Hormone Imbalance -Identification and Lifestyle Treatment to Rebalance and Reset – Cindi Lockhart

Outline

The Hormone Web: An Inter-Connected System

• How each hormone affects the other vs in isolation
• Lab testing:
  • Subjective vs objective
    • Options available
    • Pros/cons to each
  • Conventional vs functional lens
  • Who can order?
  • When to refer out

Gut Function Impact on Hormone Balance

• Gut health basics: the stats & importance of overall health and wellness
• Digestion: you are not just what you eat but ‘what you digest, absorb, and use’
• Intestinal permeability: leaky gut and its impact on hormone balance
• Microbiome: enter the extrabolome
• How the gut impacts each of the 6 hormone systems
• 5R protocol: 5 steps to repairing your gut
• Lab testing options

REBALANCE Hormones REDUCE Symptoms

Cortisol

• Related disorders/conditions: anxiety, insomnia, high blood sugar, high blood pressure
• Underlying causes: stressors – physical, emotional/psychological, nutritional, environmental, physiological
• Common symptoms of hormone imbalance:
  • High: nervousness, irritability, anxiety, insomnia, sugar cravings, belly fat
  • Low: apathy, fatigue, low libido, insomnia, lightheaded when rising, salt cravings
  • Lab testing options
  • Lifestyle strategies to naturally rebalance Cortisol

Insulin

• Related disorders/conditions: pre-diabetes, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia
• Underlying causes: high sugar diet, deficient minerals/vitamins, obesity, environmental toxicity, lack of exercise, stress, lack of sleep
• Common symptoms of hormone imbalance: energy roller coaster during the day, headaches, foggy brain, weight gain around spare tire or scapular region
• Lab testing options
• Lifestyle strategies to naturally rebalance Insulin

Thyroid

• Related disorders/conditions: hypothyroidism, Hashimotos thyroiditis, hyperthyroidism, Grave’s disease (we will focus on hypo)
• Underlying causes: stress, nutrient deficiencies, toxins, estrogen dominance, liver or kidney dysfunction, gut dysfunction, infections
• Common symptoms of hormone imbalance: persistent fatigue, weight gain, fluid retention, depression, constipation, cold extremities; dry hair/skin, brittle nails, hair loss
• Lab testing options
• Lifestyle strategies to naturally rebalance Thyroid

Estrogen

• Related disorders/conditions: estrogen dominance, PMS, fibrocystic breasts, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, perimenopause, menopause
• Underlying causes: gut dysfunction, stress, xenoestrogen exposure, obesity, medications (oral contraceptives, HRT), conventional animal products
• Common symptoms of hormone imbalance:
  • Low: menopause (natural or surgical) – depression, increase in UTI’s
  • High: fibrocystic & swollen/painful breasts, cystic ovaries, uterine fibroids, endometriosis
  • Lab testing options
  • Lifestyle strategies to naturally rebalance Estrogen

Progesterone

• Related disorders/conditions: infertility
• Underlying causes: stress, xenoestrogen exposure, obesity, medications (oral contraceptives, HRT), conventional animal products
• Common symptoms of hormone imbalance: headaches, mood changes, irregular menstrual cycle
• Lab testing options
• Lifestyle strategies to naturally rebalance Progesterone

Testosterone

• Related disorders/conditions: andropause, hypercholesterolemia, increased blood pressure, pre-diabetes, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, dementia, PCOS
• Underlying causes: stress, xenoestrogen exposure, obesity, insulin resistance, poor diet, gut dysfunction
• Common symptoms of hormone imbalance:
  • High: acne, hair loss on head, facial hair (women), deeper voice, increased muscle mass, irregular periods, mood changes
  • Low: burned out, belly fat, decreased libido, decreased strength stamina, muscle loss, mood changes, erectile dysfunction, poor concentration & focus
• Lab testing options
• Lifestyle strategies to naturally rebalance Testosterone

Help Clients Prioritize an Effective Lifestyle Intervention

Case Studies related to Estrogen Dominance, Andropause, & Hypothyroid

• Client assessment first – what do they need?
• Where do you start – prioritized lifestyle factors to master:
  • Sleep
  • Diet
  • Stress management
  • Exercise
  • Environmental toxins