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Spring Detox: It’s Time to Recharge!

Spring is a time for renewal, rebirth, new beginnings – and spring cleaning. One survey found that almost 80% of us embark on at least one spring cleaning project at this time of the year, with bedrooms, closets, and kitchens being the top priorities. With this focus on fresh starts, it’s also a great time to focus on cleansing your body and recharging your health. After all, it was a long winter and taking some time to make your health a priority will help recharge your energy as we emerge from hibernation.

You might wonder why your body needs spring cleaning, since it’s not always as obvious as when the kitchen needs to be cleaned. However, every day, your body is exposed to multiple harmful toxins. Many of these toxins aren’t readily apparent: we’re often unknowingly exposed to environmental pollution and toxins in our food and water. Plus, chronic high stress, combined with our modern sedentary lifestyles, further contributes to harmful accumulations in the body.

Your body has many “cleaning supplies” that help eliminate harmful toxins, including your:

  • Liver – the body’s primary filtration system, converting toxins into waste products, cleansing your blood, and metabolizing nutrients and medications to provide the body with some of its most important proteins.
  • Colon – removes water, salt, and some nutrients forming stool which excretes toxins.
  • Kidneys – purify and filter our blood.
  • Lungs – act as filters for the toxins in the air we breathe.
  • Lymphatic system – lymph vessels connect to a group of lymph nodes which act as a filter for anything harmful that the body does not need.
  • Skin – acts as a barrier for our body and excretes toxins through sweat.

Does Your Body Need A Hand With Detoxification?

Just as we wouldn’t expect our household cleaning supplies to keep performing without some basic maintenance, over time, these organs need some cleansing themselves. Some signs that it’s time for a reset include:

  • Sluggish digestion
  • Mysterious skin issues
  • Unexplained fatigue
  • Bloating
  • Fuzzy thinking, poor concentration, and impaired memory

Jump Into Spring With A Healthy Detox

Ready to jump into your spring cleaning for health? The following steps are an important part of a spring detox.

Exercise.

Regular exercise reduces inflammation throughout your body, boosts endorphins, and gives you energy. Plus, the sweat from a good workout can help eliminate toxins. Although more research needs to be done, several studies have found that sweat helps get rid of toxins like heavy metals and BPAs. However, you’ll receive many benefits from movement even if you don’t work up a sweat. It’s a great time of the year to get outside for a walk or a hike! Spending time in nature is one of the best ways to rejuvenate your mental and physical energy.

Support your liver.

Your liver acts as your body’s filtration system, so when it is overtaxed, more unwanted toxins can enter your body. One of the most effective ways to support your liver is by being mindful of alcohol consumption. It’s generally recommended that women limit themselves to one drink per day, and men to two drinks, but total abstinence is a good way to kick off a spring detox. Avoid sugary drinks as a substitute, however, as they can contribute to fatty liver disease.

Herbs and supplements that support the liver, such as milk thistle and turmeric, can also improve liver functions. The chemical compounds in cilantro have been shown to bind to toxic metals and loosen them for easier transport out of the body.

Traditionally used as a diuretic, studies suggest that dandelion may help improve liver and gallbladder function. The blossoms of red clover also support liver function by stimulating bile production and act as an effective diuretic, helping to cleanse the blood and rid the body of excess fluids.

Increase your water intake.

Water flushes out waste products through urine and sweat. Staying hydrated also helps the organs in your body work optimally, so aim for two to three liters of water a day. An eco-friendly water bottle can help you stay on top of water intake, and some people like to add a bit of lemon or cucumber to their water to make it more interesting.

Make smart food choices.

Whole, natural foods help the detoxification process in several ways. This is particularly true for foods high in antioxidants. Antioxidants help combat free radicals, which are unstable molecules that cause cellular damage. Pollution and toxins like alcohol and tobacco lead to the production of free radicals, but antioxidants fight them and reverse the effects of the oxidative stress they create. Foods high in antioxidants include many nuts, brightly colored produce like blueberries, strawberries, kale, beets, goji berries, and dark chocolate.

Foods high in fiber help with elimination and therefore act as literal cleansers. Foods high in insoluble fiber, such as whole grains , help clean the digestive system as they move through your system. Soluble fiber also supports the production of good bacteria in your gut, which supports the liver and other functions. Good sources of soluble fiber include beans, vegetables like brussel sprouts and broccoli, and fruit like apples. 

Detoxify your beauty and healthcare products.

Some beauty and health products contain toxic ingredients like parabens and phthalates, and their negative effects can be more than skin deep. Look for natural ingredients whenever possible. The Environment Working Group (EWG) website gives detailed information on exactly what many products contain and ranks them for their level of potentially harmful toxins.

Declutter your environment.

It’s a different type of cleaning, but getting rid of clutter in your surroundings can have a positive effect on your mental health, and act as an impetus for your spring detox. However, be sure to use natural cleaning products!

Stay on top of sleep.

Sleep really does clear your brain, as studies show that the brain gets rid of accumulated toxic byproducts while we sleep. It’s also when your brain processes the events of the day. Plus, being well-rested helps you tackle the other elements of staying healthy.

Don’t delay your spring detox! Your body and soul deserve as much attention as cleaning your home!

If you’d like to learn more and create a customized program for you, let’s talk!

Sources:

Silverman MN, Deuster PA. Biological mechanisms underlying the role of physical fitness in health and resilience. Interface Focus. 2014;4(5):20140040. doi:10.1098/rsfs.2014.0040

Sheng J, Qiu W, Xu B, Xu H, Tang C. Monitoring of heavy metal levels in the major rivers and in residents’ blood in Zhenjiang City, China, and assessment of heavy metal elimination via urine and sweat in humans. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2016 Jun;23(11):11034-11045. doi: 10.1007/s11356-016-6287-z. Epub 2016 Feb 23. PMID: 26903134.

Genuis SJ, Beesoon S, Birkholz D, Lobo RA. Human excretion of bisphenol A: blood, urine, and sweat (BUS) study. J Environ Public Health. 2012;2012:185731. doi:10.1155/2012/185731

Genuis SJ, Beesoon S, Birkholz D, Lobo RA. Human excretion of bisphenol A: blood, urine, and sweat (BUS) study. J Environ Public Health. 2012;2012:185731. doi:10.1155/2012/185731

Eugene AR, Masiak J. The Neuroprotective Aspects of Sleep. MEDtube Sci. 2015;3(1):35-40.

Dorothy A Kieffer, Roy J Martin, Sean H Adams, Impact of Dietary Fibers on Nutrient Management and Detoxification Organs: Gut, Liver, and Kidneys, Advances in Nutrition, Volume 7, Issue 6, November 2016, Pages 1111–1121, https://doi.org/10.3945/an.116.013219

Hossen MS, Tanvir EM, Prince MB, et al. Protective mechanism of turmeric (Curcuma longa) on carbofuran-induced hematological and hepatic toxicities in a rat model. Pharm Biol. 2017;55(1):1937-1945. doi:10.1080/13880209.2017.1345951

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Balancing Estrogen and Progesterone

Hormonal health is all about balance – but achieving the right balance can be a challenge, particularly for women at midlife. One of the most striking examples of this dynamic is found in women whose estrogen and progesterone balance is off kilter. The wide range of resulting symptoms can be debilitating, and women can find themselves battling heavy periods, disruptive PMS, fatigue, and many more symptoms.

How can balance be restored for optimum well-being? Let’s take a look at how hormones influence your health and how a healthy lifestyle can help. 

Hormones’ Role In Your Health

Your body contains over 50 different types of hormones, and they all act as chemical messengers to other parts of the body. Hormones are secreted by endocrine glands, including the:

  • Pituitary gland
  • Pineal gland
  • Thymus
  • Thyroid
  • Adrenal glands
  • Pancreas
  • Testes
  • Ovaries

When hormones are released by endocrine glands, they travel to specific receptor sites, where they “lock in” and transmit a message to perform a specific action.

What does this mean in practical terms? Your hormones control almost every function in your body, including:

  • Maturity and growth
  • Metabolism of food items
  • Hunger
  • Sleep
  • Sexual function and reproductive health
  • Mood
  • Cognitive ability
  • Stress response
  • Appetite

Hormones also work in tandem with each other. A good example is the relationship between progesterone and estrogen, two hormones produced by the ovaries that work together to regulate the menstrual cycle.

Estrogen and progesterone have complementary functions. Estrogen is the more energizing of the two and helps with memory, libido, mood, sleep and many other functions. It helps protect bone density, youthful skin and hair, mental sharpness, and healthy cholesterol levels. Estrogen levels rise in the follicular phase, which is the first half of the menstrual cycle, up to the point of ovulation. 

Progesterone is produced after ovulation occurs (the period called the luteal phase) and has a more calming function. Progesterone levels peak about midway through the luteal phase, then drop off before menstruation occurs. This sudden drop can contribute to symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Progesterone helps regulate the effects of estrogen on the body. It plays a role in the growth of the uterine lining during menstruation, and helps regulate the timing of menstruation.

As you see, both hormones play vital functions in a woman’s body, but they must be balanced. Having inadequate levels of progesterone is not only problematic on its own, but estrogen doesn’t function as well with low levels of progesterone. When your levels of estrogen and progesterone aren’t balanced, estrogen dominance can occur.

Estrogen Dominance: When Hormones Go Off Kilter

Without the balancing influence of progesterone, estrogen’s influence on the body can lead to troubling symptoms. Women who previously hadn’t experienced trouble with their periods may find themselves bleeding far heavier than before. They may struggle with PMS or wonder where their wild mood swings came from. The symptoms of estrogen dominance include:

  • Heavy periods
  • Menstrual cramps
  • Fertility issues
  • Blood sugar problems
  • Weight gain, particularly around the belly
  • Thyroid problems
  • Higher risk of developing autoimmune diseases
  • Bloating
  • Fatigue
  • PMS
  • Mood disorders, including anxiety and depression
  • Anger management issues
  • Increased risk of breast, uterine, and ovarian cancers

What Causes Estrogen Dominance?

Many factors can lead to estrogen imbalance, and it’s not uncommon for a woman to experience more than one cause.

  • Problems in other parts of the body can contribute to estrogen dominance, including poor liver function, since the liver helps eliminate excess estrogen.
  • Other hormones also influence estrogen and progesterone production, particularly insulin and cortisol, so when those hormones are disrupted, the effects can cascade.
  • Chronic stress can lead to harmful hormonal fluctuations.
  • A poor diet can also lead to hormonal problems, because magnesium, zinc, protein, and B vitamins help to metabolize estrogen. In addition, since fat cells produce estrogen, obesity can contribute to excess levels.
  • Normal age-related fluctuations in hormone levels can create imbalances, particularly during the perimenopause years. Women experiencing polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are also vulnerable.
  • Interestingly, sometimes estrogen dominance isn’t caused by estrogen itself. Xenohormones are compounds that mimic the properties of estrogens. They can be absorbed by the body and trigger estrogen production, leading to further imbalances. Many common products contain xenohormones, including plastics (watch out for plastic food containers in particular), pesticides, factory-farmed meat, car exhaust, and emulsifiers found in shampoo and other beauty products.

How To Balance Estrogen and Progesterone

1 – Reduce stress.

Stress, particularly the chronic stress so common in our modern lives, impacts cortisol production, which in turn impacts other hormones, including progesterone. Stress reduction techniques such as meditation and yoga can help regulate stress and hormone levels. Sometimes, a simple attitude shift in attitude can slow the “flight or fight” response that produces cortisol. To do this, try considering a stressful event in a more positive light – perhaps as an opportunity to prove your strength.

2 – Get enough sleep.

Hormonal imbalances can cause sleep disturbances. At the same time, you need adequate sleep to maintain healthy hormonal balance. If this seems frustrating, it is! Work with a healthcare practitioner to address stubborn sleep issues and avoid sleep medications.

3 – Maintain a healthy liver and gut.

Your liver metabolizes estrogen, so it’s imperative to maintain optimum liver health by reducing exposure to toxins and minimizing alcohol. In addition, your gut microbiome also plays a role in estrogen regulation. Probiotic supplements, fermented foods like kimchi and sauerkraut, and drinks like kefir help maintain the “good” bacteria in the microbiome. Fiber consumption triggers the production of more bacteria, so increase your fiber intake with a focus on whole grains and produce. High amounts of fiber can also lead to more bowel movements, which helps eliminate excess estrogen.

4 – Eat for hormone health.

The traditional Western diet of highly processed, high-sugar foods is linked to higher estrogen production. In contrast, a Mediterranean diet has been shown to reduce estrogen levels. The Mediterranean diet centers around whole grains, brightly colored vegetables, olive oil, and fish. Green, leafy vegetables like kale and spinach are particularly beneficial.

Protein is essential for the production of amino acids, which are the building blocks of hormones. Some evidence shows that vegetarian sources of protein are the most effective in regulating estrogen – but the most important factor is to avoid meat from animals exposed to pesticides and artificial hormones.

Omega-3 fatty acids help regular insulin and cortisol production and reduce inflammation, which has a beneficial effect on estrogen. Foods high in omega-3 include chia seeds, avocados, many nuts, and fatty fish.

5 – Improve hormone receptivity with exercise.

Some research shows that regular exercise can make your body more receptive to the messages carried by hormones. Plus, exercise can help reduce excess body fat, which carries estrogen.

6 – Consider replacement.

The decision to start hormone therapy can be complex, with many factors to consider, including a woman’s age and overall health. It’s important to work with a healthcare practitioner to find a solution that works for you.

In bioidentical hormones, the hormones are derived from plants and are identical to the hormones produced in your body. These can be customized based on your unique hormone profile. Traditional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is synthetic. The hormones are close to those in your body, but not always exactly the same. Long-term use of HRT carries many risks, including increased rates of certain cancers, heart disease, and strokes.

If you recognize any symptoms of hormonal imbalance, we can help! Reach out to get a comprehensive assessment of your hormones and a customized plan for rebalance. You don’t have to live with an imbalance of hormones!

Sources:

Paterni I, Granchi C, Minutolo F. Risks and benefits related to alimentary exposure to xenoestrogens. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2017;57(16):3384-3404. doi:10.1080/10408398.2015.1126547

Layman DK, Anthony TG, Rasmussen BB, et al. Defining meal requirements for protein to optimize metabolic roles of amino acids. Am J Clin Nutr. 2015;101(6):1330S-1338S. doi:10.3945/ajcn.114.084053

Sánchez-Zamorano LM, Flores-Luna L, Angeles-Llerenas A, Ortega-Olvera C, Lazcano-Ponce E, Romieu I, Mainero-Ratchelous F, Torres-Mejía G. The Western dietary pattern is associated with increased serum concentrations of free estradiol in postmenopausal women: implications for breast cancer prevention. Nutr Res. 2016 Aug;36(8):845-54. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2016.04.008. Epub 2016 Apr 26. PMID: 27440539.

Cano A, Marshall S, Zolfaroli I, Bitzer J, Ceausu I, Chedraui P, Durmusoglu F, Erkkola R, Goulis DG, Hirschberg AL, Kiesel L, Lopes P, Pines A, van Trotsenburg M, Lambrinoudaki I, Rees M. The Mediterranean diet and menopausal health: An EMAS position statement. Maturitas. 2020 Sep;139:90-97. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2020.07.001. Epub 2020 Jul 15. PMID: 32682573.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC3574573/

Gorbach SL, Goldin BR. Diet and the excretion and enterohepatic cycling of estrogens. Prev Med. 1987 Jul;16(4):525-31. doi: 10.1016/0091-7435(87)90067-3. PMID: 3628202.

Sánchez-Zamorano LM, Flores-Luna L, Angeles-Llerenas A, Ortega-Olvera C, Lazcano-Ponce E, Romieu I, Mainero-Ratchelous F, Torres-Mejía G. The Western dietary pattern is associated with increased serum concentrations of free estradiol in postmenopausal women: implications for breast cancer prevention. Nutr Res. 2016 Aug;36(8):845-54. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2016.04.008. Epub 2016 Apr 26. PMID: 27440539.

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Health and Wellness Headlines for April 13

Viagra-Type Drugs and Melanoma Skin Cancer

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Turmeric with Black Pepper: What It’s Good for and How to Take It

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Sunflower Seeds May Aggravate Acne

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Should we be concerned about the pimples, cadmium, and “colonic crunch” associated with the consumption of sunflower seeds? A recent obs… Read the full story on NutritionFacts.org.


Blueberries Can Improve Artery Function

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What is the optimum dose of wild blueberries to eat at a meal? A single serving of blueberries can help mediate the arterial dysfunction ind… Read the full story on NutritionFacts.org.


Sci-Hub Offers the Quickest, Easiest, and Greatest Access to Science

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Sci-Hub is the portal with the quickest, easiest, and greatest access to science, but there’s a catch.  In 2016, The Washington Post wrot… Read the full story on NutritionFacts.org.


The Trick to Access Research Articles for Free

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Health and Wellness Headlines for April 6

Blueberries Can Improve Artery Function

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What is the optimum dose of wild blueberries to eat at a meal? A single serving of blueberries can help mediate the arterial dysfunction ind… Read the full story on NutritionFacts.org.


Sci-Hub Offers the Quickest, Easiest, and Greatest Access to Science

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Sci-Hub is the portal with the quickest, easiest, and greatest access to science, but there’s a catch.  In 2016, The Washington Post wrot… Read the full story on NutritionFacts.org.


The Trick to Access Research Articles for Free

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The “Robin Hood of Science” continues to provide more than 60 million scientific papers to anyone in the world for free at https://sci-h… Read the full story on NutritionFacts.org.


Key Takeaways on Protein and a Protein-Rich Recipe

Story from NutritionFacts.org. Originally posted on March 24, 2022, 7:00 am.

Not all protein is created equal. Animal proteins have different impacts on our kidneys, for example, than proteins from plants. Within hour… Read the full story on NutritionFacts.org.


Dinosaur Kale and Red Cabbage Put to the Test

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Dinosaur kale and red cabbage are put to the test.  LDL cholesterol is bad, but oxidized LDL may be even worse. What role might our [&#8230… Read the full story on NutritionFacts.org.


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What did a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study of a food that costs pennies a day for ragweed allergy sufferers find? A “gr… Read the full story on NutritionFacts.org.

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Brain Fog, Low Energy, Motivation?

Microphone and computer; the thyroid's connection to weight loss
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Have you been struggling to think clearly, or found it difficult to complete the tasks on your to-do list? Low energy and brain fog are issues we see often, and they can have many different causes. Since there are so many potential causes, there are also many potential solutions. In this week’s episode, Brain Fog, Low Energy, Motivation?, we’ll discuss some of the possible causes like food sensitivities, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, thyroid issues, and much more. Dr. Stephen E. Lewis, D.C. and Janet Lewis will also go over some potential solutions to these issues and how to implement some lifestyle changes.

Show Transcription

00:00:01 – 00:05:02

Welcome to the green wisdom health podcast, with doctor Steven and Janet Lewis, where you will learn about natural solutions to common ailments. And now, here are your hosts doctor Stephen and Janet Lewis. Hello and welcome to this week’s edition of the green wisdom health show. I’m Janet Lewis. And I’m doctor Lewis. And today we are going to give you energy and hope you remember it. The name of this show is called brain fog, low energy, motivation. So if you need it or have it, we’re going to we’re going to help you find it. Anyway, so welcome to this week’s show. We’ve had a lot of people telling us they are experiencing brain fog for various reasons, having trouble remembering having trouble staying motivated, very low energy. And doctor Lewis thought it might be a good idea to do a show about things or items that you could take, some things that might be, causing it, what brain fog actually is. If you’re wondering if you have it. So doctor Lewis, welcome. And tell us what’s going on. You know, one of the first things Janet asked when we were ready to come in and do this, do you have your notes? I said, yeah, she said, I’m not saying you’re not, so I said, I can shoot from the hip I’m fine. My wife has such a great faith in me. Thank God. And that’s why I can’t stay on the same rabbit trail. What’s one got to do with the other got to do with all go together, I always tried the musculoskeletal and I found out well, people’s blood pressure got better. My God, their brain fog went away. Oh my God, they got energy. Well, that’s not just muscles and bones and nerves, folks. That’s everything in your body. So what do you want to talk about? Let me go down a rabbit trail that weren’t she didn’t even know. I generally don’t know. I was one of her best choices, however. You just go down whatever trail you’re going. Well, you know, some people talk about, well, my doctor put me on cows at me, it’s like, no, you don’t want calcium all by itself. And excess calcium. And I’m getting to that you need the right proportion of magnesium and vitamin K and there’s plenty of studies that support this that says, if you don’t have enough vitamin K, you can’t shunt the calcium back where it’s supposed to do. So one of the issues with too much calcium is aging all sounds colon, cancer, crowns, which that’s a lot of other things too. Coronary artery disease. I really appreciate the fact that some of my patients have listened to me and gone to their cardiologist and got a coronary calcium scan. Kidney stones, dental plaque, ovarian cysts, hypothyroidism, cataract glaucoma, obesity and diabetes as well. Don’t just take calcium, please ask somebody that’s an expert and I don’t mean doctor Google either. You need to find out what goes with calcium. And well, it’s magnesium, but it’s phosphorus and did you know that bone health has to do with the bone is like 50% protein. Yeah. So you’ve got to get enough K one. And if you can de plaque some of these little bit of arteries in the heart, brain, whatever, then you get better blood flow in better nutrition, plus the ability to drag out the toxins. Which gives you what, more energy and better cognitive function. I have to pause to say, what was I going to say? Cognitive function, thinking of the brain. Janet gave me the look like she knew us baking that one. Oh, so the question is, are you seeing more patients? Is that the reason why you decided to do a show about this that are saying they have brain fog? I know people walking into the office here have talked about how they’re just having trouble concentrating staying focused. Or getting their butt up off the couch because they like motivation. Well, you’ve heard me talk for years about the toxicity in our environment. We really made it bad back with 70 when they started spraying glyphosate. No, I don’t want you to the micro’s around up to see me over that. But there’s plenty of real research that proves I’m right and how do you get past that? Well, you pay off the senators in congressman, I guess, I don’t know. I hate politics. And last two years I’ve hated it even worse. But yeah, we’re seeing more people that are saying, I just don’t have to get up and go, even one of my sweet darling sisters. So I just don’t have the mental capacity at this point to make a good decision. And I said, well, you’re a better Christian. Mate, throw didn’t ask God to bless it, but you got to throw it in faith without works is dead. That means I don’t care how much you pry. If you’re not doing the works, it’s dead.

00:05:03 – 00:10:01

So it takes action and the best thing to do is take massive action in the right direction. But if you’re not going to take massive action, get with somebody that can help you make intelligent decisions and make intelligent action about throwing the right things in. So you can’t get enough of the nutrients out of your food. It does not happen. One of the things I love and Janet can tell you the day I don’t take that one peel. And it’s got a lot of things in it. She’ll get into later, but it has something to call riboflavin. You don’t hear much about that. But riboflavin is one of the B vitamins B two. It has to do with antibody production. What product is that you’re speaking about? Had to be 12 methyl supreme. Oh, okay. All right. You can talk about the big things. I’m talking about the little things now, but the riboflavin, you can not get enough out of your food, even if you’re eating organic. But antibody production, I promise you we’re seeing more and more and more holy cow, autoimmune looking diseases. And since, you know, that includes arthritis, it has to do with cell respiration. What I tell you what to go, where you need the blood flow in to get the nutrients in, but to bring the toxins back out. It helps a fatigue. My eyes are so fatigued and I read this list and I know that’s thyroid. And it can be thyroid, but never diagnose yourself off a list. And I tell you that when we give you a list, it has a lot to do with prevention or cataracts. It helps facilitate the use of oxygen in the tissues and for you women scan nails and hair and eliminates dandruff on a lot of people helps absorption of iron. And B 6. B 6 is one, and I try to always say this simply, but B 6 is the one that helps your neurotransmitters. That’s the happy hormones or they get up and go. The pep in your step. It helps the happy hormones cross from your gut to your brain. So the blood brain barriers, the B 6, but you’ve got to have B two, make it work. That’s why you can’t just pick out one thing. And people say, well, what one supplement can you take? Well, one gallon of gas will get you from here to Montana. Folks, you got to dive in. You can’t dip your toe in the pool. You got to dive in. And I had a lady the other day who’s got super, super, super low iron, I’ve called her and said, you need to go to the hospital right now. And I’m going to call her since I get out here, see how she’s doing, but I said, how is your husband doing this? She says, oh my God, he’s not lazy anymore. All these years, I thought he was lazy. He wasn’t lazy. He didn’t have the energy to produce. We talk about the mitochondria. Those are the little powerhouses that there’s many, many, many of them in every cell. In your body. Now back to B two, it can be the source on the tongue, skin lesions, skin problems, dizziness, hair loss. So maybe bonds aren’t dizzy. Maybe they just need riboflavin. I don’t know. Bad joke. But it goes with poor digestion and slowed mental response. For those that have lost the pep in your step, they get up and go. You’ve lost that love and I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that. If you lost the want to get up and go, I know when Janet gives me the look, but that was a good look. I was trying to do the music that went with that. Maybe, baby. Get down on my knees for you. Keep on going. Where do you want me to go? Well, there’s a lot of things you have to consider, and that’s why I tell you, there’s more and more functional medicine doctors, whether it’s a nature, it’s usually in nitro path or chiropractor. There’s a few MDs and DOs that do it. Find somebody you like and find somebody you trust. You’ve got all sorts of things. To understand the neuroendocrine immune system. And yeah, I can always tie that to musculoskeletal system too. It’s always inflammation. And there was a research article I read from New England Journal of Medicine. And neurology reviews that talked about degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s Lou Gehrig’s Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis or inflammatory diseases. Folks I read a lot of books and not all books are good just because they’re written. Don’t think they’re always good. And I talk a lot of seminars, so about two weeks ago, I was taking a seminar from a lady that holy cow. She was teaching me a whole lot. And I’ve taken a lot of seminars. I was bored to tears because I knew pretty much everything they talked about. This woman was good and she talks about treating people that have MS. Myasthenia gravis, which I’ve got one guy that comes in here. He’s been on our podcast. Yeah, Jimmy.

00:10:02 – 00:15:06

And he’s done real well. And I don’t even treat that, but we throw stuff in, ask God to bless him. It’s amazing how much better people do. So inflammation is a multi splendored thing that could make a song about that too. So some of the symptoms of brain fog, in case you don’t know what they are. I forgot. A brain folk. Low energy or fatigue, including chronic fatigue syndrome. Irritability, trouble concentrating. Headaches. Forgetfulness and trouble remembering information. You’ve lost it, love and feeling. Low motivation, feeling hopeless or mildly depressed. Anxiety is actually a sign of brain fog. Do you know that? Is low libido there? It is not. You need to read something different. Confusion. Yeah, I was confused. Trouble sleeping through the night or insomnia. Yeah, well, that’s me. And a whole lot of other people out there and there’s certain things that you can do to improve that. And it’s kind of a hit and miss thing. That’s not something that always shows on labs. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t. And difficulty getting motivated to exercise. So I’ve had that all my life. That’s why we got a dog. So she makes she makes us go outside and walk. In the middle of the night, when she’s barking at him. Brain bog is actually associated with people that have a gluten intolerance, symptoms. Yeah, that’s more people than you think. If you’re overweight, you’ve got good inflammation. And about a 90% chance of it being a gluten issue. Autism spectrum disorders. They have more brain fog. And we’ve seen those get much, much better. They’re handwriting and probably their cognitive function improves because we increase detoxification. And the ability of the body to get the nutrients to the cell to increase the energy coming out of the mitochondria. And other food allergies beside just gluten too can give you brain fog. Blue bell, 8 last night. Fibromyalgia symptoms. And many times that’s a yeast overgrowth, and it’s not that simple. Sometimes it’s like a magnesium, but it’s not that simple. It’s a whole lot of things that go together. And when I’m doing a consultation, period of cinephiles have gone high, same way you probably, and I’m not diagnosing, but you probably have too much ease fungus and virus in the yeast to put out the thymine enzyme that steals your thyme and you don’t get enough of thymine B one, although we were talking about riboflavin B two. And if you don’t get enough B one, you get brain fog and I can not tell you how many people have called me within three days to three weeks or email me and said, holy cow, I can think clearly. I said, well, bring me dark chocolate to say thank you. Because you gave them B one? Yeah, and that’s called benfotiamine. And it’s not going to hurt you if you take a couple of days. And so fat soluble B one. So it absorbs very, very efficiently. If you take it with a little bit of fat, which is fish oil, which you need to be taken no matter what you’re doing, but especially if you have some of these symptoms of stress fatigue, can’t get up and go. Some of the brain fog causes our lack of sleep, our sleep number bed always tells us how to feel the next day. Because we think we’re okay, then we read the number and go, oh. Let’s see how we should feel. Let’s see what the sleep number. That’s it was bad. But then some days you think you did really good and then it said it was bad so you then you have to feel bad again. That’s why I threw away the Fitbit. It lied to me all the time. Poor diet specifically too much sugar, alcohol, caffeine, carbs. Don’t show how you do it when she goes from preaching to getting personal. I’m just, but not the facts here. Cause a little bit of brain fog. And those things also lower your B vitamins that then that’s why I was talking about B one B two and folate and B 12, that’s in the B 12 methyl supreme, which is a holy cow kick, but want a date thing that Janet can tell by 3 o’clock that I did or did not take it. Well, here’s one for doctor Lewis. We’ll see if we can stump him. Yeah, that’s easy. A brain fog cars. Why would this happen? Okay? Having a hormonal imbalance specifically in regard to dopamine. Serotonin and cortisol tell us why that would cause brain fog. Well, she’s already forgotten what I just told you about the neurotransmitters that B 6 can transport from your gut to the brain. So that’s hypo methylation less. Methylation is in regard to the B vitamins and hormonal imbalance. We’ll stress. Stress can be all kinds of things. It can be mental stress, the toxic stress. It can be the out of balance end or consistent stress and that caused by the environmental estrogen mimickers.

00:15:07 – 00:20:00

I’ll tell you another stress I talked to sweet heart of the lady this morning. She says, well, I said, why is your last name changed? She said, well, my husband finally used his pistol. I said, did he hit you? She said, no, he’s just shooting. And I got out and I said, okay, yeah, that’s stressful. But she looked pretty good on lab. And she’s taken a lot of stuff. She said, I’m here. I want to live my best life, and I want to be alive. Until the moment that I die and I said, oh, honey, I love you the way you are because she wants to live. And she has a reason to folks. We have to dig deep sometimes to find out, why do you want to be healthy if you don’t want to be healthy for yourself? Because there’s a lack of self love and a lot of people. Be healthy for your spouse, your kids, your grandkids, the people that are around you, lift them up. Imbalance is super, super, super, it’s all over the place. That’s why there’s low testosterone clinics. And that’s why most women have too much estrogen, which is out of the environment, not enough progesterone, and not enough DHEA to rebuild the body. Well, there’s two things that are not on this list that I will have to say causes bright fog. One of them is having high liver enzymes. Because we’ve seen it on lab. And it’s because their liver is so incredibly toxic that they can’t filter out the toxins. And Janice says I get too technical. So this is going to be really, really technical. There was like a woman if mummy, nobody happy at that liver ain’t happy. And I’ve seen people introduce toxins into their system. Willingly, without thinking about it, and their liver enzymes go to 400, you wonder one hell happened. Folks, they’ve been around something that’s been sprayed. They’ll be in some sort of a chemical or whatever, and or they do that for a living. I tell the story about us getting cropped dusted in Mississippi and Louisiana on two different trips in both states. So I guess we’re going to have to hang out up in Tennessee and Arkansas coming home. I don’t know. But that’ll make you have brain fog. It really did, both those times we did our lab and it’s like, holy cow, it messed up our liver because their liver is trying to detox. And it messed up our thyroids in a big way. So yeah, the hormonal imbalance. Who doesn’t have an intercon imbalance? Because guess what? You’re eating meat that’s full of hormones and antibiotics and the antibiotics kill off. You’re good probiotics. And that’s why I tell people, you got to take probiotics every day. It’s got to be really, really good ones. And more is better. And I take them mostly at night, but it’s really better if you take them two or three times during the day. I mean, at different times, they actually do a lot more good. More is better in most cases. And there are some, even the supplements, even though they’re super duper natural and pure and in the rat form, sometimes you really don’t want to overdo it. I’m a man. I think more is better, but that’s really not true. So get professional advice from your chiropractor, your nitro path, your MD or DO, that practices functional medicine. And I’d also say having a very low immune system will give you brain fog. Also. Big time big time big time. You know, I said earlier that we’re seeing more people that’s having autoimmune type diseases and I always send them to a rheumatologist or a GI specialist. But one of the best things you can do is take some of our stuff like the SBI, which is above vine, derived immunoglobulin, the immunoglobulin G and I like the one. It works so good. Yeah, people that have really bad gut problems like we have a lady that has had part of her colon removed. She takes the powder because it’s real strong. It’s like an intensive formula. We always tell people it’s kind of like putting silly putty back in the holes of the gut. Leaky gut. Right. And then we have another one called SBI spore, so it’s the spore probiotics that I don’t know, doctor will just have to tell you what makes them different than a regular one. They only come to laugh when it’s a good place to party in your intestines. Okay. So they open up in a certain place, I guess. Is that too technical? No, that’s good. I’m trying to I’m trying to go through that. And then it has the SBI to it as well, which as long as I take that, I actually can get away with eating a little bit wrong before it bothers me where it used to be immediate. So you know it’s working, so helping heal leaky gut, which also gives you more energy, which also makes your mind clearer. Yeah, because the head and the gut are connected and I’m not implying you have your head up your rectum. I’m not saying that at all. But here, intricately connected your brain and your gut.

00:20:01 – 00:25:01

Okay, then I think you mentioned a little bit, sorry, honey. I wanted you to tell us about Barbara and alpha a. I know doctor Lewis chose, he loves this product. He puts people on it for different reasons. It helps me with my sugar cravings. Which means I don’t eat as much stuff to feed the yeast, which means it doesn’t steal my thumb and her rabba flavin. What does it do for brain fog? Well, it really one of the major reasons people take it is for cardiovascular health. But that also increases the energy of berberine is a really, really, really good thing. It helps with the healthy LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels compared to the control group, has to do with lower in blood, sugar, and most of us have high blood sugar, and I said, well, I don’t eat any sugar, but you drank dot Dr Pepper’s all day long. Or you do the carbohydrates. Well, it turns to sugar. I don’t know. It’s been used for at least 2500 years in Arabic medicine and Chinese traditional Chinese medicine. It’s in the roots of certain plants like goldenseal and golden thread and Oregon grape things like that. It’s kind of a synergistic one plus one equals three kind of thing, but it helps support healthy heart function, heart rhythm, healthy cholesterol levels, and I just love it, love it, love it, love it. Go see it translates into energy for me, then the alpha lipoic acid. Oh my God. That is one of the strongest antioxidant in the world. And we talk about, well, you’ve got excess oxidation because you have too much iron or your ferritin load is too much. Well, it has to do the apple Boric acid also helps support blood sugar balance to kind of maintain a more healthy level, which believe it or not, helps regulate the energy of the cell. And people I tell you, don’t just take one bottle of something, do it for three months, 6 months, 9 months, because it takes your body physiology time to heal. But it scavenges free radicals and that’s why Janet was talking about the toxic environment. Well, you get free radicals. And if you don’t get those things out, then your body’s overly burdened, trying to, and that’s why she mentioned the liver. Antioxidants. We know about vitamin C vitamin E glutathione, which we take them all. But the alpha lipoic acid is pretty, it’s kind of a king king. King cleaner. It’s a big dog. How about that? Well, I was mentioning the immune system and you mentioned liver again. One of my favorite ones to help detoxify that is a fairly new product. It’s called enviro detox. And the reason for that is because it has the purified zeal light in it. It’s got charcoal activated charcoal, which helps cling to those bad things that I just talked about, those metabolites, you need to get out. It’s got humic and fulvic acids in it. Which helps actually like he said, it’s a binder and they use toxin stick to it. And then they’re able to be pulled out through the colon, and you can dump some of that so that you can feel better. There’s some toxic people on Facebook that says, hey, you don’t need to detox. That’s a fallacy in it’s like, well, if you look at their face, it’s like you need to detox hundred pounds of that stuff, bubba. Like sometimes I’ll do this after which I think shrimp must be one of my not so happy fishes that I eat. For me, I guess the toxins from the bottom feeding fish is not good. I can take this and it’ll pull it right back off because shellfish will make me feel rain fog. So in viral detox is another good one. And then you talked about the methyl CPG, right? I think so. Yes, ma’am. Absolutely incredible. Okay, so I have another question for you. Yes, ma’am. I’m trying to stump you today. So for those of you that don’t know what we do out here, we do low cost lab work so that you don’t guess at what you need. We do it across the United States. Are you able doctor Lewis to see brain fog issues on a lab? Directly know indirectly, yes, you can take a really, really good educated educated decision. You know, if you’re a cinephiles are too high, your base filter too high. If your chloride is too low, we know you’re not digesting if you’re proteins too low.

00:25:01 – 00:30:00

We know you’re not digesting. If your CO2 is too high or too low, and that has to do with mineral balance or lack of such and your alkaline phosphatase, if it’s too low, then you don’t have enough zinc, which has to do. And with a lot of things, zinc is super important in many enzyme systems, but it’s incredibly important in your immune system and your immune system is about 60 to 80% in your GI tract. So see, when I say we’re talking about brain fog, yeah, and I saw a girl the other day. Her nature fails and lipsticks were totally inverted. And they were not in the right ratio and it’s like holy cow, you’ve had this forever. And there’s estimates from different good entities. I try to read the real research, not Internet opinion, but there are entities that say we’re about 95% of us have Epstein Barr virus in us. Well, okay, having a virus innocence is not that big a deal until your immune system gets weakened by too much stress, physical mental, somebody shooting the lights out. Spiritual stress can do it. You can make your own mental stress up, but the toxic stress, the lack of nutrition stress. And then when your immune system goes downhill, these bad bacteria yeast fungus and virus begin to proliferate and it’s not just taking good probiotics that is a good place to start, but you’ve got to take your B vitamins. You’ve got to take your minerals. You’ve got to take the bovine derived immunoglobulins and you’ve got to learn to laugh and have joy. You’ve got to have, you know, not to help people throw it in in prey. It asks God to bless it. And I’m being serious when I say that. But you’re doing the action steps. So prayer without works is dead. You’re doing the works if you’re throwing in the nutrients after looking at the lab. And I tell people, you and I together will make an intelligent educated decision after that, you don’t worry about it, just throw it in and trust. Because there’s a lot of freedom when you learn to trust. Can you see low energy on lab? Again, kind of the same things, CO2, low CO2, blood sugar, being high? Oh, God, that hurts, honey. I’m just asking. Asking for a friend. Yeah, you’re hemoglobin, I want to see. And we test insulin. And there’s people out there who said, I just can’t lose weight and I’m eating good. It’s like, yeah, but you’re insulin too high. Well, the range goes way up into the 19.6 or 20 something. Well, you know, if it goes by on, Beyoncé 7 or 8 on your insulin, then your insulin resistant. And they say you can’t be in some of them. And I read a lot. And I’ve got good retention, but they say it’s because you’re insulin is too high and that creates too much inflammation goes back to that ugly word, inflammation. It’s reared its ugly head again. And oh my God, it turns your cholesterol into big boo boos and wrong rice shows and makes your tracklist rides go ballistic and then it, oh, it sticks it in the liver. And then you get non alcoholic fatty liver disease. And, oh, what we say about liver if liver ain’t working, mama ain’t happy. It ain’t gonna be a happy household and you get your liver working. And if your liver is not working good, you’re not gonna sleep with a flip from one to 3 a.m. that’s shiny traditional medicine and they’re right. They’ve been doing it 5000 years lower and I have, you know what, them rascals know what they’re doing. And we love studying Chinese medicine. Although we don’t want to go back to China right now like we did 20 years ago, but still yeah, you can see a lot of this and this morning, I told this lady, I said, you’re feeling this, this, this, this, this, and Nancy, she had tears rolled down her eyes. She said, how do you know? I said it’s on your lab. So yeah, the cortisol might be an issue also. And you know, if you don’t have good cognitive function, you might have forgotten cortisol. There you go. And a big one, a big, big, big one. Ferritin. Which people go once ferritin got to do with anything. I’ve never really heard a ferritin. What’s love got to do with it? Yeah, well, they know about iron. Ferritin, we’ve had people have really, really low ferritin on their blood work, which means they’re not in a Harley have any iron stored, which will make them bad brain fog, low energy, or they can actually have it really, really high. And they have the same problem. Then it oxidizes and puts massive amount of stress on your brain, your heart, your liver. So I guess the whole point of this is, yes, you can take some products and help feel better. But if that isn’t enough, it sounds to me like lab might be the answer so it would take the guesswork out because it sounds like you’re looking at a lot of things on there, right? I did lab on my dear sweet mother until she passed away. I don’t know, she’s 94, 96, or 95 or 96, I think. And yes, if I loved my mother enough to do it, don’t you think it’s good enough for you? Well, you’d be surprised what came back on there. Besides just thyroid, and thyroid can make you feel that way.

00:30:01 – 00:32:42

Very much can, but there are so many other factors and to hear you put all that together, how the whole body is working together, which I think is more the issue. It’s like it’s all working together. And if you don’t know what it’s doing, then how do you know which things would work best for you, whether you need to build whether you need to cleanse. Everybody thinks they need a cleanse. But if you’re taking our supplements, you’re detoxing every day. Right, and but a lot of people need to build. That’s why they have brain fog, because they have nothing to work with. So I guess the whole moral of the story is, you know, do lab if you have it in a while, I mean, if it’s been over 6 months, a year, it’s probably time to do it again. If you’ve never done it, do it. Because it would be a really good time to figure out what’s going on. And doctor Lewis, I can not believe it. You have been so extremely educational as always. I wonder what she’s going to say after so. I’ve been so what? Could you leave us with some words of wisdom to get us through this next couple of weeks? Yeah, we live in some pretty dark times. And it’s really, really good to have the nutritional wherewithal to feel good, mentally as well as physically. And maybe I’m a Texas boy. You know, sometimes we say it’s close enough for government work. No, you got to get pretty dead gun close with this. You’ve got to make an educated decision. And then I say, can’t dance, never good singing. It’s too wet to plow. So if you understand that, you too can be a country boy. There’s one thing I’d like to tell you about people that are stressed and there’s a lot of that going on and that’s why Janet and I work harder to be healthy so that we can be uplifting to you. Your hearts and disappointments should be cremated. Not embalmed. Let’s get rid of them. Let’s be healthy, have a life worth living. So go to our website, green wisdom health dot com, click on the health survey tab, get started today. You guys have a blessed week. We’ll be here next time on the green wisdom health show. Once again, our show has come to an end, but you’re hoping your health is only beginning. If you or a loved one are in need of a different outcome and are waiting for a brighter future, take the first step and go to our website and fill out the health survey. Please don’t keep us a secret. If you know someone that could benefit from this podcast, please share the show with your friends and family. You are only one step away from a life worth living.

Products Mentioned in Today’s Show

Enviro Detox – Enviro Detox is a broad-spectrum binding formula containing natural ingredients from the purest sources to support enhanced clearance of heavy metals, unwanted organisms and organic compounds from the GI tract.

Omega Eye and Joint – This mixed fatty acid supplement supplies important fatty acids that are often difficult to obtain from the diet. Omega Eye and Joint was formulated to favor omega-3 fatty acids over omega-6 fatty acids to help maintain a healthy fatty acid ratio when added to typical diets that tend to be too low in omega-3. Omega-3 fatty acids are present as alpha-linolenic acid, an essential dietary fatty acid, as well as EPA and DHA, activated forms of omega-3 known for their ability to support a variety of physiological processes, including regulation of inflammation and lipoprotein metabolism, and brain and immune function.

Berberine Alpha-A – Berberine Alpha-A provides multidimensional support for cardiovascular health by maintaining healthy cholesterol levels and supporting blood sugar balance already within normal levels. Clinical research shows that maintaining optimal cardiovascular health should address multiple metabolic factors. Berberine Alpha-A, a formula backed by extensive clinical research, is designed to address several factors associated with ideal cardiometabolic health. The powerful combination of berberine and alpha lipoic acid (ALA) helps maintain heart function, metabolism, antioxidant status, and lipid and glucose levels.

You can also listen to Brain Fog, Low Energy, Motivation? on our YouTube channel here.

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Health and Wellness Headlines for March 30

The Trick to Access Research Articles for Free

Story from NutritionFacts.org. Originally posted on March 29, 2022, 7:00 am.

The “Robin Hood of Science” continues to provide more than 60 million scientific papers to anyone in the world for free at https://sci-h… Read the full story on NutritionFacts.org.


Key Takeaways on Protein and a Protein-Rich Recipe

Story from NutritionFacts.org. Originally posted on March 24, 2022, 7:00 am.

Not all protein is created equal. Animal proteins have different impacts on our kidneys, for example, than proteins from plants. Within hour… Read the full story on NutritionFacts.org.


Dinosaur Kale and Red Cabbage Put to the Test

Story from NutritionFacts.org. Originally posted on March 22, 2022, 7:00 am.

Dinosaur kale and red cabbage are put to the test.  LDL cholesterol is bad, but oxidized LDL may be even worse. What role might our [&#8230… Read the full story on NutritionFacts.org.


What to Eat to Help with Seasonal Allergies (Hay Fever)

Story from NutritionFacts.org. Originally posted on March 17, 2022, 7:00 am.

What did a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study of a food that costs pennies a day for ragweed allergy sufferers find? A “gr… Read the full story on NutritionFacts.org.


Sports Drinks Are Neither Safe Nor Effective

Story from NutritionFacts.org. Originally posted on March 15, 2022, 7:00 am.

Commercial influences may have corrupted the American College of Sports Medicine’s hydration guidelines. If you had to name the greatest m… Read the full story on NutritionFacts.org.


Water vs. Coconut Water vs. Sports Drinks for Athletes

Story from NutritionFacts.org. Originally posted on March 10, 2022, 7:00 am.

Coconut water is tested head-to-head against plain water and sports drinks in athletes. As you may know, I’ve previously reviewed the evid… Read the full story on NutritionFacts.org.

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Is Your Toxic Burden Stopping Weight Loss?

Microphone and computer; the thyroid's connection to weight loss
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Many people want to lose weight, and they have often tried diet and lifestyle changes with little results. While there can be several contributing factors to this like hormone imbalances, mold exposure, and imbalanced thyroid function, one of the lesser-known influences is your toxic burden. Toxic burden refers to the cumulative exposure you have had to different toxins from air, water, food, cosmetic products, etc. Many of these toxins build-up in the body and can have lasting effects, affecting many different parts of the body in different ways. Fortunately there are things you can do to help avoid toxins in the future, reduce your current toxin burden and speed up detoxification. In this week’s episode, Is Your Toxic Burden Stopping Weight Loss?, we will discuss some symptoms of a high toxic burden, and give you some solutions to help your body detox.

Show Transcription

Is Your Toxic Burden Stopping Weight Loss?

00:00:01 – 00:05:04

Welcome to the green wisdom health podcast, with doctor Steven and Janet Lewis, where you will learn about natural solutions to common ailments. And now, here are your hosts doctor Stephen and Janet Lewis. Hello and welcome to this week’s edition of the green wisdom health show. I’m Janet Lewis. And I’m doctor Lewis. And today we are going to discuss with our one of our favorite guests that we have come in from time to time, Casey. Apparently it’s one of your favorites too. So thank you for the feedback. Yeah, I know he is good. We learned so much and people are really understanding differences in products because of him. But today he’s going to talk with us about is your toxic burden stopping your weight loss and you’re probably going, what’s toxic burden? Well, many people are very burdened with so many toxins and then they go and try to lose weight and their bodies going, oh please. I can’t do this. So he’s going to discuss why that could be happening. Of course, doctor Lewis is going to chime in with his isms. And hopefully he’s how this together for you with a lot of fun. So Casey, welcome. Thank you. Always, always a pleasure to be here. You know, we learned so much about fish all the last time and I can’t tell you the collagen story has really helped so many people. It walk into the store. They’re like, I take collagen. What makes yours different? I’m like, I know this, I know this was a Casey. That was a huge differentiators that are ultimately going to affect how people feel taking their products. I actually had a lady that came in and said, I’m taking this I’m already on college, ’cause she had knee pain really bad and I said, this is different. She goes, well, why? Collagen’s collagen and I explained to her no it was not. So she purchased it and then she came in two days later. I wasn’t here in a brandy said, she actually walked up to me and said, does this stuff really work? And Brandi said, yes, it works. And she goes, my knee pain is totally gone. And I thought it might be in my head and so yeah, you were absolutely wrong. I also believe in her collagen. Yeah, exactly. So today we’re going to discuss a few products that help with eliminating toxins, I guess. And can help with weight loss and the differences between them. Which one do you want to start with? Well, I think first we should kind of paint the picture of what when you mentioned toxic burden and weight loss and potentially thwarting somebody’s efforts to lose weight, what that actually means. A good picture to have in your head is, I mean, we all have a toxic burden. Our environment is very toxic, our body produces toxins that I say that toxins, there’s byproducts of processes in the body that the body needs to get rid of. These things accumulate in the body, specifically they accumulate in fat. So if you take a, let’s just say a 200 pound frame. And you want to shrink that frame down to a 150 pounds. And you start losing weight and you’re feeling great, weight’s coming off. But you don’t do anything to address that toxic burden that you have. You’ve essentially just condensed that burden from a 200 pound frame down into a 150 pound frame. And now the body is kind of like what’s going on here. We need to take some protective measures and the best thing that the body can do for itself in order to deal with the toxic burden is to put additional fat on. Again, because these toxins are harvested in fat. So if you’re losing weight and you’ve plateaued and can’t lose any more, it’s likely because your body’s gone into its protective state to make sure that we’re not overburdening a smaller frame with that preexisting toxic burden. And that’s one of the reasons that your liver enzymes can go sky high because your liver gets clogged up, phase one, phase two. And can’t really dump it. So it should be kind of a slow process. And people say, well, what’s this got today, your chiropractor? What’s this got to do with musculoskeletal? Everything. So we’ll talk a little bit more about metabolic syndrome and diabetes. And insulin resistance. Well, that goes back with Casey what you said, the lady with the knee pain had actually lost a lot of weight. She had been on this diet that we looked at. That’s a role your eyes got. I can’t believe you’re doing this kind of diet. But they’re still, it was working. They’re losing weight, but they’re eating like these candy bar things and they’re like a hundred calories. I think at a time and that’s all they’re giving up with the candy bars like really bad, this ingredient. It’s got bad ingredients. Right. And she had lost a bunch of weight and then her knees started hurting really bad. So you’re right. I mean, it’s toxins that apparently have gathered and can’t escape. Right. They get freed up and they’re another circulating in the body and they’re looking for other tissues to settle in. And the scary part about that is some of the fattier tissues in the body like you think about the brain.

00:05:04 – 00:10:06

These are the areas that these toxins are looking to seek out. So again, the body’s putting back on fat tissue to protect these vital organs. Nobody cares about to Brian. If you say, well, it’s the fad deposits in your breast and that’s going to or more toxins. Then they go, oh my God, my breast. It’s hair and white. The brain’s a little important too. Oh, yeah. Well, maybe you need to remember why. Yeah, some people need to think with it, but just a little research thrown in. Here’s one about zinc and insulin sensitivity or actually lack of zinc. And I’ve said this many, many times, too much sugar equals spear vegetables equals less than K equals four taste equals more sugar so you want to stimulate that by eating more sugar and it’s a vicious cycle that’s from journal of nutrition. It can be so much different things improved insulin response and action by chronic magnesium administration. And this is from diabetes care. So magnesium is really important. And it has a lot to do with digestive enzymes. And magnesium is one of the major missing minerals and Casey can talk more and more about that. Do the technical stuff. But let’s get into it. And I see what we can figure out here. And what are you missing? That’s the key. So y’all pay attention to this. And I want to thank you. I’m off topic already. But I just talked to a guy in Kansas. You have his own show, just by himself without us getting well, yeah, well, conversation with doctor Lewis. Yeah, I just talked to Jeremy up in Kansas. And Jeremy’s up there has been doing this several years and he’s just really incredible. He’s real nice. He’s real suede. And thank you for your trust. The people that get results are the ones that hear something, they’re intuition speaks. They listen to their discerning spirit. And they just go from there. And so be like Jeremy, Jeremy’s just up there getting better and better results and being very quiet. But it’s consistency of action. And that’s why Janet loves me. It’s not because I told her I loved her. It’s not one kiss. It’s not one hug. It’s consistency. So if you want good health, you have to be consistent. Cool. So all right, thank you for that. So now we’re back over Casey. We were discussing how the weight loss thing has to do with the toxins. Okay, so you’ve lost some white. And now these toxins are stuck. What do we do? Nutritionally, there’s a handful of things that you can do first. I mean, detox happens in two primary phases and actually now there’s a third one that’s being talked about more phase one, essentially you have these little liver enzymes called cytochrome P450 enzymes. They seek out the toxins and they essentially flag them. And in doing so, they create something called an intermediary metabolite. And it’s actually these metabolites that are more dangerous than the original toxin. You think about estrogen metabolism. Estrogen itself is a hormone isn’t necessarily dangerous, but it’s the metabolites generated by your body to get rid of these toxins. They can be pushed down the wrong pathway and create a very dangerous metabolites. The second phase of this phase two of detoxification talks about these liver pathways essentially or conjugation pathways that are then identify these flag toxins and can then turn them kind of push these push them through the pathways and kind of turn them into these water soluble compounds that are then ready to be excreted from the body. Now phase three, which is the emphasis of one of the new products that we introduced in viral detox, is actually so what happens is when we get these when we get these toxins, these are called conjugated consider them conjugated, they’re bound up, they’re dumped into the gut lumen. Now what we want to make sure that they are facilitating the elimination of these things via urine and stool primarily. We don’t want them to become unconjugated and pushed back into circulation. So that’s where using some of the binders, some of the zeolite clays, the activated charcoal, Shiljit, which is just these are minerals have a heavy affinity for different things in the digestive tract that we’re trying to make sure of being bound up and eliminated from the body rather than pushed back into circulation. Oh, I can tell you, since we’ve added in that product, that of course I take all this, I have to try it out, right? Right. The combination of enviro detox and dim plus have been great because the dim plus is pulling out the bad estrogens. Right. And then I guess it’s dim is making sure that estrogen estrogens are being pushed down that right pathway. So there’s three primary metabolites that are generated when your body’s trying to detoxify or metabolize estrogen.

00:10:06 – 00:15:04

You have your two hydroxy, which are your good. You’re good metabolites. You have your four, which are, and then you have your 16 alpha, which are the bad ones that you really want to watch out for. Dim is making sure that we’re promoting the healthy estrogen of those metabolites. And estrogen metabolism and creating those two hydroxy metabolites. And that’s why Janet and I talk about liver function and it has a great deal to do with the microbiome of your gut and Janet talks about bowel movements because if it’s sluggish, these conjugated hydroxy estrogens will unconjugated and go back to the bad one and then you reabsorb it in the small intestine. So that’s why bowel motility is very important and having a bound up so that happens to a lesser degree. And bowel motility means having a bowel movement every time you eat a meal 30 minutes to an hour afterward is optimal. And Janet told me many, many times it quit being so technical. I said, well, if you’re eating three times, you need to be pooping two or three times. Elimination is incredibly important. We can help with that. And the dim detox what Casey is talking about in a very scientific manner for women what it means is that you get your shape back. You, because your body starts store that excess fat around the top, where your shirts don’t fit like they used to. You don’t have that extra lump of fat under your arm and towards your back. And we know this detoxification is working and I’ve said this before because Casey is still uncommonly handsome. It’s working. Well, man, seem to get by. Men don’t be afraid of the dim either. Oh, yeah, because they make sure that we’re not converting testosterone to estrogens. And it helps with prostate function when my MD says, doctor leisure, prostate pale is like a 25 year old and he says, what are you doing? I said nutrition, you wouldn’t understand, get out of there. You’re having too much fun. It was the damn helps keep the prostate healthy, which keeps the musculoskeletal. I go back to that. And it gets rid of the men boobs. Which I don’t have. Because if your boobs are bigger than your wives, then you might want to check out dim because you’re not supposed to have that ’cause you’re drinking light beer. She said that to a guy one time. And he looks and I don’t want my 12 year old to think his dad has man boobs, and then we saw the same guy, you know, months later and he looked at Janice and I’ve gone to dark beer because it has less of those estrogens. Right. But so, I know, scientific, sorry. Who’s getting off the rabbit trail? I’m just making this simple. I can’t talk in these high-tech conversations. I get it what happens whenever you take it and women you also get flatter stomachs from it because it quits storing it there too. So those are important things to consider if you’re trying to lose weight as hey, let’s make sure that we’re doing something to optimize my body’s ability to detoxify. Okay, so then in our detox comes in because it’s pulling off all the bad toxins from what dim all the work, all the work your body is doing to detoxify the conjugate toxins and dumping them in the digestive tract. It’s making sure that we’re getting these things out of the body. As well as helping to pull heavy metals and pull organic or pull agricultural byproducts, things like glyphosate out of the body, get rid of mycotoxins and other things you don’t want hanging out. Okay, so that’s detoxing, so to speak. I want to talk a little bit about carnitine also. Because I know carnitine, I don’t know that stuff just makes you feel good. It gives you so much more stamina. So when you are in the middle of trying to lose weight and stuff, you know, you get kind of sluggish because, well, frankly, you’re cutting back on what you’ve been eating. And you’re not getting the endorphins or whatever from the food. So, but carnitine has just, it’s just been a game changer for us for people with energy for stamina. Our daughter takes it when she goes to work. She’s she works in the hospital. And she’s like, oh my gosh, I have all this stamina from carnitine. And even though she’s recently hired, they’ve already offered her to be the manager over the entire program. Because she could move fast from carnitine. And many other things, she’s just smart. And she had to play the other day and just had the headache from, oh my God, and I said here, it’s like carnitine boom or head pain was going in 30 minutes. Steph’s great. So can you tell us what carnitine does because all I know is it makes you feel really good. Yeah, well, carnitine is something that we consume when the diet, the carnitine deficiencies aren’t necessarily where you do see it more in vegetarian and vegan populations. We can make it inside of our bodies from the amino acids lysine and methionine.

00:15:04 – 00:20:03

But carnitine is really unique. It’s found in heavy concentrations and energy dense tissues. So think of muscle tissue. Think of the heart, think of the liver, think of the brain. And what it does in these tissues is it basically plays shuttle to free fatty acids. And it essentially delivers them to your mitochondria. Your mitochondria are your little batteries that run every single cell in the body. So in car terms, for instance, carnitine is kind of your fuel pump that’s helping to pull gas out of the tank and deliver it to the engine where you actually where you actually need it in your car can use it and produce energy. So it’s a really effective natural way to ramp up energy production at a cellular level by essentially delivering or enriching that fuel source that’s being delivered to your mitochondria. I know one thing there’s times when you could drink like a whole pot of coffee. And it would not affect you the way the carnitine does. As y’all are having coffee over here. But I mean, it’s a different energy. I mean, the coffee is like, yeah, it wakes you up. It’s not a stimulating. It’s not in any means stimulants, so you’re not going to get the jitters. You’re not going to get the crashes. It’s just a really clean, sustained improvement in overall energy production. So everything from neurotransmitter production to your body’s capacity for detoxification. Obviously, tissue repair, cardiac function, endothelial function. These are the areas where you’re seeing weight loss. These are the areas, and even fertility specifically male fertility. These are all the areas where you’ve seen good outcomes with carnitine supplementation. How they help with male smart upper. Really? I’ll put a lot of people on carnitine and a good vitamin a, there’s several others that you can take in their sperm count. And that is a huge problem in America today. We’re down to about barely barely enough sperm count on the average to impregnate a woman, people say, well, it just takes one sperm. Now it takes a lot because of the enzyme system. So we can increase the sperm count for those that have really, really low. And we got babies all over the country. People say, well, I couldn’t get pregnant. Now I am. I didn’t know carnitine. Sperm counts. Yes, positively affected by carnitine supplementation. The testes are very, they’re working hard. And they need the energy and as Casey says that with a grin on his face. That’s trouble. I know for you guys, I have to work so hard. Well, you won’t strong swimmers. Sir. Well, put chalk that one out. I like carnitine. You’re a particular carnitine because it’s pretty. And can you tell us why I thought it was in a white powdery form? And y’alls is not a white powdery form. It’s this pretty little jail and it’s clear and it’s got this liquid floating around. And that’s a little nitrogen bubble just to stabilize the raw material. So we don’t have issues with oxidation. It’s not going rancid. Liquid carnitine is always going to be, as far as the supplementing is concerned, is always going to be the most effective way to get the most carnitine as possible. Into the body, are just a 100% pure L carnitine. So it’s bioidentical to what’s produced in the body. There’s other forms out there, whether it’s acetyl carnitine or carnitine tartrate, carnitine fumarate. These different forms of carnitine, while they might be effective as a supplement, they are not pure carnitine. So essentially you have to take more to get an equivalent dose as if you were taking L carnitine as a liquid. And ours as well as not a liquid that you drink because carnitine tastes terrible for those who have tried carnitine liquid, we actually use a rapidly dissolving capsule that basically quickly breaks down. So it’s like taking a liquid. It is a liquid encapsulated liquid. It’s like taking a liquid, you just don’t have to taste it. I love it. That you don’t want to take that after about 3 o’clock in the afternoon though, because it does ramp you up. You have sustained energy. And what it does help with for weight loss, it allows you to have the energy to get outside and take a walk to do something extra than what you only could get to the couch before to do. And internally, she’s helping with fatty acid oxidation. So it’s helping your body utilize fat as an energy source. So you’re breaking down your breaking down more fat. Cool. Okay. So that’s one y’all probably have not heard about. Another one that we want to talk a little couple of things we want to talk about. Selenium, we have what we call active selenium, which on our lab we give people that whenever we’re trying to raise their T four levels on their thyroid, we also have something called thyroid essentials.

00:20:04 – 00:25:06

Sometimes people get confused about what which one they need to take, which one helps with weight loss, which one’s best. Can you tell us the difference in your selenium, what it does? Versus why you would do that versus the thyroid essential. Well, from a manufacturer’s perspective, our selenium is different in the fact that it’s a yeast derived selenium. So there’s selenium naturally occurs as selenium methionine or selenomethionine, which is how you consume it in your diet. A lot of which you buy in your retail supplements is selenium are synthetic forms. Meaning, meaning they don’t absorb well. Right, your body doesn’t. Your body kind of does not know what to do with them. The selenium that we use as a yeast derives selenium, and this fermentation actually it produces selenium as selenomethionine, and it produces at a very high concentration. So again, the actual selenium content of your product might not be what you think it is, because the you take like a selenium citrate, it might only be 35% actual elemental selenium, where our solano methionine derived from yeast. Is of much higher concentration. Can you talk about a derived from yeast and I have people say, but I have too much east in my GI tract. I said, no, no, no, no, no different thing. And a lot of dietary supplement ingredients. A lot of your drugs that you’re taking are a fermentation manufacturing process, whether they’re using bacteria or they’re using yeast like saccharomyces to ferment, it might be, it might be beets, it might be corn. It might be anything. And in doing this, they’re able to use this process to extract whatever molecule or compound that they’re going after. You’re not adding you’re not adding more yeast into your diet by consuming a yeast based or a yeast derived selenium. Yeah, that’s good because some people, they say, well, I’m allergic to sulfur, so now you’re allergic to sulfa drugs, so you’re okay if you can eat an egg or an onion or something that has high content of sulfur. So just don’t be confused and always go to somebody you can trust to ask the question. Sure. But selenium is a relates to thyroid gland function. Well, just overall in the body, there’s 25 different proteins that your body synthesizes that needs selenium. And it’s a really, really important precursor to different glutathione peroxidases, which the thyroid gland is heavily reliant upon to detoxify a byproduct of thyroid hormone production, which is hydrogen peroxide. If you accumulate too much hydrogen peroxide in your thyroid gland, it can cause issues. So you need selenium to produce this antioxidant. That’s able to kind of clean up these byproducts. It’s also there’s another diode that is selenium dependent that is responsible for or needed to convert inactive T four into active T three. So it might your thyroid issues might be as simple as adding a little bit of additional selenium into your daily regimen. And aren’t those the ones that say, well, I have Hashimoto’s, I can’t take I done. Are you saying instead of thyroid essentials do this active selenium for how people that have Hashimoto’s? Is that what you’re saying? Well, you know, here’s the problem. I’ve read dozens literally dozens of books from so called thyroid experts and outside different things. And some people say you can’t take Aden because if you have Hashimoto’s because it’s like throwing gasoline on the fire. Well, if you put it with the right ratio of tyrosine and selenium, these people do not have any problems with the thyroid essentials. Your body, your thyroid gland specifically needs iodine. Absolutely. Iodine hormone, it needs to produce iodine or sorry. Thyroid hormone to produce thyroid hormone in your body needs two critical components that are iodine and tyrosine. And yes, there is some research out there that suggest that if you throw iodine at somebody who has an autoimmune thyroid condition like Hashimoto’s, you can exacerbate their issues. They think they spin out. They lose their hair. They gain a bunch of weight or they lose a bunch of weight. That is true to some extent in the presence of selenium deficiencies. And it takes different babe out of us to make that conversion from T four to T three, and most people are B deficient.

00:25:06 – 00:30:00

So you’re saying there’s complicated missing B vitamins and selenium, the reason why the iodine would bother an autoimmune problem. Is that very, very often, yes. Oh, very interesting, huh? So if thyroid essentials is a great product, it’s a great kind of, I call it kind of like a thyroid focused, multivitamin, and that there’s a lot of different factors that can influence thyroid gland function or your body’s ability to convert TSH into T three or T four or your body’s ability to convert T four into T three. That’s where thyroid essentials is focused and kind of all of these areas. It’s helping your body not only produce or it’s helping your throat going not only produce hormones, but it’s helping your body convert inactive hormone into active hormone. It’s helping to kind of mitigate some of the other factors that are potentially detrimental, not potentially. That are detrimental to the functioning of the thyroid gland. And some of these or maybe all of these nutrients we’re talking about, it also goes into metabolic syndrome and diabetes and insulin resistance, because that’s true. Selenium from journal of molecular cell biochemistry and it talks about magnesium, which I mentioned, and zinc and copper, calcium, magnesium, chromium, vanadium, it’s a complicated thing. And that’s why we suggest you get your lab work, so we can have some kind of clue of what’s going on. And then be consistent. So you’re saying that just taking selenium by itself if you had like an autoimmune problem might not be as well rounded as doing the thyroid essentials that’s kind of dumping maybe all the other things and you might have been missing to start with. To help the thyroid function right. I personally agree with that, but I take straight magnesium. I take straight zinc. I take straight selenium because it is very, very missing and some other disease processes. So I want to make sure that I take essentials and selenium because I think you need both of them. And I feel better doing about them for some reason. And because as Casey talked about the microvilli in the intestines or the lumen, sometimes you need a lot of product there to get enough absorbed to do the body some good and make that transport into the cells. Especially if you’re insulin resistant or have diabetes because it takes more product to get through that. And that’s why we check insulin on people’s labs, which most doctors don’t, because I don’t care. If you’ve got insulin resistance, you’ve got the musculoskeletal problems. You’ve got the Tennessee toward diseases, and you have poor absorption. So we have to deal with that. And what doctor? Smokers, too, especially. If you smoke, you’re likely selenium deficient. If you have chronic GI issues, IBD, Crohn’s ulcerative colitis, you’re likely selenium, among other minerals among the micronutrients deficient, but there are certain people who might be. Better off with taking more selenium. And we’re talking about weight loss and the diabetes, the insulin resistance, the sugar levels, start going low glycemic foods, and even CoQ10 drop sugar levels, 31% in a diabetic. So will you take CoQ10 for your heart? Well, your heart has to process or the responsibility of shunting more blood through the all the way down to the capillaries to deliver the nutrients that you need for better health. When doctor Lewis is talking about insulin resistance for those of you that are not aware of what we do in our lab work, most of the times when you go to the doctor, they run your glucose levels, and that’s just like what you did the day before, basically. Or that minute. Yeah, that minute. And then some people get an A1C, which is a three month blood sugar average. And we have literally had people that are over 200 pounds come in with a perfect A1C, which means their blood sugar levels look great. But insulin, like doctor Lewis is talking about, which is another test we run, tells us if they’re headed toward being a diabetic because while they may be good with their pancreas now, if it’s on the higher end with the insulin that means the pancreas is running, trying to keep up with your body and at some point it’s going to say, hey, I quit. And then you will be a diabetic. And that’s what we see many times with people that are overweight. They have perfect a-one-cs or insulin is way high. So you know you’re not eating correctly. And it’s just a matter of time before it craters. So that’s what we’re trying to help prevent by using some of these supplements. Guys, yes. Okay.

00:30:02 – 00:34:10

One other one I want to talk about very quickly, because we don’t have much time left in our show. Every time Casey comes here, it’s like, oh my gosh, we have so much to say. It’s stress adapt. Why would someone need stress adapt to help with their weight loss? And energy levels, toxic burden. Well, I don’t think you can talk about thyroid gland function without addressing stress. Talking about two systems in the body between the HPA, which is your stress response and the HPT, which is your thyroid functioning. You’ll notice the two common glands that they share are the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. If you’re lit up over here, if you’re constantly stressed and we’re talking not just mental and emotional stress, I know we’ve talked about this on the past and the show, but glycemic dysregulation, which you just mentioned, inflammation, sleep issues. There’s a lot of different stressors, toxic burden. That will keep you lit up over here on the HPA side. And if you’re kind of allocating all your resources to your stress response, it doesn’t leave much over here for your thyroid gland to operate correctly. So taking something like stress adapt alongside of thyroid essentials, which is going to help kind of buffer the stress response over here, kind of decrease the overall the overall cortisol response that you have in cortisol again, cortisol is being driven by all of these different all of these different factors. If you can kind of quiet down the HPA axis, it just allows for more optimal functioning of freeze up the resources that allow us for the HPT access to do what it needs to do. So you don’t get set off so easy by little things in life that like gas prices and things that way, right? I don’t know if that’s avoidable, but everything is interconnected. If you want to, if you want to truly address your thyroid issues, we have to take a look at over what are these stressors in your life that can potentially be addressed and something with like stress adapt is something that’s just going to, it’s going to help you do that. Obviously there’s lifestyle modifications that are needed. There’s dietary modifications that are needed. But this is just something again that’s just kind of help you better cope. Your body physiologically better cope and better deal with some of these things. A buffer. So with being overweight and being diabetic or insulin resistant, the inability to lose weight has you so tired that you can’t make it to the Oklahoma line. Then you need to call us. And we’re from Texas. So that’s a cyan down here. Well, I’m so poor. I’m so tired. I can’t make it to the Oklahoma line. You should do something good. So that you can live your best lap right now. Casey, thank you for being a guest on our show again today. We always learn so much and for those of you that have no clue where you’re levels are on your lab because you can’t afford it or they don’t run any of the things that we’re talking about today on the show. Guess what? We do. And we do it all across the United States very inexpensively. And tell you exactly what to take for your nutritional supplements, so we take the guesswork out. You can get started by going to www.greenwisdomhealth.com and fill out the health survey. It will lead you to a lab panel and you can start having a life worth living. And we appreciate you listening to our show. We’ll be here next time on the green wisdom health show you guys have a blessed week. Once again, our show has come to an end, but your hope in your health is only beginning. If you or a loved one are in need of a different outcome and are waiting for a brighter future, take the first step and go to our website and fill out the health survey. Please don’t keep us a secret. If you know someone that could benefit from this podcast, please share the show with your friends and family. You are only one step away from a life worth living.

Products Mentioned in Today’s Show

Thyroid Essentials – Thyroid Essentials is a comprehensive formulation that provides a blend of nutrients and botanicals working in synergy to support thyroid health. Thyroid Essentials includes L-tyrosine and iodine, which make up the backbone of the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). The addition of zinc, selenium, vitamin A, and the botanical guggulipid activate enzymes that enhance the conversion of T4 into the active thyroid hormone T3.

L-Carnitine – L-carnitine is an amino acid essential for the transport of fatty acids into the cell mitochondria. Research has shown that L-carnitine stimulates the use of fat for fuel and boosts metabolism, which plays a key role in weight management. L-carnitine has also been found to support cardiovascular health and to increase aerobic capacity during exercise. The L-Carnitine formulation provides 500 mg of L-carnitine per capsule, now delivered using quick-release, fast-absorbing Licaps® Technology.

Enviro Detox – Enviro Detox is a broad-spectrum binding formula containing natural ingredients from the purest sources to support enhanced clearance of heavy metals, unwanted organisms and organic compounds from the GI tract.

You can also listen to Is Your Toxic Burden Stopping Weight Loss? on our YouTube channel here.

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Cortisol – Effects on Women’s Health

Balance is the key element when it comes to cortisol, a hormone produced in your adrenal glands. Cortisol performs many vital functions, including:

  • Reducing inflammation
  • Regulating blood pressure
  • Metabolizing glucose
  • Assisting with circadian rhythm regulation
  • Formulating memories

Many of these tasks contribute to cortisol’s role in controlling the “flight or fight response.”  When your body senses danger, cortisol kicks in with the physiological responses that enable you to either flee the danger or fight it. Your heartbeat increases, blood flows to your major muscle groups, your nervous system is on hyper alert – all thanks to cortisol and other hormones like adrenaline. In this state of emergency preparedness, even the clotting ability of your blood increases, in case of injury. To create a fast supply of energy, you metabolize carbohydrates faster.

From an evolutionary perspective, these responses made a lot of sense. Long ago, stressors were often direct threats requiring a fast physical response, one that still serves us well in certain stressful situations.

Now, however, much of the stress in modern life is chronic stress, and we have much more sedentary lives. The cortisol our bodies release in times of stress isn’t necessarily required to initiate a physical response.

How High Cortisol Levels Affect Women

As a result of our more sedentary and stressful lives, many women suffer from an imbalance in their cortisol levels. An excess of cortisol in the body can lead to many troublesome symptoms, including:

  • Hypertension
  • Irritability
  • Weight gain, particularly in the belly and upper back
  • Unexplained fatigue
  • Difficulty focusing
  • Muscle weakness
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Headaches
  • Memory problems
  • Indigestion
  • Insomnia
  • Low libido

For menopausal women, these symptoms can be particularly pronounced. Cortisol levels rise at the end of menstruation, exacerbating menopausal symptoms at what is already a difficult time achieving hormonal balance. This is one of the main contributors to a frequent complaint among menopausal women: excess belly fat.

In menstruating women, excess cortisol can lead to painful, heavy, or absent periods. When estrogen is lowered from continuous stress and cortisol production, all the female hormone imbalance symptoms such as night sweats, sleep problems, and mood swings can get worse.

3 Key Steps to Balance Cortisol Levels

1 – Eat for success

A healthy diet is one of the most effective ways to regulate cortisol levels. Start by implementing these habits into your daily meals.

  • Reduce sugar and simple carbs. Studies show that a diet high in refined carbohydrates and sugar raises cortisol levels. Somewhat paradoxically, a high-sugar diet can also make your body less efficient producing cortisol when in a stressful situation.
  • Drink lots of water. When you’re dehydrated, your cortisol levels rise.
  • Focus on fiber. The gut microbiome influences hormone production. A healthy microbiome requires high fiber intake, in order to stimulate the production of “good’ bacteria in the microbiome,
  • Choose omega-3. The anti-inflammatory qualities in omega-3 fatty acids help reduce cortisol levels. Foods high in omega-3 include fatty fish like salmon, flax and chia seeds, and nuts like walnuts.
  • Fermented foods for gut health. Fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi, and sauerkraut help contribute to healthy bacteria levels in your gut, which helps regulate hormone production.  

2.  Supplement smartly

Supplements that reduce inflammation and improve gut health can support lower cortisol levels. Some to consider include:

  • Fish oil. Boost your consumption of omega-3 fatty acids with high quality fish oil supplements.
  • Ashwagandha. Adaptogens like ashwagandha help your body cope with stress by lowering cortisol production.
  • Chamomile. Tea made with chamomile has been a relaxation treatment for centuries, and new studies suggest it may reduce cortisol levels.

Taking any new supplementation should be discussed with a healthcare practitioner to make sure it’s the right fit for you. We can help you with a personalized wellness plan tailored to your needs.

3. Reduce daily stress

Chronic stress contributes to problems with cortisol because your body is in a constant state of alert. However, reducing stress is often easier said than done. Focus on coping mechanisms to help address the way you respond to stressful situations.

  • Get enough sleep. It’s frustrating: When we’re tired, we produce more cortisol, but that cortisol also keeps us awake! This creates a seemingly endless cycle of exhaustion. Focus on creating a relaxing nighttime routine, including a regular bedtime and a restful sleep environment. Avoid alcohol, screens, large meals, and intense exercise before bed. You want to associate sleep with peace.
  • Spend time in nature. It’s a prescription that has stood the test of time. Being outside lowers your stress responses, including cortisol production. It doesn’t have to be an epic hike – just taking a walk through the neighborhood on a busy day helps.
  • Work on your relaxation responses. Meditation, yoga, and breathwork all condition your body to deal with stressful thoughts while minimizing their physical impact.
  • Be careful with the company you keep. Ever notice that some people are inherently stressful to be around? Although positive social relationships can improve our responses to stress, negative relationships create a sense of chronic stress that isn’t good for your cortisol levels. And, don’t limit your reach to human companionship – studies have found that positive interactions with pets can lower cortisol too!

If you recognize any of the signs of high cortisol levels, it’s time to take a proactive approach to managing your response to stress. Let us know if you want to learn more about controlling cortisol levels – and improving your overall health!

Sources:

Woods NF, Mitchell ES, Smith-Dijulio K. Cortisol levels during the menopausal transition and early postmenopause: observations from the Seattle Midlife Women’s Health Study. Menopause. 2009;16(4):708-718. doi:10.1097/gme.0b013e318198d6b2

Hannibal KE, Bishop MD. Chronic stress, cortisol dysfunction, and pain: a psychoneuroendocrine rationale for stress management in pain rehabilitation. Phys Ther. 2014;94(12):1816-1825. doi:10.2522/ptj.20130597

Soltani H, Keim NL, Laugero KD. Increasing Dietary Carbohydrate as Part of a Healthy Whole Food Diet Intervention Dampens Eight Week Changes in Salivary Cortisol and Cortisol Responsiveness. Nutrients. 2019;11(11):2563. Published 2019 Oct 24. doi:10.3390/nu11112563

Tryon MS, Stanhope KL, Epel ES, Mason AE, Brown R, Medici V, Havel PJ, Laugero KD. Excessive Sugar Consumption May Be a Difficult Habit to Break: A View From the Brain and Body. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015 Jun;100(6):2239-47. doi: 10.1210/jc.2014-4353. Epub 2015 Apr 16. PMID: 25879513; PMCID: PMC4454811.

Tryon MS, Stanhope KL, Epel ES, Mason AE, Brown R, Medici V, Havel PJ, Laugero KD. Excessive Sugar Consumption May Be a Difficult Habit to Break: A View From the Brain and Body. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015 Jun;100(6):2239-47. doi: 10.1210/jc.2014-4353. Epub 2015 Apr 16. PMID: 25879513; PMCID: PMC4454811.

Salve J, Pate S, Debnath K, Langade D. Adaptogenic and Anxiolytic Effects of Ashwagandha Root Extract in Healthy Adults: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Clinical Study. Cureus. 2019;11(12):e6466. Published 2019 Dec 25. doi:10.7759/cureus.6466

Keefe JR, Guo W, Li QS, Amsterdam JD, Mao JJ. An exploratory study of salivary cortisol changes during chamomile extract therapy of moderate to severe generalized anxiety disorder. J Psychiatr Res. 2018;96:189-195. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.10.011

Zimberg IZ, Dâmaso A, Del Re M, Carneiro AM, de Sá Souza H, de Lira FS, Tufik S, de Mello MT. Short sleep duration and obesity: mechanisms and future perspectives. Cell Biochem Funct. 2012 Aug;30(6):524-9. doi: 10.1002/cbf.2832. Epub 2012 Apr 4. PMID: 22473743.

Ewert A, Chang Y. Levels of Nature and Stress Response. Behav Sci (Basel). 2018;8(5):49. Published 2018 May 17. doi:10.3390/bs8050049

Pauley PM, Floyd K, Hesse C. The stress-buffering effects of a brief dyadic interaction before an acute stressor. Health Commun. 2015;30(7):646-59. doi: 10.1080/10410236.2014.888385. Epub 2014 Aug 4. PMID: 25090099.