Wellness Works Blog

Beyond HRT

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 21:18:52 GMT

Nutritional Support for Hormonal Health

As women approach and enter menopause, the levels of female hormones fluctuate significantly. Menopause, marking the end of a woman's fertile years, involves a gradual decrease in the production of estrogen and progesterone. This transition is a normal part of aging and can be managed with hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which aims to treat hormonal imbalances experienced during perimenopause and menopause.

Hormones are the chemical messengers that regulate and facilitate nearly every bodily process. The endocrine system is a network of glands and organs that produce hormones and release them into the bloodstream to regulate these biological processes. The endocrine system works with the nervous system and the immune system to help cope with different events, needs and stressors.

Symptoms of perimenopause and menopause may include hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, mood changes and vaginal dryness. For some women, these symptoms may be mild, and even subside on their own. Other women may be prescribed HRT, to relieve moderate to severe symptoms that may negatively impact their quality of life.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

HRT involves the administration of hormones to replace those that the body no longer produces in sufficient quantities. HRT can significantly improve the quality of life for women experiencing severe menopausal symptoms. It helps regulate processes influenced by hormones, such as mood, mental clarity, appetite, metabolism and body fat distribution.

Most women who are undergoing HRT treatment are prescribed a combination of estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen helps most with symptoms like hot flashes and vaginal dryness; progesterone is added to protect against uterine cancer and osteoporosis.

Lifestyle changes that may help:

Regular exercise — This can help boost your mood as it stimulates the brain chemical norepinephrine and increases endorphins.
Healthy diet — A diet that has a variety of whole and minimally processed foods can help ease depression, which can be a psychological symptom of menopause.
Good sleep pattern — A regular sleep pattern can help treat sleep problems related to hormonal imbalance.
Exercises — Weight-bearing exercise can help reduce the rate of bone loss due to menopause and can even help to build bone.
Yoga and meditation — These practices can help promote relaxation and ease stress.

Management of underlying health conditions: As much as possible, manage health conditions that can increase the severity of your menopausal symptoms. These conditions include high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, high blood pressure and increased glucose levels.

Natural Supplements and Nutritional Support

A good nutritional foundation for women on HRT includes a source of quality omega-3 essential fatty acids, vitamin D, a probiotic and a quality multiple vitamin.

Supplementing with diindolylmethane (DIM) may be a good addition to HRT treatment as well. DIM can be helpful in preventing toxic buildup and ensuring the elimination of estrogen from the body. BioDIM Plus is a blend of DIM combined with vitamin D3, vitamin E, calcium, green tea extract and resveratrol. This product also includes HMRlignan™, a standardized lignan extract, which provides powerful antioxidant protection, helps protect against cellular damage caused by free radicals, and is beneficial in supporting healthy hormonal balance.^†

Metabolic Probiotic with Akkermansia is a new blend of probiotic strains designed to help promote the body’s natural production of GLP-1 while supporting the health of the gut microbiome and lining. This combination was formulated to help curb cravings, manage weight and inflammation, and promote a balanced immune system.^†

PCOS Support is a combination formula containing a 40:1 myo-inositol and d-chiro-inositol ratio, chromium, cinnamon and fenugreek. These ingredients have been shown to support optimal blood glucose balance, fertility, hormone balance and regular menstrual cycles.^†

DHEA is a natural steroid hormone that is synthesized from cholesterol through pregnenolone by the adrenal glands. It acts as an antagonist for glucocorticosteroid hormones and is the parent precursor for other important steroid hormones, such as estradiol and other estrogens, and testosterone.^†

Consulting a Health Care Professional

Women should consult their health care professional to explore options for managing menopause and hormone replacement, ensuring they choose the best approach for their individual needs.

Hormone replacement therapy and lifestyle adjustments can help women navigate the challenges of menopause, improving their overall quality of life during this natural stage of aging.

REFERENCES:

MedlinePlus [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); [updated Jun 24; cited 2020 Jul 1]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/

FDA Office of Women’s Health. (2023, December13). Menopause. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/womens-health-topics/menopause

Ratini, Melinda, DO. (2024, February 28). What You Should Know About HRT. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/menopause/ss/slideshow-hormone-therapy Wetmore, Koren. (2023, February 8).

Hormone Replacement Therapy: Is It Right for You? https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/hormone-replacement-therapy-risks-benefits.html#:~:text=By%20replenishing%20your%20hormone%20supply,pills%2C%20skin%20patches%20or%20gels

Revitalize You MD. (2023). What Is the Safest Natural Female Hormone Replacement Therapy? https://revitalizeyoumd.com/safest-natural-female-hormone-replacement-therapy/

^†These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Hormone Replacement Therapy: A Time for Change

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 15:10:09 GMT

Hormones are the chemical messengers that regulate and facilitate nearly every bodily process. The endocrine system is a network of glands and organs that produce hormones and release them into the blood stream to regulate these biological processes. The endocrine system works with the nervous system and the immune system to help cope with different events, needs and stressors.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

HRT involves the administration of hormones to replace those that the body no longer produces in sufficient quantities. Most women undergoing HRT receive a combination of estrogen and progesterone.

HRT can significantly improve the quality of life for women experiencing severe menopausal symptoms. It helps regulate processes influenced by hormones, such as appetite, metabolism and body fat distribution, by supporting the endocrine system.

Lifestyle changes that may help:

Regular exercise — This can help boost your mood as it stimulates the brain chemical norepinephrine and increases endorphins.
Healthy diet — A diet that has a variety of whole and minimally processed foods can help ease depression, which can be a psychological symptom of menopause.
Good sleep pattern — A regular sleep pattern can help treat sleep problems related to hormonal imbalance.
Exercises that can strengthen your bones — These can help reduce the rate of bone loss due to menopause.
Yoga and meditation — These practices can help you relax and ease stress.

Management of underlying health conditions — As much as possible, manage health conditions that can increase the severity of your menopausal symptoms. These conditions include high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, high blood pressure and increased glucose levels.

Natural Supplements and Nutritional Support

A good nutritional foundation for women on HRT includes a source of quality omega-3 essential fatty acids, vitamin D, a probiotic and a quality multiple vitamin.

Women's One Daily Whole Food Multi may be a good resource for women of any age wishing to fill nutritional gaps and help promote wellness. This multi also has the added benefits of whole foods, probiotics, mushrooms, herbs and spices selected specifically for women.^†

Menopause Support is a potent women’s formula for support during mid-life changes. It contains several standardized herbal extracts and nutrients, such as black cohosh, soy, red clover and B-complex, as well as dong quai and chasteberry.^†

Black Cohosh Plus with dong quai and chasteberry can provide a natural herbal approach to healthy hormonal balance.^†

Consulting a Health Care Professional

Women should consult their health care professional to explore options for managing menopause and hormone replacement, ensuring they choose the best approach for their individual needs.

Hormone replacement therapy and lifestyle adjustments can help women navigate the challenges of menopause, improving their overall quality of life during this natural stage of aging.

REFERENCES:

MedlinePlus [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); [updated Jun 24; cited 2020 Jul 1]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/
FDA Office of Women’s Health. (2023, December 13). Menopause. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/womens-health-topics/menopause
Ratini, Melinda, DO. (2024, February 28). What You Should Know About HRT. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/menopause/ss/slideshow-hormone-therapy Wetmore, Koren. (2023, February 8). Hormone Replacement Therapy: Is It Right for You? https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/hormone-replacement-therapy-risks-benefits.html#:~:text=By%20replenishing%20your%20hormone%20supply,pills%2C%20skin%20patches%20or%20gels. Revitalize You MD. (2023). What Is the Safest Natural Female Hormone Replacement Therapy? https://revitalizeyoumd.com/safest-natural-female-hormone-replacement-therapy/

†These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.