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Bad Hair Day Because of Hormones?

Alopecia

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Yes, it’s possible. Hair loss could be due to hormonal imbalance. The sooner this imbalance is corrected, the better. Hair loss could cease or better yet, hair could grow back. One of the most common hormonal causes of hair loss is a poor thyroid condition. Of course, a lot of thyroid issues unfortunately, still goes undiagnosed. It’s not enough to do a blood test alone. Sometimes, clinical signs and symptoms such as low basal body temperature, slow reflexes, or loss of outer third of a person’s eyebrows, have to be taken into consideration. When a person has blood work for thyroid, it’s important to check for free T3, the metabolically active form of thyroid hormone. In some cases, tests such as reverse T3 and thyroid antibodies could yield very helpful information. The pattern of hair loss is also important by the way. A more diffuse type of hair loss points to a thyroid condition while “male-pattern” hair loss is due to testosterone decline in men (or elevated DHT in both men and women). Ever wonder why younger men have full heads of hair and once they get older, they lose their scalp hair? This is not generally true any more. Unfortunately, we’re seeing young men in their teens and 20’s starting to lose hair. This is due to poor nutrition as well as environmental influences. We’re getting more chemicals from our environment that mimic estrogen in our bodies (xenoestrogens) which are causing a hormonal imbalance. One of the consequences of hormonal imbalance is hair loss. Fortunately, this and other health challenges can be addressed through the use of bioidentical hormones. Addressing the problems associated with aging using a holistic approach always yields better results.

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Autoimmune Diseases: Immune System Gone Loco?

Peppermint and Corsican mint plant (cropped) P...

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One of the most interesting concepts that I’ve learned is that so-called “autoimmune diseases” are caused by accumulation of toxins in the whole body (that means including the brain, which, we are led to believe is impermeable like an iron curtain because of the blood brain barrier). This is in contrast to the general belief that autoimmune diseases are caused by an “immune system gone haywire”. Standard treatments include the use of anti-inflammatories such as NSAID’s and steroids. If they don’t work, then the use of immuno-suppressive agents are next in line. Makes sense if you just want to address the symptoms of inflammation. However, doesn’t it make more sense to try to find out the cause of why the immune system’s gone haywire? Toxins from the environment including heavy metals, pesticides, synthetic hormones and microorganisms, as well as toxins produced from internal metabolism, all contribute to these toxic burden. Well-functioning detoxification organs help our bodies eliminate these toxic build up. However, there are those people who just aren’t able to keep up with the elimination of these wastes. Thus, symptoms of toxicity start to appear. These include allergies, asthma, digestive problems, fatigue, headaches, insomnia, joint pain, mood swings, skin problems and weight changes. Therefore, it makes sense to help rid the body of toxins and these can be done in different ways. Simple detoxification “procedures” that someone could easily incorporate include fasting, drinking more water, eating a plant-based diet, deep breathing and exercise. Other detox programs may need the guidance and support of a nutritionally-minded physician or other holistic practitioners. Nutritional supplements to support the organs of elimination and drainage such as kidneys, liver, lymphatics, lungs, colon and skin, all go a long way in improving someone’s over-all health. As far as auto-immune illnesses are concerned, natural anti-inflammatories can be used for symptomatic treatment while waiting for the “detox treatments” take effect. These include your essential fatty acids (from fish oil or krill oil or for vegetarians, flax seed oil), curcumin, and peppermint oil, among many others.

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Stress-Free Holidays

Christmas in the post-War United States

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Are you stressed out because of the coming holidays? With the economic recession practically affecting everyone nowadays, it’s a good time to re-examine why we’re celebrating this season. The Christmas holidays usually invoke images of family, fun and laughter. In recent years however, this season has become more equated with gifts and/or shopping, otherwise known as consumerism. This is widely promoted in all forms of media, unfortunately. How do you avoid this often-times self-induced stress and really enjoy this very important time? First off, it’s good to remember the reason why we’re celebrating (“Jesus is the reason for the season”, as others have aptly put it). Secondly, it’s a time to be thankful for all the blessings in one’s life. It helps to focus on the positive in life. Additionally, there are things that you could do to manage stress better. These include having nutritious meals, eating slow cooked meals (rather than fast food), getting enough rest and/or sleep, and taking “adaptogens” or nutrients that help the adrenals such as rhodiola, ashwaghanda, holy basil and ginseng. Nutrients such as B complex (pantothenic acid in particular), vitamin C and Magnesium all help with adrenal function. Other activities that could help reduce stress include massage, exercise, meditation, prayer, volunteering and socializing with family and friends. Finally, there’s a book called “The Art of Doing Nothing”. In this book, it gives suggestions on how to use your time productively, whether you’re at home or at work.

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Baby, You’re A Firework! The Role of Chronic Inflammation In Premature Aging

Foreign seeds can be caught anywhere, includin...

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One of the common issues associated with aging is chronic inflammation. This manifests as symptoms a lot of people are so familiar with, such as arthritis, allergies, headaches, asthma, weight gain, etc. Inflammation in general, is a natural process that protects us in certain situations. Chronic, unregulated inflammation however, could cause more harm to our selves more than we all know. It is a major factor in all chronic degenerative diseases or the aging process in general.

One of the reasons behind this surge of inflammatory disorders lies in our diet. A deficiency in omega 3 fatty acids due to the process of refining our foods, has led to this epidemic. Studies show that a person needs at least 4,000 mg. of EFAs to prevent symptoms of deficiency. In my practice, I’ve recommended 8,000 and upwards of EFAs for cardiovascular and neurological problems. I always start with dietary recommendations like the avoidance of hydrogenated oils or trans-fats. I recommend primarily a plant-based or anti-inflammatory diet. There are those people who actually do better with animal protein in their diet (small, cold-water fish; organic, free-range poultry; grass-fed beef; wild game; etc.). What this really means is that, we need to consider each person’s biochemical individuality when it comes to making dietary and supplement recommendations (even exercise recommendations, for that matter). Regarding the use of EFA’s, the key words to look for when purchasing them are “molecularly distilled” and “free of PCBs and heavy metals”. It’s best to refrigerate the bottle once it opened. More info on this in future blogs.

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on November 29, 2010

Scent Power: Essential Oils For Awesome Health

Chromatogram of ten essential oils coloured wi...

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Medical aromatherapy or the use of essential oils for therapeutic purposes, is one of the oldest forms of medicine and cosmetics known to man. According to Egyptian hieroglyphics and Chinese medical manuscripts, physicians and priests were using essential oils thousands of years before Christ to heal the sick. What are essential oils anyway? Essential oils are the subtle, aromatic and volatile liquids extracted from the flowers, seeds, stems, leaves, bark and roots of herbs, shrubs and trees. The extraction process is done primarily through distillation. Some of the oils that have been used since Biblical times include frankincense, myrrh and cinnamon. Modern clinical research has been confirming the medicinal properties of these oils. For instance, frankincense has been found to have superior immune stimulating properties while cinnamon has blood sugar regulating properties.

Are all essential oils equal? Unfortunately, that’s not the case. For example, the majority of the rose oils come from Bulgaria. In order to keep up with demand from the perfume or cosmetic industry, they have to produce large volumes and in the process compromise quality by using solvent extraction instead of steam distillation.

Some of the modern applications of oils include eugenol (from clove), which is used in the dental industry and thymol (from thyme) which is used as an antiseptic. For one of the best sources of essential oils, check out www.cleanbodycare.com.

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on November 29, 2010

Oh My Zits! Clear Your Skin The Healthy Way

Acne vulgaris ill artlibre jn

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Acne, the PC word for zits, bothers people of all ages including me when I was a teenager. There’s a lot of possible causes of acne, as well as a host of treatments available. I remember during my teenage years having to see the dermatologist regularly. I would be given OTC meds such as salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics such as tetracycline and occasionally have some “angry” zits “popped”. No dietary advise was given at the time except for the avoidance of chocolates. Acne, especially during the teenage years, is usually due to hormonal imbalance. Although in today’s world, I would say that toxicity could also be a likely cause, similar to adult acne. In Chinese medicine, any pathologic skin condition including acne could be attributed to liver dysfunction. So, if a person sees a holistic practitioner, one of their possible recommendations would be to do a liver cleanse. The liver by the way, is one of the major detoxification organs of the body. Improve the liver’s function and skin function improves as well. Cleansing the colon could go a long way in clearing the skin too. Having a diet consisting of anti-inflammatory vegetables and fruit also helps inflammatory skin conditions. Supplements such as omega 3-fatty acids, chromium (by balancing blood sugar levels), and B complex, are just among the few things that could lead to healthier skin. Cleansing the skin with natural agents, avoiding synthetic/petroleum-based skin care products, and for women (and some men), avoiding toxic make-up could help improve the skin. Getting adequate sleep, exercise, and stress reduction are all good.

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Male Menopause: It’s Real And You Can Do Something About It….

As men age, hormones get out of balance just like in women. Testosterone levels (and growth hormone) tend to decline while hormones such as estrogen and DHT tend to increase. When testosterone declines, signs and symptoms such as the following could occur namely; loss of muscle mass, wrinkling of the skin, osteoporosis, mood changes (depression), hair loss, increase in body fat and cardiovascular disease, among others. With an increase in estrogen (due to increased body fat in some men as well as exposure to xenoestrogens in general), men could experience gynecomastia, emotional lability (mood swings) and prostate issues. With an increase in DHT, hair loss, acne and prostate problems could occur. We normally see this decline in men in their 50’s or older but we’re seeing this decline earlier in life now. Possible reasons for this include nutritional deficiencies, pharmaceuticals such as statins (which lower cholesterol, a precursor to testosterone), and environmental toxicity (organophosphates used in the agricultural industry for instance, mimic estrogen in our bodies). Among the people you know, how many of them actually manifest signs and symptoms of andropause? Unfortunately, most men who fall within the “normal” range may not be treated even if they’re symptomatic. The range of “normal” is so wide that those who are in the low normal range (and symptomatic as well) are not being treated properly. Fortunately, a doctor from Harvard named Abraham Morgentaler wrote a book called “Testosterone For Life” which seeks to educate more people about this issue. Anyway, the recommended treatment for low testosterone is testosterone itself. It comes in different forms such as sublingual tablets, transdermals gels or creams, injectables and pellets. Since everybody is different, the dose and route of administration is individualized to each person. It’s always good to do a baseline PSA (prostate specific antigen) and DRE (digital rectal exam) before starting anyone on testosterone. Since testosterone could metabolize into estrogen (esp. in men with excess body fat) or DHT, it’ll be wise to block those pathways with aromatase inhibitors and 5-alpha reductase (or DHT blockers) inhibitors, respectively. This could be done through natural supplements or prescription medications. Frequent testing is key to make sure people don’t get side-effects whatsoever. For men who are hesitant on using any type of hormone for improving their testosterone levels, options could include the use of amino acids (such as L-carnitine, which increases cell receptor sensitivity to endogenous tesotosterone) or herbal supplements (such as tribulus). While on a hormone replacement program, it’s important to include dietary and lifestyle changes as well to get optimal results. I highly recommend the Paleolithic diet and the PACE program by Dr. Al Sears for my clients.

If the picture above belongs to someone, let me know so I can give credit.

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Work It! Work Out!

Yoga Class at a Gym Category:Gyms_and_Health_Clubs

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Ever wonder why some people go to the gym regularly but don’t get results whatsoever or worse, they just get injuries? Well, let’s see the possible reasons why this is so. A lot of times, people aren’t able to accomplish their goals because they don’t have the nutritional support for their bodies (to create muscle tissue or lose body fat). There is a greater need for protein during the anabolic process. And this doesn’t mean just any protein. A high-quality protein source is needed by the body during this time, whether it’s from an animal or plant source (depending on a person’s individual needs). For those with busy lifestyles, using a protein meal replacement would work (whey, rice, pea). And it’s not enough to eat a diet that’s high in protein, however. Are you actually digesting and assimilating the nutrients from your food? Beginning in our 30’s, we actually produce less digestive enzymes (HCl, pepsin, pancreatic enzymes, bile). People usually manifest this lack of enzymes with symptoms such as heartburn, burping, indigestion, bloating and gas. So, it would be beneficial to take some digestive enzymes especially with high-protein meals or meals that are primarily cooked. If a person’s nutritional needs are already met but they still have a hard time reaching their goals, then it might be a good idea to have their hormones checked. Hormonal imbalance could lead to issues such as muscle and bone loss as well as fat accumulation. Deficient or even “low normal” levels of the androgens in men (DHEA and testosterone), estrogen/progesterone imbalance in women, imbalance in thyroid and adrenal hormones, and deficient or “low normal” levels of anabolic hormones such as growth hormone can all lead to futile work-out efforts. It would be really helpful to work with a anti-aging practitioner when someone is trying to optimize their hormone levels. One thing to remember by the way, is the difference in sexes when it comes to trying to achieve a certain body fat percentage. For men, the normal is between 10-15%, while in women, it’s 20-25% (since women are genetically programmed to have a higher body fat percentage). If the hormones are still out of balance in spite of efforts to optimize them , then it may be important to look at the role that toxins play in this scenario. Heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides and other environmental toxins could create hormonal imbalances. Therefore, it’s also important to rule them out if one is intent on achieving their health/fitness goals. More on this later.

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Waste in Your Waist

On overweight man's waistline.

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You got that right! There’s a lot of waste in your waist. And I don’t mean the waste products in your colon, however.  What I’m referring to are the toxic products that are in the fatty areas of the body, primarily the core or abdominal area. Toxins have a propensity to accumulate in fatty tissues because they are lipophilic or “fat-loving”. Other fatty areas in the body include the breast area in women and the neurological system in both sexes. The toxins found in these areas are primarily environmental toxins such herbicides, pesticides, heavy metals, VOC’s, and other dangerous chemicals. During the process of weight loss (fat loss, specifically), the body begins burning fat, in the process releasing all these toxic chemicals into the circulation. With poor detoxification mechanisms, these chemicals are just recirculated and deposited into other parts of the body where they interfere with function. That’s the reason why some people feel worse when they lose weight. It’s really important to enhance the detoxification pathways before embarking on such a program. Speaking of detoxification, one of the major organs responsible for this process is our liver. There are 2 phases of detoxification that goes on here. To simplify things, phase 1 primarily involves making toxic products less toxic and phase 2 involves preparing the toxin for excretion by conjugating it with certain nutrients. Deficiency of nutrients could interfere with either phase and lead to waste build up in the body. In summary, if one intends to lose weight, wait and do some research and then run to your nearest holistic health provider.

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Holistic Approach to Chronic Infections

Herbs: Thyme, oregano and rosemary

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Are antibiotics effective enough to take care of infections? We all hope so but it doesn’t always happen in real life especially in the case of chronic infections. A more comprehensive way of addressing chronic infections should involve the following: 1. reduction of microbial load through the use of anti-infective agents, 2. immune system support, 3. optimizing detoxification mechanisms, 4. nutritional support, 5. optimizing sleep/rest and 6. hormonal support. We all know the different ways to reduce microbial load. It involves the use of synthetic/prescription and herbal antibiotics, anti-virals, anti-parasitics and anti-fungals. Immune system support is critical, since ultimately, it’s our immune system that takes care of killing these microbes. Vitamins (vitamin C complex, vitamin D), minerals (selenium, zinc), herbal agents (echinacea), therapeutic-grade essential oils (oregano, clove, frankincense), homeopathic/spagyric remedies, and acupuncture are among the tools used to optimize immune system function. Support of detoxification mechanisms is absolutely essential to prevent a severe die-off or a Herxheimer reaction, a process that takes place when the body is overwhelmed with byproducts of microbial destruction. We’re looking at improving colon, kidney, liver, skin, lymphatic and lung function since all these organs are involved in detoxification (and drainage, for that matter). Having a sensible diet and the judicious use of nutritional supplements could go a long way in improving overall health. Sleep is a time when our body  repairs and regenerates itself. During this time (“anabolic phase” according to Dr. Revici’s work), our body secretes hormones such as growth hormone, prolactin and melatonin (which are all involved in the anabolic process). Finally, hormonal support is essential in cases of chronic infections. Our adrenals and thyroid could be burned out (from the stress of chronic infection) and supporting these organs could help the body overcome and win the fight against infection.

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