Category: Hormones

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Should YOU take a Hormone Test?

Balancing Female Hormones Naturally is Only a Test Away


As a doctor in clinical practice, I am frequently asked by my female patients, “Is it possible to manage my female hormone issues naturally, without the use of drugs, synthetic or bio-identical hormones?” The quick answer to that question is a resounding YES. The biggest challenge, however, is in knowing exactly where you stand with your current hormone status.

Your body has a number of hormones that need to be in balance with each other in order to achieve proper female health and function. The two that will be discussed in this article are estrogen and progesterone. If these are out of balance, women can experience a variety of symptoms and conditions such as weight gain, headaches, premenstrual syndrome, breast tenderness, fibroids, ovarian cysts, heavy bleeding or clotting, menstrual cramps, hot flashes, low libido, migraines and even osteoporosis! The interesting fact is that whether you have too much or too little of the hormone, the symptoms are usually the SAME, so testing for hormones becomes vitally important in determining a specific natural protocol for each woman.

Your hormones are made by glands in the body and deposited directly into your blood stream. They are very powerful, yet made in very small amounts. Your estrogen and progesterone are measured in nanograms (parts per billion), and picograms (parts per trillion). These are very small amounts; a nanogram is equivalent to a pinch of salt in 10 tons of popcorn, and a picogram is equivalent to one drop of water in a 6 mile long train.

I have had many patients who have been prescribed medications or creams from their physicians and when asked how the doctor decided on that treatment, the patient’s answer was “he just wanted me to try this for a bit to see if it helped.” Because these hormones are made in such small amounts, it can be easy to unbalance them if you consume herbs, creams, or hormone replacement therapy without knowing if it is truly necessary.

So how do you determine if you need some support for your hormonal health?


The easiest and most convenient way to test all of your hormones is via a saliva test. This is much different than the routine blood tests that are typically performed.

Routine blood tests will test for the protein bound form of each hormone. In this instance the hormone is bound to a protein and in its INACTIVE form. Approximately 99% of your hormones are in this form and considered the “hormone reserves.” This is why many women can experience symptoms, go to the doctor for a blood test and that test comes back negative. A saliva test, however, will test for the unbound form of each hormone. In this instance the hormone is not bound to a protein and this is the ACTIVE form or functional form of the hormone. It is when we test these hormones that we truly see an accurate picture of a woman’s health.

So if you are experiencing symptoms, the first step is proper testing of your hormones to determine the most appropriate course of action!

Symptoms your hormones are out of balance:

  • Do you wake up tired, but have trouble winding down to sleep at night?
  • Do you struggle with sugar cravings or energy crashes through the day?
  • Is your hair thinning/falling out?
  • Are you having trouble losing weight?
  • Are you experiencing hot flashes or night sweats?
  • Is your libido cooling off?
  • Are you struggling with brain fog, or mood swings?
  • Are your periods irregular, heavy, or painful?

Think you may want to get tested? Check out Dr Stephanie’s hormone testing options below. Each link lists out what hormones are tested with each panel.

Want to learn more about YOUR hormones? Dr. Stephanie offers a phone consultation to chat about your hormones, your health goals to see if natural female hormone balancing would be a good fit for you. Check out more information here.

Author:

Dr. Stephanie Zgraggen, DC, MS, CNS, CCN is a licensed chiropractor, certified clinical nutritionist, and owner of Lime and Lotus, LLC in Charleston, South Carolina.  She utilizes saliva testing, herbs, and whole food supplements to correct female hormones imbalances in her patients.  Download her free guide: Dr. Stephanie’s Naughty List – The Top Five Foods that Wreck Your Hormone Health here. 

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Welcome to the Summer of Education

Let’s use this summer to learn more about our bodies, our health and easy ways to improve them both!

Welcome to the summer of education – So many of my patients and followers ask for resources and education to learn how to empower themselves and take charge of their own health. So I thought I’d take this summer to introduce you to some of my favorite reading and resources. I’ll even be starting a monthly book club where we can read a book as a group and start some lively discussions!

My first block of resources is focused on the Standard American Diet, how we botched it up, how to get back in check with what we’re eating/growing/producing and the drug companies that are making a fortune off of our misfortune.

Check out the list and see if any resonate with you to check out – If you’ve already read a few on the list let me know in the comments or comment on which one you’re going to read (you know for accountability 😉

Cheers –


2019 Summer Reading List
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Why YOU Need a Detox this Spring

Toxins are everywhere

You are exposed to toxins Every. Single. Day. There are approximately 80,000 chemicals registered for use in the U.S., and 800,000,000+ pounds of herbicides are used yearly on our crops. 1-3 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that hundreds of these chemicals are present in our bodies. Research shows that certain chemicals may affect our immune, endocrine, nervous, and reproductive systems.

In fact, your body produces its own toxins, or waste known as endogenous toxins, simply by functioning. Your body also encounters external (exogenous) toxins, or chemicals made outside of your body. They are in the air you breathe, the food you eat, the water you drink, and the products you touch.4,5  

External Toxins

  • Air and Water Pollutants
  • Cigarette Smoke
  • Certain Personal Care Products
  • Dyes and Paints
  • Heavy Metals
  • Household Cleaning Products
  • Pesticides and Insecticides
  • Preservatives and Additives
  • Trans Fats

Internal Toxins

  • Ammonia
  • Carbon dioxide
  • Free radicals

You become what you eat

The typical America diet favors processed foods that tend to be high in refined sugar, trans fats, and salt.  Processed foods often contain pesticides, artificial ingredients, and genetically modified organisms that can contribute to toxin build up in the body.6  Exposure to these toxins can overburden your system’s natural ability to detoxify.

Reducing your toxic burden can reduce your odds of asthma, cancer, Alzheimer’s, infertility, hormonal and period problems and so much more. Reducing your toxic load can help you lose weight, restore your energy levels and balance your hormones. It can help you conceive a healthy baby and raise a healthy child.

When the body is overloaded with toxins, these toxins cannot be eliminated from the body and they slow down cellular function. This translates to decreasing your body’s function; the brain won’t fire as quickly so you become foggy and forgetful. This can mean you gain weight or feel tired and/or unmotivated.  Many people experience symptoms of toxicity but don’t recognize what these signs really can mean.  How many of the symptoms below do you have?

Symptoms of Toxin Exposure

  • Fatigue or difficulty sleeping
  • Indigestion and other gastrointestinal upset
  • Food cravings and weight gain
  • Reduced mental clarity (brain fog)
  • Low libido
  • Skin issues – eczema, acne, dark circles under the eyes
  • Joint or muscle pain
  • Headaches
  • Female hormone disturbances
  • Sinus issues
  • Water retention
  • Bad breath
  • Insomnia

Your Organs of Detoxification

My 28 day Reset Detox Programs are designed to stimulate specific detoxification organs in the body—the liver, kidneys, and intestines. With help from these organs, your toxic load can decrease, and your body can concentrate its energy on detoxifying and cleaning up. This can help you achieve optimal health by cleansing your body from the inside out.  The goal is to learn how to enhance your body’s ability to detox and remove these toxins on a daily basis. No matter where start, everyone can benefit from a detox program.

Liver

  • Filters toxins
  • Aids the body in metabolizing fat, protein, and carbohydrates
  • Helps transform many toxins into harmless agents

Kidneys

  • Filter waste and excess fluid from the blood
  • Regulate and release the right balance of sodium, phosphorus, and
    potassium for the body to function properly

Small Intestine

  • Digests food so that nutrients can be absorbed into the blood and transported to the liver
  • Provides a barrier that blocks toxins from the rest of the body

Large Intestine

  • Absorbs water and electrolytes, forming waste that is excreted from      the body
  • Produces antibodies for gastrointestinal health
  • Contains bacteria that create fatty acids and some vitamins for extra nutritional support

Why you may not be losing weight

If your body can’t release toxins through your intestines (poop) or kidney (urine) then they can be deposited and stored in the body.  Over months, years, or even decades these can build up in the body and create havoc.

One of the most common sites for us to deposit toxins is in our fat cells since many of the chemicals in today’s environment and food are lipotrophic, meaning that they LOVE FAT.  The challenge is that we have to release those stored toxins from the fat cells before the fat cells can shrink.  This is one reason why you may have been eating better and working out more but still seeing NO weight loss results. 

Where We Store Toxins

  • Fat Cells
  • Bone Marrow
  • Joints
  • Liver
  • Blood
  • Muscle
  • Central Nervous System

What the heck is metabolic detoxification anyway?

Metabolic detoxification is your body’s natural process of neutralizing and eliminating toxins from your body.  This three-phase process unlocks fat-soluble toxins and converts them to a water-soluble state that is easier for your body to remove. Your body needs key nutrients and phytonutrients to support each of these phases.

Three phases of metabolic detoxification

  • Phase I: Unlock – Stored fat-soluble toxins transform into an “unlocked” state that is more water-soluble, and in many cases, more toxic than its original form.  The foods and supplements recommended in the 28 day Reset Detox programs deliver nutrients that activate enzymes required for Phase I reactions. It also supplies antioxidants that reduce stress on your body, such as tissue damage sometimes caused by these enzyme activities.
  • Phase II: Neutralize – The highly toxic substances produced in Phase I convert to non-toxic molecules and become even more water-soluble. The foods and supplements recommended in the 28 day Reset Detox programs supply key nutrients and amino acids needed to support Phase II enzymes. These enzymes enhance the water solubility of toxins.
  • Phase III: Eliminate – Water-soluble toxins leave your cells, and your body eliminates them. The foods and supplements recommended in the 28 Day Reset Detox programs provide your body with plant-based fiber and water, which aid in toxin elimination.

A Simple, Effective Answer is HERE!

You can create more efficiency around detoxification by modifying your daily food choices, and habits to support your body’s natural ability to detoxify.  If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above or feel like it’s just time for a reset, I encourage you to check out my signature 28 Day Reset Programs.  The 28 Day Hormone Reset Detox is designed for balancing hormones and the 28 Day Autoimmune Reset Detox is specially created for those with autoimmune issues.

My hope is to provide you with easy, effective tools to help you liver YOUR. BEST. LIFE.

Cheers,

Author:

Dr. Stephanie Zgraggen, DC, MS, CNS, CCN is a licensed chiropractor, certified clinical nutritionist, and owner of Lime and Lotus, LLC in Charleston, South Carolina.  She utilizes saliva testing, herbs, and whole food supplements to correct female hormones imbalances in her patients.  Download her free guide: Dr. Stephanie’s Naughty List – The Top Five Foods that Wreck Your Hormone Health here. 

References:

  1. “About,” National Toxicology Program, US Department of Health and Human Services, accessed March 13, 2018, https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/about/index.html.
  2. Arthur Grube, David Donaldson, Timothy Kiely, and La Wu, “Pesticides Industry Sales and Usage 2006 and 2007 Market Estimates,” Washington, D.C.: United States Environmental Protection Agency, February 2011, PDF e-book, http://www.epa.gov/sites/production/iles/2015-10/documents/market_estimates2007.pdf.
  3. Michael N. Antoniou et al., “Concerns Over Use of Glyphosate-Based Herbicides and Risks Associated with Exposures: a Consensus Statement.” Environmental Health 15, no. 1 (2016): 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-016-0117-0.
  4. Romilly E. Hodges and Deanna M. Minich, “Modulation of Metabolic Detoxification Pathways Using Foods and Food-Derived Components: A Scientific Review with Clinical Application,” Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism (2015): 16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/760689.
  5. Joseph W. Thornton, Michael McCally, and Jane Houlihan, “Biomonitoring of Industrial Pollutants: Health and Policy Implications of the Chemical Body Burden,” Public Health Reports 117, no. 4 (2002): 315-23, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1497458/pdf/12477912.pdf.
  6. Ian A. Myles, “Fast Food Fever: Reviewing the Impacts of the Western Diet on Immunity,” Nutrition Journal 13 (2014): 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2891-13-61.

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New Year, New You

Ring in the New Year with a Weight Loss and Detoxification Program

After the last few months of holiday festivities, overindulgence in the form of food, alcohol, and stress can be at the forefront of our minds.  With the New Year upon us, many people vow to change their lives and lose weight, drink less, and meditate more.  One avenue that most people do not consider after a period of overindulgence is detoxification to rid the body from the chemicals and impurities that accumulated over the holiday season.

Detoxification is defined as the metabolic process by which toxins are changed into less toxic or more readily excretable substances.  It can be compared to the “junk drawer” that most people have in their home.  Over time, more items collect in the junk drawer until it cannot even be opened anymore.  Your body collects junk in the same way with the food you eat, the water you drink, and the air you breathe.  This junk consists of pesticides, pollutants, preservatives, heavy metals, chemicals and caffeine.

The liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal system, and lymphatic system are all in charge of the handling and excreting of toxins from the body.  If these organs are overburdened, they can become inefficient just like a clogged air filter might.  Signs of toxicity include weight gain, fatigue, poor digestion, difficulty sleeping, food cravings, mental fog, dark circles under the eyes, moodiness, and low libido, just to name a few.

Many detoxification programs exist.  Here are a few key steps to follow when choosing the right program for you:

  • Always check with a licensed healthcare professional before you begin a detoxification program because people with certain diseases like diabetes, need to be monitored especially well while detoxifying.
  • Make sure that the program is made from food and is free of preservatives, chemicals, and artificial sweeteners and ingredients.
  • It is usually better to perform a detoxification program that is gentler on your body, so choose one that lasts for more than a day or two.
  • Buddy up…When you complete a detoxification program with a friend or family member it helps to stay focused and the results are usually more significant.

After the completion of a detoxification program, most people experience increased energy, improved health, weight reduction, improved digestion, clearer thinking, and removal of food addictions.  With all of these improvements the New Year can definitely begin the start of a New You!

Did you know that Dr Stephanie has created her own online detox program?  Her comprehensive step by step system will walk you through a 28 Day Hormone Reset Detox – Want to find out if it’s right for you?  Check out the program link here.