healthbriefs The Benefits of Hormone Therapy by Steven M. Rachlin, M.D.
not too high or too low, a person feels at his/her best. But when hormones are out of balance, a person can feel sluggish, irritable, depressed and foggy, among other symptoms. The endo- crine system plays a crucial role in health and homeo- stasis, and it’s what allows hormones to communicate messages throughout the body. A person that eats a nutritious diet, gets seven to eight hours of quality sleep, exercises and limits alcohol in- take will keep his/her endocrine system functioning optimally. Women with hormonal imbal-
W
ances often have strong premenstrual symptoms (fatigue, cramps, irritability, food cravings, and heavy or painful pe- riods) and may be more susceptible to weight gain, depression and difficulty sleeping. Women that burn the candle at both ends, that don’t get enough sleep, and eat fast food are wreaking havoc on their hormones and end up with the above symptoms. A high-stress lifestyle is a major cause of hormonal imbalance—and this
hen hormones are working in balance—
Steven Rachlin, M.D.
often causes one to feel slug- gish and can make it difficult to lose those extra pounds around the middle. Stress causes the adrenal glands to release adrenaline and cor- tisol, and over time, this can create hormone imbalance. It does this through its abil- ity to impact the release of progesterone and ovulation, which can also lead to infer- tility and a decreased ability to regulate progesterone and
estrogen levels. When cortisol levels are high, it increases cravings for sugar and carbs, which results in increased belly fat. Many people with high cortisol levels also experience depression. Also getting less than seven hours of sleep per night can raise cortisol levels. Getting seven to nine hours of sleep helps keep cortisol levels balanced, which prevents belly fat and premature aging. Excessive use of alcohol can also be detrimental to hormone balance—it raises both estrogen and cortisol lev- els, creates poor sleep, and can lower metabolism by 70 percent. Also, over exercising can create a surge of cortisol. Diets rich in processed foods, sugars and refined carbs can severely impair
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the metabolism. When a patient cannot lose weight trying all of the conventional methods, it’s very often because their metabolism is off balance. Hormones are involved in all factors affecting weight gain and loss—how and where fat is stored, cravings, appetite, food addic- tions and gut flora. Changing the diet can correct these hormonal imbalances to help get the metabolism back on track. Environmental factors can also affect hormonal activity—these include a variety of man-made chemicals found in building materials and products as well as xenoestrogens. These chemicals can affect men by causing gynecomastia (enlarged breasts), reduced sperm count, and increased risk of developing prostate cancer. In girls, it can cause early pu- berty onset, and in women an increased risk of developing breast cancer. In all people, it can inhibit thyroid function. Recommended protocols include
changing diet to a whole foods diet and adopting stress-management tech- niques, like meditation and yoga. Eating two tablespoons of flax seeds twice per day (30 grams) for six weeks can reduce symptoms of low estrogen and can reduce hot flashes. Pomegranate also combats low estrogen. B vitamins, specifically B5, are shown to reduce cortisol levels by helping improve mood and reduce stress. Low levels of vitamin A, iron and selenium can cause hair loss and hypothyroidism—so taking these vitamins can combat low levels. A high-grade multivitamin, omega-3 fatty acids, and probiotics are essential for optimal cellular health, which keeps hormones in check.
Hormonal imbalances aren’t
always so easy to detect, but taking the time to test and uncover when they do exist is the first step in getting on track to feeling much better.
Source: Steven M. Rachlin, M.D., of Rachlin Medical Center, located at 927 Willis Ave., Albertson. For more infor- mation or to schedule an appointment, call 516-873-7773 or visit RachlinMedi-
cal.com. See ad on page 7.
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