Understanding Hormones Part 5

Did you know that the two most common causes of low hormonal levels are stress and inflammation?

Did you also know that when there are hormonal imbalances in the body, the detoxification process goes more than south and this can mean:  back up of toxins in the body.  This can affect the liver, gallbladder and intestines.  Acne, body odor, and bad breath can occur...all this happens because the waste products and toxins are not being detoxified and excreted and are appearing elsewhere in the body in the most unattractive ways.  Constipation can become a real problem, as well as smelly vaginal secretions.  Infertility, weight gain, weight loss, mood changes, lack of libido are all affected.  You get the picture, right?
Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  So now that you're the expert on hormones and what they're supposed to do for you, get on the stick today and help make happy hormones.  It's pretty easy...get the blood test, come into my office and we'll talk about your levels, enroll yourself into my Wellness Program and in about 12 weeks, you'll be a new you!  I'll get you as fit as a fiddle, and make your hormones get happy!  You'll be relieved of stress, insomnia and those aches and pains as a result of inflamation will dissipate.  We wake up everyday, so we might as well be as healthy and happy while we're here.  Let's get goin'!

Understanding Hormones Part 4

Yesterday, we left off with a converted hormone.  NOW what happens?  Here's the 'big magilla'.  It is at this point that the hormone binds itself to its proper receptor (like a key that fits precisely into a lock).  Voila!  We have transmission!  We get the infamous 'proteonic response' (better known in my book as 'bingo, bingo!').  Happy hormonal connections lead to proper homeostasis.  But... if the 'key' doesn't fit with ultimate precision, then the transmission contains lots of static.  When this happens, there is less of the hormone 'locked' into its receptor and more hormone loosely circulating throughout the body.  Therefore, low frequency and transmission leads to low hormonal response (eg:  slow thyroid, low testosterone level). 
The downward cycle then occurs, the hypothalamus doesn't get stimulated because it thinks it already sent out the transmission to create the proteonic response.  Next, the pituitary gets suppressed, and the chain of events continues on.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  stay tuned for tomorrow's blog.  I'll be touching on what external factors can cause low hormonal responses and give you some good tips for happy hormones!!

Understanding Hormones Part 3

Today, we will review the first few phases of the hormonal pathway.  I'll keep this as simple as possible:

The journey begins in your brain. You might have heard of the words 'serotonin, acetylcholine or dopamine' (no...that's not the dope sitting next to you!).  These are better known as neurotransmitters. 

(think radio or television wave transmission, but in your body!).

These neurotransmitters send out signals to a gland known as the hypothalamus to 'wake up and get movin'.  Just like the old game of 'telephone', the hypothalamus then sends a signal down to the pituatary gland to get movin' and groovin'.
The pituitary gets its act together and then sends signals to glands such as the thyroid or testes. These glands will will interpret the signals and tell its hormone (or hormones) to 'do their thing'.  This typically means they will direct a binding transport protein that will help the hormone travel to its final destination.

Whatever isn't used from the particular hormone goes to the liver and/or gallbladder, for waste management. It is eventually disposed of via the feces.
Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  did you know that the body can convert hormones into new types of molecules?  For example, testosterone can be converted into estrogen!  Pretty cool stuff, huh?  Tomorrow, we will continue our journey along the hormonal pathway, so stay tuned for more!

Understanding Hormones Part 2

I was bombarded with the same question yesterday....WHAT'S a hormone?
A hormone is a naturally occurring chemical substance that your body produces.  Hormones are in charge of the body's regulation department, and is the control center for the activities and functions of certain cells or organs.

The thyroid gland in particular,  is responsible for the secretion of many hormones.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Hormones are crucial for homoestasis (to be alive!).   Hormones are responsible for growth and reproductive functions, metabolism and digestive processes and what type of mood you're in.  Tomorrow, we'll delve into the pathways of how hormones act (now that you know what a hormone is) and later on in the week, talk about some of the more known hormones and what they do!
Trivia:  did you know that acupuncture alone can help regulate hormones????

Understanding Hormones

This week, I will devote my blog to giving you a basic understanding of how hormones work in your body.
Millions of Americans suffer from hormonal imbalances that can be detected and treated with proper testing.  Every year, when you have your annual physical, be sure to have your hormonal panels tested when you give blood for a basic CBC panel.  By tracking your  levels over a period of time, it is quite apparent to your acupunturist or m.d. when hormones become imbalanced.  Knowledge is king here...the more educated you become about how your hormones operate will enable you to manage how your body functions.  This will lead to better health in the longrun.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Stay tuned for tomorrow's blog on the hormonal pathway...how the system actually functions.  Definitely a 'must read'!