous and upset? I can provide and at-home testing kit that is non-invasive and specific for brain chemistry and neurotransmitters that cause these problems listed above. And look at this simple chart and the impact of neurotransmitters on the brain and body.
Neurotransmitter testing can be done from the convenience of your own home, is covered by many healthcare insurance plans, but is also affordable for those without insurance. It's a WIN/WIN/WIN. When I discovered this technology, I immediately educated myself and signed up as a healthcare provider to be able to offer this to those wanting to know the true reason for their problems. I have seen men and women struggle to sleep for months, and years, which ages them so rapidly and affects EVERY aspect of their life. Although anti-depressants, sedatives, and natural products may help as a band-aid treatment for the short term, it makes sense to me, and hopefully to you, that testing the problem neurotransmitter is the better way to know how to approach things. This is also why prescribers are excited about this too. It will help them to know what specific therapy regimen to offer their patients in helping the brain and the body to reset.
These are some of the neurotransmitters that can be tested using your "At-Home" Kit.
Serotonin, Taurine, GABA, Glutamate, Histamine, PEA, Norepinephrine, Epinephrine, Histamine, Glycine, Melatonin (saliva), and Dopamine.
Did you know that certain vitamins are required for neurotransmitters to be synthesized in the brain? It's true. There are key vitamins that are critical in getting the problem neurotransmitter back to it's normal level. Without the vitamin co-factor, the process of brain restoration will be hindered. Quite simply, fixing one part without the other, is not going to produce the best results. I know the metabolic cascades and schematics and can suggest certain supplements and nutritionals to compliment the missing parts to restore wholeness to the brains chemistry.
This is an exciting BLOG post because it will help so many in the process to feeling better. If you would like more information on getting neurotransmitter testing, please give me a call.
This changes EVERYthing!
To your good health,
Dr. Sonja
Do you suffer from?
Poor sleep, Fatigue, Anxiety, Low Mood, Attention Difficulties, Restless Leg Syndrome, Excess Energy, Cravings, Intestinal Complaints, Poor Cognitive Function, Weight Management Difficulties, Excess Stress, Headaches, or Immune Issues. Then let me tell you, the answer to your health concerns truly could be ALL IN YOUR HEAD!!
One of the greatest areas of interest in my studies throughout the years has been the neurological and psychological aspects of health and wellness and their connection to each other. Depression, Schizophrenia, Parkinsons, Bipolar Disorder, Attention Deficit, and other neurotransmitter mediated disorders are fascinating to me. And not only "diagnosis" driven interests, but also just the everyday things that people struggle with (like those listed above). The mapping of the brain, the production or lack of neurotransmitters, and the influence of cofactors (vitamins/enzymes/genetics) ALL play in to the connection of your mind to your body. So much that I have been absolutely determined to find a way to truly test what people have been expressing to me in my office all of these years. Read on and you'll understand why.
See where you fit in terms of how YOUR brain is wired. There are 4 major neurotransmitters that make us who we are. Literally!
1. Acetylcholine (brain speed) People: This defines about 17% of the worlds population. You are more likely adept at working with your senses and viewing the world in sensory terms. You are creative, a quick thinker, have great intuition, and often sociable and charismatic.
2. Dopamine (brain power) People: Also 17% of the worlds population. You tend to be confident, extremely rational, enjoy facts and figures more than emotions and feelings, and have a very driven personality.
3. GABA (brain rhythm) People: Almost 50% of the worlds population, thank goodness. (smile) You are most likely a very stable person, very traditional, a team player, very dependable, and calm most of the time.
4. Serotonin (brain mood and synchrony) People: 17% of people who really know how to enjoy themselves. You know how to live in the moment, are very receptive to stimuli, you are in touch with your mind and body, and often described as cheerful and the "life of the party".
Poor self care, demanding lifestyles, and poor eating habits, stress, hormones, and traumatic life events can short circuit your system causing you to say, I wish I could just get back to "myself". In the traditional healthcare model, it seems that physicians and practitioners are forced to shoot in the dark in terms of identifying what the brain needs to reset. Well, there's good news for those that have STRUGGLED (maybe for years) with no significant improvement. Why are you not sleeping? Why are you anxious? Why can't your child pay attention? Why is your stomach always nervous and upset? I can provide and at-home testing kit that is non-invasive and specific for brain chemistry and neurotransmitters that cause these problems listed above. And look at this simple chart and the impact of neurotransmitters on the brain and body.
Neurotransmitter testing can be done from the convenience of your own home, is covered by many healthcare insurance plans, but is also affordable for those without insurance. It's a WIN/WIN/WIN. When I discovered this technology, I immediately educated myself and signed up as a healthcare provider to be able to offer this to those wanting to know the true reason for their problems. I have seen men and women struggle to sleep for months, and years, which ages them so rapidly and affects EVERY aspect of their life. Although anti-depressants, sedatives, and natural products may help as a band-aid treatment for the short term, it makes sense to me, and hopefully to you, that testing the problem neurotransmitter is the better way to know how to approach things. This is also why prescribers are excited about this too. It will help them to know what specific therapy regimen to offer their patients in helping the brain and the body to reset.
These are some of the neurotransmitters that can be tested using your "At-Home" Kit.
Serotonin, Taurine, GABA, Glutamate, Histamine, PEA, Norepinephrine, Epinephrine, Histamine, Glycine, Melatonin (saliva), and Dopamine.
Did you know that certain vitamins are required for neurotransmitters to be synthesized in the brain? It's true. There are key vitamins that are critical in getting the problem neurotransmitter back to it's normal level. Without the vitamin co-factor, the process of brain restoration will be hindered. Quite simply, fixing one part without the other, is not going to produce the best results. I know the metabolic cascades and schematics and can suggest certain supplements and nutritionals to compliment the missing parts to restore wholeness to the brains chemistry.
This is an exciting BLOG post because it will help so many in the process to feeling better. If you would like more information on getting neurotransmitter testing, please give me a call.
This changes EVERYthing!
To your good health,
Dr. Sonja
Monday, January 14, 2013
Are You Hungry or Thirsty? Mixed Signals
The only reason some people eat is because their satisfaction centers are begging for attention all the time. But sometimes, the appetite centers want something to quench thirst, NOT to fill the stomach. Hunger signals can be caused by hormones in the gut especially when ghrelin outslugs leptin and you feel hungrier than a bear on a bug-only diet. BTW, that's not good for the bear or anyone hunting in the woods at that moment. In this case, it's great to develop and have at your disposal (no pun intended), a list of emergency foods to satisfy your senses. V8 juice, a handful of nuts, pieces of low sugar fruit, cut up vegetables, or a protein shake can combat the bear binges when they strike.
Another great way to counteract your hormonal reaction to food is to make sure that your satiety "signal" isn't just a thirst sensor. To find out and just as a good practice for weight loss and maintenance, it's good to drink water before you ever put food into your mouth. People who do this tend to eat less and find the satisfaction they need without overloading their stomach unnecessarily. Sugar drinks, for thirst, aren't the answer nor are artificially sweetened "diet" drinks loaded with chemicals that are actually now being linked to endocrine disorders and diseases. One thing that causes blood sugar to spike is, uh, SUGAR-not eaten with any other substances like fat or protein around it. If you are going to eat a small amount of sugar, you should always be sure NOT to eat that candy bar or cookie dough by itself. Have a handful of nuts to slow your stomach from emptying as quickly which will keep sugar levels from creating such a significant spike in your blood.
Strategies:
Eat foods with fiber, healthy fats, whole-grain carbs and protein, as well as fruits and vegetables. (Be careful, some fruits have a lot of sugar)
Eat a little healthy fat before your meal (handful of nuts-6 walnut halves, 12 almonds, 20 peanuts) and pause for 25 minutes to allow the hunger signal to get from your brain to your stomach.
Eat anti-inflammatory foods such as green tea, omega 3's (fish, canola oil, flax seeds, walnuts), coffee, vegetables and fruit, to help counteract the effects of obesity.
Drink a glass or two of water before you eat.
Certain supplements and vitamins have been shown to aid in waist-management. Check out my blog titled Fables on Labels for key weight busters.
The 6 pounds in 6 weeks challenge is off to a great start. The weigh in's this morning are showing tremendous loss in those that are engaged in this initiative. Hey, and did you see the TV news highlighting this program? Very cool! Yeah!!!
Reminder: We will be weighing anyone in the program who wants to track their week 2 progress this week. Get here!!
To your good health,
Dr. Sonja
Another great way to counteract your hormonal reaction to food is to make sure that your satiety "signal" isn't just a thirst sensor. To find out and just as a good practice for weight loss and maintenance, it's good to drink water before you ever put food into your mouth. People who do this tend to eat less and find the satisfaction they need without overloading their stomach unnecessarily. Sugar drinks, for thirst, aren't the answer nor are artificially sweetened "diet" drinks loaded with chemicals that are actually now being linked to endocrine disorders and diseases. One thing that causes blood sugar to spike is, uh, SUGAR-not eaten with any other substances like fat or protein around it. If you are going to eat a small amount of sugar, you should always be sure NOT to eat that candy bar or cookie dough by itself. Have a handful of nuts to slow your stomach from emptying as quickly which will keep sugar levels from creating such a significant spike in your blood.
Strategies:
Eat foods with fiber, healthy fats, whole-grain carbs and protein, as well as fruits and vegetables. (Be careful, some fruits have a lot of sugar)
Eat a little healthy fat before your meal (handful of nuts-6 walnut halves, 12 almonds, 20 peanuts) and pause for 25 minutes to allow the hunger signal to get from your brain to your stomach.
Eat anti-inflammatory foods such as green tea, omega 3's (fish, canola oil, flax seeds, walnuts), coffee, vegetables and fruit, to help counteract the effects of obesity.
Drink a glass or two of water before you eat.
Certain supplements and vitamins have been shown to aid in waist-management. Check out my blog titled Fables on Labels for key weight busters.
The 6 pounds in 6 weeks challenge is off to a great start. The weigh in's this morning are showing tremendous loss in those that are engaged in this initiative. Hey, and did you see the TV news highlighting this program? Very cool! Yeah!!!
Reminder: We will be weighing anyone in the program who wants to track their week 2 progress this week. Get here!!
To your good health,
Dr. Sonja
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Sticker Shock?
The label on a food product should be read as closely as if you were buying a new car and looking for all of the options. Or, in the case of weight loss, you're probably looking for something without some of the options. Here's a few things to watch for to make sure your body runs at peak performance .
Don't eat anything that has these things as one of the top 5 ingredients:
1) Simple Sugars
2) Any grain but 100% whole grains including those buzz terms enriched, bleached, or refined. These are often indicators that the nutrients have been stripped.
3) Syrup: Those four letter words High Fructose Corn Syrup can be found in a lot of things
4) "Artificial" Sweeteners. Poison I tell you. You can do your homework for yourself, but I feel very strongly that these sweeteners are a bad idea. I wrote a blog on Splenda and you can check it out in the BLOG archives.
Putting these things into your body is like dunking a cell phone into a glass of water. It will cause all of your systems to short circuit and send confusing messages about energy levels to other parts of your body. When typical and slightly overweight people eat sugar, they store 5 percent as "readily available" energy for use later. They metabolize about 60%. But, heres the kicker, they tend to store 35% as FAT that can be converted to energy later if there's a situation of restriction of food or water.
Stay Tuned! More tips are coming to help you lose those 6 pounds in 6 weeks.
To your good health,
Dr. Sonja
Don't eat anything that has these things as one of the top 5 ingredients:
1) Simple Sugars
2) Any grain but 100% whole grains including those buzz terms enriched, bleached, or refined. These are often indicators that the nutrients have been stripped.
3) Syrup: Those four letter words High Fructose Corn Syrup can be found in a lot of things
4) "Artificial" Sweeteners. Poison I tell you. You can do your homework for yourself, but I feel very strongly that these sweeteners are a bad idea. I wrote a blog on Splenda and you can check it out in the BLOG archives.
Putting these things into your body is like dunking a cell phone into a glass of water. It will cause all of your systems to short circuit and send confusing messages about energy levels to other parts of your body. When typical and slightly overweight people eat sugar, they store 5 percent as "readily available" energy for use later. They metabolize about 60%. But, heres the kicker, they tend to store 35% as FAT that can be converted to energy later if there's a situation of restriction of food or water.
Stay Tuned! More tips are coming to help you lose those 6 pounds in 6 weeks.
To your good health,
Dr. Sonja
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