BioIdentical Hormones Demystified
May 29th, 2009
This respected OB/GYN and author of “The Venus Week: Discover the Powerful Secret of Your Cycle…At Any Age” lists many of the changes brought about by our sex hormones in adolescence up to our mid- 20’s (Breasts develop; the waistline is carved out). Good!. And with menopause (Breasts deflate (or worse, get enormous); Waist disappears). Not so good.
We urge you to read this article in full to better understand the nature of your hormones:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rebecca-booth/bioidentical-hormones-mar_b_208180.html
Bookmark to:
Hormones fit onto their receptors just like a “lock and key”, so any slight alteration of their chemical structure creates a “monster hormone”. These resulting “monster hormones” are never found in the human body or anywhere else in nature. The reality is that these synthetically altered monster hormones should never have been approved for marketing and sale to the American People, and yet that is exactly what your mainstream medical doctor will offer you if you ask for hormones.
Years ago, after the invention of synthetic monster hormones, an information war was launched by the drug industry creating confusion in the public and even among medical professionals about the difference between natural human hormones and synthetic monster hormones. Because of this information war, we must now use the terminology, “bioidentical” hormones which really means human hormones in order to different these from the monster altered hormones.
How is a Synthetic Hormone Different from A Bioidentical Hormone? Bioidentical hormones are the hormones that exist in the human body naturally. Synthetic hormones are these very same human hormones that are chemically altered.
For more…
http://jeffreydach.com/2008/10/06/the-importance-of-bioidentical-hormones-by-jeffrey-dach-md.aspx
This is great information. I have been looking for another treatment plan for my PCOS and I hadn’t considered Bioidentical Hormones until I read this. I will be asking my doctor about this!
I spoke with my gynecologist and she thinks that bioidentical hormone replacement therapy might be a good course of action for my PCOS. Now I just need to find the right specialist!
Dear Amee,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog. This is a great question as many women are aware of the hormone imbalance that is often a part of PCOS.
However, in treatment, the goal is to address the underlying cause of the condition, which in many instances is insulin resistance. This can, in turn, affect the hormone imbalance in a positive way.
But if you are wanting to go this route, I would encourage you to work with someone that will be testing your hormone status before treating with bio-identical hormones (bHRT). And I also encourage you to focus on addressing the insulin resistance so that you can better manage the symptoms of PCOS and how it affects you.
You will also want to work with someone that is familiar with PCOS as this is an area that will require more than balancing of certain hormones to really approach the complete syndrome. If you are looking for a naturopathic physician, you can use the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians website to see if there is someone in your area that may be able to help ( http://www.Naturopathic.org ). Be sure to ask if they use bHRT as not all states are currently licensed for dispensing hormones.
Commonly, if a woman is not ovulating or having irregular periods, progesterone levels may be low and estrogen can be elevated. We also commonly see elevated levels of testosterone that can be responsible for the symptoms of acne, excess facial and body hair and male pattern hair loss or thinning. So, as you can see, knowing where your levels are will be important so that you are not giving more of certain hormones that are already elevated.
I would encourage you to check out the Insulite PCOS System as this can be really useful in providing a comprehensive, non-pharmaceutical approach to PCOS. If you would like to read more, please visit our website at http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/. I hope that this helps.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Dr. Deluca – Thank you so much for your reply.
I have read that insulin resistance is a key factor in PCOS. I have been trying to reduce my starch / sugar intake, but it is hard to do so as a vegetarian.
I am hoping that combining better eating habits, exercise and hormone therapy will reduce my symptoms.
I made an appointment with a bioidentical hormone replacement therapy expert in South Florida. I can’t wait to share the results!!
Hello Amee,
You are very welcome. I hope that it helps.
You are right it is not easy eating lower carb with a vegetarian diet but I do feel that it can be done. Start by planning your meals so that you are not grabbing on the go.
When thinking about your plate and the food you put on it, about half should be vegetables (greens, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, peppers, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, etc). You can use a bit of whole grains or beans/legumes for about 1/4 of the plate and a lean protein for the other 1/4 of the plate.
There are many sources of protein that come from non-animal sources. Nuts and seeds, soy/tofu/tempeh, and beans/legumes are all sources of plant based proteins. The key with vegetarians is to vary the type of protein you are eating and not overdo it in any one type. For example, beans are a good source of protein for vegetarians and they are high in fiber, but they are also higher in carbs so it is important not to consume too many beans while eating a low-carb diet. Dark, leafy greens also contain many amino acids that the body needs to make protein. Some of the most massive (in terms of muscle mass) mammals on earth are vegetarians (think elephants and gorillas).
As you are probably already aware, being a vegetarian in general takes some advanced planning to be balanced and healthy. Doing low carb vegetarian is no different. It will take some careful planning and preparation, but it can certainly be done. Especially since you also do occasional fish. Using a carb counter will help greatly with this. You can use an online carb counter like one found at http://www.carb-counter.org or you can purchase one at bookstores or health food stores. Another online resource that I have found to be quite helpful is http://www.fitday.com, at which you can get the carb, fat, and protein breakdown of many foods.
Don’t forget the importance of exercise here as well. You can work your way up to exercising most days of the week (5-6) for 30-45 minutes as this will help reduce insulin resistance, glucose disposal, support overall cardiovascular health and reduce risk of development of heart disease and diabetes.
I hope that this helps further.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
if a woman is not ovulating or having irregular periods, progesterone levels may be low and estrogen can be elevated. We also commonly see elevated levels of testosterone that can be responsible for the symptoms of acne, excess facial and body hair and male pattern hair loss or thinning. So, as you can see, knowing where your levels are will be important so that you are not giving more of certain hormones that are already elevated.