Ingredients:
1 ½ cups of cherry or other small tomato variety; I used small, round heirloom tomatoes (yum!)
½ large cucumber
1/3 cup basil, packed
¼ tsp salt
Juice of half a lime
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1/8 large avocado (or a couple of slices)
1/3 cup water
3 tbsp olive oil

Directions:
Begin by blending all ingredients, except the olive oil, in a food processor or a high speed blender on high. Next drizzle olive oil in. Adjust water content to make soup as watery or creamy as you like.
Garnish with additional veggies: avocado chunks, zucchini, cucumber, tomatoes, basil, etc.

Recipe provided by: The Blum Center for Health

Foods to help hormone imbalance.
Eat plenty of phytoestrogens which include leafy green vegetables, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, chickpeas, beans and lentils.  Phytoestrogens provide a balancing effect by mimicking estrogen in the body’s estrogen receptors and preventing xenoestrogens–stronger, synthetic, toxic hormones–from attaching.
Garlic is a powerful antioxidant that inhibits cancer growth by flushing cells of carcinogens. It also cleans the lymph system and enhances thyroid function—all of which work to balance the endocrine system.

Culinary Rx:
Garlicky Kale Salad
This twist on the classic Caesar salad is heartier and healthier. Kale contains essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds.  Instead of anchovies, garlic and lemon give this salad a vibrant Italian bite while the naked goat cheese gives it a parmesan-like flavor. Any of the available varieties of kale will taste delicious. If you can’t find naked goat cheese, use regular

parmesan. To make this a vegan dish, skip the cheese all together.

Serves 4
Ingredients

• 1 bunch kale, rinsed and chopped into bite-sized pieces (Lacinato works best)
• ¼-1/2 c. extra virgin olive oil
• 1.5 lemons juiced
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Pinch of red pepper flakes
• 4 oz. naked goat cheese (optional)
• Toasted pine nuts or walnuts

Directions

1. Place the kale in a large salad bowl
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes until emulsified.
3. Stir the dressing into the kale until all pieces are coated. Add the cheese and nuts and let it marinate for at least 3 hours. (Though overnight is even better.)

Mediterranean French Lentil Salad
Serves 6-8

Ingredients:

2 cups small French lentils, rinsed, and drained
7 cups cold water
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 bay leaf

Dressing:
2 cloves garlic, mashed/pressed/chopped
zest of 1 lemon
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
cracked pepper to taste
1 cup fresh parsley, chopped
3 cups bitter greens – escarole, arugula, dandelion, frisee, butter lettuce

¼ cup red onion (options)

Options: tomatoes, cucumber, olives

Directions:

Combine the lentils, water, salt, and bay leaf in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer, and cook just below a rolling boil for 20 minutes, skimming off any foam as it appears. When the lentils are tender but still firm, drain well and discard the bay leaf.

In a salad bowl, toss the salad dressing ingredients together, whisking well.

Add the drained lentils to the dressing and the parsley and toss. Serve warm over the mixed greens and red onion, or set aside and let cool to room temperature.

Curried Cauliflower Soup
Serves 6-8

Ingredients:
1 head cauliflower, cut into florets
3 T. olive oil
sea salt
1 small yellow onion diced
2 carrots, peeled and diced small
1 cup finely chopped celery
1 t. curry powder
¼ t. ground cumin
¼ t. ground coriander
1/8 t. ground cinnamon
6 cups vegetable broth

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Toss the cauliflower with 1 T of the olive oil and ¼ t. of salt, then spread it in an even layer on the pan.
Bake until the cauliflower is tender, about 20-25 minutes.
While the cauliflower is roasting, heat the remaining olive oil in a large pot over medium heat, then add the onion and pinch of salt and sauté until softened, about 3 minutes.
Add the carrots, celery and ¼ t. salt and sauté until the vegetables brown.
Add the spices and another ½ t. salt and stir until the spices coat the vegetables. Pour in ½ cup of the broth to deglaze the pot and cook until the liquid is reduced by half.
Pour the broth into the pot along with the roasted cauliflower. Blend the soup with an immersion blender until smooth or work in batches if using a standing blender.
Taste for salt or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

Ginger Mint Green Tea
4 cups

Ingredients:

4 cups water
4 ½-inch slices peeled fresh ginger
1 green tea bag
1 peppermint tea bag
1 T freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 t. honey

Directions:

Bring the water with the ginger to a boil in a saucepan.
Lower the heat, simmer, and cover for 10 minutes.
Remove from the heat, add the green and peppermint tea bags and steep for 10 more minutes.
Remove the tea bags and ginger, then stir in the lemon juice and honey, Serve hot or chill for at least an hour before serving.

Poached Salmon with Pesto
Serves 4

Ingredients:

Juice of 1 lemon
½ t. sea salt
4 4 oz. boned salmon filets
4 cups vegetable stock

Directions:

Stir the lemon juice and salt together, then add the salmon and turn to coat. Marinate the salmon in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes.
In a pot or straight-sided wide sauté pan, bring the stock to a slow boil over medium heat. Slide the salmon into the broth and poach for 7-9 minutes, just until the fish is tender.

Pesto Sauce
1 cup

Ingredients:

Pesto Sauce
Ingredients:
1  cup parsley
½ cup basil or cilantro
6 mint leaves
½ t. ground cumin
½ t. paprika
1 clove garlic, minced
¼ cup olive oil
3 T lemon juice
¼ t. sea salt

Directions:

Place all the ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth. Check for salt or lemon. And if you want a thinner consistency add 2 Tablespoons water.

Kale and Cranberry Tart
Serves 8

Ingredients:

For crust:
1 1/2 cups blanched almond flour
1/2 teaspoon finely ground, unrefined sea salt
1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary or scallions (white and green parts)
1/4 cup olive or avocado oil
1 tablespoon filtered water

For the tart filling:
3 packed cups coarsely chopped raw kale (stems removed before measuring)
2 tablespoon thinly sliced shallots
3/4 teaspoon finely ground, unrefined sea salt
4 large or 5 medium eggs, whisked
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons dried cranberries
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons raw pine nuts

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the baking rack in the middle of the oven.
2. Make the crust: Fluff up almond flour with a fork before measuring and mash to break up any lumps. In a large bowl, combine the almond flour, salt, and rosemary or scallions.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil and water. Stir these into the almond flour mixture until thoroughly combined. Then press the dough into a 9-inch tart pan.
4. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until lightly golden. Remove from the oven and let cool completely before filling.
5. Make the filling: Fill a 3 to 4 quart pot with 4 to 6 inches of water. Cover and bring to boil. Add kale (minus the stems), pressing to submerge it in the water, and boil, uncovered for 2 to 4 minutes, until bright green. Remove kale with a skimmer or pour into a colander over the sink. Run cold water over the kale or plunge it in ice water to stop the cooking and hold the color.
6. Place the kale, shallots, and sea salt in a food processor and pulse until well blended. (If you do not have a food processor, finely chop the kale and shallots then mix with the sea salt.) Transfer the kale mixture

Nutritional Support Protocol

Lifestyle Recommendations:
1. Stress reduction via regular practice of meditation, qi gong and/or
yoga.
2.  Avoid alcohol.
3.  Practice good sleep habits and get between 8-9 hours of sleep at night.
4.  Quit smoking, which can increase risk of cervical cancer three fold.
5.  Avoid oral contraceptives which can increase risk of cervical cancer
four fold.
6. Have your partner use condoms as men often carry the virus while
exhibiting no symptoms.

Dietary Recommendations:
1. Avoid refined and processed foods ( white carbs, packaged industrial
foods)  sugars, deep fried foods.
2. Eat lean proteins, unprocessed whole grains, beans.
3. Eat the rainbow! All red, orange and yellow vegetables and fruits
contain important carotenoids such as lycopene, lutein, cryptoxanthin, and beta carotene which reduce clearance time of the virus.
4. All cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, watercress, cabbage,  kale, brussels sprouts,  etc. contain indole 3 carbinol which inhibit the development of cancer.
5. Get regular! If diet is not sufficiently high in fiber, increase vegetables and fruit ( such as listed above ), whole, unprocessed grains and supplementation with probiotics and digestive enzymes if necessary.  Don’t forget to hydrate.

Supplement Recommendations:
5MTHF – 1000 mcg and up, especially if there is elevated homocysteine which is associated with HPV. Methylguard
Which also includes trimethylglycine, B-6 and methylcobalamin can be used instead at 1 cap B.I.D.

Estrodim: 1 cap daily
Folic acid supplementation can help reserve cervical dysphasia, Hernandez et al., Diet and premalignant lesions of the cervix:
Evidence of a protective role for folate, riboflavin and vitamin B12.
Cancer Causes Control.2003 Nov;14(9):859070

I-3-C is the phytochemical found in cruciferous vegetables.  It has been shown to cause actual regression of cervical dysphasia caused by HPV.
Bell et al., Placebo-controlled trial of indole-3 carbinol in the treatment of CN.
Gynecol Oncol. 2000 Aug;78(2);123-9

CoQ 10 St 100: Take one cap daily with food
OR
CoQ Max: Take 1 Cap daily with food. Coenzyme Q 10 is one of the body’s most important antioxidants, protecting cells from damage.  Low Co! 10 levels are found in women with cervical dysphasia.  Romney et al., Plasma concentrations of  coenzyme Q10 and tocopherols in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer.

Celapro: Take 1 cap daily with food
OR
Green Tea 600: Take 1 cap daily with food
Green tea, oral and topical, has been shown to be an effective treatment for cervical dysphasia.  Ahn et al., Protective effects of green tea extracts (polyphen E and EGCG) on human cervical lesions.
Eur J Cance4r Prev. 2003 Oct;12(5):383-90

Compliments of:  Jacques Saisselin/Supplements Manager

Call for a consult at (914) 238-1700

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Nutritional Support Protocol

Lifestyle Recommendations:

1.       Practice good sleep habits and get between 8-9 hours of sleep a night. Take the “Are You Getting Enough Sleep” questionnaire and follow the Insomnia Nutritional Support Protocol if needed.

2.       Reduce intensity or duration of aerobic exercise to a low or moderate level for 30 minutes a few days a week.

3.       Add calming exercises to each day for 5-15 minutes like yoga, stretching, Pilates or core work.

Dietary Recommendations:  Crucial to Your Success

1.       Reduce or eliminate refined carbohydrates

2.       Taper off caffeine

3.       Avoid or limit alcohol

4.       Eliminate pro-inflammatory and damaged fats (Hydrogenated oils, corn and safflower oils, margarine)

5.       Emphasize mono and omega 3 fats for their anti-inflammatory activity (cold water fish, sardines, raw nuts and seeds, avocado, olive oil)

6.       Stress depletes B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium, and zinc. Snack on foods high in minerals such as nuts, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, and oysters (which contain high amounts of zinc).

Supplement Recommendations: Designed to Each Individuals Needs and Reactions

In addition to the core nutrient program recommended by your Health Care Professional and/or from the results of your most recent Designs for Health Metabolic Profile:

Stress Arrest: 1 capsule morning and night, 2 per day (open, place

Powder under tongue)

C + Bio Fizz: 1 tsp in water per day or

Metagenics ultra potency C1000

B Supreme

and/or 1 capsule with breakfast and lunch

Basic B Complex:

Adrenall 2 caps AM, If needed again, 2 in afternoon or

and/or Cortine 1-2 Caps BID or

Adreset: 2 caps in morning

Magnesium Glycinate Chelate: 1 with breakfast and 1 at bedtime, 2 per day

Zinc Supreme: 1 capsule with breakfast and lunch, 2 per day

Do Zinc Challenge test twice a month and decrease zinc dose down to 1 when a strong taste is achieved

Rescue Remedy – 4 drops in glass of water or under tongue as needed

KAVA I C TID?

Compliments of:  Jacques Saisselin/Supplements Manager

Call for a consult at (914) 238-1700

Like us on

Lifestyle Recommendations:

1. Check Vitamin D blood levels and aim for optimal 50-100 ng/mL. Supplement accordingly.

2. Practice good sleep habits and get between 8-9 hours of sleep a night.

3. Reduce your stress levels as much as possible, using time tested practices such as meditation, qi gong, yoga, tai chi.

4. Weight bearing exercise is crucial. Participate in a regular balanced exercise program that includes wearing a pedometer to ensure that you collect steps and move more. High intensity short bursts ( 20-60 seconds) of activity during the day is recommended to enhance growth hormone release. Also engage in resistance training that works all major muscle groups ( work each group at least twice weekly).

5. Avoid smoking, alcohol and sugar consumption.

6. Avoid stress and extra obligations. Just say no.

7. Get 20 minutes of sunshine without sunscreen daily.

Dietary Recommendations:

1. Eat 5-9 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables daily, making up the gap with “green drinks” like Essential Greens or Barlean’s Greens, and/or PaleoReds.

2. Avoid sodas which contain phosphoric acid that leaches calcium from bones. Instead, choose green drinks mentioned above or freshly made vegetable juices. Include 2-3 cups of green tea daily.

3. Eat plenty of high calcium foods such as sesame seeds, tahini, almonds, cashews, walnuts, cheese, goat cheese.

4. Eat green leafy vegetables high in magnesium daily, such as salad greens, kale, collards, watercress.

Supplement Recommendations:

For Preventative Use:

Calguard: 2 tablets at dinner and/or 2 tablets at bedtime. Contains well absorbed citrate malate form of calcium with cofactors including 1600 IU of  Vitamin D, Vitamin K1, boron and magnesium. Good for those who have not yet entered perimenopause and have healthy bone density.

For Osteopenia:

Cal Apetite with Magnesium: 3 tablets dinner and bedtime. Not just calcium, but a whole bone food, including organic growth factors and proteins, as well as type I collagen, the predominant collagen found in bone. New Zealand sourced and cold processed bone from free range cattle with no history of spongiform disease. Magnesium positively affects hormones involved in calcium metabolism and the activation of Vitamin D . This formula contains 1000 IU of Vitamin D per 6 tablets.

Vitamin K2:  1000mcg (1 drop) and up daily sublingually or with food. Like Vitamin D, a key fat soluable nutrients whose chief source is healthy gut bacteria. Increases BMD via metabolism of bone proteins like osteocalcin.

For Osteoporosis:

Cal Apatite with Magnesium: see above

In addition:

Strontium: 2 capsules daily, away from calcium. Reduces bone resorption like bisphosphonates while also increasing new bone growth.

Ostera: 1 tablet BID. 1000 IU Vitamin D and 1000 mcg Vitamin K1 and select kinase response modulators from berberine HCl and hops that assists

osteoblasts and osteocytes to lay down a mesh like micro architecture known as the organic bone matrix onto which minerals are incorporated, something that calcium alone will not do.

Compliments of:  Jacques Saisselin/Supplements Manager

Call for a consult at (914) 238-1700

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Hormone treatments of all kinds are growing steadily more popular. Women are taking proactive approaches to finding a healthy hormone balance. Many women feel that if they can keep things in balance they can prevent adverse health conditions from insidiously developing over the years, producing problems with more dangerous consequences. Women are now less likely to accept their lot in life, especially an unhealthy state of being.
Hormone fluctuations can take a strong body and render it weak, unpredictable and unreliable. However, hormonal problems should not be seen as an inevitable part of being a woman or something that we should just accept. Hormonal problems that occur at different stages of life do not have to be accepted as “normal.” It definitely seems, however, that women are experiencing more hormonal difficulties than ever before. Whether it is PMS in their 20s and 30s, menopausal problems in their 50s, or osteoporosis in their 70s and 80s, women don’t have to accept these health problems as a normal part of the aging process. Women, by nature, are made to be strong and resilient. These attributes are necessary components to enable them to bear and raise children. Women’s bodies have been created to be healthy and in harmony and balance. Strength, energy, productivity and glowing health should be enjoyed throughout all the stages of a woman’s life, from girlhood through motherhood to old age. Good health is possible to obtain if we are making the right choices. If our bodies’ needs are not completely met from the food we eat, the amount of exercise we receive, and from reducing the stress in our lives, we may experience health difficulties. Diet, nutrition, exercise, and stress reduction are some of the basic changes women need to make in their lives in order to restore hormone balance. Some women may need hormone supplementation to help bring their bodies back into balance. Obtaining a basic understanding of our hormones will begin the process of restoring our body’s natural synchronization. Hormones have too much impact on our lives to ignore. Every aspect of our lifestyle can affect hormone balance and, just as importantly, hormone balance can profoundly influence every aspect of our lives.
In this article, we look at the role that different hormones have in our body and what happens when that balance gets upset. At the end of the article, we discuss the pros and cons of bioidentical hormones (those identical to the hormones produced by the human body) and those that are not.

The Role of Hormones . . .

Hormones coordinate the continu­ous biochemical activity that occurs in all of our cells in our body and brain. They are the chemicals that make things happen on a day-to-day basis within the systems of our body. As the body’s chemical messengers, they orchestrate our metabolic processes by stimulating changes in body cells. As hormone levels fluctuate throughout your lifetime, you may notice mood chang­es, body composition changes, your overall sensitivity changes, and your potential for various types of activity is different.

There are many different types of hor­mones in our body. Hormones, which originate in various glands through­out the body, are found in the blood, where they circulate to continually bathe our tissues. Receptors within our cells are sensitive to particular hor­mones that causes them to react. The more hormone present in the cell or the more highly sensitized the recep­tors, the more intense the reaction.

Estrogens

Estrogens are some of the most pow­erful hormones in the human body. Almost all tissues have receptors that make them responsive to estrogens. Es­trogens help the urinary tract, breasts, skin, blood vessels, and uterus to stay toned and flexible.

Estrogen levels start to rise in girls before menarche, sometimes as early as age 8. The hypothalamus signals the pituitary to release hormones, which then signal the ovaries to pro­duce more estrogen. Estrogen levels continue to rise in girls until they start menstruation, usually by age 11 or 12. It also starts the development of breasts and the growth of pubic hair and hair under the arms.

In their early 30s, most women begin to experience declining levels of es­trogens and progesterone. With this decline, there is also a drop in fertility.

In their early 40s, most women be­gin the climacteric, which is a period of more rapidly declining hormone levels leading up to menopause. The symptoms during this period become quite obvious. The skin becomes dryer, the hair becomes more brittle, pubic and underarm hair becomes more sparse, there is a loss in libido, and you may experience mood swings. The chart above identifies common menopausal symptoms caused by a deficiency in estrogens, progesterone, and testosterone.

Progesterone

Estrogen and progesterone are made by the ovaries of menstruating women. Progesterone is made by the corpus luteum starting just prior to ovula­tion. Progesterone is a precursor hormone that can be converted by the body into other steroid hor­mones. It prepares the lining of the uterus for the fertilized ovum and is necessary for the survival and development of the conceptus. Progesterone is produced in the pla­centa, which maintains pregnancy, and is secreted at a level of 300 to 400 mg a day during the third trimester. Progesterone is produced in smaller amounts by the adrenal glands and is an important component in the biosynthesis of adrenal cortical hormones.

Before ovulation, the levels of pro­gesterone are about 2 to 3 mg per day. At ovulation and the devel­opment of the corpus luteum, the production of progesterone rapidly rises to an average of 22 mg per day, with peak production as high as 30 mg per day, a week or so after ovulation. If fertilization does not occur after 10 or 12 days, then the production of progesterone falls dra­matically, triggering the shedding of the lining of the uterus, resulting in menstruation.

Ideally, in a woman’s menstrual cycle, estrogen and progesterone levels should rise from the time of ovulation until just before menstrua­tion. If the levels of progesterone are inadequate, then only estrogen rises during this time, causing many symptoms, such as low blood sugar levels, salt and fluid retention, blood clotting, fibroid and tumor development, increased cholesterol and triglyceride levels, allergic reactions, reduced oxygen levels in the cells, the retention of copper and loss of zinc. Low levels of progesterone also cause interference with thyroid hormone function, which may lead to weight gain and feelings of exhaustion.

Progesterone’s functions are:

-  act as a precursor of other sex hormones (i.e., estrogens and testosterone)

-  maintain secretory endometrium

-  protect against breast fibrocysts

-  act as a natural diuretic

-  help use fat for energy

-  act as a natural antidepressant

-  help thyroid hormone action

-  normalize blood clotting

-  restore libido

-  help normalize blood sugar

-  normalize zinc and copper levels

-  restore proper cell oxygen levels

Menopausal Symptoms Caused by Estrogen, Progesterone and Testosterone Deficiency

Bladder/urethra Infections, change in the urethral opening, frequency and/or urgency of urination, inability to hold in urine

Breasts Shrinking, sagging

Cardiovascular Coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis, angina, decreased endurance

Neuroendocrine Hot flushes, insomnia or frequent waking from sleep, decreased libido

Musculoskeletal Osteoporosis; backache and fractures related to osteoporosis; decreased integrity of muscles

Skin/mucous Atrophy, dryness, itching, easily bruised, loss of skin tone, dry hair or loss of hair, major hairiness of face, dry mouth

Uterus/pelvis Dropping of the uterus and the vagina

Vulva/vagina Shrinkage, itching, painful intercourse, vaginal infection, blood stained discharge

-  protect against endometrial cancer

-  protect against breast cancer

-  stimulate osteoblast-mediated bone building

-  provide survival of the embryo and fetus throughout gestation

-  promote cortisone synthesis as a precursor in the adrenal cortex.

Testosterone

While most women think of testos­terone as a male hormone, it may come as a surprise to you that it is also a female hormone. Women with functioning ovaries produce, on aver­age, three-tenths of one milligram of testosterone per day (men produce 20 times as much). One of testosterone’s roles in women during pregnancy is in the development of the embryo. Testosterone signals the cells of the genetically male embryo to develop as a male.

Testosterone also plays an important role in a woman’s normal physiology. Women produce a small amount of testosterone, which is critical to the healthy functioning of most of the tis­sues in the body. It is responsible for a sense of well-being, sexual libido, and vital energy. It is testosterone in a young woman that stimulates the growth of pubic hair and underarm hair. It also stimulates the skin to produce more oil, which contributes to teenage acne, but also gives shine to the hair and a healthy glow to the skin. There are testosterone receptors in the nipples of developed breasts and in the clitoris and vagina. These receptors make these areas sensitive to sexual stimulation.

Testosterone’s other functions are to keep the cells of the body functioning efficiently, contributing to healthy bones and muscles and making the best use of nourishment for growth and maintenance.

Postmenopausal women commonly experience a decrease in the amount of testosterone in their body, which results in symptoms of decreased sense of well-being, a loss of vital energy, and reduced sexual libido.

Testosterone and estrogen are carried on the same protein in the blood known as the sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). Between 97 and 99 percent of testosterone is attached to this protein, so very little is left to produce any effect on the tissues in the body. Estrogen stimulates the production of more SHBG, which binds up more testosterone, leaving less available to work on the cells. When women take supplementary estrogen at menopause they actually tie up a little more of the testosterone that’s left. This can cause symptoms of testosterone deficiency. Testoster­one supplementation has sometimes been feared by women because they’ve heard that if they take it they will experience significant growth of facial and body hair. These un­wanted side effects can occur only at excessive dosage levels and can be reversed by stopping the testosterone supplementation.

Thyroid

Thyroid problems are a very com­mon, and often undiagnosed, health problem for women. In thyroid test­ing, when TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is measured, it has been found not only to fail to accurately measure thyroid function, but it often misses many cases of thyroid system malfunction. Individuals with thyroid system malfunction seem to exhibit cellular level tissue resis­tance to the thyroid hormone in their blood. Even though normal amounts of thyroid hormone are present in the bloodstream, the individual cells do not receive sufficient amounts to optimally perform.

Recent research has also discovered different types of thyroid recep­tors. One type of receptor regulates pituitary stimulation of thyroid production and a different type is present in other areas of the body. It is thought that the pituitary recep­tors may not know that these other receptor areas are low in thyroid hor­mone, and so therefore do not signal for an increase.

Individuals with a malfunction­ing thyroid system often have a slow metabolism, which leads to a low body temperature. The Barnes Basal Temperature Test is a very simple, effective, and low cost way to determine if you might have hypothyroidism. For menstruating women from day 2 to day 12 of their cycles, the basal temperature should normally read between 97.8º and 98.2º F when taken in the underarm position. Some doctors recommend starting thyroid treatment if the tem­perature is below 97.4º F.

It is believed by some specialists that a majority of women with premen­strual syndrome (PMS) have thyroid abnormalities as indicated by TSH response. Thyroid system malfunc­tion has been linked to PMS because of its effect on immune system func­tion and its connection to Candida albicans infections.

Low thyroid function is capable of affecting the onset of menstruation in puberty by either hastening the onset or delaying it. Thyroid hormone has been effective in benefiting women who suffer from excessive flow, scant flow, painful cramps, irregular cycles, and some cases of infertility and miscarriage.

Other symptoms of low thyroid function are frequent headaches, re­peated respiratory infections, fatigue, depression, weakness, dry skin, lethargy, slow speech, decreased sweating, cold sensations, cold skin, thick tongue, coarseness of hair, im­paired memory, constipation, edema of eyelids, pallor of skin and heart enlargement.

DHEA

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is the most abundant naturally oc­curring steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal glands. It has been called “the mother of all hormones” because it watches over, supports, and regulates the functions of other steroids in their immune system activity. The body uses DHEA to produce the sex hormones: tes­tosterone, estrogen, progesterone and corticosterone. The function of DHEA appears to be important in keeping the metabolic balance of youth (anabolism), as contrasted with the “wearing out” metabolism of old age (catabolism). Levels of DHEA are high in the developing fetus and continue to rise until about the age of 25. At this point, DHEA production drops off sharp­ly. A woman at age 50 has less than one-third the DHEA she had at age 19.

Human Growth Hormone

Human growth hormone (hGH) is another hormone that is pres­ent in large quantities in our body when we are young, peaks in our mid-20s, but tends to disappear as we age. The primary function of hGH in our youth is to help bones lengthen and expand to help us become taller, stronger-boned, and long-limbed. It also promotes growth by helping to transport amino acids between cells and by inducing cells to accept and synthesize amino acids. In ad­dition, it helps our bodies to use the protein we ingest for cellular repair and regeneration. Without hGH, our muscle and organ tissue would start to break down. Human growth hormone, or somatotropin, is a simple protein made up of a single chain of 191 amino acids. It is released by the pituitary gland, starting in childhood and continu­ing into old age. It moves from the bloodstream to the liver, where it is converted into somatomedin-C (also known as growth factors), which are messenger molecules that carry hGH’s message of growth into other parts of the body. Human growth hormone supplementation is said to help elderly people lose 20 years from their biological clock, particularly in the area of bones and muscles.

A Look at Hormone Supplementation

Bioidentical Progesterone

Progesterone treatment has been used in Great Britain since the 1950s and in the United States since the late 1970s. The progester­one that is used is prepared from extracts of wild yam or soybean and is the exact duplicate of the progesterone that naturally occurs in the body. Progesterone directly suppresses circulating LH. It com­bines with progesterone receptor sites and elicits biological effects without undesirable side effects. A woman who takes progester­one feels her symptoms naturally improve. In the treatment of PMS, progesterone is administered dur­ing the symptomatic time, from ovulation until the symptoms cease during menses. A similar proto­col is used for perimenopausal symptoms. Possible side effects from taking progesterone include feelings of euphoria and possibly an alteration in the timing of the menstrual cycle.

Synthetic Progestins are a Poor Substitute for Bioidentical Progesterone

Synthetic progestins are not only less effective than natural proges­terone, but they can also cause side effects. They do not have the full range of biological activity of natu­ral progesterone and have actually been shown to inhibit biosynthesis of progesterone. Synthetic proges­tins can cause abnormal menstrual flow, cessation of flow, nausea, depression, weight fluctuations, fluid retention, insomnia, allergic reactions, jaundice, and fever.

Estrogen Can Be Prescribed in Conjunction with Progesterone

When estrogen supplementation is prescribed by your healthcare practitioner, using progesterone in conjunction can minimize side effects. Estrogen, unopposed by progesterone supplementation, “decreases libido, increases the likelihood of breast fibrocysts, uter­ine fibroids, uterine (endometrial) cancer and breast cancer. All of these undesirable effects of estro­gen are countered by progesterone. Restoring proper progesterone levels is what is known as restoring hormone balance,” according to Dr. John R. Lee in his book Natural Progesterone: The Multiple Roles of a Remarkable Hormone.

Conjugated Estrogens

Conjugated estrogens, such as Premarin®, are the most commonly used form of estrogen replace­ment therapy (ERT) prescribed by healthcare providers. Researchers do not know for sure if conjugated estrogen increases cancer risk. Women with family histories of cancer may be advised against taking standard estrogen therapy. Other side effects of estrogen include vaginal bleeding, high blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, headaches, fluid retention, and impaired glucose tolerance.

Tri-Estrogen

Tri-estrogen, or Tri-est, is a bioidentical triple estrogen com­bination formula that attempts to minimize the risks of estrogen and maximizes its benefits. Tri-est utilizes the benefits of three bio-identical estrogens—estrone (E1), estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3)—in a safe and effective way. Triple estrogen may be administered in a cyclical fashion, in addition to progesterone at the end of the cycle, or daily in combination with progesterone for practitioners who recommend every day dosing.

Natural Testosterone vs. Synthetic

Remington’s, the standard pharma­cy text, states that “Testosterone is not effective orally because it is destroyed by the liver upon ab­sorption.” However, Dr. Jonathan Wright states that an exhaustive search in the medical literature fails to substantiate this statement. Indeed, he has used testosterone orally in his practice and has confirmed activity both by clinical results and by laboratory measure­ments. This unfounded belief in the ineffectiveness of testosterone taken orally has led to the wide­spread use of methyltestosterone in this country.

Popular drug products, such as Premarin® with methyltestoster­one, are frequently prescribed for menopausal women. It is important to distinguish the dif­ference — testosterone occurs naturally in the human body, but methyltestosterone does not. Testosterone is easy to monitor by measuring levels in the blood, saliva, and urine. Testosterone supplementation only produces side effects when the normal physiological levels are exceeded. Side effects disappear when the dosing is lowered appropriately.

Methyltestosterone is a synthetic analog. It is not possible to cor­relate blood levels with clinical activity because it is not nor­mally a component of human biochemistry. By introducing a foreign substance that mimics testosterone, it is not surprising to find that more side effects or undesirable effects occur. Primar­ily, the extra load for the liver to try to detoxify the body from a foreign substance can lead to liver damage. Liver cancer has also been reported as a side effect of methyltestosterone.

In Testosterone, The Hormone of Desire, Dr. Susan Rako contends that it is desirable to use me­thyltestosterone to avoid the production of estradiol from testosterone. Estradiol produc­tion from testosterone is a natural event (and would occur anyway from a patient’s own testoster­one). In actuality, the rate of conversion is not great and is cer­tainly dependent upon the body’s own wisdom of balance. There are no long-term studies to verify that the use of methyltestosterone does not produce problems from even low dose applications, as used in menopausal women. The choice between natural or syn­thetic testosterone is an important topic for patients to discuss with their practitioners.

Thyroid Supplementation

Natural thyroid preparations have been available since 1891, and the individual thyroid hor­mones T3 and T4 have been synthesized since the 1960s. Dr. Broda O. Barnes, a pioneer in thyroid research, has always advocated the use of natural preparations, based on the findings of his many years of researching the efficacy of both natural and synthetic thyroid. Most thyroid hormone is given by prescription and must be monitored by a practitioner. T4 preparations, which are the most commonly used thyroid hor­mone, have proven to be a very poor replacement therapy accord­ing to the Barnes Foundation. Their testing has consistently shown that patients on T4 prepa­rations have an abnormally high T4 level and a very low T3 level, indicating their body’s inability to convert T4 to T3.

DHEA Supplementation

Proponents of DHEA supple­mentation believe it may have a positive impact on diabetes (by stabilizing blood sugar levels), cancer, coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis), osteoporosis, blood cholesterol, aging, and autoimmune diseases. It may also enhance the immune sys­tem to protect against infection, assist in weight loss and convert fat to lean muscle mass, con­trol Alzheimer’s disease, treat menopause, depression, memory problems and herpes. Women with higher levels of DHEA show evidence of less risk of breast cancer and better functioning im­mune systems as they age.

DHEA is available by pre­scription when it is custom compounded and also available without a prescription (over the counter).

Human Growth Hormone

Proponents of hGH supplemen­tation have found that it offers striking health benefits including improvements in energy level and sense of well-being, younger and thicker skin, stronger bones, gains in muscle mass, loss of body fat, a stronger immune system, faster healing of wounds, enhanced exercise and sexual performance, greater cardiac output, lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, fewer wrinkles, sharper vision, mood enhancements, better retentive memory, improved kidney func­tion, and regrowth of organs (heart, liver, spleen, kidneys) that shrink with age.

What are the potential problems with hGH? Because it promotes connective tissue growth, hGH has been reported to cause carpal tunnel syndrome and ar­thritis in some users. It has also been theorized that it may trig­ger precancerous cells to turn to cancerous cells. As the studies continue, researchers have also expressed fear that the hormone may lead to edema, high blood pressure, irreversible joint diameter enlargement, vocal cord thickening, osteoporosis, heat intolerance, or impotence. However, current dosing trends seem to be much lower than the original dosing prescribed by practitioners. There appear to be fewer side effects with more judicious use.

Benefits of Proper Hormone Balance

Restoring hormone balance has been shown to have a beneficial effect on quality of life. Estro­gen and progesterone therapies are believed to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, sig­nificantly protect from heart attack, and reduce the bone loss associated with osteoporosis. Treatment with bioidentical pro­gesterone and natural thyroid has been found to be effective in preventing miscarriages, solv­ing some cases of infertility, and helpful in treating menstrual difficulties, mood disorders, and PMS. Obtaining the proper hormone balance may help you avoid minor health irritations, as well as major health con­cerns, throughout the stages of your life.

Resources

This article was originally publised in 1997, as written by Lauri Lee. It was republished with minor modi­fications in January 2002 and again in August 2010.

The original resources included:

-  PMS—Solving The Puzzle by Linaya Hahn.

-  Hormonal Health by Dr. Michael Colgan.

-  Natural Hormone Health by Arabella Melville.

-  What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause: The Breakthrough Book on Natural Progesterone by John     R. Lee, MD.

-  Natural Progesterone: The Multiple Roles of a Remarkable Hormone by John R. Lee, MD.

-  Estrogen: The Facts Can Change Your Life! by Lila E. Nachtigall, MD.

-  Testosterone, The Hormone of Desire by Susan Rako, MD.

Connections is a publication of Women’s International Pharmacy, which is dedicated to the education and management of PMS, menopause, infertility, postpartum depression, and other hormone-related conditions and therapies.

This publication is distributed with the understanding that it does not constitute medical advice for indi­vidual problems. Although material is intended to be accurate, proper medical advice should be sought from a competent healthcare professional.

Publisher: Constance Kindschi Hegerfeld, Executive VP, Women’s International Pharmacy

Co-Editors: Michelle Davenport and Carol Petersen, RPh, CNP; Women’s International Pharmacy

Copyright © August 2010, Women’s International Pharmacy. This newsletter may not be reproduced or distributed without the permission of Women’s International Pharmacy.

For more information, please visit www.womensinternational.com or call (800) 279-5708.

Women’s International Pharmacy | PO Box 6468 | Madison, WI 53716-0468

Printed on recycled paper

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In case of radiation exposure, 1 capsule daily of  Potassium Iodide protects the Thyroid.

Contact us at:

The Healthy Choice Compounding Pharmacy

6 South Greeley Ave.,

Chappaqua, NY  10514

Phone: (914) 238-1700/Fax:(914)238-1834

email:Phil@TheHealthyChoice.net

]]> http://www.simplybhrt.com/2011/03/16/the-healthy-choice-has-potassium-iodide/feed/ 0 http://www.simplybhrt.com/2011/01/22/treatment-for-yeast-infections/ http://www.simplybhrt.com/2011/01/22/treatment-for-yeast-infections/#comments Sat, 22 Jan 2011 17:02:14 +0000 admin http://www.simplybhrt.com/?p=1381 Phil Altman R.Ph., Compounding Pharmacist of The Healthy Choice Compounding Pharmacy, recommends this Protocol  for the treatment and prevention of  Yeast Infections.

CANDIDA ALBICANS

Nutritional Support Protocol

Lifestyle Recommendations:

1. Practice good sleep habits and get between 8-9 hours of sleep a night. Take the “Are You Getting Enough Sleep” questionnaire and follow the Insomnia Nutritional Support Protocol if needed.
2. Participate in a regular balanced exercise program that includes wearing a pedometer to ensure that you collect steps and move more. High intensity short bursts (20-60 seconds) of activity during the day is recommended to enhance growth hormone release. Also engage in resistance training that works all major muscle groups (work each group at least 2 times a week).
3. Check for heavy metal toxicity.

Dietary Recommendations: – Crucial to Your Success

1. Avoid all sugars including fruit and fruit juices. Replace sugar with polyol sugar xylitol. Xylitol does not feed yeast.
2. Avoid refines carbohydrates from the diet especially those that are made with yeast such as bread, bagels, & English muffins (this includes cereal or pasta made with white flour, white rice, white potatoes, corn syrup, honey and candy.)
3. Choose lean, clean, quality protein at each meal such as chicken breast, turkey breast, lean beef, fish (especially salmon and sardines), eggs and whey protein.
4. Increase the amount of omega 3 fatty acids in your diet (i.e large cold water fish, flaxseed, walnuts, & pumpkin seeds). Limit or avoid trans fatty acids (hydrogenated vegetable oil, margarine and shortening). Cook with olive oil at a low heat.
5. Eat 5-9 servings of fresh vegetables daily OR add one heaping tablespoon of (Barleans Greens) to your favorite drink.
6. Substitute complex carbohydrates (non-starchy vegetables and whole grains) for refined and simple carbohydrates.
7. Drink at least 64 ounces of filtered, bottled, or non-chlorinated water every day. In addition, drink 2-3 cups of naturally decaffeinated green tea daily.
8. Excellent  snacks are almonds, & celery with almond butter.

Supplement Recommendations:- Designed to Each Individuals Need & Reactions

In addition to the core nutrient program recommended by your Health Care Professional and/or from the results of your most recent Designs for Health Metabolic Profile:

Phase 1: Elimination – 2 weeks – 3 months (depending upon severity of condition):

Allicillin: 1 capsule with each meal, 3 per day and/or 1 capsule with each meal, 3 per day

Oil of Oregano: and/or 1 softgel with each meal, 2 per day

Tricycline: 1 – 2 capsules, 1 – 3 times a day, based on response

Phase 2: Reinoculate – Choose One Among These Probiotics – 3 – 6 months:

Probiotic Supreme: 2 capsules daily

Ultra Flora: plus DF 2 caps daily, start of meal or on empty stomach.

Florastor:1 cap BID, can increase.

Ortho Biotic: 1-2 cap daily, can increase.

Probiotic Synergy: will also be necessary to rebuild (reinoculate) the healthy and necessary flora for preventing regrowth of candida albicans. This will be killed off with the oil of oregano, so it should not be taken at the same time. After one month of the Oil of Oregano treatment above, Probiotic Synergy supplementation would be wise. Can combine with arctic IGG immune 1 TBS mixed in water once or more daily on empty stomach.

Compliments of:  Jacques Saisselin/Supplements Manager

Call for a consult at (914) 238-1700

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