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The National Geographic News published an article earlier this month titled “Cocaine, Spices, Hormones Found in Drinking Water”. A part of a special series that explores the global water crisis, the story discusses findings of a study on the waters of Puget Sound conducted by researchers at the University of Washington. However, researchers around the world have come across similar findings. Researchers found that spicy residues that remain in wastewater end up flowing into the sound's inland waterways, artificial vanilla being the most dominant. As of now, there is no indication that the presence of spices in the water is causing any harm, but further studies are to be conducted.

It is the other substances found in our water that are cause for concern. “After a person has taken drugs such as cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and ecstasy, active byproducts of these substances are released into the sewage stream through that person's urine and feces. These byproducts, or metabolites, are often not completely removed during the sewage-treatment process, at least in Europe, said Sara Castiglioni of the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research in Milan, Italy.” This wastewater can enter major sources of drinking water for most people such as ground or surface water.

Traces of pharmaceuticals also often filter through traditional sewage-treatment processes, many of which found in U.S. water ways may cause harm to the environment. “Some of the drugs that mimic hormones, such as birth control, may also throw off an animal's endocrine, or hormone-regulating, system. Some male fish in the U.S., for example, have been growing female parts due to exposure to estrogen in the water.” Although no evidence has shown effects of these released pharmaceuticals in people (according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency), imagine the havoc that ingesting such toxins could repeat on your hormone balances.

The thyroid gland produces several hormones that control virtually all of the body’s metabolic functions including growth, body temperature, and the rate at which your body uses up fats and carbohydrates. An imbalance in the production of thyroid hormones can lead to seemingly inexplicable weight gain or loss, mood swings, exhaustion, dry skin, hair loss, and many more symptoms depending on the type of imbalance.

 

Hyperthyroidism is the condition that occurs with an over-active thyroid. When the thyroid gland becomes overworked, weight loss, rapid heartbeat, sweating and irritability result. On the other hand, hypothyroidism (an under-active thyroid) occurs when the thyroid produces insufficient amounts of hormone. It is much more common for women to experience hypothyroidism than hyper. In fact, some estimate that as many as 1 in 7 adults suffer from hypothyroidism. Many women have the symptoms of low thyroid hormones but are told that their lab tests are “normal” and that there is not a problem. However, the Society of Endocrinologists stated in 2002 that the lab ranges were actually incorrect and hypothyroidism was being under diagnosed. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, weight gain, constipation, hair loss, cold intolerance, and dry skin. According to an article on UticaOD.com “some patients experience atypical symptoms, such as hypothyroidism patients who lose weight rather than gain it.”

 

As for treating thyroid conditions, “lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise don’t generally impact the thyroid, and the causes behind thyroid conditions are largely unknown, says Prus [Dr. Dina Prus, an endocrinologist at Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, N.J.]. An endocrinologist can prescribe medications that either block the thyroid’s ability to produce hormones or replace missing hormones.” Imbalances in thyroid hormones are often experienced during peri-menopause, menopause, and andropause (men’s menopause). It is important to speak to a physician on the proper treatment for you.

What is gynecomastia and what are the causes?

Gynecomastia is the term used to describe atypical breast enlargement in men, usually caused by a hormonal imbalance. Male breast tissues begins to swell in response to increased estrogen levels and/or diminished testosterone. The condition generally occurs in a man's life when he is most hormonal: as a newborn, during puberty and finally in late adulthood. Following birth, men are left with residual estrogens still present in their bodies, left over from their pregnant mothers. When a man reaches his teenage years, the condition takes place because the body's interplay of hormones is drastically changing and continues to progress until early adulthood. In older men, the condition occurs due to hormonal imbalance brought on by aging.

What does drinking soy milk have to do with man boobs?

According to a recent article published by the Huffington Post, Emmy-award-winning actor Jeremy Piven started to develop "breasts" as a result of drinking too much soy milk. "I was the guy that dabbled in soy milk, but now I've found out soy milk has enough estrogen for me to grow breasts," shared Piven. It turns out that soy milk, like all soy products, contains estrogen-like compounds called phytoestrogens, which promote abnormal breast growth in men. Jeremy Piven's case of gynecomastia was a result of drinking too much soy milk - don't be confused; soy milk is very healthy, when consumed in moderation.

What you can do about it!

Well for starters, when it comes to soy or anything for that matter, always remember: keep everything in moderation! Aside from diet, the cause is more than likely hormonal and this means that hormone testing is necessary to determine if indeed a hormonal imbalance is present. If a hormonal balance is to blame, doctors recommend seeing a physician who specializes in hormone replacement therapy. BodyLogicMD, the nations largest network of highly trained physicians specializing in integrative and wellness medicine offer all-natural, effective methods of correcting hormonal imbalances and providing symptom relief. Using biodientical hormones, BodyLogicMD physicians replace the hormones that your body should be producing naturally, in order to restore a sense of homeostasis.

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What are Bioidentical Hormones?

Bioidentical hormones are derived from naturally occurring substances such as yams and soy and have been available for more than 20 years. They are molecularly identical to the hormones that your body should be producing naturally. In fact, the US Patent Office considers bioidentical hormones to be natural, regardless of their source and as a result they cannot be patented.

Are Bioidentical Hormones Approved by the FDA?

Currently, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved over 20 natural bioidentical hormone products including estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. The fact of the matter is, local compounding pharmacies that supply bioidentical hormones are not regulated by the FDA - they are regulated by state and local goverment. However, the products that BodyLogicMD physicians prescribe are approved by the Professional Compounding Centers of America (PCCA) and accredited by the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board, for the highest quality assurance 

What are the Risks Associated with Bioidentical Hormones?

Much of the controversy surrounding bioidentical hormones often references findings from a 2002 study called The Women's Health Initiative (WHI). The study concluded that hormone therapy increased a woman's risk of having a stroke or heart attack and could even lead to the development of breast cancer. The WHI studied women who used synthetic hormones, not bioidenticals. There is currently no evidence that even remotely contradicts the safety of bioidentical hormones and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).

Here's some more information of the safety of bioidentical hormones.

This October, BodyLogicMD, the nations largest and fastest growing network of highly trained physicians specializing in bioidentical hormones, fitness and nutrition proudly announce the addition of five new bioidentical hormones experts.

BodyLogicMD is expanding to keep up with the growing demand from men and women seeking relief from symptoms of perimenopause, menopause, andropause (the male menopause), thyroid disorder and stress-induced adrenal fatigue. Spanning across 17 states and 30 cities, with upwards of 40 physicians treating some 10,000 patients, BodyLogicMD is dominating the world of anti-aging and preventive medicine.


Take a minute to get to know some of our new physicians:

Dr. Lisa Gorn - BodyLogicMD of Dallas

Dr. Bob Ghelfi - BodyLogicMD of Sacramento

Dr. Benita Swartout - BodyLogicMD of Nashville

Dr. Kenneth Raskin - BodyLogicMD of Milwaukee

Dr. Paula Hall - BodyLogicMD of Ft. Lauderdale

Andropause is the term that is used to describe the period in a man’s life when his hormones, namely testosterone slowly diminish and other hormones such as estrogen begin to increase. The primary difference between andropause and menopause is that during menopause, women’s hormones shift rapidly and in men the fluctuation is much more gradual.

It wasn’t until recently that the mainstream medicine accepted that “menopause” really did exist and actually affects millions of men each year. Many men are plagued by symptoms such as low libido, weight gain, fatigue, depression, irritability, loss of muscle mass and erectile dysfunction. There are many other factors that play into andropause. Other hormonal imbalances such as adrenal fatigue and thyroid disorders often contribute to many of the symptoms related to andropause.

Aside from your hormones, many other factors play a role in the onset of andropause such as environmental toxins, high stress levels, improper nutrition and lack of exercise.

BodyLogicMD offers men suffering from andropause a three-pronged approach to relieving the symptoms, using bioidentical hormones integrated with a customized stress-reduction, nutrition and fitness counseling, individually tailored to meet the needs of each patient. Let the highly trained physicians at BodyLogicMD assist navigate you through the aging process, helping you live better, longer.  

Just because it becomes more difficult to recover from a fitness-related injury after the age of 40, does not mean it is time to quit working out. It only means that you must be more careful in choosing and executing your routine. In a blog post that I found, a personal trainer from Dallas gives advice to those seeking top fitness over the age of 40.

 

1. Warm Up

      No matter what your age is, stretching and warming up before exercise is crucial;   it just becomes even more imperative in order to avoid injury after 40. “Warm ups   increase blood circulation, improve joint movement and elevate your ability to absorb        oxygen.” The trainer suggests 10 – 20 minutes of walking, incorporating a few stretches      here and there. 

 

2. Work Out

      Rather than working multiple muscle groups in one work out session, break them   up into groups. Arms one day, legs the next, and so on. Also, it is important to keep         cardio in your routine; for optimal results, one must balance both strength training and            cardio. The trainer makes a special note to the ladies – strength training does not have       to bulk you up. “Just by incorporating strength training a few days a week, will bring         about a stronger, healthier and better looking body, which is essential to aging well.             You’ll be at less risk for osteoporosis, your skin will glow and your posture will be close to         perfect.”

 

3. Cool Down

      The cool down is just as important as the warm up. This allows your breathing to   regulate, your heart rate to stabilize, and your body to recover from the workout.

 

Remember – no matter what your age is, exercising regularly will help you live a long and healthy life. Another great resource of motivation is the Fitness Over 40 Blog; the chronicles of a middle-age man and his wife maintaining an active lifestyle and having fun while doing so. 

It is common for women under 45 who begin to experience symptoms of menopause to become confused. When their monthly menstrual cycle does not come, the first thought for those even younger is often that they are pregnant. A recent article in Kalamazoo Living explores the possible causes of early-onset menopause. “The most common is premature ovarian failure -- which is sometimes used synonymously with early-onset menopause -- in which the ovaries rarely ovulate. Other causes can include surgery such as oophorectomy -- or removal of the ovaries; a side effect of medication; chemotherapy and radiation.”

 

The symptoms of early-onset (or premature) menopause are the same for “regular menopause” and can include: hot flashes, night sweats, disturbed sleep patterns, vaginal dryness and change in sexual function. If you are experiencing these symptoms at an abnormally young age, it is suggested that you get tested for early-onset menopause. “Early-onset menopause is diagnosed through a blood test that measures the follicle-stimulating hormone, which is produced by the pituitary gland in the brain and causes an egg to be released each month.”

 

Receiving treatment for the symptoms of menopause is especially important for those women experiencing it prematurely. Maintaining balanced hormones is critical for many aspects of your anatomy. A decrease in hormones can also cause a reduction in bone density, causing your bones to become weak and fragile. Hormonal imbalance can often lead to conditions such as osteoporosis, sleep apnea, adrenal fatigue, depression and cardiovascular disease.

 

For more information on balancing your hormone levels, click here.

Recent evidence from the University of Hawaii shows that middle age weight gain can confer an increased risk of prostate cancer in men. The University’s research team recently analyzed the results of a study by lead researcher Brenda Y. Hernandez, Ph.D., M.P.H., assistant professor at the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii. The prospective study of 83,879 men who were Hispanics, Japanese, white, Native American and blacks was conducted from 1993 to1996.

 

“Their data, recently analyzed suggests that excessive weight gain between younger and older adulthood increased the risk of advanced and high-grade prostate cancers in white men and increased the risk of localized and low-grade disease in black men, but decreased the risk of localized prostate cancer in Japanese men.”

 

“This difference in incidence of prostate cancer between men of different ethnic groups may be attributed to different proportions of fat to lean mass and where that fat is placed.”

 

Weight gain is also a common indicator of a hormonal imbalance. Hormonal fluctuations directly impact your appetite, fat storage and metabolism – this is why many women suddenly gain weight during perimenopause and menopause, as do men in andropause (the male menopause).    

 

Read more about this study and the correlation of middle age weight gain to the risk of prostate cancer in this ShapeUp blog post.

 

Read more about the correlation between weight gain and hormones:

Women – Click Here

Men – Click Here