University of California scientists discover a unique program to reverse cognitive decline by balancing hormones:

Known by many names: brain degeneration, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis, and others, cognitive decline can slip in and steal our health, our feelings, our memories, and even our loved ones. Having spent billions of dollars on research over the last 80 years with thousands of scientists working on the problem, there is still no cure. Medications have had marginal effects at best.

Furthermore, it has been pointed out that women are at the epicenter of the Alzheimer’s epidemic, with 65% of patients and 60% of caregivers being women.

That’s the bad news, now for the good –

In a breakthrough brain health program, studied at the esteemed Buck Institute for Research on Aging (University of California, L.A.), a team of scientists were able to reverse memory loss in 90% of the patients. Cognition returned in 3-6 months, with the only failure being in late stage Alzheimer’s. Better yet, improvements have been noted over the course of years now!

The great news out of all this is that brain degeneration is not inevitable – medical science is learning how to stop it and, in many cases, even recover what is lost. Your brain has amazing powers of regeneration.

A case study

A 55-year-old woman, married with two grown children, was healthy until menopause. Her symptoms resembled those of a full-blown neurotic. She described herself as:

• “Losing it”
• “Absent-minded”
• “Trouble sleeping”
• “Flipping out”
• “Can’t focus”
• “Fuzzy thoughts”
• “Think I’m getting early Alzheimer’s”

Fortunately, she was not getting Alzheimer’s. Within a few months of hormone balancing, as recommended by The Renewal Point, all her symptoms subsided.

Dr. K. Yaffee writes in the Journal of Neurology that natural hormone balancing improves memory and decreases Alzheimer’s risk by 50%.

Estrogen therapy decreased ẞ-Amyloid and risk of Alzheimer’s; improves long-term memory 30%.

Testosterone improves cognitive function in both men and women.

Cortisol bathes the Prefrontal Cortex which is responsible for critical working memory and executive function.

Insulin maintains neural synapses and amyloid regulation.

Growth Hormone is significantly lower in patients with memory loss.

Thyroid irregularities can lead to impaired spatial learning and memory.

If you or a loved one have been experiencing any of the symptoms that were mentioned in this article ~ or any other symptoms related to cognitive decline ~ it’s definitely worth getting your hormones levels checked.  Bio-identical hormone balancing could be the key to getting your memory, vitality, and life back!

Dr. Watts, MD, ND, MSNM and Deb Spinner, ARNP, MSN, are experts in Bio-identical and NeuroAdrenal Hormone Balancing.  With over 25 years experience in Hormone Balancing, a Post-doctoral Certification in Metabolic Endocrinology, and a Fellowship in Anti-Aging, Regenerative, and Functional Medicine, Dr. Watts has put together programs that have helped thousands of patients renew their love and vigor for life.  To schedule an appointment, ask questions, or get more information, you can call us at 941-926-4905.

References:

1. Lambert, S. The Endocrinology of Aging and the Brain. Arch Neurology, 2002. 59:1709-11.
2. Wilcoxon, J. Behavioral Inhibition and Impaired Spatial Learning and Memory. Behavior Brain Res. 2007. 1771(1): 109-116.
3. Davidson, S. Endocrine Society ~ 93rd Annual Meeting, 2011.
4. Flood, J. Age-related Decrease of Plasma Testosterone. Physiol. Behavior, 1995. 57: 669-73.
5. Lupen, S. The Modulatory Effects of Corticosteroids on Cognition: Studies in young human populations. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2002. 27: 401-16.
6. Croft, S. Intranasal Insulin Therapy for Alzheimer’s disease and Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment. Arch Neurol. Sept. 2011.

     “He wants sex.  She wants romance.”  So says John Gray, PhD in ‘Mars and Venus in the Bedroom’.  Sometimes it seems as if our partners are from different planets.  In the bedroom, it is obvious that men and women are different, but we may not realize just how different.  It is only through understanding and accepting our obvious and less obvious differences that we can achieve true intimacy and great sex.¹

It’s no secret that boys and girls are different and it’s not only our outside appearance.  Our brains are hugely different as well.  Although the skulls of men and women are similar in size, the brain of a female is smaller, but much more active than that of a male.  Consider the White Matter of a woman’s brain, ‘Communication Central’, is a whopping eleven times greater.  Likewise, the Cingulate Cyrus, the worry center, is much larger in women than men, and the Amygdala, the area of anxiety and fear, is much more active.

Were we able to hook our brains up to an MRI Scan and/or follow us around all day, we could detect a world of difference between the two genders, and no greater would be that difference than in sexual arousal.  Since an article on the entire issue of female sexuality would rival the Encyclopedia Britannica, we will focus on only this one issue.

Male arousal.

Initiation of the sexual response in a male is less complex, faster and more spontaneous than that of a woman’s.  Literally, he is controlled by the reptilian brain (no joke).²  His sexual interest can be easily aroused by such a simple encounter as a seductive glance, or an incidental brush by.

Her Amygdala.

Unlike the male brain which arouses more easily, the key to female sexuality ‘turn-on’ begins ironically with a brain ‘turn-off’.  The impulses which rush to the pleasure centers can trigger an orgasm only if the Amygdala and the Cingulate Gyrus, the fear and anxiety center of the brain, have been deactivated.  It’s no wonder ‘foreplay’ activities such as a foot rub , conversation, or a glass of wine prior to the bedroom are a good idea for any man considering getting his partner into the mood for romance.

Also consider: No phones, no emails and no worries about work, the kids or schedules.

Men are like microwaves – women are like slow cookers.

Likewise, a woman’s complex White Matter, communication central, needs to be put into the mood for her to enjoy a satisfying sexual experience.  Multitasking, an innate strength of women, under control of this ‘always active’ white matter, can many times get in the way.  Overwork, stress at home, worry and tension can interfere with her ability to relax, feel safe and allow for a close relationship to happen.  Anger, for instance, can often times be a turn-on for a man, initiating his reptilian brain into a passionate frenzy, while a woman can’t be angry at her partner and want to have sex with him at the same time.

Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?

     The fuel for love.

At The Renewal Point, we commonly hear as a complaint, “My sexual desire has fallen.”  It’s a fact that libido commonly wanes in females as they age and especially after menopause.  Fortunately, this is usually just a hormonal issue and can be easily helped.  Let’s explore how.

The sexual desire trigger for both genders is testosterone.  Testosterone is the chemical fuel that gets the brain’s sexual engine going and testosterone deficiency is common in women past menopause.  Until this deficiency is rebalanced, it is difficult for her to initiate sexual arousal.  When there is enough testosterone bathing the brain, the hypothalamus revs up igniting erotic feelings, arousing sexual fantasies and that physical sensation in the erogenous zone.

At The Renewal Point, we are experts on rebalancing this very powerful sex chemical with bio-identical hormones.  For more information on this topic, we encourage to listen to this 15 minutes podcast with Dr. Watts.

References:

1.)  Mars and Venus in the Bedroom.  John Gray, Ph.D.

2.)  The Female Brain.  Louann Brizendine, M.D.

Kathryn H., a 72-year-old, retired radio and TV personality was being interviewed by another female media host on a local health-talk radio show.  Her introduction began like this:

H.G.  ” Thank you for joining us this afternoon, Kathryn.  The reason I’ve asked you here is for you to share with our listening audience some of what we talked about at coffee last Friday. Truthfully, I was amazed.  You were telling me how you feel better now than you have in several years, in fact better than you have since your early 50’s.  My first question to you, is, what have you been doing?  I had always been under the assumption that as a person grows older, they look and feel older.  Now, you’re telling me it is possible to “anti-age”.

K.H.  “Thanks for inviting me “She began, then chuckled.  “While I can’t say it’s possible to grow younger as the years pass, I can say that since I have been following the Integrative Medical Program at The Renewal Point, I have better control of my weight and my husband and I are both happy with my renewed desire for sex and love.  Yes, my years have increased.  I am now older but feel younger.”

The accolades we receive from our patients at The Renewal Point are typical of Kathryn’s interview.  It is just as she said, while it is not possible to ‘anti-age’, you can slow down, stop and in many cases reverse the signs and symptoms of aging.  And, the good news is that this is not accomplished by magic or even following a rigid routine.  At The Renewal Point, we follow a simple, Four Cornerstone, time tested, science-evidenced protocol that has been proven to work.

As an example, tests from medical centers and universities around the U.S. of senior men and women on the effects of improving Nutrition, Exercise, Hormone Balance and Toxin Elimination concluded the following significant improvements.

• Energy 83%
• Memory 59%
• Productivity 65%
• Strength 73%
• Body fat 68%
• Lean muscle 73%
• Libido 80%
• Sexual performance 60%
• Facial appearance 68%
• Skin tone 55%
• Athletic performance 68%
• Pain relief 35%
• Better Sleep 50%
• Sense of well being 70%
• Frequency of illness 53%

It’s never too late.  No matter where you are in life, no matter age…we can help!  Our methods are simple, time-tested, and science/evidence based.

With over 30 years of experience and numerous board certifications and credentials, Dr. Watts, MD, ND, MSNM is an expert in the science and art of Integrative and Age Management Medicine.  If you are interested in learning more about things you can safely do to live a happier and longer life, we encourage you to call us at 941-926-4905, email us at info@therenewalpoint.com, and/or RSVP for an upcoming seminar.

Reference:

Hormone Modulation, Low Glycemic Nutrition, and Exercise Instruction: Effects on Disease Risk and Quality of Life. Journal of Antiaging Medicine. Vol 4, No. 4, July 2004.

Have you checked your adrenals?

As a physician, I am frequently reminded of just how fragile our bodies are to fall ill. At the same time, I am amazed at our ability to recover once the root cause is detected and corrected.

Take, for example, a new patient I had… a “fun-loving woman, fully engaged in life” had taken a turn….she had become “listless, moody, thrown out-of-sorts by petty things for months now.” She had seen her primary care physician who diagnosed depression and placed her on an antidepressant.

When she entered my office, she fell into a chair as if she were throwing herself into bed for a long nap. It was only 10:00 in the morning!

“I’ve always made myself available to my husband and children,” she lamented. “Now, I don’t have the energy to keep up. Everything seems impossible for me. The worst part is that I can’t explain why I feel so exhausted – and guilty for not being able to keep up.”

“To make matters worse, I own a growing, successful business. I can’t keep up there either. Bickering and gossip among the staff has taken a toll on me. I can’t handle it anymore. I dread going in this morning. I just want to go home and sleep for a few days – but I can’t.”

“The fatigue has made it impossible to keep up with my social calendar. I’m missing out on gym classes and girl time with my friends. They’ve given up asking me to join them. Forget keeping up with the kids’ school events.”

“What to do? I’m exhausted but can’t sleep, hungry all the time, and gained so much weight – frustrating!”

Sometimes it’s easier to see from the outside looking in. We can all get ourselves overly committed as our modern “pedal to the metal” lifestyles start whirling out of control.

Like this patient, every one of us will have periods of fatigue. But, after taking some time off – a vacation, a little sleep – we recover. However, this patient was not recovering in the way she was used to and she knew something was wrong. Based on her symptoms, I suspected an issue with her adrenals and, just as suspected, her lab tests revealed a condition called “Adrenal Fatigue.”

Jacqueline Redmer, MD, MPH explains, “Subclinical Adrenal Fatigue or burnout can develop when the adrenals (two small but very important glands that manage stress) have been working too hard for too long to keep up with high physical, psychological, emotional or toxic stress.”

In this case, I advised:

1. Reduce commitments and add in more fun, free time, and things you enjoy.
2. Set goals to obtain adequate sleep.
3. Laugh as much as possible.
4. Make good dietary choices – Limit alcohol and sugar.
5. Hire a business coach to help with the office.

While lifestyle changes are a must, this did not reverse all of her symptoms. Her Integrative Medical Plan to boost recovery included:

1. Herbs and vitamins (based on lab tests) to assist her adrenals.
2. Natural Hydrocortisone until her own adrenals picked up.

A few weeks into treatment, she was feeling better. Within two months, she weaned off the antidepressant – didn’t need it. She began to feel like her old self again, only now she has gained a new perspective on how to care for herself.

At The Renewal Point, we’ve helped thousands of men and women recover from adrenal fatigue. In this particular case, lab testing revealed that the solution would be supplements and natural hydrocortisone.  In other cases, testing reveals that toxins, genetics, or an underlying illness is at fault ~ in which case there may be a different plan of care.  This is why we always start with testing ~ it assists us in quickly getting to the root cause of the problem in order to determine the most appropriate action to take.

If you have been experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, we can help!  For more information or to set up an appointment, you can give us a call (941-926-4905), email us (info@therenewalpoint.com), or fill out the contact form here on our website: https://www.therenewalpoint.com/contact/

Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue:  Fatigue, Difficulty waking in the morning, Prone to infection, Craving sweets and salty foods, Difficulty concentrating, Irritability, Depression, Increased P.M.S.

Key Words: Adrenal Fatigue as opposed to Adrenal Insufficiency (Addison ’s disease) or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (C.F.S.).

References:

J.L. Wilson: Clinical perspective on stress, cortisol and adrenal fatigue.Adv Integr Med. 1 (2):93-96 2014

K.A. Head, G.S. Kelly: Nutrients and botanicals for treatment of stress: adrenal fatigue, neurotransmitter imbalance, anxiety, and restless sleep.Altern Med Rev. 14 (2):114-140 2009

Rakel, David. (2017). Integrative Medicine. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier.

Since the discovery of telomeres, doctors and scientist have dreamed of using them to control aging.  In 1973, Alexey Olonikov discovered that telomeres, which are tiny units of DNA at the very end of each chromosome, shorten each time the cell divides.  Hence, as you get older and your telomeres get shorter, you are at increased risk for many age-related diseases including death.  The theory is that if you can keep your telomeres from shortening, you can live much longer with a higher quality of life.

Most recently, Ronald DePinho, a cancer geneticist at the Dana-Faber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School in Boston, was surprised to find that when he gave a certain enzyme, called telomerase, to older animals, these animals showed a dramatic reversal of aging.  (Telomerase prevents the telomeres from shortening and even has the ability to lengthen them.)  He described the outcome as near ‘the mythical Fountain of Youth’ that was searched for by Ponce de Leon.

The downside to giving telomerase to humans, at the present time, says DePinho, “is that it seems to help existing tumors grow faster.  If treatment can be made safe, it could lead to breakthroughs in treating a variety of diseases of aging.”

While the possibilities of telomerase are exciting, it looks as if the technology is still in the research phase.  So until the science can be worked out, should we (humans) just sit around and do nothing about our telomere length?  Is there anything that can be done now?

The good news is – Yes!  There are many proven health strategies that can slow telomere shortening while effectively decreasing premature aging.  At The Renewal Point, we have become experts at two of them, namely hormone balancing and exercise.

HORMONE BALANCE-which has been so valuable for women in many other ways has also been shown to slow down telomere shortening.  Dr. Richard Cawthon of the Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, found that telomere lengths were longer in postmenopausal women who had taken hormones (no matter what age they started at) than in postmenopausal women without a history of hormone therapy.

HIGH INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING- which is known to trim and slim our bodies has also been found to slow down telomere shortening.   In a recent study published in Mechanisms of Aging and Development, the author’s state:  “There is a direct association between reduced telomere shortening in your later years and high-intensity-type exercises.”

At The Renewal Point, we use the science/evidence-based methods of bioidentical hormone balancing and physical training, to help our patients achieve healthy aging. Together, with nutrition and toxin elimination, we see improvements in sexuality, brain function, body composition, physical conditioning, cardiovascular health, skin, hair, nails, energy, and vitality.

With over 30 years of experience and numerous board certifications and credentials, Dr. Watts, MD, ND, MSNM is an expert in the science and art of Integrative and Age Management Medicine.  If you are interested in learning more about things you can safely do to live a happier and longer life, we encourage you to call us at 941-926-4905, email us at info@therenewalpoint.com, or RSVP for an upcoming seminar.

References:

1. Sex Hormones Modulate the Length of Telomere. Rodrigo T. Calado, et al. Blood 2006 108:182. www.gloodjournal.org/content/108/182
2. The Immortality Edge. Dave Woynarowski et al. 2010
3. Telomerase Reverses Ageing Process. Ewen Callaway. Nature News. Nov 2010.

Ka-put / Kä ‘pŏŏt – no longer working, broken down; inoperative.

It’s not “all in your head”

Women should feel healthy, vibrant and strong throughout their adult lives. If you’ve been told, “It’s all in your head,” or “learn to live with it,” read this patient’s story…

She visited The Renewal Point several years ago, at the age of 52. During her evaluation, she lamented that since menopause her health had taken a dive. She suffered from fatigue, brain fog, depression and insomnia. She had frequent bouts of mood swings and lack of romantic desires, both affecting her marriage.

She also experienced a recent history of sensitivity to cold. Her body temperature ran low. She was also disturbed about significant hair loss, constipation and had severe muscle aches. Additionally, she had recurring sinus infections, headaches and cystitis for which she had been given numerous antibiotics and pain medication.

She sought the care of her physician, who, after a general exam told her “Your blood tests are all normal.” He recommended treatment with antidepressants and sleep medication.

She did as prescribed but still feeling ‘punk’, she discussed her health problems with a friend. This friend told her that there may be natural solutions for her problems and recommended The Renewal Point.

The Plan of Care

The symptoms she experienced are common to women in her age group, caused by hypothyroidism, hormonal imbalance, poor nutrition and lack of essential vitamins and minerals. All the antibiotics that she had taken for infection had killed her normal colon flora leading to yeast overgrowth.

Through The Renewal Point, she was prescribed natural bioidentical hormones, natural desiccated thyroid and placed on a yeast-free eating plan. She was given recommendations for vitamins and minerals.

Within a few months, her fatigue and depression and other symptoms had disappeared.

By three months, she was able to discontinue medications and slowly weaned off her antidepressants. She told me, “I haven’t felt this good in years.”

Lack of energy is one of the most common reasons that women and men come to see us.  While almost everything about lack of energy is negative, the one upside of it is that it alerts us to an underlying problem.  While it’s normal to have some ‘low energy’ days here and there, consistently low energy levels are a telltale sign that you need to seek help ~ the type of help that gets to the root of the problem, not just the symptoms.

If you have been experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, we are here to help! For more information or to set up an appointment, you can give us a call at 941-586-7358.

References:

Rakel, David. (2017). Integrative Medicine. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier.

“Unnecessary?” I wondered as I tried to understand exactly what my patient’s Internist was referring to.

“The bioidentical hormones that Dr. Watts prescribed for you are unnecessary for life.” Gloria’s primary care physician had further explained and then questioned, “Why take them?”

Now I understood. Most doctors are not taught about bioidentical hormones in medical school, so rather than allow Gloria to get in the middle of a medical controversary, I spoke with her Internist directly.

“Do you have any patient Gloria’s age in as good condition as she is?”

“I do not,” her doctor replied. “Gloria is the example of health for all my other patients.”

Gloria, an 83-year-old mother and grandmother was in peak health mentally, physically and emotionally. She wakes up after 8 hours sleep every day to walk her dogs. After breakfast, she exercises with her personal trainer for an hour. In the afternoon, she runs production with a family business and has a strong political calendar. In the evenings, she is active socially and spends time with her family. She takes no medication; her muscles and bones are equal to that of a 35-year-old woman and her brain function and active lifestyle are that of a much younger person.

“She may be one example,” Gloria’s Internist said. “So, what do the medical journals say about bioidentical hormones? Are there risks?”

I explained, “Bioidentical hormones have been found to be much safer than their pharmaceutical counterparts, but are not regulated by the FDA because they are natural and non-patentable, just as the FDA does not regulate oranges and apples.” As for the medical literature: (1)

Quality of Life

Senior men and women in bioidentical hormone programs such as Gloria’s consistently notice improvements in: (2)

• Energy….88%
• Facial appearance….55%
• Memory….59%
• Skin tone….55%
• Athletic performance….68%
• Strength….73%
• Pain relief….35%
• Body fat….68%
• Better sleep….50%
• Lean muscle….73%
• Sense of health….70%
• Libido….83%
• Frequent illness….53%
• Sexual performance….60%

Medical Benefits:

• Alzheimer’s decrease – 50% (3)
• Cardiovascular risk decrease – 40% (4)
• Decrease in Osteoporosis (5)
• No increased risk for breast cancer (6)
• No increased risk coagulation/thromboembolism (7)

It’s no wonder that so many people are turning to bio-identical hormones!In terms of whether it’s necessary or not, it depends on what your goals are ~ if your goals contain some of the items in the lists of benefits above, then it’s probably something you’ll want to consider.

Dr. Watts, MD, ND, MSNM is an expert in Bio-identical Hormone Balancing.  With over 25 years experience in hormone balancing, a Board Certification in Integrative Medicine, a Post-doctoral Certification in Metabolic Endocrinology, and a Fellowship in Anti-Aging, Regenerative, and Functional Medicine, Dr. Watts has put together a Hormone Balancing Program that has helped thousands of patients renew their love and vigor for life.

References:

1.  Kent Holtorf, MD. The Bioidentical Hormone Debate: Are Bioidentical Hormones

(Estradiol, Estriol, and Progesterone) Safer or More Efficacious than Commonly Used

Synthetic Versions in Hormone Replacement Therapy? Postgraduate medicine, Volume 121,

Issue, January 2009, ISSN – 0032-5481, e-ISSN – 1941-9260.

2.  Hormone Modulation, Low Glycemic Nutrition, and Exercise Instruction: Effects on Disease

Risk and Quality of Life. Journal of Antiaging Medicine. Vol 4, No. 4, July 2004.

3.  Bredesen. The End of Alzheimer’s. 2017.

4.  Circulation. Nov. 2007.

5.  How Estrogen Protects. Science Daily. March 25, 2007.

6.  A. Fournier. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2008 Jan, 107(1):103-11. Epub 2007 Feb 27.

7.  Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy and Risk of Stroke. (No increased risk of

coagulation/thromboembolism.) Circulation. M. Canonico. 2007, 115(7): 840-845.

And they can get out of whack just like women’s can…

Testosterone replacement is changing the way men think about their health, specifically their hormones. Testosterone replacement is now being endorsed by Harvard doctors, the New England Journal of Medicine, and researchers at the University of Cambridge and Royal Marsden Hospital in London. Long known to increase virility, sexuality, brain power, and energy, testosterone has been used by men seeking an “anti-aging tonic.” But questions regarding safety and risk still lingered in the minds of many.

However, after years of research and extensive literature reviews, it is clear that LOW testosterone levels are not good for men. It’s been found that restoring testosterone to optimum healthy levels lowers the risk of degenerative diseases and turns back the clock on aging symptoms.

Here are some interesting studies:

Researchers at the University of Cambridge studied 12,000 men for 10 years to see if testosterone levels were a factor in men’s health. They found that men with the lower serum testosterone levels had a marked increase in heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, weight problems and cancers of all types, including prostate cancer. When they restored testosterone to optimal levels in these men, they found a reversal of all these degenerative aging problems (American Heart Association’s Journal: Circulation).

Additionally, Harvard Urologists have reviewed medical literature for 60 years back to determine prostate cancer risk related to testosterone. Their research proved the exact same thing as the research done by the Cambridge researchers. Men with lower testosterone levels were at a higher risk for all prostate problems (i.e.: benign prostatic hypertrophy and prostate cancer). Restoring these men to optimal levels did not increase their risk, it actually lowered it. (New England Journal of Medicine).

The Renewal Point has long promoted testosterone replacement for men. We have extensive experience and are confident that by restoring men’s testosterone levels as they age, they can enjoy a return to their youth, virility, and sexuality. A big bonus comes as well: decreasing the risk of the degenerative health problems which plague us all too often.

Signs of Low Testosterone (Low T)

•Depression, Grumpy

•Reduced Sexual Desire

•Loss of Sense of Well Being

•Fatigue

•Overweight

•Diabetes

•Irritability

•Enlarged Breasts

•High Cholesterol

•Mood Swings

•Night Sweats

•Erectile Difficulties

•High Blood Pressure

•Lack of Motivation

If you and/or the man in your life are interested in learning more about testosterone replacement and bio-identical hormone balancing, we encourage you to attend one of our upcoming seminars, call for more information, schedule a consultation, or watch the following interview on Age Management and Male Menopause:

https://www.therenewalpoint.com/education/blog/age-management-and-male-menopause-andropause-q-a-with-dr-watts/

 “The ‘facts’ that most women and clinicians consider in making the decision to use or not to use hormone replacement therapy are frequently wrong or incorrectly applied,” says Professor Robert D. Langer, one of the principle investigators for the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) Study. (1)

For instance, have you or your doctor considered balancing the Estrone levels and, more importantly, their inflammatory and carcinogenic forms?

When Charlotte P. came to The Renewal Point, she was “frustrated and scared.” At only 55 years-old, with three children, she felt like she was falling apart. “Every day is a chore,” she lamented. She also shared a familial history of breast cancer. Her younger sister was a breast cancer survivor (BRCA Negative). She, herself, had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer several years before. After menopause she was placed on bioidentical hormones, an estrogen patch and natural progesterone, by her OB-Gyn but felt they were of no help.

I could truly empathize. Although Charlotte made healthy lifestyle choices (Paleo Diet, organic meats, fish and vegetables, exercise, swim, jog, golf, and bike) she was not enjoying the benefits of her good living. She ached all over with fibromyalgia and arthritis and suffered active viral loads which caused persistent weakness and fatigue.

Blood tests revealed an alarming problem but one that gave a clue to her maladies. Her Estradiol and Testosterone levels (good hormones) were low while her Estrone level (bad hormone) was sky high ~ the exact wrong balance.

Further, an Estrogen Metabolism Study demonstrated that Charlotte was not detoxifying her 4(OH)-Estrone, giving her the worst case scenario of hormone imbalances. This particular hormone metabolite is known to be highly inflammatory and a precursor for 4(OH)-Quinone, a known carcinogen. (2, 3)

Estrogen Overview:

Good: 2(OH)-Estrone

Bad: 16(OH)-Estrone

Ugly: 4(OH)-Estrone

While it is well documented that “natural” bioidentical hormones are much safer than their chemical or “synthetic” counterparts, what is less well known is that healthy metabolism of estrone requires that they are transformed by the liver and eliminated from the body in the urinary and biliary tracts. Many times during this detoxification process, a genetic error of metabolism can change good hormones into carcinogens and inflammatory intermediaries. These problems increase the risk for inflammatory conditions such as breast cancer, fibromyalgia and arthritis.

In Charlotte’s case, we went right to work. By ‘tweaking’ her bioidentical hormones, we were better able to balance her Estrogen, Progesterone, and Testosterone levels. At the same time, taking advantage of a natural means of supplements and vitamins, a process known as Nutrigenomics, we were able to lessen her risk of breast cancer, and the symptoms of Fibromyalgia and Arthritis. As she described, “After all these years, I finally have my life back.”

Charlotte was further advised to suggest her sister run an Estrogen Metabolism Study on herself, as this test can be used to prevent breast cancer recurrence.

She called me recently, thanking us for educating her about good and bad estrogens. “By the way,” she said, “My sister was Positive for the same metabolic error and is well on her way to recovery as well!”

With over 25 years experience in hormone balancing, a Post-doctoral Certification in Metabolic Endocrinology, and a Fellowship in Anti-Aging, Regenerative, and Functional Medicine, Dr. Watts has put together a hormone balancing program that has helped thousands of patients.   If you have any of the issues that were talked about or listed in this article, we recommend that you schedule an appointment ~ we can help!  To schedule an appointment, ask questions, and/or get more information, you can call us at 941-926-4905 or email us at info@therenewalpoint.com.

References:

1. R.D. Langer. The evidence base for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): what can we believe? Climacteric, 2017; 20 (2): 91 DOI: 10.1080/13697137.2017.1280251.
2. Lord RS, Bongiovanni B, Bralley JA: Estrogen metabolism and the diet-cancer connection: Rationale for assessing the ratio of urinary hydroxylated estrogen metabolites. Altern Med Rev 7:112-129, 2002.
3. Kabat GC, O’leary ES, Gammon MD, et al: Estrogen metabolism and breast cancer. Epidemiology 17:80-88, 2006.