Hormone & Endocrine Health
There are two big categories: hormones and horrormones.
The prior is what we have to help us develop, reproduce and function as the full human beings we were created to be.
The second, well, this happens to all too many of us as we transition from youth to middle age due to toxins in our environment, stress and not optimal diet, exercise or sleep, and ( you guessed it) chronic inflammation.
How It Works
-- For Women:
There is a symphony of changes going on all at the same time as we transition from youthful cycles (or childbearing) to perimenopause and eventually menopause.
Menopause is when the ovaries "close up shop" and no longer produce any estrogen or testosterone. The loss of these hormones (along with progesterone) and the downregulation of the entire endocrine system puts women at great risk for degenerative diseases, heart problems, osteoporosis, emotional disorders and neurologic conditions such as Alzheimer or other dementias.
Perimenopause, a very misunderstood and underdiagnosed condition, is the (sometimes long) time between youth and menopause...and the imbalance that can occur in this time frame can be very destructive.
Women may still have cycling but it can be brutal: horrible PMS, clotting, bleeding, unusual and unpredictable timing and generally feeling physically awful most of the month.
The ovaries are trying to give a last "hoorah" and often, estrogen levels rise incredibly high resulting in an "estrogen dominant" state which suppresses the rest of the endocrine system including progesterone, the thyroid hormones, testosterone and adrenal glands.
Women are left feeling fatigued, worn out, weak, sad or angry, having unhealthy cravings, gaining weight and not sleeping well.
But all of these things can be revised, and you CAN glide easily into middle and older life without having to go through the grinder and then get dropped off the cliff.
-- For Men:
This looks like a decrease in testosterone production by the testes and an increase in hormones that are not productive for men such as estrogen and dihydrotestosterone. This results in poor sleep, low energy, low libido, low self confidence, hair thinning or loss, increasing abdominal fat, decreased strength and motivation, and sometimes feelings of depression and low self worth.
What do male hormones do?
Regulate sleep cycles, improve mood, improve memory and concentration, increase muscle mass and strength, control metabolism and weight, improve sexual function.
What compromises hormones?
Long work hours, high stress, poor diet, poor sleep, environmental toxins, medications, chronic health issues and aging.