Hormone Imbalance

1. Articulate the 6 core hormone systems and how they are inter-related – cortisol, insulin, thyroid, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.
2. Determine how the gut affects hormone balance via digestion, intestinal permeability, and the microbiome.
3. Analyze common symptoms of specific hormone imbalances through subjective and objective assessments.
4. Articulate how the 6 lifestyle-based root causes affect hormone balance – standard American diet, obesity, too much or too little exercise, chronic stress, inadequate sleep, and environmental toxins.
5. Articulate how the 5 key lifestyle strategies naturally rebalance hormone systems – diet, exercise/activity, stress management, sleep optimization, and reduction in toxin exposures.
6. Determine a prioritized and systemized approach for effective lifestyle interventions.

• 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 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

• Registered Dietitians
• Nutritionists
• Registered Nurses
• Dietitians
• Dietary Managers
• Chiropractors
• Coaches
• Personal Trainers
• Occupational Therapists
• Physical Therapists
• Physical Therapy Assistants
• Counselors
• Social Workers