It may be due to your hormones

Since the endocrine system is devised of glands that produce and send hormones to all areas of our body to regulate the essential functions of our body like temperature, reproduction, growth, immunity, and aging, it stands to reason that this should be the hub of vitality, longevity and well being. Many individuals are getting remarkable results from having their hormones optimized. Specialized hormonal testing can be utilized to bring the hormones into optimal ranges. Many people are finding that common problems of fatigue, depression and difficulty losing weight can be completely reversed by physicians that specialize in hormone optimization and age management medicine. Individuals often suffer for years being told that their thyroid, testosterone, estrogen, progesterone and adrenals are fine, but these doctors are finding that these levels are actually low and need to be supplemented, often with remarkable results. Standard blood tests only pick up the sickest 2.5% of the population.

There is mounting evidence that there is low thyroid activity present in the majority of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia patients. Studies demonstrate that in addition to an increased incidence of primary hypothyroidism in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, there is a combination of secondary, tertiary and thyroid resistance in the overwhelming majority of CFS and FMS patients, despite having normal thyroid tests because these latter forms of tissue hypothyroidism are not detected by standard thyroid function tests. Thus, many chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia patients are erroneously told over and over that their thyroid levels are fine.

By: Alan H. Pressman, DC

Note: The information on this website is not a substitute for the advice of & treatment by a qualified professional.

Alan H. Pressman, MS, DC, DACBN, CCSP, is past president of the Council on Nutrition of the American Chiropractic Association; former chairman, department of nutrition, New York Chiropractic College, and, associate professor of biology, University of Bridgeport, Conn. He is currently the director of research, Institute of Rehabilitative Nutrition, and maintains an active practice in New York City.

In a recent paper published in the journal Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, rheumatologists Bland and Cooper reviewed the possible reversibility of degenerative joint disease.¹ In this article they propose that the degeneration of hyaline cartilage occurs as a consequence of activation of monocytes, macrophages and neutrophils which re­lease oxidants that in turn attack connective tissue and the joint lubricant substance hyaluronic acid. The activation of white cells that in turn release alarm substances and oxidants occurs as a consequence of an inflammatory cascade modulated through receptor sites on the surface of white cells which are stimulated by the presence of foreign molecules. These foreign molecules have been termed metabolic toxins and are from exogenous and endogenous sources.

The proposed mechanism that describes the degeneration of connective tissue resulting in degenerative joint disease also applies to other neuromuscular degenerative problems including fibromyalgia.² The accumulation of exogenous or endogenously produced substances that exceeds the threshold of activation is well acknowledged to produce an inflammatory cascade. This inflammatory cascade results in the production of alarm messenger substances called leucotrienes which in turn activate white cells such as the macrophages, monocytes and neutrophils to release oxidants, which include superoxide and its conversion products, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical. These very reactive non-specific oxidants in turn attack the localized tissue resulting in inflammation or irritation which in the long tern produces degeneration.³

By Ramon Scruggs, M.D.
New Hope Health Center, California

Introduction to CFS
Despite an always increasing medical and technical knowledge, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) remains an elusive pathology. Unfortunately, there is no simple test for CFS and diagnosis still relies on clinical evaluation and exclusion of other possible diseases with overlapping symptoms. In 1994, in an effort to harmonize clinical evaluation and research, the Center for Disease Control has defined Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) by “the presence of unexplained persistent fatigue that is not relieved by rest and that results in a substantial reduction in occupational, social and personal activities.” Moreover, as criteria for CFS diagnosis, at least four of the following symptoms must have been present for a minimum of six consecutive months with a history of previous wellbeing:

• Unrefreshing sleep
• Impairment of short-term memory or difficulties concentrating
• Sore throat
• Tender neck or armpit lymph nodes
• Muscle pain or weakness
• Migratory painful joints with no swelling or redness
• Headache
• Lost or depressed vision
• Visual intolerance to light
• Unusual irritability
• Post-exertional malaise lasting more than 24 hours

In the USA, it is estimated that 200-700 per 100,000 people (0.2% to 0.7%) suffer from CFS. The syndrome potentially affects people of all ages (including children) but the onset is most common in the early thirties (Dowsett, 1990; Shepherd, 1999). CFS afflicts women twice as much as men (Ho-Yen, 1991). Social background seems to be irrelevant although upper-class, well educated Caucasians are more likely to consult for CFS.

There are treatment options that can relieve depression without swallowing pills. Many of the symptoms of depression can be directly linked to vitamin and mineral deficiencies in the standard American diet, which is largely comprised of empty carbohydrates, caffeine and sugar. Depression, mood swings and fatigue often have a common cause: poor nutrition. Avoiding depression or recovering from a depressive episode is often as easy as changing your diet and boosting your consumption of key foods that deliver brain-boosting nutrients and help regulate brain chemistry.   Our top 10 foods for beating depression are:

Fish oils:
Contain omega-3 fatty acids. Research has shown that depressed people often lack a fatty acid known as EPA. Participants in a 2002 study featured in the Archives of General Psychiatry took just a gram of fish oil each day and noticed a 50-percent decrease in symptoms such as anxiety, sleep disorders, unexplained feelings of sadness, suicidal thoughts, and decreased sex drive. Omega-3 fatty acids can also lower cholesterol and improve cardiovascular health. Get omega-3s through walnuts, flaxseed and oily fish like salmon or tuna.

Avocado:
Is a good source of potassium and low in sodium which helps reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke.  Adequate intake of potassium can help guard against circulatory diseases, heart disease and stroke, all of which leads to higher levels of depression.  Not only are avocados a rich source of monounsaturated fatty acids including oleic acid, which has recently been shown to offer significant protection against breast cancer, but it is also a very concentrated dietary source of antioxidants, in particular the "carotenoid lutein".  A few slices of avocado in salad, or mixing some chopped avocado into salsa will not only add  a rich, creamy flavor, but will greatly increase your body's ability to absorb the health promoting carotenoids that vegetables provide.

When the human body is weakened, as it is with fibromyalgia, it is vulnerable to attack from outside pathogens, bacteria, yeast, and viruses and the immune system cannot do its job properly.

Candidiasis is an infection caused by a group of microscopic fungi or yeast that seems to be prevalent among many people who suffer with fibromyalgia symptoms and flares.  There are more than 20 species of Candida, the most common being Candida albicans.  Candida starts to develop in the gut as a fungus, and at the same time creates its ideal environment inside the gut.  The environment in which Candida thrive means that the pH balance is acidic.  This acidity inhibits the bodies' abilities to absorb vitamins and minerals, and limits enzyme production of digestive enzymes, which can quickly lead to malabsorption, deficiency symptoms, and malnourishment.  One of the side effects of limited digestive enzymes leads to indigestion symptoms, wind or gas, a sense of the intestines being bloated or swollen, increased acid levels, and sensitivities to certain types of food.

It is common to feel frustrated and alone when dealing with a yeast overgrowth because Candida is evasive to much of the medical community and in fact, many of its symptoms can actually mimic other conditions.  Here is a list of common symptoms that are indicative of Candida overgrowth.

Here's what to do about it-

No matter how hard we try to avoid them, serious illnesses and the need for surgery do arise on occasion. This is often more painful when it happens to a loved one and we must watch them suffer. The following recommendations are general guidelines for "good" and "bad" health habits, but whose importance becomes amplified during the recovery from or surgery when the body's reserves are stressed, often to their maximums. By applying these principles at such times when your body faces an increased burden, your total stress load can be lowered. Then the body can concentrate on the healing process rather than dealing with the stresses you are putting in your mouth.

How To Speed Your Healing

1. Avoid anything processed—especially partially hydrogenated fats and oils and anything containing them. Also canned fruits and vegetables. The saying "Anything God made is OK, anything man touched is not" can apply here.

2. Eat a moderate amount of natural fats—as occurs in trimmed red meats, a few nuts, a little dairy including yogurt and even a tattle butter. (If you have gall bladder trouble, ask your doctor about this.)

"The greatest love you will ever know is just to love and be loved in return" -- penniless sitar player

This month is Valentine's Day so we are centering this month's Newsletter edition on matters that have to do with your heart health.  Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in the Western world, which is mostly due to our nutrient deficient diets.  You can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease with anti-inflammatory foods.

You may think of inflammation as something that happens when you sprain your ankle or get a sore throat. However, did you know that low-level inflammation (which you may not feel at all) could be a significant risk factor for heart disease?

Many experts now recognize that an anti-inflammatory diet can be a powerful tool for reducing your risk of heart disease. As a bonus, the same approach can help lower your risk of many other conditions as well, including cancer, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, arthritis, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, and depression.

Here are some tips on creating an anti-inflammatory diet...

Use olive oil, nuts, and avocado as your primary sources of fat.
These foods are rich in monounsaturated fats, which help to quell inflammation.

Increase your intake of omega-3 fats.
Omega-3 fats, especially the EPA and DHA forms, are powerfully anti-inflammatory. Good sources include fish such as salmon, herring, mackerel, fish roe (caviar) and fish oil supplements.