Nutrition Month

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Showing posts with label hormones. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hormones. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

In depth investigational Testing


In order to get to the root of the problem rather than just treating symptoms, it is necessary for the doctor to take a thorough history, perform a physical exam, and confirm the diagnosis with appropriate testing. While we use standard blood and urine testing, as do most physicians, we also have access to some of the most advanced diagnostic tests and procedures. Some of the tests we offer are:
Body Composition Testing using the BioSpace 520, the machine used for Olympic athletes and professional sports teams. This device accurately determines pounds of fat, muscle, and water and where they are located. It is essential for monitoring weight loss and the results of a proper diet or exercise program.


Salivary hormone testing  Genova Diagnostics. Salivary hormone testing is the most accurate noninvasive method of evaluating adrenal function and is very useful in monitoring testosterone, estradiol, estriol, estrone, progesterone, and DHEA as well as melatonin. It does not require a blood draw, so it can be done at home. It is the standard of care in research on stress and adrenal function.
Urinary hormone analysis by Metametrix, (Estronex) and Genova diagnostics. Urine testing is very useful for monitoring hormone levels including thyroid, growth hormone, and aldosterone as well as testosterone, estrogens, progesterone, cortisol, dhea, and their metabolites. In addition, with urine testing we can assess the activity of osteoporosis and whether the patient's hormones are being converted into safe or dangerous compounds. If a problem is detected, we can then intervene. For women with a family history of breast and ovarian cancer or men with a family history of prostate cancer, this test is essential. Often, there is a familial tendency for cetain liver enzymes to process estrogens incorrectly resulting in toxic, cancer-causing metabolites. Urine hormone analysis and the estronex test can detect this condition and steps can be taken to repair this abnormality. These patients will benefit from a nutritional supplement program that targets these defective enzyme systems, moving them toward normal function, and hopefully reducing the risk for hormonally related cancer.

Hormonal Health™
Complete Male Hormones™Male Hormonal Health™
Menopause™
Menopause Check™
Rhythm Plus™
Essential Estrogens™

Complete Diagnostic Stool Analysis by Metametrix and Genova, This test is done using polymerase chain reaction testing (PCR), the most sensitive method of detecting parasites and disease causing bacteria. In addition, it monitors inflammation, digestion, levels of digestive enzymes, and absorption of nutrients.


Genova Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis 2.0 + Parasitology (CDSA2.0+P)™



Metametrix Gastrointestinal Function


Toxicity testing by Metametrix to determine if you are contaminated by environmental pesticides such as DDT, carcinogens, industrial and chemical pollutants, or heavy metals. If so, we can prescribe effective methods of removing these harmful substances from your body. In addition, Genova diagnostics offers a challenge test to accurately evaluate how effective your body is at processing various toxins.


Neurotransmitter testing, a urine test that can determine if you have imbalances in the levels of brain neurotransmitters that could be causing depression, anxiety, ADHD, and so on.


Here are a few other related panels:
ONE (Optimal Nutritional Evaluation) FMV®
Essential & Metabolic Fatty Acids Analysis
NutrEval Plus
Amino Acids, Urine
Amino Acids, Plasma
Nutrient & Toxic Elemental Analysis

Genetic testing through Genova Diagnostics to evaluate genetic mutations in various systems including detoxification, osteoporosis, cardiovascular health, immune function. If you understand what your genetic risks are, you can take steps to minimize their harmful effects.







CardioGenomicPlus™ Profile
DetoxiGenomic® Profile
EstroGenomic™ Profile
ImmunoGenomic® Profile
NeuroGenomic™ Profile



Telomere Length Testing by Spectracell, www.spectracell.com. Telomere testing allows us to accurately determine your biological age by measuring the length of the telomeres at the end of each chromosome. If they are excessively short, i.e., excessively aged, we can intervene to reverse this process using supplements that are thought to lengthen telomeres.

There are many other functional tests available to you including tests for Candida infection, Candida Antibody Profile - Blood


tests for gluten sensitivity, metabolic syndrome, 
MetSyn Guide™
PreD Guide™

and many others.  Please call 832-237-4200 for pricing and to ensure your desired test is in stock. 


Integrated Profiles

Toxicants and Detoxification

Elements

Hormones

Vitamins

Organic Acids

Immune Function

Amino Acids

Fatty Acids

Health Risk Profiles




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Monday, April 16, 2012

What you need to know about low progesterone and progesterone cream

What you need to know About Progesterone Cream

Q: Why do women need progesterone?

A: Is a precursor of other sex hormones, including estrogen and testosterone.
Maintains secretory endometrium (uterine lining).
Is necessary for the survival of the embryo and fetus throughout gestation.
Protects against fibrocystic breasts.
Is a natural diuretic.
Helps use fat for energy.
Functions as a natural antidepressant.
Helps thyroid hormone action.
Normalizes blood clotting.
Restores sex drive.
Helps normalize blood sugar levels.
Normalizes zinc and copper levels.
Restores proper cell oxygen levels.
Has a thermogenic (temperature raising) effect.
Protects against endometrial cancer.
Helps protect against breast cancer.
Builds bone and is a protective against osteoporosis.
Is a precursor of cortisone synthesis by adrenal cortex.
Helps protect against excessive hair loss.
Encourages new hair growth.


Q: Are there special needs for postmenopausal women?

A: Progesterone is needed in hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women for many reasons, but one of its most important roles is to balance or oppose the effects of estrogen. Unopposed estrogen creates a strong risk for breast cancer and reproductive cancers.

Estrogen levels drop only 40-60% at menopause, which is just enough to stop the menstrual cycle. But progesterone levels may drop to near zero in some women. Because progesterone is the precursor to so many other steroid hormones, its use can greatly enhance overall hormone balance after menopause. Progesterone also stimulates bone-building and thus helps protect against osteoporosis.

Q: What is progesterone?

A: Progesterone is a steroid hormone made by the corpus luteum of the ovary at ovulation, and in smaller amounts by the adrenal glands. Progesterone is manufactured in the body from the steroid hormone pregnenolone, and is a precursor to most of the other steroid hormones, including cortisol, androstenedione, the estrogens and testosterone.

In a normally cycling female, the corpus luteum produces 20 to 30 mg of progesterone daily during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.

Q: Why not just use the progestin Provera as prescribed by most doctors?

A: Progesterone is preferable to the synthetic progestins such as Provera, because it is natural to the body and has no undesirable side effects when used as directed.

If you have any doubts about how different progesterone is from the progestins, remember that the placenta produces 300-400 mg of progesterone daily during the last few months of pregnancy, so we know that such levels are safe for the developing baby. But progestins, even at fractions of this dose, can cause birth defects. The progestins also cause many other side effects, including partial loss of vision, breast cancer in test dogs, an increased risk of strokes, fluid retention, migraine headaches, asthma, cardiac irregularities and depression.

Q: What is estrogen dominance?

A: The term "estrogen dominance," is used to describe what happens when the normal ratio or balance of estrogen to progesterone is changed by excess estrogen or inadequate progesterone. Estrogen is a potent and potentially dangerous hormone when not balanced by adequate progesterone.

Both women who have suffered from PMS and women who have suffered from menopausal symptoms, will recognize the hallmark symptoms of estrogen dominance: weight gain, bloating, mood swings, irritability, tender breasts, headaches, fatigue, depression, hypoglycemia, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and fibrocystic breasts. Estrogen dominance is believed to contribute to cancer of the breast, ovary, endometrium (uterus), and prostate.

Q: Why would a premenopausal woman need progesterone cream?

A: In the ten to fifteen years before menopause, many women regularly have anovulatory cycles in which they make enough estrogen to create menstruation, but they don't make any progesterone, thus setting the stage for estrogen dominance. Using progesterone cream during anovulatory months can help prevent the symptoms of PMS.

We now know that PMS can occur despite normal progesterone levels when stress is present. Stress increases cortisol production; cortisol blockades (or competes for) progesterone receptors. Additional progesterone is required to overcome this blockade, and stress management is important.

Q: What is progesterone made from?

A: The USP progesterone used for hormone replacement comes from plant fats and oils, usually a substance called diosgenin which is extracted from a very specific type of wild yam that grows in Mexico, or from soybeans. In the laboratory diosgenin is chemically synthesized into real human progesterone. The other human steroid hormones, including estrogen, testosterone, progesterone and the cortisones are also nearly always synthesized from diosgenin.

Some companies are trying to sell diosgenin, which they label "wild yam extract" as a medicine or supplement, claiming that the body will then convert it into hormones as needed. While we know this can be done in the laboratory, there is no evidence that this conversion takes place in the human body.

Q: Where should I put the progesterone cream?

A: Because progesterone is very fat-soluble, it is easily absorbed through the skin. Just massage a dime-size dollop of cream (about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon) into your skin. Try your wrists, arms, thighs, tummy-whatever you like. Do that twice a day for 21 days, then rest for the next seven, and you're on your way to natural peri/menopausal balance. Or if you're looking for help with PMS balance, use 14 days on and 14 off.

Q: What is the recommended dosage of progesterone?

A: For premenopausal women the usual dose is 15-24 mg/day for 14 days before expected menses, stopping the day or so before menses.

For postmenopausal women, the dose that often works well is 15 mg/day for 25 days of the calendar month.



Q: How safe is progesterone cream?

A: During the third trimester of pregnancy, the placenta produces about 300 mg of progesterone daily, so we know that a one-time overdose of the cream is virtually impossible. If you used a whole jar at once it might make you sleepy. However, it is usually recommended that women avoid using higher than the recommended dosage to avoid hormone imbalances. More is not better when it comes to hormone balance.

Q: Wouldn't it be easier to just take a progesterone pill?

A: Since 80% to 90% of the oral dose is lost through the liver, the transdermal cream rather than oral progesterone should be considered. Thus, at least 200 to 400 mg daily is needed orally to achieve a physiologic dose of 15 to 24 mg daily. Such high doses may create undesirable metabolites and unnecessarily overload the liver.

Q: What other types of ingredients would be in a natural OTC progesterone cream?

A: Aloe Vera Oil has softening, healing, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Its moisturizing ability is its most widely recognized characteristics. Aloe vera penetrates the skin, supplying moisture directly to the tissue.

Avocado Oil may mobilize and increase the collagen of connective tissue; given the highest ranking by the Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology for sunscreen effectiveness. Avocado oil enjoys the highest penetration rate among similar oils.

Carrot Oil used since the sixteenth century for skin diseases due to its believed cleansing, depurative, and draining properties. This carotene-rich emollient has been indicated for acne skin conditions, dermatitis, skin irritation, skin rashes, and wrinkles; derived from the carrot root.

Lemon Grass Oil is considered astringent and tonic. Lemon grass oil is the volatile oil distilled from the leaves of the lemon grasses.

Natural Glycerin is used as a moisturizer and humectant to replace moisture in the skin.

Rosemary Extract is a natural preservative.

Natural Progesterone derived from Mexican wild yam root. These sterols are processed through several fermentation steps to yield progesterone which is identical to the progesterone which is produced by the human body.

Vitamin A Palmitate is known as a skin “normalizer.” It acts as an antikeratinizing agent, helping the skin stay soft and plump. Clinical studies with vitamin A palmitate indicate a significant change in skin composition with increase in collagen, DNA, skin thickness, and elasticity. Vitamin A palmitate’s stability is superior to retinol.

Vitamin E is considered the most important oil soluble antioxidant and free radical scavenger. As a moisturizer, vitamin E is well absorbed through the skin; derived from alfalfa and wheat.
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Sunday, July 31, 2011

Women's Hormone Support with female balance





Menopause describes a long term change in hormone production that effectively signals the end of a woman's child-bearing years. As the ovaries slowly decrease production of estrogen and progesterone, the disrupted balance of hormones may cause a variety of symptoms to occur.

Most of the classic symptoms begin during the first stage of menopause, called perimenopause. The experience varies widely by individual, and some women do not experience any noticeable symptoms. However, others have pronounced symptoms and intense discomfort, which may be lessened by working to re-balance hormone levels in the body.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) uses prescription drugs to replace the hormones that the ovaries stop producing during menopause. Although HRT is usually effective in relieving menopause symptoms, there are potential dangers, including an increased risk of blood clots, stroke, and breast cancer. Many women seek other options to avoid these risks and the side effects.

Our Female Balance utilizes herbs and compounds known to help ease the symptoms of menopause and perimenopause, while still protecting the bones and cardiovascular system.

Designed specifically for women, this natural product helps:

Regulate hormone levels
Increase energy
Encourage weight loss
Boost alertness
Regulate mood
Minimize hot flashes
Support libido (sex drive)

Black Cohosh

Black cohosh is used in Europe as an alternative HRT method. The root is commonly found in the forests of North America, and has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for a host of complaints. It helps counteract hot flashes, assists in calming occasional anxiety and moderating mood, and promotes healthy sleeping patterns.

Red Clover & Soy Isoflavones

Isoflavones from soy and red clover have been used as alternatives to traditional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) because their molecules are similar to those of human estrogen. These phytoestrogens (plant-like estrogens) act as selective hormone receptor modulators (SERMs) which can mimic or oppose the action of the natural hormone. Research indicates that these plant substances may be safer than traditional HRT, and are unlikely to increase the risk of breast cancer.

In a new controlled double-blind study, red clover reduced depression and anxiety symptoms in postmenopausal women by 50% or more over placebo.6 This simple natural extract has helped numerous women over the age of 40 feel better as their hormonal balances shift.

A decreased level of estrogen is the root of many of the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause, which can be ameliorated by consuming soy products or supplementing with isoflavones. These isoflavones help stimulate bone formation, reduce hot flash symptoms and support cardiovascular health.

Dong Quai

When the body tries to throw off excess heat through vasodilation, or opening of blood vessels, hot flashes may occur. Hot flashes are a very common symptom of both perimenopause and menopause.

Dong Quai has been used in natural remedies for centuries and its active compounds work to stimulate blood flow and muscle relaxation. These properties may enable it to ease occasional night sweats and hot flashes.

Vitex berry

Commonly referred to as chasteberry, vitex berry extract appears to have an indirect effect on certain hormones, particularly progesterone and prolactin. The berry may help ease occasional anxiety and support a balanced mood and has been used since the 1950s for hormone-related complaints including temporary breast tenderness and headaches associated with PMS.

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