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Your Hormone Blueprint
Are you here to find answers to your unwanted symptoms? Perhaps you’re having
difficulty with energy levels through your day, or you drive your loved ones crazy
with moodiness?
Maybe you dread your periods due to pain or heaviness, or experience unwanted
skin break outs and stubborn mid section weight gain? The underlying culprit
to your health challenges may be a hormone imbalance and you’ve come to the
right place to find out more!
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2 ~ Hormones 101
Hormones have the significant job in your
body of delivering important chemical
messages to your tissues and organs.
Ultimately this controls functions such as
your metabolism, hunger, cravings, sexual
function, physiology, reproduction,
moods and energy levels as well as skin and
hair health. Your hormones are produced
from a group of cells called endocrine
glands, these include the hypothalamus,
pituitary, pineal and thymus glands in
your brain, your adrenal and thyroid
glands, your pancreas and your ovaries
(in men, ovaries are replaced with testes).
It’s heartbreaking to learn that young
women are going through high school
and into their early adulthood, without
gaining a sound knowledge and
understanding of their hormones and precious reproductive cycle.
I was no different! To be honest, throughout my teens I didn’t know when and how
ovulation took place. I was equipped with the basics - knowing I inconveniently
had my period once a month but because I was on the oral contraceptive pill,
I wouldn’t fall pregnant. It helped to keep my skin under control and gave me
freedom and convenience for you-know-what. I was oblivious to the fact that my
ovaries had shut down and I wasn’t ovulating, let alone getting an explanation
from my GP about potential short and long term side effects of taking the
“innocent” daily pill.
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It wasn’t until my naturopathy studies that I began to truly understand the intricate
happenings of a woman’s cycle, both naturally and on synthetic hormones. It
fascinated me and once I was supporting patients in clinic, I developed a passion
to pass this knowledge on to women like yourself. Educating you about options
other than synthetic hormones is of vital importance to me. There are natural
ways to balance your hormones and overcome hormone driven symptoms along
with natural contraceptive alternatives which empower you with knowledge
of your natural cycle rhythms and are free from dangerous side effects. More
information coming up in later chapters.
In this chapter, I will pass on the valuable information for you to learn the
intricacies of your reproductive cycle and the other hormones which ultimately
affect their function. Unfortunately, my experience in clinic repeatedly shows a
scenario similar to Lena’s* story.
Lena has never really understood her cycle, but is well aware of her painful periods
and suffers from moodiness, breast tenderness and cravings before her period. Lena
visits her GP and is explained the solution to her health challenge is in the oral
contraceptive pill. She is not however given an explanation of any risks involved in
taking the pill.
A few years go by and Lena and her partner Jake decide they would like to prepare for
having a baby. Lena discontinues taking the pill but is shocked when 4 months later,
she still hasn’t experienced her period. Skin breakouts occur around Lena’s chin and
jawline, her moodiness is heightened and she has put on a few very unwelcome kilos.
Lena looks into how the oral contraceptive pill works and is surprised by what she
discovers. It turns out all this time taking the pill, she has not been ovulating and
her periods were merely a ‘withdrawal bleed.’ Lena is also shocked by the generous
amount of data indicating the negative effects the pill has placed on her body, long
and short term. From deficiencies in vital nutrients, disruption to her gut bacteria
balance and an increased risk of developing the side effects of long term use, including
depression, blood clots and breast cancer.
Lena is devastated. She has been misinformed.
*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of my patients.
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Note: When taking the oral contraceptive pill, you are not experiencing a natural
period, but instead a forced withdrawal bleed from stopping the active hormone
pills each month.
The good news is that with dedication to nourish your body and mind, such an
imbalance in hormones can be addressed. A regular cycle can return and hormonal
imbalance symptoms such as mood swings, cravings and fluid retention can be
overcome when you take control of your health. Whether you have a history of
synthetic hormone use or not, throughout this book my aim is to teach you how
to move forward the natural way.
The topic of hormones involves quite a complex discussion, including your brain,
ovaries, pancreas, thyroid and adrenal glands. To clearly understand the role of
hormones in your body, let me take you back to that awkward talk you may have
been given at school or by your parents. Here I have a more detailed chat about
your monthly menstrual cycle.
Fig. 1: The endocrine system
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Your menstrual cycle summary
Your complex reproductive cycle is a brain driven event with your master gland,
called the hypothalamus, calling the shots. To ensure a cycle runs its natural
course, communication and feedback loops occur between your hypothalamus
and the pituitary gland in your brain, with your ovaries. This interaction controls
the different stages of your menstrual cycle.
Your hypothalamus triggers the development of an immature egg by releasing
gonadotropin – releasing hormone (GrRH). GrRH functions to stimulate your
pituitary gland (also in the brain), to release two powerful hormones into your
bloodstream - follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH).
In response to this production of the FSH and LH from your pituitary gland,
hormones progesterone and oestrogen are released from your ovaries at differing
amounts throughout the cycle.
Fig. 2: Communication between your brain and your ovaries
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These female hormones perform powerful actions within your body such as
triggering the development for future reproduction (at puberty), initiating the
formation of a new life, nurturing a baby through pregnancy and breastfeeding
and eventually slowing the reproductive process as you reach menopause and
beyond. Reproductive hormones also allow adaptive response to stress, exertion
and strong emotions, such as love.
Your menstrual cycle begins at puberty, with an initial surge of oestrogen
from your ovaries, which was stimulated by the pituitary gland in your brain.
This oestrogen promotes the growth of your breasts, the development of your
reproductive system and the shape of your body. Cycles are often irregular for the
first year after your initial period, as the body perfects its intricate communication
of hormones and events occurring throughout your menstrual cycle. Once egg
production and follicle development is running on schedule, your menstrual
cycle should regulate into a monthly occurrence.
Although great variation can occur from cycle to cycle and from one woman to
the next, a textbook cycle will last for 28 days. Day one is the first day of your
period (not including spotting) and the last day of your cycle is the day before
menstrual bleeding begins once again. Ovulation will therefore occur around day
14, leaving a 2-week time frame to the lead up of your next period.
From my experience in clinic, this textbook 28-day cycle with ovulation occurring
on day 14, is not the norm for many women. A delay in ovulation can often
occur, which creates a lengthier follicular phase (explained below) resulting in
a longer cycle. Otherwise a shorter follicular phase may occur creating a shorter
time from your period to ovulation, or a shorter luteal phase may take place
(ovulation to your period). The latter of the two is a common cause of an infertile
cycle, referred to as a luteal phase defect which I’ll explain in chapter 3.
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The Follicular Phase
The first half of your cycle, from menstruation up to ovulation is known as the
follicular phase and is responsible for your egg development. During the follicular
phase, your cervix is blocked by a thick mucous plug which protects your
reproductive system from infection and also prevents conception, by blocking
the entrance of sperm.
At some stage in the follicular phase (this differs for every woman), the
follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulates small amounts of oestrogen
and progesterone to be produced from your ovaries and sent throughout your
bloodstream. The oestrogen triggers several clusters of cells (called follicles) to
begin ripening. Each of these follicles contains a precious egg. As the follicles
grow, they manufacture and further release oestrogen (oestradiol) into your
blood stream. During the follicular phase, oestrogen levels build up to a peak,
just before ovulation.
This heightened level of oestrogen stimulates the production of a fertile, wet,
sperm-protective mucous from your cervix which is usually very detectible for
you to feel and see. Before this occurs, some women experience the mucous plug
being released from the cervix and vagina which often appears as a thick blob of
glue like substance and allows the fertile mucous through. These mucous changes
are an important sign that your body is preparing for ovulation and therefore
should be considered a time of potential fertility.
Ovulation
Ovulation is the magical time when the fully matured follicle has made its way to
the surface of the ovary and ejects an egg into the abdominal cavity.
For ovulation to occur, your pituitary gland must release a surge of luteinising
hormone (LH) that therefore triggers your ovaries to promote this fully matured
follicle. LH also stimulates the ovaries to produce increased levels of the sex
hormone progesterone. If ovulation was to happen on day 14, this progesterone
surge occurs around day 12-13 of your cycle.
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Along with supporting the development of the tissue and blood in your uterus,
progesterone encourages the change to a slippery sensation of egg-white type
mucous at the cervix, a rise in body temperature and an increased libido, which you
may experience at the time of ovulation. The mucous changes around ovulation
(egg white type) occur as the rise in progesterone triggers the production of
mineral manganese at the small folds in the lower end of the vagina (known as
pockets of shaw).
Interestingly, progesterone also initiates communication from the matured egg
producing ovary to the other ovary, to stop the growth of their follicles. This
allows the chosen matured follicle to continue rapid growth (up to ¾ inch in
size), in the last 1-2 days before ovulation.
Once the egg is released at ovulation, the follicle transforms into an endocrine
gland, known as the corpus luteum and resembles a blister on the surface of your
ovary. Oestrogen production continues from the corpus luteum but progesterone
should be dominant in this second half of your cycle called the Luteal Phase.
As Dr Sherrill Sellman explains in her book Hormone Heresy: What Women Must
Know About Their Hormones, “When Progesterone peaks (in the luteal phase),
there is about 200 times as much progesterone as oestrogen.” pg. 35, 1
Progesterone also plays an important role in balancing your moods, by stimulating
the activity of the calming neurotransmitter called gamma-Aminobutyric acid,
or better known as GABA. Progesterone is the precursor for a neuro-steroid in
the brain called allopregnanolone. This neuro-steroid binds to a GABA receptor,
stimulating GABA activity which results in helping to alleviate your pain, anxiety
and irritability.2
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The Luteal Phase
The luteal phase of a cycle can vary from woman to woman but is generally the
same time frame during each of your cycles. This can vary from 11-16 days, but
must be at least 11 days for the cycle to be considered fertile. A short luteal phase
indicates an issue at ovulation leading to inadequate progesterone production or
an early drop in progesterone levels. As progesterone is the hormone required
to ripen and preserve the tissue and blood of your uterus, a deficiency causes
premature shedding of the uterus lining and results in an infertile cycle called a
luteal phase defect.
Apart from early menstruation, other symptoms of a luteal phase defect may
include an erratic basal body temperature after ovulation, lower back pain
and loose stools. The resulting luteal phase defect is also a major contributor
of repeated miscarriages. On testing, progesterone levels will be deficient for
where they should be in a healthy luteal phase. See more information about
recommended testing in chapter 4.
A luteal phase defect can occur during any cycle, due to different factors. If the
pituitary gland doesn’t produce enough FSH in the first half of your cycle, this
will contribute to weakened follicle production, low oestrogen levels, a thin
uterine lining and therefore early menstruation. In the case of fertility, this state
will cause challenges with fertilisation and healthy implantation. The absence of
a LH surge required to bring on ovulation, can also cause a luteal phase defect.
This is a common occurrence in the condition of polycystic ovarian syndrome
(PCOS).
Learn more about contributors to low FSH, LH, oestrogen and progesterone
production, in chapter 3.
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Successful ovulation & fertilisation
After ovulation, the egg is gracefully scooped up by the finger like fibrae of the
fallopian tube and encouraged along by contraction-like movements and the
brushing motion of microscopic hairs along the fallopian tube lining. The egg
has a lifespan of 12-24 hours, unless fertilised by a sperm within this time. It is
here in the outer third of the fallopian tube where an egg may become fertilised
with a sperm, forming a single celled zygote. If fertilisation occurs, the zygote is
the earliest form of an embryo and contains ‘the plan’ for the whole body.
In a swimming motion, the zygote heads towards the uterus and prepares the
body for its arrival. This zygote continues along the fallopian tube and toward
the uterus, where the final maturation occurs. It begins dividing at a fast rate
and creates a cluster of cells approximately the size of a raspberry. After the first
division, the development of the embryo begins and is referred to as a morula. By
day 5 after fertilisation, the embryo develops into an early blastocyst.
Throughout this time, progesterone plays an important role in supporting the
uterine lining to build strength and resilience. It becomes thickened and engorged
with blood in preparation to support a growing foetus. Progesterone deficiency
during this time of the cycle can therefore contribute to issues with conception
and miscarriage.
Pregnancy
Once the blastocyst reaches the womb, implantation into the uterus wall begins
at around day 8-9 and finishes around day 14, after fertilisation has taken
place. Successful implantation triggers the release of the human chorionic
gonoadotropin hormone (better known as hCG) to prepare the womb to nourish
the developing embryo. The hCG released also reaches the ovaries to prevent
another ovulation to take place. When implantation is effective, pregnancy
occurs and the production of progesterone continues, preventing the lining of
the uterus to shed and therefore sustains the developing embryo. Production of
progesterone through pregnancy is taken over by the placenta; the organ which
nourishes the foetus through the umbilical cord. Throughout pregnancy, levels
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of oestrogen also soar to around one thousand times that of a non-pregnant
state, driving the size and development of the uterus, as well as the breasts in
preparation for lactation.
Fig. 3: Ovulation, Fertilisation & Implantation
When fertilisation is unsuccessful
If the egg is not fertilised in the fallopian tube within 24 hours, it will die and
disintegrate. If a fertilised egg is not implanted into the lining of the uterus, the
body will reabsorb it. In both cases the levels of oestrogen and progesterone drop
off and from 11-16 days following ovulation your uterus sheds it’s lining, making
up the blood of your menstruation.
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The Period
The bleeding of menstruation typically lasts 4-5 days but also varies from cycle
to cycle and woman to woman. This process should be virtually pain free and
should not cause the need to be housebound, due to heaviness (although I often
hear reports of otherwise).
As the follicular phase kicks off, more hormones are released, new growth occurs
and the cycle continues.
Fig. 4: Hormone levels and uterine lining throughout the menstrual cycle
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Breastfeeding
At birth, your placenta is expelled, resulting in drastically reduced progesterone
production and activates your breast milk. Just seeing, smelling and thinking
about your baby, together with the suckling during breastfeeding will stimulate
the hormone prolactin and oxytocin to be produced from your pituitary gland.
These hormones in turn initiate the production and release of your milk supply.
Providing that breastfeeding is regular, cycles are generally non-existent during
the first 6 months of breast feeding, due to the reduction of oestrogen during this
time. As oestrogen is required to ovulate, ovulation is also put on hold. Past the
6-month mark of breastfeeding, or as your feeds are fewer and farther between,
oestrogen levels start to rise and ovulation can occur. Despite the old wives’ tale,
it is therefore still very likely to fall pregnant while breastfeeding.
Menopause
At around the age of 40 (in some cases much earlier or later), a woman enters
the stage of peri menopause. It is still unknown if this is initially triggered by
the hypothalamus and pituitary gland in the brain, or the ovaries. As follicle
stimulation drops off, your production of oestrogen and progesterone from your
ovaries will also reduce by around 40-60% at the time of menopause. Periods
become irregular, light and eventually cease completely. Menopause is embraced
once you are without a menstrual cycle for 12 consecutive months.
The ovaries continue to produce small amounts of sex hormones, along with the
adrenal glands, which work in unity to support bone and skin health, libido and
protect against heart disease.
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The Thyroid & Adrenal Gland Dance
Your Thyroid Gland Function
Your thyroid gland is a crucial part of your body’s endocrine system and is
found in prime position, at the front of your neck. Just like your menstrual cycle,
thyroid function is also a brain driven event via a feedback loop between your
hypothalamus, pituitary and thyroid gland. The balance of your adrenal and sex
hormones are also reliant on the health of your thyroid.
In order to have balanced thyroid function and adequate thyroid hormone levels
to use throughout your body, a cascade of reactions must occur.
1.As needed, the hypothalamus gland in your brain sends out thyrotropin
releasing hormone (TRH), to stimulate your pituitary gland into releasing
thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).
2.TSH triggers the production and release of thyroid hormones, thyroxine
(T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), which are used for numerous functions in
the body. Amongst these are improved oxygen uptake by your cells, energy
production, healthy development and maintenance of your metabolic rate
and body temperature.
3.T4 is the inactive form of thyroid hormone, and requires effective conversion
into T3, for your body to utilise it for important intracellular functions.
Once converted, T3 binds to available thyroid receptors and energises all
the cells of your body.
When your body is under stress, in a state of toxic overload and/ or
nutritional deficiency, conversion into T3 can be restricted. Instead, the
body will convert T4, into a dangerous inactive form of T3, called reverse T3
(RT3). Healthy thyroid function therefore relies on controlled conversion of
T3 into RT3.
4.Stress, heightened inflammation and/ or immune dysregulation, may cause
your body to detect normal healthy thyroid tissue, as foreign. When this
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occurs, thyroid antibodies are produced, including thyroid peroxidase
(TPO) and thyroglobulin (TG) antibodies. Increased thyroid antibodies
occur in the auto immune conditions of the thyroid, such as hashimotos
thyroiditis and graves disease. Another facet of having a healthy, balanced
thyroid gland is therefore controlled antibody production.
Have you been misdiagnosed?
Far too often I see patients who have been told by their GP that their thyroid
gland function is healthy. Unfortunately, the whole panel of thyroid hormones
and thyroid antibodies are missed. This was the case for Tamara.
Tamara presented to me with symptoms of extreme fatigue, poor concentration
levels, thinning hair and all over body aches. She suffered with ongoing painful
periods and was starting to notice an increase in midsection weight. Although
her symptoms seemed like an obvious case of underactive thyroid, I ran some
bloods to rule out autoimmune activity.
Although Tamara’s TSH result was within range, she showed an extremely
high level of thyroid antibodies, along with low T4 and T3 hormones. If the
TSH had merely been tested, her results would have looked normal. As I looked
into the whole thyroid panel, the underlying driver of her underactive thyroid
was detected. We could then focus on detecting the causes of her heightened
antibodies and work on regaining normal thyroid hormone production and
reversal of her symptoms.
If I hadn’t requested the extra test to check for T4 and T3 hormones, plus thyroid
antibodies, Tamara would have been told by her GP that her thyroid function
was healthy. With any unresolved symptoms pointing to an underactive thyroid,
or other adrenal and sex hormone symptoms, it is always important to check the
whole panel of TSH, T4, T3, RT3 and rule out auto-immunity of your thyroid.
See chapter 4 for more information on thyroid testing.
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Nutrients needed for healthy thyroid function
The production of thyroid hormone takes place in the follicles of your thyroid,
which requires the mineral iodine and the amino acid, tyrosine.3,4 Inositol (part
of the B group vitamin family), sensitises the response of the body to TSH, to
initiate the first steps of thyroid hormone production. Adequate levels of the
minerals iodine 5, selenium and zinc, together with the amino acid tyrosine,pg. 143,
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are required for the body to produce healthy levels of thyroid hormones T3 and
T4.
Vitamin A, C, D and E also contribute to healthy thyroid hormone production
via their antioxidant support. Additionally, vitamin A supports the formation of
thyroid hormone receptors. Indirectly, tyrosine and Vitamin B5 improve thyroid
health, by supporting adrenal gland function, while B6 encourages balanced
neurotransmitter levels in your brain.
T4 contains 4 molecules of the mineral iodine and T3 contains 3 iodine molecules,
therefore without adequate iodine levels in your body, the health of your thyroid
and production of thyroid hormones, will suffer.pg. 141, 7 The mineral selenium is
just as important as the critical conversion of T4 into T3 involves a process which
removes one iodine molecule of T4 (called monodeiodination) and relies on 3
selenium dependant enzymes (called deiodinases).pg. 161, 8 The majority of this
vital conversion of T4 into T3 takes place in your liver, therefore the health of
your liver is also essential for thyroid health.9, 10
Once converted, B group vitamins and the mineral iron, play an important role
in encouraging the production of energy (ATP) from T3, while vitamin A and
zinc improve cellular sensitivity toward thyroid hormone. Healthy digestion and
adequate levels of the minerals zinc and selenium, along with B2 and B6, promote
healthy immune function, providing auto-immune prevention.
Your Adrenal Gland Health
The tongue twisting hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, also known as the HPAAxis, refers to the communication between your hypothalamus and pituitary
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glands in your brain, with your adrenal glands. It’s the crucial feedback between
these glands which helps to control your stress response in your body, amongst
managing your energy levels, digestion, immunity, moods, emotions, memory
and metabolism.
How your adrenal glands affect your hormone health
Your two walnut sized adrenal glands sit just above your kidneys and contain two
sections, the inner adrenal medulla and the outer adrenal cortex. The adrenals
are stimulated via the HPA-Axis and responsible for the production of hormones
and chemicals, which in turn regulate your moods, thyroid and sex hormone
health.
Your adrenal glands control the release of:
• Adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline (norepinephrine) are
produced by the adrenal medulla and released into your bloodstream as
your short-term stress hormones. Adrenaline would be released if someone
jumped out from behind the door to scare you and consequently affect
your autonomic nervous system (ANS), to escape the danger. It triggers the
release of glucose into your blood stream, increases blood pressure, mental
alertness and respiratory rate. You may also notice increased sweating and
the need to urinate more often. Blood supply is also directed away from
your digestive system to your arms and legs, to allow for a swift escape.
• Dopamine is produced from the adrenals in small amounts, also in response
to stress. It is actually the precursor to adrenaline and noradrenaline and
responsible for experiencing feelings of pleasure and euphoria.
• Cortisol and to a lesser extent, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and
dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S), are also produced and
released from your adrenal glands when the HPA-Axis is stimulated under
a perceived physical, chemical or psychological stress. The hypothalamus
gland in your brain triggers your pituitary gland via the corticotropinreleasing hormone (CRH), to produce a hormone messenger called
adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH).
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ACTH stimulates the adrenal cortex to produce the stress hormones cortisol,
DHEA and DHEA-S. Once the stress is over, feedback is sent back to your
brain, to slow the production of CRH and ACTH and therefore normalise
cortisol synthesis.
All sex hormones are derived initially from cholesterol which is your
hormone building block. This cholesterol is converted into your mother
hormone pregnenolone and feeds your DHEA production. DHEA is
converted into androstenedione, which fuels the production of testosterone
and potentially (if the conditions in the body favour the pathway), to the
more potent and dangerous form of testosterone, dihydriotestosterone
(DHT).
Although the exact level is unknown, oestrogen and progesterone are also
produced from the adrenal cortex in premenopausal years. After this time,
your adrenals take over from the ovaries with the majority of your sex
hormone production.
• Aldosterone is produced from the outer adrenal cortex of your adrenal
glands, to control your body’s water and salt balance and therefore blood
pressure.
These hormones and chemicals enter your blood stream and act as messengers to
the tissues of your body to control certain functions.
Cortisol
Other than the production of cortisol from your adrenal glands in response to
stress, levels are naturally released at higher amounts via your HPA-Axis, in
the morning. Cortisol should peak 30-60 minutes after waking to support your
energy levels, but production should gradually decrease over the day, to eventual
low levels at night. This enables the sleep hormone melatonin to kick in and
promote a restful night’s sleep. At healthy levels, cortisol provides an important
anti-inflammatory role in your body and helps to control your pain levels.
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Fig. 5: The HPA Axis Stress Response
Your addictive screen time, 3pm caffeine hit or extensive late night workout, might
be disrupting your body’s natural cortisol rhythm. More on the contributors to
adrenal gland stress next up in chapter 3.
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Blood Sugar, Insulin & Leptin Level Balance
How food can affect your hormones
The food and drinks you consume and how your body uses them, will ultimately
effect your hormone balance. Keeping it simple, when meals and beverages
containing carbohydrates (mainly fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, sweets and
any products made from them) are ingested, they are broken down by digestive
enzymes and good bacteria, into three primary building blocks being glucose,
fructose and ribose. Differing amounts are found in each food and food item.
Glucose
Any glucose from these foods moves directly from your small intestine and
into your bloodstream. The rate at which glucose causes a spike in blood sugar
(glucose) levels, depends on the foods glycemic index (GI). The increase in
glucose stimulates your pancreas to release the hormone insulin. Insulin is
responsible for transporting glucose into the cells of your tissues and organs,
where it is used for energy or stored as fat, in times of inactivity. It is crucial for
your body to therefore be sensitive towards this insulin, to ensure healthy blood
sugar levels, weight, cardiovascular, brain and hormonal health, among much
more.
Fructose & Insulin
Fructose, also known as fruit sugar, is metabolised differently. When fructose
is consumed, it must be transported from your small intestine into the liver, to
be metabolised. Where the body can use glucose as fuel, it stores fructose in the
liver. When fructose reaches your liver, it is converted into triglycerides (fat) and
transported around the body for storage. Insulin levels also soar when fructose is
delivered to the liver and overtime, contributes to a condition of insulin resistance.
Fructose rich foods are mistaken as a healthier option because the fructose
doesn’t raise the blood sugar levels as rapidly as glucose and therefore has a lower
GI. Later in chapter 3 I’ll discuss why fructose can be extremely damaging to
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your body, when consumed in high levels.
Leptin
The hormone leptin works hand in hand with insulin, and plays a crucial role in
your appetite control, the quality and rate of your metabolism, hormone health
and longevity. It is produced by your fat cells which signals to the brain when you
are in need of or have an excess of energy and what to do with it. Leptin tells your
brain when you should be hungry, store fat, burn fat, or allow the body to rest and
repair. When leptin is activated and your body is responding to the levels, you are
able to appropriately regulate your hunger.
Fig. 6: The healthy leptin response
It’s a rare case when I see a patient who is presenting with optimal endocrine
gland control and function. Through my clinical experience, hormone health is
an area requiring constant, attention, support and nourishment.
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Are your hormones working in harmony or causing havoc? Find out if your
hormones are imbalanced and affecting the way you look and feel, by reading
my hormone health book- Balanced, The Natural Way To Healthy Hormones. I
delve into common hormone imbalance signs, symptoms and share effective diet,
lifestyle and supplementation treatment to promote a state of hormone balance
in your body. Find out more here: www.kaseywillsonnd.com/balanced/
I look forward to guiding you to healthy hormones.
References
(1) Sellman, S. Hormone Heresy, What Woman Must Know About Their Hormones. Australia:
Joshua Books; 2011.
(2) Schule C, Nothdurfter C, Rupprecht R. The role of allopregnanolone in depression and anxiety.
Prog Neurobiol. 2014 Feb;133:79-87.
(3) Tortora, Grabowski. Principles of anatomy and physiology, 7th ed. Harper Collins, 1993.
(4) Guyton AC, Hall JE. Textbook of Medical Physiology, 11th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier, 2006.
(5) Natural Medicines. Iodine. Viewed Jan 2016, https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.
com/databases/food,-herbs-supplements/professional.aspx?productid=35.
(6) Osiecki H. The Nutrient Bibl. 8 th edition. QLD Australia: Bio Concepts Publishing.
(7) Osiecki H. The Nutrient Bibl. 8 th edition. QLD Australia: Bio Concepts Publishing.
(8) Osiecki H. The Nutrient Bibl. 8 th edition. QLD Australia: Bio Concepts Publishing.
(9) Roti E, Minelli R, Salvi M. Thyroid hormone metabolism in obesity. Int J Obes Relat Metab
Disord 2000;24 Supp 2:S113-S115.
(10) Kelly GS. Peripheral metabolism of thyroid hormones: a review. Altern Med Rev 2000;5(4):306333.
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