Female Health Workshop

Understanding the body Key players in the Female Endocrine system Hypothalamus Pineal Gland Pituitary Ovaries Pancreas Thyroid Gland Adrenal Glands

Understanding the body Hypothalamus: Referred to as the link between the endocrine and nervous system. The specialized nerve cells in the Hypothalamus control the endocrine system by releasing chemicals that stimulate or suppress hormones released by the pituitary. Pituitary: Approximately the size of a pea, the pituitary gland is located just beneath the hypothalamus and is considered the most important part of the endocrine system. It's often called the "master gland" because it makes hormones that control several other endocrine glands.

Pituitary...continued: Two Lobes Anterior Lobe: Growth hormone: stimulates growth Prolactin: Activates milk production when a women is breast feeding Thytropin: which stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones Corticotropin: stimulates the adrenal gland to produce its hormones Understanding the body

Pituitary...continued: Two Lobes Posterior Lobe: Oxytocin: which triggers the contractions of the uterus when a woman is having a baby. Anti-Diuretic Hormone: Tells the body to retain water Good for regulating blood pressure Understanding the body

Pineal Gland: Help regulate sleep cycles Thyroid: Controls metabolism and bone calcium levels. Understanding the body

Adrenal Glands: Controls your fight or flight. Pancreas: Regulates blood sugar levels and assists in digestion Understanding the body

Ovaries: Produce eggs and secrete the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen levels increase when girls hit puberty. During puberty, a girl will experience breast growth, accumulate increased body fat around the hips and thighs, and will experience a growth spurt. Estrogen and progesterone are also involved in the regulation of the female menstrual cycle.

So... why do things get out of control? Xenoestrogens Plastic bottles Chemical Toxins Acne treatments Birth control & Synthetic Hormones High blood sugar Immune challenges Medications Chronic stress

Associated Symptoms Painful/Absent Menses Irregular Menses Excessive Bleeding During Menses Early Menopause Skin Breakouts Blood Sugar imbalances Weight loss/ Weight Gain Increased hair growth -Male pattern hair growth in women Pre-mature hair loss Sleep disorders Fertility concerns

Menstrual Cycle

Blood Sugar Imbalances Common sugar handling imbalances occur when your blood glucose levels rise higher than normal because your body does not use the regulating hormones properly and the glucose can not get into the cell to be used for energy production.

Excessive weight gain... Obesity: a chronic condition defined by an excess amount of body fat. Statistically, an adult who has a BMI over 30 is considered obese. Over two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese. In the United States, roughly 112,000 deaths per year are directly related to obesity and excessive weight. General Statistics...

Excessive Weight Gain

Blood Sugar Imbalances Blood sugar imbalance

The million dollar question... How do we fix these concerns?

No Magic Bullet!

Hormones: A tangled web we weave! Investigate the reasons for an imbalance A disrupted signal coming from the brain? A desensitized receptor not allowing signal to the brain or target organ/gland. A disfunction from the organ? A disfunction of the liver, which breaks down the hormones once they are no longer needed, and disrupts the feedback system? HORMONES

Physiologic Common Denominators Under-Functioning Liver -Toxicity/Infection High Blood Sugar levels High Stress Levels Low-fat diet Poor Digestion -Inability to breakdown fats

Physiologic Common Denominators Under-Functioning Liver -Toxicity/Infection

Physiologic Common Denominators Under-Functioning Liver -Toxicity/Infection High Blood Sugar levels

Physiologic Common Denominators Under-Functioning Liver -Toxicity/Infection High Blood Sugar levels High Stress Levels

Physiologic Common Denominators Under-Functioning Liver -Toxicity/Infection High Blood Sugar levels High Stress Levels Low-fat diet Poor Digestion -Inability to breakdown fats

What can we do about it? Balance the system! Eat a healthy, clean diet. Follow a specific regimen of supplements and focused nutrition to help support the body Eat healthy Fats – Coconut oil, Olive oil and Flaxseed oil. Take digestive enzymes Control your stress levels! (Yoga, meditation, take a bath or walking Purification/Detox – liver and cellular cleanses to address underlying, core issues.

If you think you have a problem don’t delay treatment! The longer things are out of balance the harder they are to address and correct Unhealthy patterns and habits develop Relationships can be strained from chronic health concerns Depression and hopelessness can arise from living with hormonal imbalances

“If you listen to your body when it whispers, you’ll never have to hear it scream”. A Final Thought...