Hormones for Men and Women – Is there a Natural Approach?

Hormones… blame the hormones. As we age, our bodies change, our mind changes, our muscles change, our physique changes, our drive changes - blame the hormones. The inevitable change of hormones: we are doomed, right?

Wrong.

Functional Medicine is an alternative type of medicine in which a full body biology-based approach is taken to identify causes of particular issues rather than treating the symptoms.

Are we Doomed?

Through the natural aging process, most hormones start to decline - but is it the chicken or the egg? What actually happens first - hormones decrease and then our sleep suffers or vice versa?

Brain Fog, Memory Decline, Weight Gain, Loss of Muscle Mass, Poor Sleep, Hot Flashes, Night Sweats, Poor Sex Drive, Hair Loss, Irritability, Anxiety, Depression, Constipation, Hunger and Cravings, FATIGUE… this is just the start of the symptoms I hear from patients which are often blamed on “hormones” and subsequently, “there is nothing else that can be done”.

Let’s Get to the Bottom of This

As we age, we naturally start to lose muscle mass, a process called sarcopenia. Many will blame this on the fact that hormones are declining, however, as we age our body’s ability for the body to stimulate the proteins to build muscle mass declines. This results in less overall muscle mass. As muscle mass declines, the body’s rate at which we burn calories at rest, also declines.

Simultaneously, the risk of insulin resistance increases through the aging process. Insulin Resistance is a metabolic dysfunction in which the body is not metabolizing food efficiently, resulting in higher blood sugar and insulin levels. Insulin Resistance can occur due to vitamin deficiencies, poor nutrient balance through diet, lack of activity, a decrease in muscle mass, medications, hormonal changes, or medical comorbidities such as high cholesterol and autoimmune disease.

Sarcopenia can occur due to insulin resistance, less physical activity, less strength training, a lack of protein in the meal plan, and medications. Yes, a loss in muscle mass can increase the risk of insulin resistance and insulin resistance can increase the risk of a loss of muscle mass.

Hold that thought - I know what you’re thinking - “We must be doomed because sarcopenia and insulin resistance are part of the aging process so there isn’t anything to do except take hormones and hope I feel better.” Wrong. The next thought you have, “If I am exhausted, not sleeping well, and craving sugar, how will I ever overcome these issues of not consuming enough protein and not exercising enough? My doctor told me to take hormones to fix my symptoms.” Disagree.

Treat the Problem, Not the Symptom

Let’s actually assess your metabolism, your blood sugar, and your vitamin levels. Let’s look at your medical history, medications, and diagnoses impacting your metabolism. Let’s assess the amount of inflammation in your body. Sure, your hormones have decreased, though your symptoms are likely coming from something else.

The symptoms you are experiencing as your hormones are changing are often due to very treatable conditions, malnutrition, and vitamin deficiencies. It is simple to make these changes, though it is not easy - it requires work and change!

Contact Berman Health and Wellness today to receive a Free Consult and to start improving your Hormone Imbalance Symptoms. This offer is good for the months of July and August with this Blog!