Possible Harmful Drug Interactions with Alli

The over-the-counter (OTC) product Alli™ could have potentially harmful interactions with prescription medications like levothyroxine and other thyroid hormones, by decreasing your ability to absorb your prescription medication. This is just one example of an OTC product that can interfere with your prescribed medications.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  If you need to take prescriptive medicine, don't be lazy.  read the informational sheets that are given to you with the medication.  All side effects, harmful drug interactions and other cautions are listed.  Be responsible for your own health and read all the fine print.  If you are taking Alli, that's too bad.  You should be eating well and exercising instead.

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????