The Hormone Trilogy

by Glen Depke, Traditional Naturopath

The Adrenal Summit

You've heard me discuss estrogen dominance in the past but today we need to dive deep into this health issue for both men and women. Yes, I did say men and women.

Most often it is thought that estrogen dominance is a female issue. While it is true that many women in my practice are challenged with estrogen dominance for a variety of reasons, it is equally as challenging for men in my practice.

First off let's look at the primary causes for estrogen dominance. For both men and women I feel that the main issue is an overproduction of an enzyme aromatase. Too much aromatase in the body will convert testosterone into estrogen type hormones and leave both men and women with low testosterone and high estrogen hormones. High estrogen is a risk factor for breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men, both of which are a significant concern for each gender. The other issue is tied into the health challenges due to low testosterone. Testosterone influences mood, memory, metabolism, bone density, energy, and ability to burn fat and build muscle. In women, a small amount of testosterone is produced in the ovaries while most is produced in the adrenal glands. Testosterone binds to receptors inside the body’s cells where it exerts its effects.

As an example, I had a male client that came to see me due to symptoms of hormone imbalance. He had seen another practitioner in the past that tested his testosterone due to symptoms shared. Low energy, lack of motivation, lack of sex drive and weight gain. When his testosterone testing came back, this did show low testosterone. At this time, this practitioner suggested the implants of "rods" under the skin that would slowly release testosterone over the next year to help this person achieve optimal testosterone levels. By the time this client came to Depke Wellness and we reviewed a comprehensive adrenal panel, he not only showed very little improvement but this estradiol specifically was at 16. This was for a man that should have an estradiol level of 1-3. Yikes! I knew this gentleman personally and I joked that he was becoming a woman, except it really was not a joke. When I shared this he mentioned that his breast tissue was increasing and his moods were changing dramatically. Basically what was happening is that the increased testosterone due to supplementation was being converted into estrogen hormones. That is not what we're looking for.

Obviously with this example, the low testosterone was not the issue but rather the conversion of testosterone into estrogen hormones. This is not just a male issue though, I see this in women with regularity also.

From here there are two different focal points. Number one, if you do have elevated estrogen hormones, this should be addressed ASAP because as mentioned above, this is a risk factor for breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men. When I do find this estrogen dominance, I recommend Myomin, which is a collection of Chinese herbs that assist the body in lowering the aromatase. Remember, this is the enzyme that converts the testosterone into estrogen hormones.

But let's not stop there. I feel that it is important to get to the bottom of why the aromatase is high in the first place. This is where the insulin comes in. When we are consuming foods that are high glycemic foods or if we are chronically stressed, this will leave us with high blood sugar levels. This high blood sugar will require an increase in insulin to assist in removing the sugar from the blood. In the end, the high insulin will lead to an increase in aromatase, thus the conversion of testosterone into estrogen hormones.

Hopefully you can see the necessary steps already. First, when you are looking at hormones, look at all of them and not single hormones. At Depke Wellness, we do this with a comprehensive adrenal test kit. You really want the full picture of what is going on in your adrenal glands as well as ovaries and testicles. Once you recognize estrogen dominance, address this ASAP with Myomin and also be sure to focus on your nutrition and stress to get to the core of your challenge.

There is one more disturbing challenge for estrogen dominance that I have to share. I often see women estrogen dominant due to the use of estrogen creams. I do not want to say that other practitioners do it wrong and Depke Wellness does it right, I am just going to say that we do it different. At Depke Wellness, we never recommend estrogen creams because these vascular creams tend to build up in the fat tissue with very little making it into the blood, which is where it needs to be actually. This build up in the fat tissue will often leave women estrogen dominant, and we see this so often in our clinic.

The other challenge with using estrogen creams is that this is simply a symptom care because you are working with a "end result" hormone. If you are tested with low estrogen hormones, we recommend that you focus on balancing your adrenal gland function and get to the bottom of what is triggering this. That's dealing with your estrogen issues where it's really off.

So in the end, be sure to understand that your potential low testosterone, estrogen dominance and insulin are creating a trilogy that is less than enjoyable for you.

Thankfully, this can all be balanced when tested and addressed properly.

Please leave a post below if you have a comment or question about this article or visit us at The Adrenal Summit Facebook page for ongoing discussions on similar topics.

Is Your Brain Functioning?

by Glen Depke, Traditional Naturopath

If you are reading this article, of course your brain is functioning. I guess the better question to ask is, is your brain functioning optimally? If you are living with a health issue, that answer is more than likely a big fat no.

For those that do not understand our focus here at Depke Wellness let me first review some core understandings. First of all, your brain and your gut is truly one system and not two different systems. 90% of your brain function goes straight down the Vagus nerve through the spinal column and into the nervous system tissue in the gut. This will then make its way back up through the spinal column, again via the Vagus nerve and back to the brain. With this said, if you have a brain issue you have a gut issue and often when you have a symptom in one the problem may actually be based in the other.

It is very common for clients at Depke Wellness to be living with some type of gut challenge that is leading to symptoms of poor health and happiness. But with what is mentioned above, does this mean that the problem is truly in the gut? That answer is of course no.

It is often very important to address challenges in your gut such as food intolerance, pathogens and leaky gut as examples but often this is not the only issue. This is especially true if you have been working on gut issues for long durations of time, yet still suffering with similar or sometimes that exact symptoms. 

With that said, what is the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing while expecting different results of course. Unfortunately I see this all the time with individuals working on long term chronic gut issues. At some point though it is important to look at the brain because this would likely be the issue.

There are many areas that could play a role when you are talking about a poor functioning brain. One area to always look is with overall brain support. This would most significantly be tied into increasing peripheral circulation to enhance of course brain circulation. Once circulation is increased you want to be sure to have the ability to provide optimal nutrients and oxygen to the brain. This would be assisted by omega 3 fatty acids as well as the DHA component of your omega 3 fatty acid. Eating more wild caught cold water seafood, grass fed meat, ground flax, avocados and olives are simple examples of good fat for your brain. Increasing oxygenation by regular use of deep breathing will also make a positive impact for you.

Another area to look at is stress levels. Stress has an accumulative affect on the brain and is a must to address. While stress is very real for all of us, the key is how we perceive this stress as well as how we respond to stressors in our lives. Deep breathing on a regular basis in and by itself will have a significant affect on reducing your stress levels. While there are other areas to assist on this level, this is a subject for another article another time.

Another area that is significantly affecting your brain health is your blood sugar regulation and insulin levels. Basic levels to address this is to consume foods with low glycemic levels, address your adrenal function, get some exercise and reduce your stress levels as mentioned above. Most people understand the food and exercise component of blood sugar and insulin but do not "get" the adrenal and stress impact of this. Understand that when you are stressed, this creates and adrenal reaction and puts your body into a fight or flee situation. The crisis whether a true life and death or a perceived life or death, has the same result on your blood sugar. It skyrockets! This is due to the fact that when your body is in a fight or flee, the body is flooded with sugar to assist with the situation. Since most of us are not fighting or fleeing, we are left with this unhealthy high levels of blood sugar and increased insulin attempting to deal with this situation.

Another area to look at is neurotransmitters. Interestingly enough, when I first learned about neurotransmitters years ago, I was told to use this only in extreme cases. Even more interesting than this is it was my understanding to not move into this basically because it works to well and almost too easy. When improvement comes quick and easy, often people will not address the underlying foundational issues and lifestyle changes that are necessary to continue to maintain optimal health for long durations. Taking supplements to simply address neurotransmitter imbalances is not the only issue, but as mentioned above, this can be a huge benefit for individuals with these issues.

When talking about neurotransmitters, I have what I refer to my 1A and 1B as well as my 2A and 2B. The 1A&B are serotonin and dopamine. Most experts will agree that if you can balance these two neurotransmitters, everything else will balance itself. I do also look at my 2A & B though which I consider to be GABA and Acetylcholine. Looking at how your body is reacting to the lack of balance of any of these four is of utmost importance. Understand though that it is not as easy as simply taking these in supplement forms. If your are taking supplements to assist with neurotransmitters without an understood deficiency, you could actually be creating deeper issues for yourself. 

Another area to consider is the fact that neurotransmitter balance is not what we could consider cut and dry. There is often some level of experimentation with supplementation and may take some time to find that balance correct for each individual. Due to the fact that both taking too little or too much can be an issue, I never recommend this without guidance of a natural health practitioner that understands neurotransmitter function. What I will share though is that wow, when you get this right, you would be very happy that you did.

Remember though, that you have to look at everything that is addressed in this article. Put this all together and you will now only find yourself with a functioning brain but more importantly, an optimal functioning brain. It is more than worth it!

More on neurotransmitters in upcoming articles...

Fruit is Not Good for Me?

by Glen Depke

This is a tricky question that honestly, I am not afraid to ask. I see more and more clients use fruit as a constant quick fix, push detoxification too quickly and create challenges for their liver with something that should be very health for us.

That something is fruit...

I first want to share that quality fruit used properly in your diet is a very positive impact for most. Unfortunately, most do not get quality and consistently over use fruit in their diet.

Let's first discuss the "quick fixing" problem that I see all the time.

Most of us have a perception that fruit is very good for us, so we tend to use this on a regular basis all year and actually create an overuse. What often happens is we either make poor nutritional choices or even quality nutritional choices that are not right for our Nutritional ID. When this occurs, we do not pull the necessary nutrients from our foods which leaves us with an energy deficit. When the body is deficient in energy, there is a strong desire to fill this void. Due to the fact that most if not all if us have had sugar often in our lives, our bodies understand that sugar is a quick fix for energy. Since most are quick fixing often if not regularly, we are often over consuming fruit, challenging blood sugar, increasing insulin, leading to gout, raising triglycerides and storing body fat...all with something "good" for us. 

Yes, that something is often fruit. 

It is easy to understand why we would do this if we are eating like garbage, but what if you are eating very well by conventional standards? This is often due to the fact that we are not eating according to our bio-chemical individuality. This leads to a poor food to energy ration and ultimately the need to "quick fix."

Before I go on I want to mention, if you do not know your Nutritional ID, follow this link for your complementary assessment. 

How can fruit challenge the liver?

Fruit will contain high amounts of sugar varied by the fruit as well as how ripe the fruit actually is. This fruit sugar is called fructose. Since fructose gets shuttled to your liver, and if you consume high amounts of it, fructose ends up taxing and damaging your liver in the same way alcohol and other toxins do. In fact, fructose is virtually identical to alcohol with regards to the metabolic havoc it wreaks. 

Let me be clear that this is for those the over consume fruit. If you are like most that snack on fruit all day, that would be you.

Fruit and gout?

While most that think about gout focus on purine levels of proteins consumed, I would suggest that the larger problem is actually fructose. The link between fructose and uric acid is so strong that you can actually use your uric acid levels as a marker for fructose toxicity.  I would recommend everyone to have their uric acid level checked to find out how sensitive you are to fructose. As you know, two-thirds of the US population is overweight, and most of these people likely have uric acid levels well above 5.5. Many are even be closer to 10 or above. Measuring your uric acid levels is a very practical way to determine just how strict you need to be when it comes to your fructose consumption. As an example, if you're passionate about fruit and typically eat large amounts of it, but find out you have a uric acid level above 5 (or better yet, 4 if you're a man, and 3.5 if you're a woman), then you may want to consider lowering your fruit consumption until you've optimized your uric acid levels, to avoid harming your body.
You can refer to a recent blood chemistry profile to review your uric acid levels or thankfully you can test your uric acid levels at Walk In Labs for only $19.00 from virtually anywhere in the country.

How does fruit consumption push detoxification?

It is important to recognize that raw foods are used for cleansing and detoxification. Often when fruit is in high consumption and uric acids are up, this is pushing too great of a detoxification process. I will share that I am always careful with my clients to maintain a healthy and comfortable process and balance of detoxification and nourishment. Since most eat fruit raw and often over consume fruit, this can create too high of a detoxification to nourishment ratio.

So how much fruit sugar is actually in the fruit you consume?

Notice that the figures below are based on a one cup serving. 

• Grapes and strawberries are equivalent to 3 1/2 packets of sugar
• Apples 6 1/2 packets
• Pineapple 7 packets
• Oranges 7 1/2 packets
• Bananas 8 packets
• Grapes 10 1/2 packets

The other factor to address is quality. 

While this is a subject for another article in the future, I want to at least mention the importance of purchasing organic or locally grown fruit when available. If you must purchase conventionally grown, at least stay away for the highest pesticide toxicity fruits:

• Apples 
• Strawberries
• Peaches
• Nectarines– imported
• Grapes – imported 
• Blueberries– domestic

If you have any comments or questions, please leave them below and I will address this personally.

Number One Marker of Longevity

by Glen Depke

So who wants to live a long, healthy and happy life into their 100's?

Now I know what some of you are thinking, "I don't want to live that long." Even if you do not have a goal of becoming a centurion, don't you want to live a long, healthy, vibrant and healthy life regardless of what age you check out? Of course you do!

Since becoming a centurion is a goal of mine (actually 105 years old is my goal), I have done much research on those that live past 100. Interestingly enough, there are so many differences. Some drink, some do not. Some eat a lot of vegetables, some don't eat many at all. Some work out, some do not. Some abstain from alcohol consumption, some drink. Some have never smoked, while others smoke until the day they die.

How can there be so many differences and is there a factor that unites all of them? Well, there is one factor that is consistent.

They have all figured out or stumbled upon what works to maintain a low insulin level. This is a huge key for overall healthy, happy and vibrant longevity. 

LOW INSULIN...

Do you know what is even more interesting than this? 

Typically speaking, most conventional docs never even assess insulin levels. Most are only looking at glucose for all the answers with blood sugar. The problem with this though, is that glucose can remain somewhat normal for long durations of time while insulin levels are going off the charts. You don't want your insulin levels off the charts.

So what's off the charts though?

Even if you are lucky enough to have a doc that is looking at insulin, the conventional ranges are necessarily getting you on track. Most labs will suggest that your insulin levels need to be less than 12 and perhaps suggest that 10-11 is an intermediate risk. Often it is suggested that optimal would be somewhere between 3-9.

Let's take this a step further though.

To me, it is important to look at insulin per individual rather than an overall picture. Remember, we are all biochemically different and labs as well as most else require this approach. When I am looking at insulin levels, I always take into account the persons Nutritional ID. Basically this is your biochemical individual need for nutrition. When I look at your Nutritional ID, I would then assess insulin differently for each.

Protein Type insulin as <=2

Mixed Type insulin as 3/4

Veggie Type insulin as 5/6

So to know your optimal insulin level, it is imperative to understand your Nutritional ID. Follow this link to assess your Nutritional ID.

Once you know your Nutritional ID, you can make a proper assessment of your insulin levels. If your insulin is above the optimal level, you can simply eliminate the caution foods or secondary foods from your Nutritional ID meal plan as a way to assist in finding this optimal insulin level. There is a quick and easy way to get your Nutritional ID meal plan at price of less than $10.00. Use this link to get your basic Nutritional ID meal plan and begin the journey toward an optimal insulin level.

So one thing that is important though is to ask your doctor to check insulin the next time you are having a blood draw. If you do not have a blood draw coming up soon, your not comfortable asking your doctor for this or if you do not regularly visit a doctor, you can use outside services to assess insulin for yourself. You can visit Walk-In Lab to order your insulin test online and they will direct you to a blood draw location in your area. This test is only $29.00 yet vitally important for your health, happiness and longevity. Walk-In Lab is an incredible online company that puts testing at your finger tips without breaking the bank.

So what health challenges arise from excessive levels of insulin?

Once you read this list below, it will be easier to recognize the importance of understanding your Nutritional ID and finding your own personal optimal level of insulin.

Aging Process

Excessive Insulin production accelerates the Aging Process.

Cardiovascular System

	Excessive Insulin production increases the risk of Atherosclerosis:
	- Excessive Insulin production decreases the breakdown of Fibrin, increasing the likelihood of abnormal Blood Clotting. - Excessive Insulin production increases lesions in Blood Vessel walls.
	Excessive Insulin production increases the risk of Heart ailments.
	Elevated Insulin levels increase the risk of Ischemic Heart Disease:
	- Elevated Insulin levels increase the risk of Heart Attack.
	Elevated Insulin levels can cause Hypertension.

Immune System

	Elevated Insulin levels can cause Colon Cancer.
	Elevated Insulin levels can cause Endometrial Cancer.

Metabolism

	Excessive Insulin production causes a build-up of Cholesterol deposits.
	Hypoglycemia can be caused by Insulin over-compensating for high Blood Sugar levels and lowering Blood Sugar to the extent that Hypoglycemia results.
	Excessive endogenous production or release of Insulin can cause Insulin Resistance (via a negative feedback mechanism).
	Elevated Insulin levels increase the risk of Diabetes Mellitus Type 2.
	Excessive Insulin production increases the production of endogenous Triglycerides that are stored in Adipose Tissue and contribute to Obesity:
	- Insulin promotes the uptake of Glucose and Fatty Acids from the bloodstream for storage in Adipose Tissue (particularly in Visceral Fat in the abdomen and around the body’s organs).

Nervous System

Excessive Insulin production or release causes the down-regulation of Beta-3 Adrenergic Receptors, causing them to become less sensitive to stimulation by their Agonists) - this process may explain the ability of excessive Insulin to cause Obesity.

Insulin Activates these Potentially Toxic Substances

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Enzymes

Insulin activates Delta-5 Desaturase.

Insulin Interferes with these Substances

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Hormones

Excessive Insulin production or release inhibits the release of DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone).