Your Hormone Health: What You May Never Have Considered

By Flora Stay, DDS

As women, when we think about hormonal health, we usually consider issues related to our monthly menstruation, menopause, sexual health, or weight gain. In reality, hormonal imbalance can affect our total well-being. We especially experience the wrath of this imbalance during pre- and postmenopause and during our menstruation cycle (also known to some as the dreaded PMS).

We’ve all heard about and experienced how our sexuality is affected by our hormone levels, and how it relates to many other physical and emotional factors, but we probably never considered one other important physical factor affecting our sexual mood: gum disease, also known as the silent disease.

This connection is rarely talked about, and might at first seem odd, but it becomes obvious when we learn the science behind how it all works.

Our Mouth Has a Lot to Say About Our Overall Health
During the different stages of our lives when hormones are fluctuating, from puberty to pregnancy and menopause, many tissues are affected, including our gum tissue. The gums can swell up, bleed easily, and become slightly more red during these times of hormone-related events. Often, when the hormones regulate back to normal, the gums don’t always naturally return to their healthy state, but are dependent on our good oral hygiene.

With this state of chronic gum inflammation, our hormones, and even our immune system, can be negatively affected, triggering a cascade of events that lead to compromised overall health.

Important Little Signs Not to be Ignored
Chances are we never think the slight bleeding of our gums during pregnancy or premenopause has anything to do with our hormones. We may have even thought a little bleeding when brushing was perfectly normal and never gave it a second thought. Slight bleeding, red gums, and even some swelling, are all signs of inflammation that accompany gum disease.

Most people don’t pay any attention to the signs of inflammation in the mouth. It’s no wonder a study published in Journal of Periodontology in January of 1999 reported that at least 23 percent of women ages 30 to 54 have severe gum disease (periodontitis), and 44 percent of women ages 55 to 90 who still have their teeth have gum disease. As far as the general public, the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research reported about 80 percent of adults in the United States currently have some form of the disease.

This is surprising in our modern world, and we may wonder how so many people could have gum disease. Truth be known, many people go to the dentist only “when it hurts.” If you’re one of these individuals, you need a new perspective on oral health, especially if your sex life is not as exciting as it used to be or if you have a hard time managing stress.

Quick Definition
Even the beginning stages of gum disease, known as gingivitis, can make an impact on our mood and health. If not treated, gingivitis advances and results in chronic inflammation with devastating health results. When our gums are not healthy, a series of chemical reactions take place locally and systemically. The chemical changes trigger our immune system to take action, with inflammation resulting locally on the gum tissue.

Inflammation is a basic immune response (defense system) in which the body fights any infection, irritation, or other injury. During this inflammatory attack, immune cells rev each other up and release substances called inflammatory cytokines. These substances boost immunity but also induce dark moods in some people. In fact, if the cytokines stay too high for too long, they may even result in depression.

Chronic inflammation is a breakdown of tissue which puts a burden on the immune system as it fights to promote health. If this tissue breakdown continues and advances, our body’s immune system becomes more challenged and unable to fight other illness and effectively manage stress. What’s more, chronic inflammation affects our mood, leaving us feeling tired and burned out.

Unfortunately, gum disease is known as the silent disease because we may not even know we have it, except for a sign of slight bleeding when flossing or brushing. The unsuspecting person may not be aware that there is tissue breakdown until it’s too late and the teeth are loose. Other common signs include bad breath that isn’t due to the garlic or onion you just ate, but is offensive most of the time.

Gateway to Health
So what can a person do to help the situation? The solution is really simple. Always consider the health of your mouth as an important component of overall health. Play the part of Sherlock Holmes and consumer health advocate Ralph Nader combined in being proactive and talking to your physician about oral health. You’ll have to take responsibility and learn more about this connection. Only recently have many studies began reporting the connection of oral health to other illnesses, including pancreatic cancer (according to a Harvard Medical School study), heart disease, problem pregnancies, stroke, and respiratory disorders.

When your immune system is healthy, it becomes easier to handle stress and your mood and your hormones stay in balance. If you’re feeling run down, unable to handle stress, and have lost interest in sex, make a visit to your dentist. Many people may have suffered for years with mood changes and ill health while being treated only with drugs, when the problem may in fact be in their mouths. Drugs alone may not help if chronic inflammation from your gums is not treated.

There really is no excuse not to get regular dental check-ups or to practice good home oral hygiene. In my book, “Secret Gateway to Health,” I explain how to find a dentist and where to go for inexpensive dental care. I recommend products and offer suggestions for overcoming dental fears along with different treatment options.

Now, armed with this information, go, find your soul mate dentist, and have your mouth checked—you just may end up with a better, more fabulous love life!

Dr. Flora Stay is the author of Secret Gateway to Health and has been in private practice for more than 30 years and is an assistant associate professor at the USC School of Dentistry. To receive a free e-book from Dr. Stay, visit http://www.cleure.com.

Kid -Friendly Vacations to Excite the Entire Family

By Denise Gula

What could be better than a week or a weekend of family rejuvenation, especially when it’s practically in your own backyard?

Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa: “A Breath of Fresh Air”

Imagine a place that is heaven on earth, only a two-hour drive from Ventura County and offers a healthy vacation for the entire family. The newly renovated Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa features many kid-friendly activities, including a private beach, fishing from the resort’s private pier, and the perpetually heated outdoor swimming pool.

The jewel of Lake Arrowhead includes a glistening lake and the natural beauty surrounding it. Children love jumping off the docks, swimming, and catching an occasional wave from the boats towing water-skiers nearby. For families who enjoy spending time together in nature, you can make a picnic basket and explore one of the many hiking and biking trails in the breathtaking San Bernardino National Forest.

Stargazing is also a favorite activity among guests. With an advance reservation, you can partake in a tour of the stars led by an astronomer using the resort’s computerized telescope. See views of the celestial night sky rarely seen amid the glow of city lights. A trip to Lake Arrowhead is not complete unless you visit Captain Bill Smith aboard the Arrowhead Queen Riverboat. Take a one-hour tour around the lake and learn about its history as well as the famous residents who live there.

Guests who are at least 16 years old can unwind and be nurtured at Spa of the Pines. The spa’s philosophy is to help you “relax in a majestic alpine setting, reconnect with nature, awaken your senses, and rid your mind of stress.” Natural elements from the local surrounding earth are incorporated into specialized healing techniques, including aromatherapy massage and facials. The steam room and indoor Jacuzzi also invite you to heighten your relaxation experience.

For an idyllic lakeside dining experience, have breakfast, lunch, or dinner at Bin 189. Breathtaking views of Lake Arrowhead are sure to sustain the spirit while you enjoy your meal on the outdoor patio, or immerse yourself in the elegantly sophisticated décor of the main room where tables sit before a huge stone fireplace. California cuisine is served along with an extensive wine list and a children’s menu. Family cultural activities are also abundant at the Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa and within the surrounding community.

For more information, contact Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa 800-800-6792, or visit http://www.laresort.com.

La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club: “Best Family Recreation Club”

This unique destination in San Diego County boasts 2,200 feet of private coastline between La Jolla Cove and Torrey Pines Reserves. Stay in a comfortable beachfront hotel room or in a two- or three-bedroom oceanfront cottage, complete with kitchen, living room, and all the other amenities of home. At night your private butler will supply the ingredients for s’mores at your very own bonfire on the beach! Beach accessories, including towels, chairs, table, windbreakers, and more are provided to guests free of charge.

Many recreational activities are offered for children at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, including 12 hard-surface tennis courts, sand croquet, table tennis, a 75-foot-long heated swimming pool, two children’s wading pools, and a children’s playground. Adults can enjoy tennis, beach volleyball, and a fitness center on the property.

La Jolla and its surrounding area are rich with sightseeing opportunities. The Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Birch Aquarium at Scripps are just minutes from the resort. Whale-watching trips and hot-air balloon rides are available through local tour operators. The hotel concierge will gladly arrange enjoyable family excursions.

Next to the resort are La Jolla Shores Hotel and The Shores steak and seafood restaurant, offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Also dine in the casual oceanfront Club Dining, or enjoy a kid-free evening at the Marine Room. This elegant restaurant is a landmark in La Jolla and also offers waterfront dining. Although it is hard to leave the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club after a blissful vacation, the memory lingers on as you recall the serenity of nature and enjoyable activities you’ve had on your family retreat.

For more information, contact La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club 858-454-7126, or visit http://www.ljbtc.com.

Ojai Valley Inn & Spa: “A Gathering Place for Families”

This local resort is one of the most luxurious spiritual sanctuaries Southern California has to offer with its unique view of the Topa Topa Mountains, Meditation Mount, and the charming historic Spanish-style town of Ojai. Today, the Ojai Valley is a haven for artists, writers, and movie stars who find inspiration in Ojai’s serene beauty. The Ojai Valley Inn & Spa is a AAA Five Diamond resort that just went through a $90 million renovation and expansion. The architecture is charming Spanish Colonial and California style with colorful Moroccan accents and extensive lush gardens.

Each season offers something fun for the children at this locale. Camp Ojai offers supervised indoor and outdoor activities on a full- or half-day basis. Themed activities keep each day fresh and exciting and may even include a visit to the Inn’s Ranch, complete with a small animal farm and pony rides. Children are welcome to play golf on both the driving range and putting green. Take advantage of the junior rate with a golf pro that teaches etiquette and the rules of the game. In addition, many excursions are available for families, including guided hikes, bird-watching tours, artist studio tours, and horseback riding.

While the children are off having fun, parents can enjoy the luxurious 31,000-square-foot Spa Ojai. Kuyam is a Chumash word meaning “a place to rest together” and is also the name of the spa’s signature treatment. The treatment combines mud therapy, dry heat, inhalation therapy, and guided meditation for groups of up to eight men or women. This treatment is a true favorite that brings guests back again and again.

Spa Ojai also offers mind and body classes for adults, including yoga, spinning, and walking meditations in the garden labyrinth—a complimentary favorite among guests. Short courses such as “Tasting Wine like a Pro,” “Golf, the Name of the Game,” and “Aromatherapy: Essential Oils from A to Z” are also available.

Return to your guest room, most with fireplaces, terraces, and spectacular mountain and golf course views, rejuvenated and ready for your next adventure. Your family can enjoy a dip in the pool, take a bike tour of the property, or hike into town to enjoy shopping.

A variety of dining experiences also await you here, from the elegant Maravilla for dinner, to the more casual Oak Grill, serving three meals a day with outdoor patio seating. If you prefer a “night-life” atmosphere, then visit Jimmy’s—a casual pub with a wide selection of beers and wines by the glass, plasma TVs, and their famous New York style pizza. With so many fun-filled activities for you and your family, the Ojai Valley Inn is a great place to create a special weekend getaway or a week-long retreat.

For more information, contact the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa 805-646-1111, or visit http://www.ojairesort.com.

Denise Gula is a freelance travel and wine writer specializing in spa and resort destinations, while including her two young children who love the “Kids Camps” offered at many resorts.

An Ayurvedic Approach to Manage Menopause

By Aditya Sharma, PhD, Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist

Menopause is a unique experience for every woman. According to Ayurveda, menopause is a natural transition, which every woman experiences in her life. It is the ending of a woman’s monthly menstrual periods and ovulation. It also signals other changes to the body and mind, brought on in part because the body begins producing smaller amounts of the hormones estrogen and progesterone (among others).

Menopause is not a disease. It is a natural process in a woman’s life. Menopause is a natural hormone (estrogen) deficient state that occurs around the age of 45 to 55 years. Ayurveda associates menopause with aging. Aging is a ‘Vata’ predominant stage of life. Thus, the symptoms of menopause experienced by some women are similar to the symptoms seen when the Vata dosha rises and upsets the normal balance of the body.

The doshas are responsible for the physical and emotional tendencies in the mind and body. The attributes of the doshas and their specific combination within each individual help determine the individual’s physical and mental characteristics, while imbalance among the doshas is the cause of disease. There are different types of menopause.

Types of Menopause and Their Symptoms
Vata-dominated menopause – nervousness, anxiety, insomnia, depression, lack of skin tone, mild hot flashes, constipation, vaginal dryness.

Pitta-dominated menopause – anger, irritability, short temper, hot flashes, night sweats, urinary tract infections, skin rashes.

Kapha-dominated menopause – weight gain, sleepiness, sluggishness, yeast infections, slow digestion, fluid retention.

Perimenopause is the time prior to menopause when we start having hormone-related changes. These can start during our early 40s. The symptoms we get and the order in which we get them vary from woman to woman and a small percentage of women have no symptoms at all. The most common symptoms are hot flashes, insomnia, irregular bleeding, vaginal dryness, anxiety, depression, fatigue, weight gain, fuzzy thinking, loss of libido, and more.

The most common symptoms of menopause are anemia, weakness, feeling of intense heat in your body on some occasions, profuse sweating at night, excessive hair loss, irregular menstrual periods with excessive or scanty bleeding, burning and increased frequency of urination, vaginal dryness and itching, joint pain, edema, irritable nature, sleeplessness, and lassitude.

Dealing With the Doshas
Ayurvedic Treatment: The type of treatment depends upon the dosha in which the woman’s menopausal symptoms are manifesting. Most of the women are unaware of the right kind of treatment, diet, nutritional supplements, and exercise which should be done during this period. With proper guidance and simple lifestyle changes, they can easily avoid most of the unpleasant side effects of menopause. Various Ayurvedic herbs can be used during this period to strengthen and rejuvenate the female reproductive system along with herbs to regulate the hormones and calm the emotions. Many herbs, which rejuvenate and tone the female reproductive system, are also helpful: Aloe gel, Shatavari, Saffron, Kapikacchu, and Ashwagandha, taken in milk decoctions (boiled down), if possible, or in different preparations such as Shatavari compound. Aloe gel is specific for maintaining the youthfulness of the female reproductive organs.
Balancing vata-dominated menopause: Vata is naturally cold, light, and dry. These tendencies are increased with vata-dominated menopause symptoms. Make sure your drinks are warm and that you are eating warm food rather than salads. Try and eat your meals at regular times and go to bed early. Learn relaxation techniques, meditation, and yoga; these will help to calm your nervous system and make you feel more secure and confident. Decrease caffeine, sugar, and other stimulants. Spices such as fennel, cumin, cardamom, and ginseng are beneficial.
Balancing pitta-dominated menopause: Pitta is naturally hot, oily, and intense. These tendencies are increased with pitta-dominated menopause symptoms. Increase the amount of cold water you drink and cold foods you eat. Have more sweet, juicy fruits such as melons, apples, plums, mangoes, and pears. Stay out of the hot sun and try to avoid eating hot spicy foods and having hot drinks. Stay away from alcohol. Try not to work yourself into a frenzy; the less aggravation you have, the better. Meditation is a great way to help keep yourself calm. Shatavari is an excellent herb to take for menopause; it has general cooling qualities which help reduce the hot flash symptoms and help you to cope with mood swings.
Balancing kapha-dominated menopause: Kapha is naturally cold, oily, and heavy. These tendencies are increased with kapha-dominated menopause symptoms. Eat light, dry, warm food and avoid refined sugars, white flour, pasta, and potatoes. Eating fruit, whole grains, legumes, and lots of vegetables will be beneficial. Rising prior to 6:00 a.m. is preferable, use the vata energy that is dominant at this time to keep you alert and motivate you for the entire day. Kapha women can tend to be heavier and prone to weight gain, so it is important to exercise and stay active if you are prone to kapha imbalances. Exercise will help with fluid retention, weight gain, moodiness, energy, and memory.
It is best to consult with an Ayurvedic practitioner to evaluate the proper herbs and diet program for you according to your constitution.
Dr. Aditya Sharma is a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist at Geeta Ayurvedic Healing Center, Inc., P.O. Box 1653, Simi Valley, CA 93063. For comments and questions, please contact Dr. Sharma at 805-584-9025 or at aditya2@pacbell.net. For more information about Ayurveda and Rishi products, visit http://www.rishiherb.com.

The Dark Night: The Sinister Side of Sleeping Pills

By Alesandra Rain

Five years ago I quit a cocktail of sleeping pills and anxiety medications and felt my world implode. I’ve had 34 surgeries on my spine and legs and thought I was strong. But I was not prepared for the horrific withdrawals from these medications. For many months I questioned my sanity without any belief that I could regain my cognitive function or normal sleep patterns. I am a writer and I lost that magical connection to the written word. It was the blackest of times, filled with the deepest despair.

I was not a drinker nor did I doctor-shop, and I always waited for a consultation with my pharmacist to confirm my combination of medications was safe. Yet after a decade on the pills, I felt consumed by this chemical straightjacket and wanted my life back.

All I was seeking was a good night’s sleep and instead I became trapped by medications I initially believed were my salvation. It started with one prescription, and as my body reached tolerance and the pills stopped working, others were added. By the end I was taking Ambien, Klonopin (Clonazepam), Restoril (Temazepam), Sinequan (Doxepin), Effexor, OxyContin, and Norco (Hydrocodone). I rarely slept and incessantly paced my home, filled with anxiety. I aged rapidly and my pain level soared, but it was the all-consuming fear that I found most debilitating. I became agoraphobic and did not leave my home.

My cocktail of medications was similar to Heath Ledger’s and it saddens me greatly that he lost his life to prescription drugs. I’ve read interviews where Ledger spoke of his raging insomnia, and I knew that he found himself in the same trap I had faced. Even his appearance deteriorated as mine had. How I lived through my debacle is a mystery, but it had such a profound impact that I began an organization to help others escape the clutch of this epidemic.

Ironically, mercury poisoning was the cause of my insomnia, but I would not discover this for many years. Instead, I became a willing participant to a chemical experiment that ripped through my world. Unfortunately the same is happening to millions of other people and often starts with insomnia.

The sleeping prescription pill market is an enormous industry and we are essentially supporting products that are slowly killing us. I didn’t know that forcing my brain into submission was not true sleep, but that natural sleep is a complex mechanism triggered by a group of hormones that create a state of rest for the body and mind. As we sleep, consciousness is suspended while the brain undergoes a cycle of brainwave activity that includes dreaming. The heart and lungs slow and our normally active brainwave patterns diminish tremendously, until we dream. Our blood vessels dilate and the blood that is usually stored in our organs moves into our muscles for tissue repair. The growth hormone in children is secreted during sleep, as are critical chemicals that protect the immune system. So it is no surprise that children placed on stimulant medication have stunted growth and weakened immune systems. I had reoccurring bronchitis and pneumonia and even contracted a staph infection in withdrawal.

Natural sleep doesn’t just support physical health, but has a profound effect on our brain as it organizes and archives memories. It is also essential to the creative process. Rolling Stones’ guitarist Keith Richards claims the riff in “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction” came to him in his sleep, while Dmitri Mendeleev, the 19th century chemist, said he literally dreamed the periodic table of elements.

During the night, we shift from the predominant NREM (non-rapid eye movement) dreamless sleep to short segments of REM (rapid eye movement) state where dreams occur. Both NREM and REM sleep cycles are necessary to have restorative effects. But sleep medications dramatically reduce the length of time we spend in the dream stage and instead keep us in a light dreamless sleep. To make matters worse, sleeping pills (Ambien, Lunesta) and benzodiazepines (Valium, Klonopin, Restoril, Xanax, Ativan) do not actually improve sleep, but rather create an amnesiac effect that make us forget we are waking up. Unfortunately, most of us misinterpret this memory loss as deeper sleep. The longer we take the pills, even the dreamless sleep shortens in duration and leads to deeper exhaustion and anxiety. To compound matters, sleeping pills only induce sleep an average of 12 minutes quicker and 30 minutes longer than without them. But chemical dependency can occur within three consecutive nights of use, causing painful rebound insomnia, raging anxiety, and memory impairment.

Many people add herbs and over-the-counter medications in an attempt to gain a few hours of needed rest. It is not that herbs are dangerous—that is a misconception. But most people do not realize there is risk of a serious interaction when sleep medications are combined with items like passionflower, valerian, or antihistamines. Sleeping pills and benzodiazepines accentuate the GABA neurotransmitter, which keeps the nerve cells in the lung tissue from firing. That is why sleeping pills combined with over-the-counter medications or herbs that accentuate GABA or intensify the effect of the pills will overly suppress respiration, causing asphyxiation. This is what killed Heath Ledger.

But GABA doesn’t just affect the lungs. It is an amino acid that naturally occurs in our nervous system. There are approximately 45 million GABA receptors in the body, and 75 percent are affected by sleeping pills and benzodiazepines. GABA regulates our sleep cycles, body temperature, muscles, and all hormone functions of the body. It’s no wonder the withdrawals from these drugs are deemed the most challenging—even more than heroin or cocaine. I remember clearly wishing I had been an illegal drug addict, as the cold-turkey withdrawals would have passed quickly. The only safe way to withdraw from these medications is through a gradual taper, which allows the brain and body a chance to adjust at each level of reduction.

It wasn’t my path to have an easy withdrawal, and I firmly believe the reason was to help address this epidemic of pill usage. I’ve worked with people from all over the world who are addicted to these medications. Most are taking one or two prescriptions and suffering the same intensity of symptoms I did on a cocktail of drugs. I realized long ago that any dose of sleep medication is dangerous.

In spite of the fact that I made every step of my medication journey improperly, I also made it back to complete health. I no longer suffer from pain, anxiety, or insomnia. My sleep patterns have returned, and at the age of 50, I feel better than I have in 20 years. You see, what I’ve also realized is that our bodies are amazing machines with a symphony of chemicals that yearn to be healthy. It has a remarkable capacity to heal if given the right nutrients.

So now, in spite of the fact that I have chosen to help people in their darkest hour, I also get the privilege of watching them regain what I now have—freedom.

Alesandra Rain is the author of Deeds of Trust. She is also the co-founder of Point of Return. For more information, visit http://www.PointofReturn.com or call 866-605-2333.

Breast Cancer Fund Works to Save Lives

By Jan Tucker, MBA

Search the Internet for breast cancer information and associations and you will be overwhelmed by the amount of information. This is a welcome phenomenon, resulting from the prevalence of breast cancer in the United States and throughout the world. We spoke with a representative from the Breast Cancer Fund (BCF) to shed light on the significant contributions this organization is making to rid our culture and the world of breast cancer.

The Mission
For those of us who might feel complacent because our families have not experienced breast cancer, a major statistic sited by the BCF is that no more than one in 10 women who have breast cancer have a genetic history of the disease. This comes as a surprise to most people.

BCF’s stated mission is as follows: “In response to the public health crisis of breast cancer, the Breast Cancer Fund identifies—and advocates for the elimination of—the environmental and other preventable causes of the disease.” They are the only national breast cancer organization focused solely on prevention.
There is a growing body of scientific evidence linking toxic chemicals and radiation to breast cancer risk. BCF serves to identify, publicize, and eliminate these links to breast cancer through many avenues, including reports, fact sheets, and high profile advocacy work to educate the public on how to reduce their exposure to cancer-causing and other toxic substances.
Every two years since 1998, BCF has produced a landmark report, State of the Evidence: The Connection Between Breast Cancer and the Environment. The 2008 edition is available for free download at http://www.breastcancerfund.org/evidence. The report explains that in the decades since World War II, our use of synthetic chemicals has proliferated; at the same time, breast cancer rates have increased alarmingly. It further explores the link between radiation—both ionizing and non-ionizing—and increased breast cancer risk.
Today, an estimated 80,000 synthetic chemicals are used in the United States, and 1,000 new ones are added every year. Only seven percent of these have been studied for their effects on human health. According to the report, a survey by the Silent Spring Institute in Massachusetts revealed that “216 chemicals and radiation sources have been recognized by national and international regulatory agencies as being implicated in breast cancer causation.” And these 216 do not include the endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which increasingly are being linked to breast cancer risk.
Many of these chemicals accumulate in our body fat and may remain in breast tissue for long periods of time, causing cancer and other health problems.

The 2008 report reveals that the causes of breast cancer are a complex web. Not only are many chemicals involved, but the timing of our exposure to environmental threats, the mix of chemicals we encounter each day, and the doses we are exposed to interact with genetic and lifestyle factors to affect our health. It’s important to know that low doses over time can be harmful.

Pinpointing the causation is not a simple matter. But Jeanne Rizzo, RN, BCF’s executive director, sheds light on the significant effect we can have on breast cancer by removing a single cause. Statistics show that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime—an epidemic number. Just a few years ago, the number was closer to one in seven. Rizzo explains, “What caused this improvement is that we reduced our exposure to hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Seventy million women came off of HRT after the Women’s Initiative Study of 2002.” The study was conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to address the most common causes of death, disability, and impaired quality of life in postmenopausal women. Rizzo continues, “That shows us that when you remove an agent like that…any chemical exposure…in this case it was hormones, you actually see a reduction.”

The bottom line is, there’s going to have to be a foremost shift in the way we do things in order to protect our health. Rizzo says, “We still have close to a quarter of a million women a year who will hear that they have either invasive breast cancer [which has spread to the surrounding tissues] or ductile carcinoma cancer in-situ [cancer located within the milk duct and classified as stage 0 or ‘pre-cancer’].”

“To eliminate environmental or other preventable causes of the disease,” says Rizzo, “we first have to get a sense of what is showing us evidence of harm.” For example, laboratory studies have provided evidence that EDCs act like estrogen and cause mammary gland tumors in animals. They cause wildlife all sorts of problems. Rizzo says, “There’s enough for us to say there’s evidence of harm.”

The answer is simple—we need to look for safer alternatives. But implementing the answer is complex because of the number of chemical threats involved. In addition, industry uses certain chemicals and chemical compounds because they are cheaper. Rizzo says we need to “really focus on the kind of innovation and technology that will provide the things we need and also understand that we’re going to have to sacrifice a little. Plastics are a major culprit for us…and there are a lot of chemicals used in personal care products that really are discretionary.”

She continues, “[The answer lies in] a combination of what action the individual can take to reduce their own exposure and influence the economy by the purchasing choices they make, and what our government needs to do in terms of a paradigm shift to look at evidence of harm as being a strong enough trigger to take public health policy action, whether it’s regulatory or legislative or deciding on what gets subsidized and what doesn’t.”

There’s Hope for the Future

Rizzo is optimistic. She explains, “I envision a future where we’re not talking about regulating chemicals one at a time, when we’re thinking about health not illness, when our focus is on all the things we’re doing to stay healthy and protect ourselves and not worry about assaults, when I can send my granddaughter down the beauty aisle and not even have to think about what she takes off the shelf, when the values we hold are that the health of the planet and the people living on it are vital and interconnected, and that our decisions come from that place.”

She believes this could happen in the next decade or so, in the same way our attention has been quickly turned to the issue of global warming. The government has already responded to some extent. BCF’s home town of San Francisco adopted the “precautionary principle” for its purchasing policy. If a chemical or compound is being cited as potentially harmful, they will purchase alternative products that do not contain those chemicals.

Rizzo says, “We are seeing responses in some states to issues like removing the most egregious chemicals from personal care products marketed for children. And on the national level, Senator Feinstein (D-CA) just introduced an amendment to the Consumer Product Safety Commission Reform Act which was passed by the Senate, to eliminate phthalates, a plasticizer, from children’s soft plastic toys and other products.”

Rizzo says the U.S. government isn’t broadly saying we have to change our chemicals policy yet, but Congress and various state legislatures are looking at it. She says, “We’ve been successful in California in advancing a number of these issues through the Legislature. There are probably a dozen states actively working on some element of this. It’s a big start.”

Although science doesn’t have the absolute answers yet, Rizzo suggests that we need to implement change which leads to safety and protection rather than ill health and disease while we are waiting for those answers. She explains, “The precautionary principle says, ‘Think ahead, take action in advance.’ The reactionary principle says, ‘Wait until everybody is sick and dying and then we’ll make a decision.’” Rizzo sees our shift toward the precautionary. “I do feel optimistic because there are so many more people interested in and aware of this. [BCF] can’t keep up with the download of information and shipping out the reports. That tells me there’s real public interest in this.”

Nutrition News: The Changing Times of Menopause

By Monika Klein

Menopause isn’t what it used to be. In fact, I often hear that most of our mothers never had symptoms during menopause, or maybe they never discussed it. Perhaps they were unaware that insomnia, mood swings, weight gain, and hot flashes were actually symptoms of the hormonal changes of menopause. Times have changed—women of today are much more informed and aware of even the slightest change in the way they feel. With baby boomers coming into this time of transition in record numbers, menopause is a BIG topic.

I used to work in a clinic where we would only see women going through peri-menopause or menopause. Technically, menopause is a pause in women’s monthly cycle. Specifically, a woman has hit menopause when she has ceased having her periods for 12 consecutive months. The average age for menopause is 51. If a woman stops having her periods before 40, she may be suffering from something more serious than normal period cessation. During perimenopause, a woman starts to experience shorter periods and typically, this is the only “menopausal” symptom she is experiencing. As a woman gets closer to menopause, the rest of the symptoms may start appearing.

The Hormones
The key players in menopause are estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, and DHEA. Hormones come from cholesterol and cholesterol comes from fat. It is important to be careful what type of fats you consume, but fat is something you must have in your diet on a daily basis, as it is necessary for good hormone function.

Educating Women
Physical and mental support during this period of adjustment is essential. Diet, exercise, nutrition, supplements, and lifestyle are all important areas of focus to prevent symptoms. Again the women of today want answers and they want to have a gentle transition if possible.

The Symptoms
1) Bone Loss/Osteoporosis. When bones lose estrogen, there is an increased risk of osteoporosis.

2) Flashes and Night Sweats. The determining factor with this symptom may include stress levels, genetics, and nutrition. Hot flashes are more prevalent in Western cultures, and they have a lot to do with our lifestyle. Approximately 85 percent of the female population experience hot flashes.

3) Depression. This happens mainly because our hormones—especially estrogen—fluctuate during menopause. For perimenopausal women, it’s a decrease in progesterone levels that causes their depression symptoms.

4) Anxiety, Anger, and Irritability. These symptoms and other emotional swings and mood changes may be caused by changes in hormones, including serotonin.

5) Weight Gain. Women report that even while maintaining their eating and exercise habits, they still put on a few pounds, especially around the middle.

6) Memory Loss and Brain Fog. Many women report lack of clarity and focus during this time, again often due to hormonal fluctuations.

Important Routine Tests
1) Regular blood tests, including hormone checks
2) Digital breast exams – the least invasive breast exams
3) Adrenal Function Tests – to help determine if your body is under stress
4) Neurotransmitter – to help determine the balance of your brain chemicals

Important Menopause Supplements
1) Multiple Vitamins – a good balanced multiple vitamin provides insurance that you get all the important nutrients you need on a daily basis.
2) Calcium – 1,200 mg per day is usually the recommended dosage. I recommend it in the form of microcrystalline hydroxyl apatite—which is the most absorbable form.
3) Essential Fatty Acids (good fats) – Fish oil provides the best source of Omega 3s, providing necessary amounts of EPA and DHA.
4) Vitamin D – good for both bone and heart health.
5) Black Cohosh – natural treatment for menopausal hot flashes. It is not a phytoestrogen, so it is not contraindicated for women with breast cancer.
6) Resveratrol – a wonderful antioxidant which decreases night sweats and hot flashes.
7) Vitex or Chastetree Berry –really great for early stage perimenopause when periods start becoming irregular—helps to regulate the cycle.
8) St. Johns’s Wort – good for irritability, anxiety.
9) Valerian Root – natural sleep aid.
10) 5 HTP – can help insomnia as well as anxiety associated with menopause.
11) Melatonin – also a great sleep aid.
12) Vitamin E – helps to enhance heart health in menopausal and postmenopausal women.

The Soy Dilemma
Soy is often used to reduce hot flashes. The isoflavones found in soy are phytoestrogens or estrogen-like compounds. Soy helps to reduce hot flashes by 50 percent; however, 65 percent of the population can’t convert the soy into its estrogen-like active ingredient.

Soy protein and isoflavones are also known to have a negative effect on thyroid function and may contribute to various autoimmune conditions. So we need to ask, is it worth the benefit to use it? Cultures which have done well with soy do not eat or drink soy powder. Most soy in our marketplace is genetically modified, creating even more problems. A good rule of thumb is to use soy as a condiment and make sure to use a fermented soy product.

Other Promising Supplements
Pomegranate and resveratrol (which is found in grapes and red wine), are being touted as promising phytoestrogens. Resveratrol is considered a wonderful antioxidant, and it has been shown to provide help with night sweats and hot flashes. It also helps Vitamin D work better in the body to improve bone health.

Good Daily Dietary Hints
1) Good fats – take your fish oil supplements but always add good oils to your food as well – olive, walnut, or flaxseed oils for example.
2) Increased fiber – very important for digestion and healthy arteries.
3) Whole food – choose foods that are as close to those found in nature as possible.
4) Protein – very important for women. We usually don’t get enough protein on a daily basis. On average a woman should consume 10 to 12 ounces per day.
5) Choose the Paleolithic (caveman or cavewoman in this case) or Mediterranean Diet. This type of diet includes fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy protein, good fats, and minimal, if any, grains or processed foods. Grains are a very recent phenomenon and require some amount of processing for us to consume, so limit their use if you can.
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Monika Klein has a Bachelor of Science degree in Food and Nutrition and has continued with postgraduate education in nutritional science, homeopathy, herbology, Ayurvedic medicine, and kinesiology. She is the former Southern California education chair for the International and American Associations of Clinical Nutritionists and has hosted a Los Angeles–based television show, Total Health Talk, for over 12 years. Her office is located at 32123 Ventura Blvd, Suite 210, in Woodland Hills. Visit http://www.coachingforhealth.com for more information.

The Five Hidden Causes of Obesity and Weight Gain

By Teresa Rispoli, PhD, LAc

More than 100 million of us are currently fighting the battle of the bulge. Some diet regimens are too hard to follow, whereas others lack any real variety or satiety. In the end, we usually wind up back where we started—unhappy and overweight once again. Through the years, I’ve had my own struggles with weight gain, as have many of my patients just like you. Twenty years ago, my life took an about-face when I began a program of cleansing and detoxification that left me 30 pounds lighter in three months! I even lost the fat from those stubborn hips of mine rather effortlessly! For the first time, I realized that whole foods, herbs, and dietary supplements could become a path not just to healing, but also to weight loss. I’ve been able to keep my body pretty much fat-resistant for nearly three decades now since discovering this entirely new approach to managing my weight: the Five Hidden Weight Gain Factors. The Five Hidden Weight Gain Factors The factors include a toxic liver, deficient EFAs, too much insulin or insulin resistance, the stress-fat cycle, and a unique take on “when fat is not fat.” These conditions are caused by a stagnant lymph system, sneaky food allergies, birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy, and medications. I didn’t discover and develop these five factors overnight. The theory progressed naturally, influenced by every area of my life, from my personal weight control quest to the knowledge gained throughout my entire career (25 plus years) as a nutritional advisor. Hidden Factor #1: Your Tired, Toxic Liver I learned that the liver is your body’s fat metabolizer and toxin filter. Toxins get trapped in your fat cells and when you begin to lose fat, these toxins are released, while your liver, gallbladder, lymphatic system, and colon flush them from your system. The first revelation was the surprising connection between weight loss and the liver. I recognized early on what researchers are only now beginning to understand—that not only is the liver the main organ for detoxifying pollutants and chemicals in the body, but this vital organ also is a hidden key to effortless weight loss. Based on simple biochemistry, I learned first hand that one of the best kept secrets to weight loss and lasting weight control is keeping the liver, the key organ for fat metabolism, in tip-top shape. Your liver is a workhorse that can even regenerate its own damaged cells. However, the liver is not invincible. When it lacks essential nutrients or when it is overwhelmed by toxins, it no longer performs as it should. Hormonal imbalances may develop. Fat may accumulate in the liver and then just under the skin or in other organs. Toxins build up and enter your bloodstream. Among the signs of “toxic liver” are weight gain (especially around the abdomen), cellulite, elevated cholesterol, and fatigue. When your liver is sluggish, every organ in your body is affected, and your weight loss efforts are blocked. Unable to carry out its activities to control glucose, a toxic liver can lead to hypoglycemia, which can produce sugar cravings, weight gain, and candida overgrowth. A toxic liver is unable to process toxins, enabling them to escape into your bloodstream and set off an immune response. A liver overloaded with pollutants and toxins cannot efficiently burn body fat, and thus will sabotage your weight loss efforts. The bottom line is you need to clean your liver and gallbladder at least once a year. Hidden Factor #2: When Fat Is Not Fat Another valuable insight I learned was that cellulite—that dimpled accumulation of stored fat on our thighs and buttocks—is connected to a sluggish lymphatic system. The lymphatic system, a relatively unknown secondary circulatory system underneath the skin, rids the body of toxic wastes, bacteria, heavy metals, dead cells, trapped protein, and fat globules. In essence, the lymphatic system is the garbage disposal of the body. On a “good” day, your body is 60 to 70 percent water by weight. About two-thirds of the water is in your cells; the rest is in blood, body fluids, and spaces between cells. This water is essential. However, many individuals carry an extra 10 to 15 pounds of water trapped in their tissues. This water contributes to abdominal bloating, cellulite, and face and eye puffiness. It’s what I call “false fat.” It is ironic, but consuming too little water can cause your body to retain water. Food Sensitivities Often Lead to False Fat Food sensitivities are one of the most common causes of weight gain through a chain reaction of fluid retention and overeating brought on by cravings. The production of histamine and other chemicals causes blood vessels to expand and contract, leaking fluids into tissues and setting off a secondary inflammatory response and swelling. This leaking fluid often carries protein with it, and the proteins attract sodium and still more fluid. To compound the weight gain from waterlogged tissues, food sensitivities also trigger weight gain in adipose tissue (connective tissue in which fat is stored and which has the cells distended by droplets of fat). This results from either heightened cravings for reactive foods, which are foods that you are sensitive to, or disruption of your metabolism. Fatigue and irritability set in as a result of consuming the reactive foods, and once again, you crave the reactive food to bring back your energy level. As a result, your insulin levels become destabilized, which lowers your blood sugar levels. You become weak and starved for food, especially carbohydrates. Finally, as if all this weren’t enough, your levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin drop. This chemical controls hunger, resulting in cravings for high-carbohydrate foods to help move serotonin to the brain. Candida and Food Reactions: It’s Overgrowth, Not Overweight. Among the most common reasons food enters the bloodstream before it is fully digested is Candidiasis, an overgrowth of the naturally occurring yeast Candida albicans that damages the intestinal wall and creates intestinal permeability (a.k.a. “leaky gut.”). The holes in your intestine allow food macromolecules to enter the bloodstream—the trigger for food reactions. Many of the symptoms of Candidiasis mimic those of food reactions: fatigue, headaches, bloating, nasal congestion, heartburn, and moodiness, among others. The relationship between Candidiasis and food sensitivities is made even stronger by consumption of sugars and refined carbohydrates. The foods you are most likely to crave as a result of food allergies are the ones most enjoyed by the candida cells. Hormonal Imbalances Lead to Obesity For too many women, the hormonal cycle is disrupted and weight gain—from both actual fat and water retention—becomes permanent. Among the symptoms of estrogen dominance are fat gain (especially around your abdomen, hips, and thighs), sluggish metabolism, bloating, and water retention. Estrogen can promote sodium retention (and thereby more water retention). The hormone changes the way your body metabolizes the amino acid tryptophan, which is necessary to produce serotonin. You’ll remember that serotonin deficiency can lead to food cravings and weight gain. When estrogen is much higher than progesterone, you may develop hypothyroidism. A healthy thyroid gland secretes hormones that help signal the pancreas to produce insulin. With a sluggish thyroid, your body may produce too little insulin and trigger low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), along with intense cravings for carbohydrates. Fluctuating estrogen levels are only one-half of the equation. Low levels of progesterone cause your body to burn 15,000 to 20,000 fewer calories per year and increase water retention. High levels of progesterone, on the other hand, increase your appetite. They also slow down intestinal transit time to increase food absorption, which can increase insulin levels. The resulting additional blood glucose is absorbed by fat cells to add pounds of true fat. Causes of Imbalance Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) often causes estrogen-progesterone imbalances, and millions of
American women are currently undergoing HRT. Research into the effects of these therapies on weight has found conflicting results. For example, when researchers gave monkeys estrogen with synthetic progestin (a form of progesterone), their weight increased, fat tended to accumulate around their abdomens, and they secreted excess insulin. In contrast, monkeys given estrogen with natural progesterone did not experience these effects. Hidden Factor #3: Fear of Eating Fat Although you’ve probably read about the need for essential fatty acids (EFAs) such as gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which is in the omega-6 family found primarily in plant-based oils, you still don’t quite believe it, do you? Eating fat to get thin flies in the face of reason of everything you’ve heard about the dangers of fat. You’re not alone in your fear of eating fat. An estimated 80 percent of Americans eat a diet deficient in EFAs. This is unfortunate, because our bodies cannot make EFAs. Yet, as precursors to hormone-like prostaglandins, they regulate every body function at the cellular level. This includes water retention, sodium balance, and fat metabolism. In your efforts to control your weight, fat also carries fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K through the bloodstream, activates the flow of bile, helps your body conserve protein, slows the absorption of carbohydrates to balance blood sugar levels, and is a building block for the production of estrogen, testosterone, and other hormones. EFAs and their role in fat burning and hormone balance are critical. Therefore, I recommend a GLA-rich supplement known as evening primrose oil. Besides eradicating their symptoms, many women also experienced a welcomed side benefit—weight loss! Hidden Factor #4: Excess Insulin and Fat Storage A fat-free diet, low in protein but high in carbohydrates keeps insulin levels elevated, which promotes fat accumulation since insulin is a fat storage hormone. All Carbohydrates Are Not Created Equal Traditionally, nutritionists have categorized carbohydrates as either simple (white flour, pastas, white rice, potatoes, starches, sugars) or complex (vegetables, fruits, beans, and seeds). However, more recent research has increased our understanding about how food is metabolized, and the simple/complex categorization has been replaced with the glycemic index. Low-glycemic foods fill you up and help keep you satisfied longer. They also help you burn more body fat and less muscle tissue. Hidden Factor #5: Stress as a Fat Maker Living in this information age has most of us Americans going nonstop at “cyber speed.” So it’s no surprise to me, after assessing my own clients’ stress levels for so many years, that 68 percent of us admit to being stressed out or that 90 percent of us admit to using food as our drug of choice to pacify ourselves. The irony of the matter is that stress is making the adrenals kick out the hormone cortisol, which raises insulin, and insulin is a fat storage hormone. Elevated cortisol levels cause you to store fat around the midsection. Central fat cells are deep abdominal visceral cells (located around our major internal organs), which are a fast energy source in times of stress. These central fat cells also happen to have four times more cortisol receptors than the fat cells found right beneath the skin. Consequently, cortisol is drawn to the central fat cells, which ulti¬mately increases fat storage in that area. Thus, every time you’re stressed, you’re encouraging your body to have enough reserves of fat to handle the prob¬lem. You may ask, “What about other hidden weight gain factors like low thyroid or chronic dieting that throw the body into a metabolic slowdown?” These are valid but secondary to the five hidden factors. If you are like most people, you’ve exercised, counted calories, and cut out fat, then protein, and now even carbohydrates. Perhaps you lost weight, perhaps not. Chances are you regained most, if not all, of the pounds, but there is hope. Thousands of my patients have discovered which of the Five Hidden Causes of Weight Gain were throwing their body out of balance and have learned to correct these imbalances and lose pounds and inches for good. You can too. Dr. Theresa Rispoli is president and founder of Complete Health in Agoura Hills and in her 25 years as a nutritional advisor has helped thousands of people lose weight, balance hormones naturally, eliminate food allergies, and stop GI distress, leaky gut, and candida. She can be reached at 818-707-3126.

Rose Sher and the Benefits of Bodywork and the Rolf Method

By Shannon Anderson

With the constant presence of automobiles, rich foods, and portable electronics, it’s no wonder that so many of us find ourselves tense, anxious, and depressed after the end of a long day. In fact, we have become so willing to accept the discomfort and negative feelings associated with day-to-day living that more often than not, we ignore the biological processes in our body that tell us something is wrong. The problem that arises is that we are miserable in our own skins with no relief in sight.

The physical stamina that life requires is intense, but the psychological demands of day-to-day living can be even more overwhelming. According to certified Rolf Practitioner, Rose Sher, it is possible to untangle our fears from our judgments about what our minds and bodies are capable of and embrace a life free from chronic pain, fatigue, and anxiety through a process called the Rolf Method.

If you’ve heard the term before, chances are you’re under the impression that it is an intense and painful process, causing you to be apprehensive or doubtful about its benefits. Rose hopes to dispel these mistaken impressions and give us an accurate, updated take on a method that has helped thousands achieve freedom from pain, tension, and poor posture.

Bodywork and Trauma Healing

Rose Sher’s career in bodywork began in 1984. Although she has been offering her patient’s relief for over 23 years, her enthusiasm and passion for healing has not waned in the least. Her experience in practice has led her to develop a profound understanding of the human body and allowed her to help people of all backgrounds and ages achieve better posture, confidence, energy and flexibility. Rose’s unique touch and methods have helped people overcome ailments ranging from chronic pain, stiffness, and alignment problems to anxiety and depression. Not only can Rolfing offer permanent relief from chronic pain, but it also enables patients to become more confident, graceful, and balanced.

The Rolf Method was developed by Dr. Ida Rolf more than 50 years ago, and has been used by practitioners to manipulate body tissue in order to restructure the entire body. Similar to a massage, Rolfing can also be successfully paired with a process called Somatic Experiencing (SE), a body-focused approach to restoring the equilibrium of the nervous system. Rose uses the SE approach with her patients often, helping people resolve traumatic responses that become ingrained in their bodies.

Many of us have experienced tightness and pain that simply won’t seem to go away. Quite frequently, surgeries, athletic injuries, and poor posture take their toll on the body and can lead to life-long chronic pain and discomfort. But that, says Rose, is no reason to throw in the towel. Performers, athletes, and people of all professions have improved their performance and well-being, all through the remarkable benefits of the Rolf Method. This method of therapy helps to dramatically improve posture and alignment by restructuring the network of connective tissue that is often overlooked by traditional massage and other forms of therapies. But you don’t have to be a professional athlete to benefit from the Rolf Method. On the contrary, the body awareness therapy that goes along with this method also aids in the recovery from trauma, whether it be physical or emotional.

In addition to the Rolf Method, Somatic Experiencing aims to address unresolved “fight or flight” responses that can be caused by many different kinds of traumas. Once our nervous system becomes stuck in this highly charged state, trauma symptoms may develop. If you have ever been in a car accident, you will probably experience a degree of physical tension every time you climb into a car, whether you are aware of it or not. Through the hands-on process of the Rolf Method and Somatic Experiencing, Rose guides the body to discharge this tension, enabling patients to regain a state of physical and emotional equilibrium.

According to many of Rose’s patients, this bodywork method feels great. Unlike a traditional body massage, which focuses only on the relaxation of muscles, the Rolf Method leaves you with more freedom of movement and relief for a longer period of time. Although multiple sessions are necessary for long-term goals involving chronic pain and posture, the healing benefits of Rolfing are apparent after only a single session.

The anxiety, pain, and discomfort that come from traumatic experiences need little help finding us. In her practice, Rose focuses on the revitalizing qualities of mind-body integration. So why not explore the Rolf Method for yourself? After all, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain, including freedom from tension and pain for life.

For more information on the Rolf Method, contact Rose Sher, Rolf practitioner at 805- 496-5690 or e-mail rose@rosesher.com.

“Help! I Want to Feel Better.” -Managing Adrenal Exhaustion

Do you feel tired, suffer from lack of sleep, have joint pain or muscle stiffness, catch frequent flus or colds, feel anxious and depressed, have headaches, gastrointestinal disturbances, difficulty concentrating or remembering, or experience allergies? Do you have difficulty getting up in the morning, experience more fatigue from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and get a second wind in the evening? Do you or others see you as “not your old self”?
My patients tell me they have seen a physician, received all “normal” test results, but still knew they didn’t feel well. If this happens, you may have adrenal fatigue. What is adrenal fatigue? How is it diagnosed, and what are the solutions?
Adrenal fatigue affects an estimated 80 percent of people, yet it has been ignored and largely untreated by the medical community. Women’s health is especially impacted by adrenal fatigue, which has a broad spectrum of non-specific yet often debilitating symptoms, making it somewhat difficult to diagnose. Being physically run down and emotionally spent are some symptoms of adrenal fatigue.
The onset of this disease is often slow and insidious, and before it is diagnosed, people suffering from adrenal fatigue may be told they are stressed and need to learn to relax more. But there is more to the story. Today, adrenal fatigue can be accurately diagnosed and overcome by specific natural approaches.
People diagnosed with this condition need to know they are not alone. According to a 2007 study from the American Psychological Association, 33 percent of Americans feel they are living with extreme stress, 75 percent say that money and work are the leading causes of stress, and 48 percent feel that their stress has increased over the past five years.
Our increasing stress levels may be the culprit leading to adrenal fatigue. Understanding the adrenal glands’ role in the body’s response to stress sheds some light on how they become so worn down. When the brain senses stress occurring, the heart begins to race, causing hypervigilance and mental alertness; the body’s central nervous system has switched to fight or flight mode, ready to defend itself or run.
During this process, the adrenal glands (about the size of a grape and positioned on top of the kidneys) pump out adrenalin, cortisol, and other hormones that affect the heart, lungs, circulation, metabolism, and immune system. Heart rate and blood pressure increase, bringing more blood to your muscles and brain (to make split-second decisions). Blood sugar rises to increase fuel for energy, and the blood-clotting ability also increases to survive injuries. This is an important emergency function of the body, designed to be used sparingly. When the adrenal glands activate hormones to meet a stress response on a daily or weekly basis, the adrenals become depleted and your health is put at risk.
Women with adrenal fatigue may wonder why they don’t recover as quickly as they used to. Their body becomes adapted to the stress in their lives, and they are not as able to bounce back. Common causes of stress include work pressure, financial issues, death of a loved one, relocating, changing jobs, illness, marital disruptions, and concerns about children. Regardless of the cause, the fact remains that prolonged periods of high stress, imbalanced lifestyle (lack of sleep, too little exercise, and poor nutrition), and frequent physical exhaustion tax the adrenals. Adrenal fatigue occurs when the amount of stress overextends the capacity of the body to compensate and recover.
Adrenal fatigue should not be confused with another medical condition called Addison’s disease where the adrenal glands are not functioning. While Addison’s disease is often caused by auto-immune dysfunction, adrenal fatigue is caused by stress. Adrenal fatigue afflicts more people than Addison’s disease, but it is often not recognized and has become an epidemic of massive proportion. To truly diagnose adrenal fatigue, more sensitive specialized laboratory testing and meticulous review of the medical history is required.

The Stages of Adrenal Fatigue
Han Selye, MD, first described the general adaptation syndrome in the 1930s. Adrenal fatigue consists of four stages:

Stage One: Adrenal Stress
In Stage One, you may feel tired, wired and anxious, or both. You may have trouble falling to sleep, have a depressed immune system, experience headaches, aches and pains, and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Stage Two: Adaptation
If your stress continues, your body may adapt to it. Your body may not notice the elevation of hormones such as cortisol, insulin, nor-epinephrine, and adrenalin. This is a false sense of security. During this period, the body needs cortisol to overcome stress, and increased cortisol production can lead to obesity, diabetes, and other illnesses. Over time, the adrenals will be unable to meet the body’s ever-increasing demand for cortisol and will become depleted.

Stage Three: Adrenal Exhaustion
As the stress continues unabated, the first symptoms return with a vengeance. Other symptoms and illnesses begin to occur. The body loses its ability to cope and resist the stimuli it once handled with ease. You may develop allergies you never had before or get sick over and over again. Seemingly unrelated symptoms occur like increased fatigue, low libido, insomnia, PMS or menopausal symptoms, anxiety or irritability, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, weight gain, and more severe heartburn, brain fog, or irritable bowel syndrome. Severe sex hormone imbalances (estrogen, progesterone, and androgens) are a common precursor to adrenal failure. Total cortisol output is therefore reduced, and DHEA falls far below average. Hormones all have a relationship to each other and are often called “dancing hormones” as they react to the levels of other hormones and adjust to the needs of the body. When adrenal fatigue occurs in women, the signs and symptoms are often confused with PMS or menopausal symptoms. It is important for women to work with a physician who can help her sort out the hormone dilemma.

Figure 1. Interaction of Cortisol, pregnenolone and DHEA in normal subjects versus those in the four stages of adrenal exhaustion.

Stage Four: Physical Decline
Eventually your body’s ability to resist or adapt is compromised. New symptoms occur and the old symptoms increase in severity. Women are completely exhausted and may fall asleep easily but wake up during the night and have problems getting back to sleep. In this stage, we see all sorts of chronic illnesses like depression, low blood sugar, GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), and colitis. If you have a genetic predisposition for any type of autoimmune disease or a severe disease, the adrenal fatigue may trigger its onset at this time. These diseases can include rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, cancer, or diabetes.

The Effect of Cortisol on Adrenal Fatigue

More energy is required when the body is under stress from any source, and cortisol is the hormone that increases our energy requirements. Cortisol works with insulin from the pancreas to provide adequate glucose to the cells for energy. In adrenal fatigue, more cortisol is secreted during the early stages (see Figure 1), increasing the risk of diabetes. In later stages (when the adrenal glands become exhausted), cortisol output is reduced, and blood sugar balance becomes a problem. Cortisol is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. Its objective is to remove and prevent swelling and redness of nearly all tissues. As cortisol is diminished, an increase in inflammation is the result.
People with high cortisol levels are much weaker from an immunological point of view. Cortisol influences most cells that participate in the immune system reaction and suppresses white blood cells, natural killer cells, monocytes (specific white blood cells, leukocytes that protect against blood-borne pathogens and move quickly to sites of infection in the tissues), and macrophages (cells within the tissues that originate from monocytes) increasing women’s risk of infections and other diseases.
Cortisol contracts mid-sized arteries. People with low cortisol (as in the advanced stages of adrenal fatigue) have low blood pressure. High cortisol tends to increase blood pressure which is moderated by calcium and magnesium. People with adrenal fatigue cannot tolerate stress and will then succumb to severe stress. As their stress increases, progressively higher levels of cortisol are required. When the cortisol level cannot rise in response to stress, it is impossible to maintain the body in optimum stress response, and an increase in symptoms and a decline in overall health occurs. Your body is crying out for help and attention.
There is a Solution to Adrenal Fatigue
1. The good news is, adrenal fatigue can be cured by implementing healthy lifestyle guidelines and reducing and/or finding ways to manage stress. Decrease your stress by setting boundaries, delegating, and just saying “no.”
2. Live a healthy lifestyle that includes good nutrition, adequate exercise, and sufficient sleep (8 hours per night).
3. Have an Adrenal Test. It is simple and does not require a blood draw.
4. Follow the specific recommendations of your health practitioner regarding vitamins and supplements with adaptogens (natural herb products containing antioxidants that increase the body’s resistance to stresses) to help strengthen your body.
5. Consider acupuncture to correct your adrenal fatigue.
6. Based on your symptoms, overall health, and results of your adrenal test, your physician can determine the best approach to address your individual needs and support you in healthy lifestyle changes with lifestyle educators.
7. Get more pleasure from life. Have fun. Do things you love. Get out in nature. Most importantly, take time for yourself. This is not pampering. This is good health.
Dr. Sharon Norling is the only physician in the U.S. to be nationally board certified in integrative medicine, medical acupuncture, OB/GYN, and Functional Medicine. Her practice combines her extensive medical knowledge with the most recent advances in mind/body medicine. Her office is located at 32123 Lindero Canyon Road, Suite 210, in Westlake Village. To reach the office of Dr. Norling, please call 818-707-WELL (9355).

7 Myths and Facts about BOTOX

By Shannon Anderson

With constant publicity and a rise in popularity of the well-known skin treatment, BOTOX, it can be a challenge to separate the myths from the facts and make an informed decision about its safety and usefulness. If you, like many, have considered having BOTOX injections but have some lingering reservations, look no further. This month, we’ve taken the guesswork out of BOTOX by asking Dr. Talia Emery of Kalologie Skincare in Thousand Oaks to share her expertise. Here, she answers some common questions about the treatment and dispels a few widespread misconceptions.

Myth #1: Is BOTOX botulism (food poisoning)?

Fact: Not at all. BOTOX is actually a purified protein that has been developed by scientists and comes prepared as a finished medical prescription product.

Myth #2: Is BOTOX very painful?

Fact: Hype about the pain associated with BOTOX has been perpetuated by today’s media. In fact, numbing creams are used when administering treatment to ease any pain.

Myth #3: BOTOX is too new for doctors to use safely. We don’t know enough about its effects and side effects to make an informed decision about its uses.

Fact: Scientists have been exploring the uses of BOTOX for more than 30 years. By and large, the protein is actually used to treat other medical disorders rather than cosmetically, and many research studies have been conducted in both the lab and the field. BOTOX has been given approval by the U.S. FDA, which verifies that food and pharmaceutical products are fit for human consumption.

Myth #4: BOTOX is a filler.

Fact: In reality, BOTOX is a muscle relaxer and does not fill in facial lines. With BOTOX, the facial muscles underneath the skin that cause frown lines are relaxed, allowing for a natural expression.

Myth #5: BOTOX can build up in the body.

Fact: BOTOX clears completely out of the body within four to six months, at which time another series of injections will be needed to maintain results.

Myth #6: BOTOX leaves you with an unnatural, startled-looking expression.

Fact: BOTOX, when administered correctly by an experienced physician, should result in a youthful, natural looking appearance. When the results appear unnatural, chances are the BOTOX has been misused and the patient has been overtreated. With a well-trained doctor, the results of BOTOX should appear natural and your facial expressions should be unrestricted.

Myth #7: BOTOX is only used by very wealthy or conceited people.

Fact: Studies have shown that the majority of women who are getting BOTOX injections are actually working women who have children. In addition, a typical BOTOX treatment runs between $200 and $300, which breaks down to about $3 a day. Far from being unaffordable, BOTOX is a very realistic solution to the problems with personal image many women face on a daily basis.

For more information on BOTOX and other treatment options, contact Dr. Talia Emery at Kalologie Skincare by calling 805-497-9400.