Category: Hormone Balance

Know Your Hormones! What Hormone Test is Best?

, ,

If you’re concerned about hormonal imbalance you probably have thought about testing your hormones. But with all the testing options out there, which test is best?

 

Today I’ll explain some of the testing options available and which I would recommend for the hormones we’ve been discussing over the past month for the Know Your Hormones series.

 

What to expect in this video:

0:26 Estrogen testing

0:34 Blood hormone testing benefits

1:05 Salivary hormone testing benefits

1:18 Urine hormone testing benefits

2:04 Estrogen testing for fertility

2:27 Insulin testing

3:15 Cortisol testing

3:40 How normal cortisol levels should change throughout the day

4:46 Thyroid hormone testing

 

https://youtu.be/yaRPobpPWE4

 

Estrogen

 

Estrogen is a steroid hormone, meaning it’s made using cholesterol as the main building block.

 

For fertility, measuring blood (also known as serum) levels of estradiol (the most potent of the 3 estrogens in our body), on day 3 of your menstrual cycle can provide helpful information.

 

To screen for basic hormonal concerns, measurement of serum estradiol at any time can provide basic information that can be helpful as long as it’s interpreted in the ranges given for the correct time of your menstrual cycle (assuming woman is still having her periods, otherwise they need to be interpreted in the post-menopausal range).

 

However, blood measurements of estrogen don’t give as accurate a measure of the amount of estrogen that is bioavailable – meaning the amount of estrogen that can actually be available and therefore active at the tissues (where we want estrogen to go).

 

For this, salivary hormone testing can provide a better measure of bioavailable hormones – that is free, unbound hormones. For steroid hormones, salivary testing can provide more accurate information of the level of hormones that are actually available to be used by the tissues (meaning where they can actually have the effect we want them to have).

 

Another important factor to consider as I’ve discussed in previous articles is estrogen dominance. If we want to understand why estrogen dominance is happening another testing option is urine testing – specifically the DUTCH test which can provide information about the breakdown products (known as metabolites) of estrogen, including how well the body is able to detoxify from estrogen.

 

 

Insulin

 

Insulin testing is best done through blood tests. While you can test insulin, remember that what we want insulin to do is help us balance our blood sugars well. So while a blood test for fasting insulin is helpful, it is also important to test for fasting glucose and hemoglobin A1C (both blood tests) to gain a more complete understanding of our risk for blood sugar imbalances including hypoglycemia, pre-diabetes or diabetes.

 

 

Cortisol

 

Cortisol testing can be done through blood – and it’s often done first thing in the morning when cortisol should be the highest. But this doesn’t tell us the whole story about cortisol. Also, since many people are anxious about getting blood taken, cortisol may be falsely elevated when measured this way.

 

 

Salivary testing allows for easy collection & therefore measurement of cortisol (also a steroid hormone) throughout the day. This is important because cortisol is normally made & released in a very specific way, producing an expected pattern for healthy adrenal gland function.

 

Cortisol should be highest in the morning when we wake up, gradually decreasing to the noon hour, then further decreasing to the early evening at 5 PM, with its lowest levels of the day being in the night time before you sleep. This pattern is often called the 4-point cortisol curve.

 

If we also want to know more about the metabolism or break down of cortisol in the body then we may want to consider urine testing for cortisol and the DUTCH test can provide information on the metabolites or break down products of cortisol, in addition to more complete information of the total amount of cortisol produced throughout the day.

 

 

Thyroid Hormones (T3 & T4)

 

Thyroid hormone levels (T3 & T4) are best analyzed through blood testing.

 

However, it’s often only TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone, which is made by the brain), that is measured as a screening test for thyroid dysfunction, by many conventional doctors.

 

In my experience working with women with under-functioning thyroid function (hypothyroidism & Hashimoto’s thyroiditis), to get a more complete understanding of thyroid function, it’s important to do a more comprehensive thyroid panel which includes TSH, T3, T4, anti-TPO antibodies and reverse T3 when necessary. If you want to know more about the complete thyroid panel especially with its relation to fertility health watch this video.

 

 

Final Thoughts

 

As you can see, when it comes to hormone testing – there isn’t a one-size fits all approach. With the right test results, analyzed with respect to your health concerns and symptoms, we’re better able to provide the most personalized & effective naturopathic care for you to help balance your hormones and get you feeling like your Self again.

 

I hope you’ve found this Know Your Hormones series helpful in starting to understand your own hormone balance and that it’s encouraged you to work with a healthcare professional well versed in hormones to help you take charge of your health.

 

 

What do YOU want to know more about?

 

Thank you so much for all of you who have watched, liked and shared this series – your feedback helps me know that I’m giving you the info that you want to learn about, so if there’s a topic you’re interested in that you want to learn more about – please let me know. You can connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, even message me right here on my website.

 

I would LOVE to hear from you!

 

I will see you back here next week when I’ll be unveiling our new monthly topic for June. Have an amazing week everyone!

 

Take care until then!

Know Your Hormones! #4 Thyroid Hormones

, ,

Do you ever wonder if you have a slow metabolism?

 

Many women who come to see me ask the same thing. So today, we’ll review some of the symptoms related to slow metabolism and the hormone involved in metabolism.

 

Have you guessed it?

 

It’s the thyroid hormone.

 

 

What is thyroid hormone?

 

There are 2 main thyroid hormones that are made by the thyroid gland:

  • T3: Triiodothyronine
  • T4: Thyroxine

T3 is the more active form.

 

The thyroid gland is located at the front of your neck, and it’s shaped like a butterfly. It makes mostly T4 and some T3, but T3 is the more active form. Cells in different organs need to convert T4 into its active form T3, in order for it to have its effect on the body.

 

Optimal T3 levels functions to regulate and ensure a healthy metabolism. Basically, this means that T3 helps our cells make energy efficiently so that our body can function well.

 

Common symptoms of underactive thyroid function (hypothyroidism) include:
  • Difficulty losing weight
  • Fatigue
  • Feeling cold all the time
  • Constipation
  • Depressed mood
  • Heavy periods

 

Common symptoms of overactive thyroid function (hyperthyroidism) include:
  • Weight loss
  • Anxiety
  • Shakiness
  • Feeling hot
  • Sweating
  • Heart palpitations

 

Why are thyroid imbalances an issue?

 

So what can we do about it?

If we find that there is an imbalance in thyroid hormone levels or function, you may be surprised to learn that by addressing some of the other hormone imbalances we already learned about earlier in this video series, thyroid hormone function can improve as well. For example:

  • Cortisol levels that are too high or too low can prevent normal thyroid hormone activity
    • To start you off on some ways to help balance cortisol levels, make sure you watch Week 3’s video on cortisol if you haven’t watch it yet
  • Excess estrogen can reduce the available free T3. Identifying and addressing estrogen dominance is important for thyroid balance
  • Make sure the body has the nutrients needed to convert T4 into T3, which again, is the more active form in the body. Some of these nutrients include the minerals selenium, zinc and magnesium.
  • Decrease inflammation in the thyroid gland – and the entire body. One of the most common causes of hypothyroidism (an underfunctioning thyroid gland) is autoimmune – meaning your body’s immune system attacks your own body cells, in this case, those found in the thyroid gland. Balancing these autoimmune reactions can help improve thyroid function, ovulation and optimize fertility.

 

Final Thoughts

 

As you can see thyroid hormone balance is complex.

 

In order to truly understand what is going on with your hormones – it’s important to get a baseline reading of the levels of hormones in your body. So next week we’ll take a look at hormone testing options that are important to determine what needs to be done to balance hormone levels most efficiently.

 

 

Have you heard of compounded Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)

 

To help women address hormone balance it may be important to consider hormone therapy when necessary. It is worthwhile to consider specially compounded bioidentical hormones that mimic your natural hormones more effectively.

 

This requires extra training which Dr. Odette has taken with the LP3 Network in order to provide this additional service of prescribing compounded bioidentical hormone therapy safely & effectively. If you would like to learn if you are a good candidate for BHRT contact Dr. Odette here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Know Your Hormones! #3 Cortisol

, , , , , ,

Do you ever get STRESSED OUT?

 

Don’t worry…I do too!

 

When we get stressed out, cortisol is one of the hormones that can help us make it through the day. If you’re thinking: “But that’s every day for me!”,  then you’ll want to watch this short video where I’ll share my TOP 3 tips for balancing your cortisol levels so you can handle stress more effectively.

 

 

 

 

What is cortisol?

 

Cortisol is a hormone made by our adrenal glands (two little triangular shaped organs that sit on top of each kidney – so we have one right and one left adrenal gland). (1)

 

 
What does cortisol do?

 

Our adrenal glands release cortisol to help us deal with long-term stressors like:

  • High-stress jobs
  • Balancing work, home, relationships and all of your other many responsibilities
  • Coping with a loved one’s illness
  • Coping with our own long-standing health concerns like infertility and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

 

 

How does cortisol help us deal with long-term stressors?

 

Cortisol raises our blood sugar by converting fats & proteins into glucose (sugar). (1, 2)

 

Glucose is the preferred fuel of our cells because our cells can convert it to energy very efficiently. And when we’re stressed out, we need lots of energy to fuel our brain to help us make the right decisions and of course to fuel our other vital organs like our hearts, lungs and muscles. (1, 2)

 

 

So what’s the problem?

 

If we are consistently stressed out – day in and day out – our adrenal glands need to make lots of cortisol on a repeated basis. Excess cortisol over time (months & years) can lead to:

(2)

 

On the other end of the spectrum, too little cortisol isn’t good either because it can lead to

  • Difficulty getting out of bed in the morning
  • Inability to handle stress
  • Decreased ability of other hormones to function optimally, including thyroid hormone, estrogen & progesterone

(2)

 

 

So what can we do about this?

 

Saying we need to relieve stress is obvious – but I know the million dollar question is how? The answer will be unique to each person, but my top 3 tips for YOU today are:

 

  1. Eat to balance your blood sugars: If your blood sugar levels drop too low, cortisol is released because the body considers blood sugar levels that are too low (hypoglycemia) to be a stress on the body. Watch last week’s video for some basic nutrition tips to stabilize your blood sugar levels.
  2. Practice relaxation techniques daily: Abdominal breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and positive Self-talk can all be used to help turn off your stress response and turn on your relaxation response.
  3. Physical activity: Find something active you LOVE to do. I know – this may take a while, but keep at it. It doesn’t have to be the typical running or hitting the gym, both of which are great of course, but if these don’t excite you, you won’t be motivated to it. So think outside the box. What about yoga, kickboxing,  dance lessons, rowing, dragon boating or dodgeball (yes, it’s a thing!). The bottom line is to find something you LOVE to do, so it doesn’t feel like you’re being forced to “exercise”. I truly believe there’s something out there for everyone…so start looking!

 

 

Final Thoughts

 

You can’t balance cortisol by getting rid of all of the stress in your life – that would be unrealistic and unnecessary because there’s always going to be stress (and some stress can actually be positive motivators). Instead, by introducing the tips above (start one at a time so you don’t get overwhelmed!), you can help cortisol work smarter not harder – and thus keep it, and your other hormones in better balance.

 

Next week, we’ll be learning about a hormone the women are going to be super interested in – here’s a hint – it’s in charge of our metabolism!

 

References:

  1. Marieb, EN. Essentials of human anatomy & physiology. 11th ed. Boston: Pearson Inc.; 2015.
  2. Bellevue, Shannon Ed. Functional and personalized hormone restoration therapy live event workbook. LP3 Network Inc. 2017.

 

Take good care of your Self until then!

 

 

Wanna become a Self-care warrior? 

Click the button below to join Dr. Odette’s FREE Self-care Warrior e-mail list and you’ll receive her Self-care videos, articles, and inspiration right in your inbox! 

 

YES! I’m ready to take care of my Self!

 

Know Your Hormones! #2 Insulin

, ,

Do you ever get hangry?

 

I know I do!

 

If you’re like most people, when you get hangry, you need something and you need it quick! You crave cookies, bagels, chips, donuts – something sugary or high in carbohydrates and something fast. While those may give you instant gratification – we all know it doesn’t last long – so if you want some better food choices when you’re hangry & why it’s important to your hormones – I’ll fill you in today!

 

What you’ll learn in this video (feel free to jump to what you’re interested in!):

0:43 What does insulin have to do with being hangry?

2:20 Insulin resistance & why it’s bad for our health

2:56 What to eat when you get hangry!

 

 

I can definitely get hangry.

 

It always amazes me that when I do, my body just wants that quick carbohydrate fix too! But I know that if I give in (and yes – it does happen!), I may get a quick boost of energy but then my energy drops way down just as quickly. And guess what? I’m hungry 10 minutes later!

 

Before we learn how to fix this, let’s learn about blood sugar balance.

 

Enter insulin.

 

Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas, an organ in our upper abdomen.

 

What does insulin do?

 

After we eat a meal our blood sugar normally rises. Insulin gets released and it tells our cells to absorb sugar. This allows our cells to use that sugar to make the energy we need to function well and complete our day to day activities. Meanwhile, our blood sugar levels return to normal.

 

So what’s the problem?

 

When we eat foods with a very high sugar content our blood sugars spike up really high, really quickly. This causes the pancreas to release a lot of insulin in order to deal with that high blood sugar and sometimes it overshoots the amount needed and too much sugar gets absorbed into the cell, which means our blood sugars actually drop down too low. This is called hypoglycemia. The next thing you know, you’re hungry again! So you’re reaching for another quick fix – another cookie or candy bar perhaps?

 

Setting the stage for insulin resistance

 

If this happens only once in a while, that’s not going to be an issue, but if your pancreas has to do this repeatedly, and you repeatedly eat foods that are too high in sugar (and we do this too often), our cells stop responding to insulin. They don’t absorb sugar as well anymore with the normal amount of insulin, so the pancreas has to make more and more insulin for the cell to respond to the same amount of sugar. This is called insulin resistance. Our cells become resistant to insulin – they no longer respond well to insulin, and this perpetuates unstable blood sugar levels.

 

Insulin resistance can play a role in weight gain, in pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

 

So what can we do about this?

 

Eat to keep our blood sugars more stable throughout the day – so insulin doesn’t go on a roller coaster ride. When you get hangry – reach for something that has some protein & healthy fat in it – not just sugar!

 

You want an apple? Great! Dip it in some natural almond butter.

 

Or maybe pack a hard-boiled egg for snack!

 

Out and about and a bagel is your best option on the road? Ok – but definitely choose whole wheat, maybe just eat half of it and top it with some peanut butter or cream cheese….and maybe you can sprinkle some extra pumpkin seeds you keep stashed at your desk to help.

 

With all of these options, adding protein & healthy fat to your snack slows down the release of sugar into your blood so insulin can be released in a more balanced way. That way – just enough sugar will be absorbed into your cells, and your blood sugar levels will stay stable throughout the day, so you don’t feel hangry.

 

Next week, we’ll be learning about one of our important stress hormones – and how it is also super important for regulating blood sugar and many other hormones.

 

Take care until then!

 

 

 

 

Know Your Hormones! #1 Estrogen

, ,

Do you feel like your hormones are “out of balance”?

 

You’re not alone!

 

Many women feel like their hormones are out of control – but they don’t know which ones.

 

Over the next 4 weeks I’ll be introducing you to 4 of the main hormones that could be responsible for many common symptoms women experience, so you can start to become more aware of the importance of hormonal balance.

 

Let’s start with estrogen!

 

 

Estrogen is an important hormone for women.

 

Estrogen is made mainly in the ovaries for women who are still having their periods. Estrogen is made during the first half of your menstrual cycle (before ovulation occurs), to really help prepare & thicken the uterine lining for implantation after ovulation and successful fertilization.

 

But sometimes estrogen can be too high (estrogen excess) and sometimes it can be too low (estrogen deficiency) resulting in many symptoms that fluctuate over a woman’s cycle and lifetime.

 

Possible signs of estrogen excess:

Estrogen excess can be seen in women with endometriosis, fibroids, PCOS and fertility issues.

 

Possible signs of estrogen deficiency:

  • Dry hair, skin
  • Fatigue
  • Hot flashes
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Vaginal dryness

Estrogen deficiency can be seen in women with fertility issues, menopause, and post-menopause

 

To complicate matters, both estrogen excess and deficiency can lead to similar symptoms, for example:

 

How do we know if estrogen is too high or too low?

 

Sometimes it can help to test your estrogen levels as well as for other factors involved in estrogen level changes. This can be done via blood testing. 

 

What happens after I get my estrogen results?

 

Sometimes, once we know more about what your levels are, then we can help address your hormones more effectively.

 

To balance estrogen excess, options may include cruciferous vegetables, fibre and restoring gut health to eliminate estrogen more effectively, as I’ve discussed here in my Hormone detox series and again here in my Fertility series. If you’re look for more information on other important hormones for fertility click here.

 

To improve estrogen deficiency, options may include nutritional changes, supplements and herbs to help to support the body’s own production of estrogen. If necessary, we also may need to consider whether bio-identical compounded hormones are necessary.

 

Final Thoughts

 

Now remember, even though you may see one or more of your symptoms in either the estrogen excess or deficiency category – that’s not the end of the story. That’s because your hormones don’t function in isolation from one another. They can overlap in function, interact with one another, and can even modify the function of one another. This means that your symptoms may be due a combination of hormonal imbalances and not just estrogen. To achieve whole body hormonal balance we need to understand your other hormones are functioning as well.

 

Next week, we’ll be learning about another important hormone – and here’s a hint – it’s important for blood sugar balance.

 

Take care until then!

 

If you’re ready for one-on-one naturopathic care backed by 15 years of experience helping people start and expand their families, click here or on the button below to get started.

Book Your Appointment – It’s Easy!

You can also use the above button to book a complimentary no-obligation 15-minute Optimal Health Meet & Greet Visit so you can ask me questions about my approach to helping you feel your best through perimenopause & beyond – before committing to an initial naturopathic visit.