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Tag: hormones

  • I’m A Functional MD & These Are My Top 6 Foods For Weight Loss

    I’m A Functional MD & These Are My Top 6 Foods For Weight Loss

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    Intertwined with hunger and satiety hormones are neurotransmitters, including dopamine. Remember, dopamine stimulates the reward and pleasure centers in the brain, which can impact both mood and food intake. Dopamine is often called the motivator molecule because it is responsible for sending signals to your brain to drive behavior.

    While it is true that foods both high in sugar and fat (junk food) spike dopamine levels, there’s a rebound effect. Those same foods can bump up your appetite, lead to overeating, and possibly cause weight gain over the long haul.

    So are there foods that can boost dopamine, but without that rebound effect? Yes—protein!

    This fact first came to light in a 2014 issue of Nutrition Journal7, in which researchers compared the satiety effects from high-protein breakfasts (containing 35 grams of high-quality animal protein) versus normal-protein breakfasts (13 grams) or breakfast skipping in overweight and obese teenage girls. The high-protein breakfast worked best at curbing postmeal cravings and boosting dopamine levels.

    This study was the first to show that dopamine surges after you eat protein. As I noted above, protein contains amino acids, several of which are the building blocks of dopamine. Thus, eating more protein is a healthier way to increase dopamine production.

    So, what exactly should you eat if you want to raise your dopamine levels? Among the best choices are foods that are rich in tyrosine, the amino acid building block of dopamine. Think chicken, fish, and lean beef. For animal proteins, choose organic, grass-fed, hormone-free, and antibiotic-free, and, for fish, wild-caught as much as possible.

    Plant foods that give a big dopamine boost include nuts and seeds, especially raw almonds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, and chia and hemp seeds.

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    Amy Shah, M.D.

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  • Does Retinol Work For Hair Growth? What Research Says

    Does Retinol Work For Hair Growth? What Research Says

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    You probably know retinol as the popular acne and wrinkle treatment dermatologists swear by, but did you know it can help prevent hair loss, too?

    In this TikTok video, cosmetic dermatologist Noman Mohamed, M.D., applies a retinoid to his hairline and says it helps with thinning—and research backs up his claim. 

    Specifically, one in-vitro study1 shows promise for the use of retinol for hair growth when combined with another active ingredient called minoxidil (a common addition to many popular hair growth products on the market). 

    However, minoxidil can be quite irritating to the skin for some people, and retinol is also a common irritant for those with sensitive skin. This doesn’t mean it will trigger scalp troubles for everyone, but those with sensitive or reactive skin should proceed with caution and patch-test before you apply it to your entire hairline.

    If you want to try something a bit gentler before opting for this method, consider adding rosemary oil to your hair care routine, as it’s been shown to be just as effective as 2% minoxidil2. Not sure how to use it correctly? This guide will help. 

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    Hannah Frye

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  • From Derms: These Are The Best Treatments For Whiteheads

    From Derms: These Are The Best Treatments For Whiteheads

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    Everything you need to know about whiteheads, all in one place.

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    Hannah Frye

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  • 6 Ways To Get Rid Of Chest Acne + What Causes It, From Derms

    6 Ways To Get Rid Of Chest Acne + What Causes It, From Derms

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    Both Nichols and Fenton deem adapalene gel as an effective treatment for chest acne. This ingredient is a topical retinoid that’s been approved by the FDA for the treatment of acne. It’s available in both prescription and over-the-counter formulations and is the active ingredient found in the Differin Gel.

    As with all retinoids, you should be mindful of potential dryness and irritation. Luckily, adapalene is relatively gentle compared to its prescription-grade cousins. Start by using adapalene on your chest every two or three days to allow your skin the proper adjustment period before bumping it up to every other day or even daily use. 

    This may seem like a powerful treatment to use so often, but the skin on your chest tends to be more tolerant than the skin on the face. “Generally in my experience, most people can tolerate stronger treatments on the chest than they can on the face (particularly the cheeks which get more dry than the T Zone),” Fenton says. 

    “The reason for this is because the skin on the chest often produces a more consistent amount of moisture, as opposed to the face that tends to have oily areas (like the nose and forehead) and at the same time can have dry areas (like the cheeks), so it can be more difficult to find the right balance on the face,” he adds. 

    “The face is also always exposed to the elements, particularly during the winter this can contribute to more dry and irritated skin,” he says. However each individual is different, so lay off the daily retinoid use if your skin begins to get irritated. 

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    Hannah Frye

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  • These 6 Organs Detox Your Body — Here’s How To Support Them Daily

    These 6 Organs Detox Your Body — Here’s How To Support Them Daily

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    So, there you go! Now you have a comprehensive understanding of the major organs in the detoxification system. And while there are a number of ways to support each individual elimination organ, the detoxification system truly works together to effectively filter, transport, and remove metabolites and unwanted toxins. 

    One way to promote universally healthy detox pathways is to bolster your body’s antioxidant activity. “Just like we network for our careers, it’s super important to network—expand your antioxidant network—each and every day for the sake of your health,” says Ferira.

    Why? Your detox organs become taxed not only by a burden of toxins but by regular influxes of free radicals as well (from normal, daily cellular activities and metabolism). Antioxidants neutralize free radicals to help maintain oxidative balance in your cells, tissues, and organs. And as an important reminder, Ferira warns, “We can’t assume antioxidants are just hanging around. That requires intention from your diet and via targeted supplementation strategies.”

    Eating antioxidant-rich foods and taking a high-quality detox supplement (such as mbg’s daily detox+, which features “master antioxidant” glutathione, vitamin C from acerola fruit, NAC, selenium, and milk thistle extract) can help your detoxification system combat oxidative stress with focused intention, so your organs can work optimally to filter and clear out stressors like metabolites and toxins.* Win-win!

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    Korin Miller

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  • Light Therapy Is Being Studied As The Next Big Brain Treatment

    Light Therapy Is Being Studied As The Next Big Brain Treatment

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    Since we’re a long way off from using light therapy to change the brain in more significant ways, it’s worth asking: What proven alternative methods can we start using today to benefit brain health and response time?

    One easy place to start is with supplements called nootropics, which optimize brain health and promote memory, mood balance, and cognitive function. Here are a few highly rated nootropics to look into.

    Another great practice for promoting brain health is meditation. Meditation has been shown to keep your hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for learning and emotional regulation, healthier, and some studies have found it can help decrease brain cell volume in the amygdala, which is the part of the brain responsible for fear, anxiety, and stress. It has even been shown to alter the behavior and conductivity of neurons3, like how light therapy did in this new MIT/Harvard study. 

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    Gretchen Lidicker, M.S.

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  • The Best At-Home Hormone Tests For A Closer Look At Your Health

    The Best At-Home Hormone Tests For A Closer Look At Your Health

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    No matter your gender, hormones control almost every function of our bodies. So what happens when our hormones are not being produced properly, or are imbalanced? We feel it in many areas of our lives. The best at-home hormone tests help identify these imbalances, bringing you one step closer to better health.

    Hormone imbalances tend to have vague symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose the problem and determine the root cause. By testing your hormone levels, you’ll begin to discover how even a slightly abnormal level can contribute to how you feel. At-home hormone testing allows consumers to take their health into their own hands.

    With this attainable option, test kits are purchased online, administered in your own home, and sent directly to a lab for results. We evaluated the top brands on the market today and determined the best at-home hormone tests available. Find our picks below, with expert insight on how to pick a brand, who should use these kits, and how to perform an at-home hormone test.

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    Amanda Lundberg, RN

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  • I Tested Positive For BRCA1: How My Health Journey Was Impacted By These Results

    I Tested Positive For BRCA1: How My Health Journey Was Impacted By These Results

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    At first, I thought the unexplained bleeding was a period breakthrough, but as time went by, it became clear that this was much more. Doctors couldn’t figure out what was causing it—they did a number of tests, but the results always came back “normal”. Ultimately, they chalked it up to stress.  

    A couple of years later, I moved to Seattle for a new job, and ended up seeking out an alternative medicine doctor. After running even more tests, she noted my testosterone levels were low, which could potentially explain my irregular period. To remedy this imbalance, I started hormone replacement therapy. The bleeding got better, but it didn’t go away entirely. 

    Then, COVID hit. My family and I decided to go back to Miami to be closer to our extended family. I had to check in with a local doctor, because I was still in the process of my hormone replacement treatment. I was asked the regular new patient intake questions including: do you have a family history of cancer? My answer was always no. But when I told this doctor I’d been bleeding for four years, she became concerned and asked if it’d be okay that she run additional tests on me, including a genetics test. 

    Through these tests, my doctor found a couple of cysts in my uterus and ovaries which she recommended removing so she scheduled a follow up call to discuss surgical plans.

    “Are you sitting down?” 

    She asked kindly. 

    I wasn’t. I was running around the house trying to multitask. She asked me to find a comfortable place to sit down.

    “I cannot perform the surgery. You tested positive for BRCA 1”.

    I didn’t hear anything she said after that. All I remember is there was this overwhelming ringing in my ears, just like in the movies. I started to transcribe all the information she was giving me on a notepad almost on autopilot, without really processing it. 

    Later, the information sunk in: Everyone with the BRCA1 gene has a different, elevated probability of getting breast or ovarian cancer depending on their family history. Based on my results, I had an 87% chance of getting ovarian cancer, and likely already had it based on my incessant bleeding. I was quickly referred to an oncologist, and a genetics counselor. 

    The counselor informed me that I may not be the only one in my family affected by this dreadful gene mutation. In fact, this mutation does not skip generations! I had inherited this from one of my parents and both of my sons now have a 50% chance of also inheriting it and passing it on. 

    Up until this point, I had never considered that “family history of cancer” didn’t just mean a cancer diagnosis for someone in my immediate family. It meant thoroughly understanding my ancestry and DNA makeup. 

    I began the mind-depleting task of not only sharing the news of my recent diagnosis with each of my aunts, uncles and cousins on both sides of my family but also begging them to get tested as they too could be victims of this condition. I learned that every one of my dad’s seven sisters had a terrible history with their menstrual cycles, and five of them had hysterectomies in their forties, two were already deceased. Imagine my shock. Imagine how knowing this information at the onset of my bleeding could have changed my outcomes. It would have probably saved me months of unnamed emotional and physical pain. I never thought about talking to my aunts or cousins about my irregular bleeding because women rarely talk about these things. It seems too personal. You just don’t go around asking people in your family if they’ve had issues with their reproductive systems. 

    But…why not?

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    Miri Rodriguez

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  • An Easy Way To Relieve Constipation Using Food, From An RD

    An Easy Way To Relieve Constipation Using Food, From An RD

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    The second layer of producing bowel movements involves your hormones and the adaptive protective shifts that can occur when the brain senses low resources in the form of calories or macronutrients.

    Low caloric intake is a stressor on the body. When we are chronically undereating, our bodies experience a chronic stress response from the nervous system, which communicates to the body to conserve resources. When a stressor of low caloric intake is assessed, our hormones will shift the body’s focus away from vitality and toward protection. These hormonal shifts can result in symptoms of constipation, but they can also present as fatigue or low energy, hair loss, irregular menstrual cycles, fertility issues, low libido, sugar cravings, poor sleep, bloating, and weight gain.

    If any combination of these symptoms is present for you, then this is your invitation to get curious about how much you are eating and whether that is part of your healing puzzle.  

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    Abigail Hueber, RD,LDN

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