Hot Topic: HORMONES
Hormones … blame the hormones. As we age, our bodies change, our minds change, our muscles change, our physiques change, our drives change — blame the hormones. The inevitable change of hormones: We are doomed, right? NOT SO FAST. Functional Medicine is an alternative type of medicine where practitioners take a full body biology-based approach to identify causes of particular issues rather than treating just the symptoms. Are we doomed? Through the natural aging process, most hormones start to decline — but is it the chicken or the egg? What actually happens first? Do hormones decrease and then our sleep suffers or vice versa? Brain fog, memory decline, weight gain, loss of muscle mass, poor sleep, hot flashes, night sweats, poor sex drive, hair loss, irritability, anxiety, depression, constipation, hunger and cravings, FATIGUE … this is just the start of the symptoms I hear patients blame on “hormones” and subsequently, their conclusion: “There is nothing else that can be done.” Let’s get to the bottom of this. As we age, we naturally start to lose muscle mass, a process called sarcopenia . Many will blame this on the fact that hormones are declining; however, as we age, our body’s ability for the body to stimulate the proteins to build muscle mass declines. This results in less overall muscle mass. As muscle mass declines, the body’s rate at which we burn calories at rest also declines. Simultaneously, the risk of insulin resistance increases through the aging process. Insulin resistance is a metabolic dysfunction in which the body is not metabolizing food efficiently, resulting in higher blood sugar and insulin levels. Insulin resistance can occur due to vitamin deficiencies, poor nutrient balance through diet, lack of activity, a decrease in muscle mass, medications, hormonal changes, or medical comorbidities such as high cholesterol and autoimmune disease. Sarcopenia can occur due to insulin resistance, less physical activity, less strength training, a lack of protein in the meal plan, and medications. Yes, a loss in muscle mass can increase the risk of insulin resistance and insulin resistance can increase the risk of a loss of muscle mass. Hold that thought. I know what you’re thinking: “We must be doomed because sarcopenia and insulin resistance are part of the aging process, so there isn’t anything to do except take hormones and hope I feel better.” Wrong . The next thought you have: “If I am exhausted, not sleeping well,
and craving sugar, how will I ever overcome these issues of not consuming enough protein and not exercising enough? My doctor told me to take hormones to fix my symptoms.” Again, Not SO FAST. Treat the problem, not the symptom. Let’s assess your metabolism, your blood sugar, and your vitamin levels. Let’s look at your medical history, medications, and diagnoses impacting your metabolism. Let’s assess the amount of inflammation in your body. Sure, your hormones have decreased, though your symptoms are likely coming from something else. 1. Blood sugar stability is more challenging as we age due to the change in muscle-to-fat ratio, vitamin levels, and the body’s ability to break down sugar. We must focus on getting the proper amount of lean protein into your body with a balance of good carbohydrates and healthy fats. In some cases, a plant sterol called Berberine can be helpful. With stable blood sugar, our vitamin levels, sleep, energy, recovery time, and muscle-building opportunities significantly improve. 2. Optimizing vitamin levels is essential to improving many of the symptoms we are experiencing. For instance, magnesium is important for sleep, bowel movements, muscle aches and cramps, headaches, melatonin production, and reducing stress and anxiety. Vitamin D is vital to improving blood sugar stability and bone health and preventing depression and anxiety. This is just a pinch of the vitamin levels that should be assessed when it comes to hormonal symptoms , as we often lack vital nutrients and vitamins as we age (trigger gut health conversation). 3. Identify the proper amount of strength training versus cardiovascular exercise. 4. Assess gut health — it’s very important to optimize our health and nutrient absorption and reduce inflammation! Seventy percent of our immune system starts in the GUT!
5. Hydration — Are you drinking enough? Most likely … NO.
The symptoms you experience as your hormones change are often due to very treatable conditions, malnutrition, and vitamin deficiencies. It is simple to make these changes, though it is not easy — it requires work and change! Contact Berman Health and Wellness today to receive a Free consultation and to start improving your hormone imbalance symptoms. This offer is good for the month of May with this article! –Jenni Berman PA-C, CPT, CNS, CICI OWNER, BERMAN HEALTH AND WELLNESS
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