Posts about weight loss | Dr. Emina Jasarevic, Naturopath Kelowna

Estrogen & Progesterone

Estrogen and progesterone are the two dominant female sex hormones produced by the ovaries, as well as the adrenal glands. In a healthy woman, these two hormones are in balance. Estrogen helps the uterine lining develop and is important for ovulation. Estrogen levels normally peak just before ovulation, and then slowly drop off in the second half of a woman’s cycle.

Progesterone is known as the relaxing hormone in the body. It maintains the uterine lining and is necessary for embryo development. Normally, progesterone levels start to rise just before ovulation, and peak around day 21. If a woman does not become pregnant, progesterone levels fall, the uterine lining is then shed and a period begins.

Common conditions occur under the umbrella of “estrogen dominance”, when there is significantly more estrogen than progesterone creating health issues such as PMS, migraines or headaches, anxiety or low mood, food cravings, digestive issues, and weight gain.

Estrogen dominance also exists in men, when there is significantly more estrogen than testosterone. This becomes an issue when “aromatization” occurs whereby the body prefers conversion of testosterone to estrogen. In aromatization, men may develop more breast tissue, abdominal weight gain, reduced libido, reduced sexual function, and difficulty maintaining lean muscle mass.

These important hormones are the primary players that shift as women enter into perimenopause. To learn more about how these hormones fluctuate during this time and how you can support your transition through pre-, peri- and post-menopause, click here.

What and Where is the Thyroid Gland?

Your thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ in the front of your neck. The thyroid plays an important role in your body’s energy and metabolism. The thyroid gland takes up trace minerals, such as iodine, selenium and tyrosine, and uses these to make thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). These hormones circulate through the liver, brain and several other organs in the body as part of the endocrine system. If the thyroid is not functioning properly, you can develop health problems.

If you have the following health concerns – It could be your Thyroid:

Fatigue
Anxiety or Panic Attacks
Depression
Constipation
Unexplained weight gain
Generalized swelling
Puffy eyes & face
Muscle aches or pain
Muscle weakness
Joint pain, joint stiffness or swelling
Hair loss
Low sex drive
Asthma & allergies
Migraines

Recurrent miscarriage / Infertility
Lack of ovulation
PMS
Decreased memory
Irritability
Decreased Concentration or ”Brain Fog”
Dry Skin, Dry Hair
Carpal tunnel syndrome
High cholesterol
Low heart rate
Insomnia
Hives
Loss of outer 1/3 of eyebrows

Ig G Food Sensitivity

Ig G Food Sensitivity (or food intolerance) is a type IV delayed hypersensitivity reaction in the immune system that can occur a few hour and up 72 hours after ingestion of the reactive food. This window of time makes it difficult to link one’s symptom to the food eaten a day or two prior. Such hidden allergies are often the cause of many chronic symptoms. The immune response to delayed food reactions are often caused by antibodies other than Ig E. They are mediated by immunoglobulins: Ig G, Ig A, Ig M and Ig D. The Ig G antibody is the largest circulating antibody in our immune system (about 80-85% of our white blood cells) and can cross the placenta from mother to child. Ig G antibodies are the most common form of immunologic-mediated food responses. These antibodies combine with the food particles in the blood to form “immune complexes” which cause inflammatory reactions in tissues. Such inflammatory reactions can occur in any part of the body, thus producing many kinds of symptoms such as headache, eczema, joint pain, mental disorders, etc.

Thyroid

The thyroid gland controls the metabolic rate of every single cell in the body and maintains body temperature. Without enough thyroid hormone, our body slows down. We feel tired and lethargic, gain weight, experience constipation, feel cold, and are prone to depression. The four main thyroid markers we screen for in our office include TSH, free T4, free T3, and Anti-TPO. Sometimes we can include a reverse T3 if necessary.

Ensuring that one has optimal thyroid hormone levels is critical to feeling well. There are many natural treatments, from desiccated thyroid to Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome & Protocol, to herbal-based treatments and lifestyle practices. Read more about Thyroid Health

Dr. Emina jasarevic, nd | Naturopathic physician

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