Hormones…blame the hormones. As we age, our bodies change, our brains change, our muscles change, our physiques change, our drives change – blame the hormones. The inevitable change of hormones: We’re doomed, right?
Wrong.
Functional medicine is an alternative type of medicine in which a full-body, biology-based approach is taken to identify the causes of specific issues rather than treating the symptoms. In other words, we need to assess individuals from the inside out, head to toe, to identify what is going on rather than just hearing the symptoms and treating this with a pill or cream.
Are We Doomed?
Most hormones start to decline through the natural aging process – but is it the chicken or the egg? Which happens first—hormones decrease, and then we begin to lose muscle mass, or vice versa? Do our hormones change and then sleep suffers, or are we getting inadequate, unrestful sleep and then the hormones are affected?
Brain fog, memory decline, weight gain, loss of muscle mass, poor sleep, hot flashes, night sweats, poor sex drive, hair loss, irritability, anxiety, depression, constipation, hunger and cravings, fatigue…
This list could go on, but this is just the start of the symptoms I hear from patients that are often blamed on hormones, and subsequently, they believe nothing can be done.
Did you catch what I said? These are symptoms they’re experiencing. And anytime we have symptoms, we must evaluate and identify the cause.
Let’s Get to the Bottom of This
As we age, we naturally start to lose muscle mass, a process called sarcopenia. Many people blame this on the fact that hormones are changing (and declining). However, as we age, our body’s ability to stimulate muscle protein synthesis (to stimulate the proteins to build muscle mass) declines, resulting in less overall muscle mass. And as muscle mass declines, the body’s metabolic rate, or the rate at which we burn calories at rest, also declines.
Simultaneously, the risk of insulin resistance increases through the aging process. Insulin resistance is a metabolic dysfunction in which the body is not metabolizing food, specifically carbohydrates and sugar, efficiently, resulting in higher blood sugar and insulin levels. Insulin resistance can occur due to vitamin deficiencies, poor nutrient balance through diet, lack of physical exertion, a decrease in muscle mass, medications, hormonal changes, or medical comorbidities such as high cholesterol, blood pressure, and autoimmune disease.
Sarcopenia can occur due to insulin resistance, less physical activity, less strength training, a lack of protein in the meal plan, and medications. Yes, a loss in muscle mass can increase the risk of insulin resistance, and insulin resistance can increase the risk of a loss of muscle mass.
I know what you might be thinking:
“We must be doomed because sarcopenia and insulin resistance are part of the aging process, so there isn’t anything to do except take hormones and hope I feel better.” Hold that thought. Something else you might be thinking: “If I am exhausted, not sleeping well, and craving sugar, how will I ever overcome these issues of not consuming enough protein and not exercising enough? My doctor told me to take hormones to fix my symptoms.” Please, keep reading.
Treat the Problem, Not the Symptom
First things first: Let’s assess your metabolism, blood sugar, and vitamin levels. Let’s look at your medical history, medications, and other diagnoses impacting your metabolism. Let’s assess the amount of inflammation in your body. Sure, your hormones have decreased, though your symptoms are likely coming from something else.
- Blood sugar stability is more challenging as we age due to the changes in muscle-to-fat ratio, vitamin levels, and the body’s ability to metabolize (break down) glucose (sugar). This needs to be a primary focus in preventing the symptoms associated with aging. We must focus on getting the proper amount of lean protein into our body with the right balance of complex (good) carbohydrates and unsaturated (healthy) fats. In some cases, a plant sterol called berberine can help aid in efficient glucose metabolism. With stable blood sugar, our vitamin levels, sleep, energy, recovery time, and muscle-building
opportunities significantly improve. - Optimizing vitamin levels is essential to improving many of the symptoms we are experiencing. For instance, magnesium is vital for sleep, bowel movements, muscle aches and cramps, headaches, melatonin production, and reducing stress and anxiety. Vitamin D is crucial to improve blood sugar stability, preventing depression and anxiety, and bone health. Vitamin B12 is essential for nerve health, brain health, energy, and metabolism. Ferritin is the iron-storage level in our body which is vital for energy, preventing restless leg syndrome, and more. This is just a pinch of the vitamin levels that should be assessed regarding hormonal symptoms, as we often lack vital nutrients and vitamins as we age (trigger gut health conversation).
- Identify the proper amount of strength training versus cardiovascular exercise for maintaining or gaining muscle mass and protecting heart health.
- Assess gut health: This is a topic for another day, though it is essential in optimizing our health, nutrient absorption, and reducing inflammation! 70% of our immune system starts in the GUT!
- Hydration: Again, a topic for another day. Are you drinking enough? Most likely…NO.
The symptoms you’re experiencing as your hormones change are often due to very treatable conditions, malnutrition, and vitamin deficiencies. These are simple changes, but making them is not easy—it requires work and change! Contact Berman Health and Wellness today.
Berman Health and Wellness is a Functional Medicine Center that helps individuals reach their goal weight and optimize their gut health while avoiding needless medications and achieving the highest quality of life imaginable. Focusing on and optimizing gut health is vital to protecting our brain, metabolism, hormones, and longevity.
Call 239.431.0232 or visit: www.bermanpt.com/wellness to learn more.