Hormone fluctuations mixed with day-to-day stress can lead to depression. According to BodyLogicMD hormone therapy experts, beating the blues might be as simple as balancing your hormone levels.

“When someone who is suffering from the toxic effects of stress also experiences the added whammy of hormonal instability, depression can be the unexpected result,” said BodyLogicMD’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Alicia Stanton. “Many people have been programmed to immediately ask their physicians about antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications without considering other options. At BodyLogicMD, our physicians explore the underlying issues to determine whether an individual is experiencing hormonal triggered depression, situational depression or adrenal fatigue brought on by stress. The ability for us to consider all of the additional information we have can allow for other treatment options.”

Once your hormone levels have been accurately measured with blood, saliva or urine testing, and hormonal related depression is detected, your physician will have the necessary information to diagnose and begin treatment. If necessary, your BodyLogicMD physician will prescribe a bioidentical hormone therapy program to begin balancing your hormone and stress levels.  In addition, proper nutritional counseling, exercise, meditation and massage are often suggested to help offset depression, lower stress and decrease cortisol levels.

There are several hormones that play a part in depression. These include:

• Estrogen: Boosts serotonin, which helps fight depression and promotes sleep. It also increases GABA, the calming neurotransmitter and raises endorphins, which help you feel good.
• Progesterone: Helps to balance estrogen, helps promote sleep and has a natural calming effect.  It also normalizes libido, is a natural diuretic and a natural antidepressant.
• Cortisol: This stress hormone can cause depression if levels rise too high or fall to far below average. High levels of cortisol can create agitation, increased belly fat, insomnia and sugar cravings. Low levels can be associated with inability to handle stress, extreme fatigue, low libido and mood instability.

“The initial diagnosis of hormone-related depression will trigger a formal plan that integrates proper diet, exercise and stress management with bioidentical hormone therapy as needed,” says Stanton.

Are you at risk?
Depression affects nearly 19 million American adults. Make an appointment with a BodyLogicMD physician if you have had five or more of the following symptoms for the last month or more:

1. Depressed mood (sometimes shows up as irritability)
2. Loss of interest or pleasure in life (don’t enjoy things you used to enjoy)
3. Significant change in appetite (up or down)
4. Abnormal changes in sleep pattern (too much or too little)
5. Fatigue or loss of energy
6. Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate excessive guilt
7. Diminished ability to think or concentrate
8. Becoming indecisive or easily overwhelmed
9. Thoughts of death and suicide
   

“Depression is not a weakness,” adds Stanton. “In fact, it is a very common emotional experience with a variety of triggers. Pinpointing exactly what triggers an individual’s depression, which includes hormones, provides the physician with the key to successful treatment.”

Fit By 50 - One Step At A Time
Nutrition, Fitness and Bioidentical Hormone Therapy Provide Map to Success

By the time Tamara Savage, BodyLogicMD Chief Operating Officer, hit 48, she had been smoking for 32 years and was losing what had become a battle with her body. Although she had been active in sports since high school, a full-time career and the responsibilities of being a single parent dominated her time and threw her nutrition and fitness routines into disarray.  To make matters worse, hormone shifts had caused her to gain about a pound a month over a seven-year period.

“I knew what I should eat, but soccer games, basketball games, laundry, shopping, yard work and helping with homework seemed to justify making bad eating choices,” says Savage. “My weight had increased from 140 pounds to nearly 200 pounds and the signs of menopause, including hot flashes, night sweats and insomnia grew increasingly aggravating.”

Savage decided to take control of her life and become “Fit by 50.”  With the help of her brother Dr. Paul Savage and his groundbreaking programs at BodyLogicMD, she laid out a step-by-step plan. The first step was to quit smoking and although she was successful, this step added another 33 pounds to her 5’2” frame. Savage was at an all-time high of 233 pounds, which led her to step two: lose the weight she had just gained.  Step three included an exercise routine where she could establish a baseline fitness level.  The fourth and final step was to balance her hormone levels with bioidentical hormone therapy.

“I used a combination of nutrition via Weight Watchers and fitness programs including Curves and the Crim Training program for runners,” shares Savage. “As a result, I lost 75 pounds in the first year, 20 pounds the second year and 10 pounds the third year.  Throughout the process, BodyLogicMD’s hormone therapy program kept me focused by reducing my symptoms of menopause which in turn helped me lose weight.”

Savage set smaller goals along the way to help her reach the big goals on her wellness journey. Losing the first 10 pounds and running her first 10-mile road race with Crim helped her lay the foundation she needed to lose 100 pounds. She celebrated her new fighting weight by running the Javelina Jundred, a 100-mile ultra-marathon in the Phoenix desert, on October 15, 2005 – her 52nd birthday.

On a routine basis, Savage establishes new goals in her quest for better health in her second half-century of life.  She is still an ex-smoker, maintains her bioidentical hormone replacement program, runs/walks four days a week with various running groups, and lifts weights at the fitness center two days a week.

“I wake up each day and smile,” adds Savage. “Becoming ‘Fit by 50’ was my goal seven years ago, and it has evolved into so much more: a wonderful network of friends, previously unimagined adventures and more energy now than I’ve ever had in my life. It also brought me to the most recent step in my health and fitness journey when I accepted the position of Chief Operating Officer with BodyLogicMD. I consider it an honor to work with physicians who are dedicated to helping their patients successfully live with menopause and andropause.”

To learn more, visit www.bodylogicmd.com.

Why Supplements and Organic Foods?
By Rebecca Huey

Nutrition and exercise are the most important aspects to a healthy lifestyle. Previous generations were able to count on their everyday diets to provide a daily dose of nutrients.

Today, everyday healthy eating is a thing of the past. 

Healthy foods are hard to come by and are oftentimes expensive.  BodyLogicMD recommends using a daily supplements and vitamins, or nutraceuticals, to make up for missed nutrients. Nutraceuticals are nutritional products; vitamins, herbs, oils or minerals that are used to replace the vitamins and minerals that we can’t get in our present diet.  The also help augment the unhealthy or malnourished foods that we do eat. 

The best way to eat to maintain a healthy lifestyle is to eat organic fruits and vegetables and wild game or fish. In the United States, the soil where our food is grown has become depleted of natural minerals. This has caused the fruits and vegetables we eat to be lower in nutrient value than what our bodies need. Organic produce does not use pesticides and the organic soil that farmers’ use has added nutrients. The problem America faces today is that we are too busy to take the time to shop and prepare healthy, homemade meals. We too frequently eat fast, processed foods that not only limit our intake of nutrients but also increase inflammation in our body putting us at risk for illness and dysfunction.

With many supplements or nutraceuticals on the market the decision of what to buy can be confusing.  The following tips will help you know where to buy your supplements and which ones you need.

First, it is important to find a company that does testing on their products to make sure there are no toxins or contamination in the product. 

Second, you want a company that makes their own product.  This way the company you are buying from knows what is in the product and why. 

Third, be aware that most of the highest quality supplements and nutriceuticals can only be obtained through your physician.  Many store bought products do not have the quality, freshness or complete balance that you need.

Finally, look for a company that does testing and research to double check the supplements structure, making sure of its ingredients and purposes.  It is important to use a pharmaceutical grade supplement because they guarantee to meet these requirements. BodyLogicMD carries pharmaceutical grade products; ask your physician to evaluate your needs and recommend the best supplement for you.

Supplement Usage
Supplements can be used for prevention, to help augment traditional medicine, or as an alternative therapy. 

The most common recommendations are to take a daily multivitamin with antioxidants that help with healthy aging and an Omega 3 fatty acid supplement to help with inflammation, cholesterol, and brain health. A probiotic is also important to insure proper intestinal balance and digestion. As every individual is different, it is important to discuss supplements with your BodyLogicMD physician to make recommendations for your specific needs.

Supplements Over the Counter
Buying products over the counter can be convenient and inexpensive but the danger can lie in its contents. Over the counter supplements are not standardized and the ingredient list may not always be complete. It can also be dangerous to mix certain supplements with certain medications. Other nutrients, such as fat-soluble vitamins can also be dangerous if you take too much.

In today’s society, intermixed with toxins, pesticides, stressors, and radiation, it is important to protect yourself through living a healthy lifestyle filled with good nutrition, supplements, exercise, and stress management.  It is best to seek your physician’s opinion on the supplements you should be taking and where to get them.

and even encourages the flow of blood to the genital region,” said BodyLogicMD Physician and Hormone Therapy Expert Dr. Eric Honing.

Fighting Adrenal Fatigue
By Dr. Alicia Stanton

BodyLogicMD is proud to offer dietary supplements selected and designed by Dr. James Wilson, author of “Adrenal Fatigue, the 21st Century Stress Syndrome” and is an expert on endocrine imbalances and their impact on health. Wilson is the first person to have presented adrenal fatigue as a distinct, diagnosable syndrome and is a notable author and physician lecturer on the topic.

What is Adrenal Fatigue?

• Tired for “no reason”?
• Having trouble getting up in the morning?
• Need coffee, colas, salty or sweet snacks to keep going?
• Feeling run down, stressed and easily overwhelmed?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions you may be suffering from adrenal fatigue.

Adrenal Fatigue is a health disorder that can affect anyone who experiences persistent or severe emotional or physical stress. It is also an important contributing factor in health conditions ranging from allergies to weight gain. Despite its prevalence in our modern world, adrenal fatigue has generally been ignored and untreated by the medical community.

If you feel you are suffering from these symptoms or are interested in learning more about Dr. Wilson’s products, a BodyLogicMD physician can help. Please contact us at www.bodylogicmd.com