Condition of the Month with Dr. Judi Gerstung



	WEIGHT PROBLEMS: THYROID/ADRENAL CONNECTION Coming in as one of the major health conditions in America is the hyperinsulinemia and obesity. What used to be an adult problem is now increasingly more prevalent from toddlers to teenagers. This is of great concern due to its correlation with Type 2 diabetes and the early onset of high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Dr. Tedd Mitchell, MD addressed this issue in his Jan. 14-16, 2005 column “HealthSmart”, USA WEEKEND and tells us: “…disease once associated with aging – are growing increasingly common in elementary school children”. Childhood cancers and depression are other conditions that are showing up in the pediatric and teenage population in far greater numbers than a generation ago. In the same article, the Surgeon General of the United States, Richard Carmona states: “My top priority can be summed up in one word: prevention.” One key to the prevention of these diseases is to recognize their connection with estrogenic overload. We need to understand that the excess estrogen in the environment is being absorbed by children’s tissues as well as by those of adults. It is even absorbed by the fetus during the 9 months of pregnancy. The impact is creating similar problems in both populations. And again we need to look at the food (and synthetic chemicals) we eat and drink and our overall sedentary lifestyles for clues to this obesity epidemic. However, a related issue is the relationship of our thyroid and adrenal glands with our tendency to gain weight. This association is one in which excess estrogenic exposures: Slows down thyroid activity; Overburdens the liver; and Stimulated excess cortisol production via the adrenals. How Does Estrogen in Excess Impact Thyroid Functioning? With respect to the thyroid gland, a clue that it is not functioning properly is an individual’s difficulty losing weight. Many people feel that even if they diet and exercise all the time, they never lose a pound. This is characteristic of a depressed and underactive metabolism: one that is simply responding to an overload of estrogenic hormonal messengers telling the thyroid gland to slow down. And, in the process, we find that our energy is zapped and our mood is depressed, not to mention our libido. The good news here is that restoring the balance between estrogen and progesterone activates normal thyroid activity, and thus stimulates metabolism, weight loss and energy levels. This is a wellness strategy that works without all of the side effects of the usual approach: the lifelong prescription of Synthroid. Is There Any Connection Between the Functioning of the Thyroid and the Liver? A long overlooked but critical connection to hormone balancing is that between the thyroid and the liver. In all too many cases of hypothyroidism it is generally thought that all one needs to do to restore proper functioning is to simply take thyroid hormones. We are now realizing that it’s just not that simple. And, as Ridha Arem, MD informs us, close to 80% of the conversion of T4 to its bioactive form, T3, occurs mainly in the liver as well as in other glands and organs. Furthermore, this conversion is only possible with a healthy, functioning liver. And that’s just not the case for those eating the average American type of diet – one that is overloaded with transfatty acids (partially hydrogenated fats and oils) and simple sugars. Yet, the medical community still wonders why so many women and men have slow thyroid function, or appear to, even in the presence of normal thyroid testing. Most often this is because the problem is not in their thyroid – it’s their congested and overworked liver. Yet, the most common of prescriptions is that of the synthetic version of the T3 and T4 hormones as found in Synthroid. What is interesting to note here is that liver dysfunction is often related to excessive exposure to environmental chemicals, toxins, and pollutants; again, those that add more estrogenic molecules to the system for the liver to process. And, the cycle continues in which our diet stresses out the liver, which fails to convert the thyroid hormone, which slows down our metabolism, which causes us to gain weight, which then produces more estrogen in the fat cells, which stimulates over production of cortisol, which causes us to accumulate fat in our abdomen, and on and on it goes….. What Role Does Cortisol Play? The connection between the adrenal glands and overweight/obesity is related to the overproduction of the hormone cortisol. Like estrogen, cortisol has numerous and important regulatory functions in our body. But it can also cause problems when too much is produced. And, coincidentally or not, the amount of cortisol produced is tied directly to our levels of estrogen. Thus, estrogen overload quickly leads to cortisol overload. Fortunately, in a study by Kenna Stephenson, MD, et al, of women with cortisol levels in the greater than normal range we learn that: “there was a marked decline in the levels of cortisol to normal range while they were using the progesterone cream as compared to placebo. They go on to confirm that: “stress activates cortisol, and an abnormal cortisol pattern has been associated with an increased risk of heart attacks, cancer, obesity and other diseases” as well as decreased bone density. A direct consequence of the overproduction of cortisol is that it triggers fat storage to occur, especially, but not limited, to the deep visceral cells of the abdomen – sound familiar? This effect is under the influence of the adrenals because these glands govern our “fight or flight” mechanism, otherwise known as our stress response. Unfortunately, one of the factors in activating this stress response is an excess of estrogenic toxins resulting in excess cortisol production that then activates storage of fat. It does this to provide us with a surplus of quick energy in times of extreme stress (such as a sudden need to fight or flee). However, for most of us, our stress response is usually activated by chronic situations including our high fat, low fiber diet as well as continued exposure to the many chemicals and pollutants in our environment. Dr. Shawn Talbott tells us that even “moderate stress can make animals produce 48% more cortisol and become 26% fatter”. In the Jan/Feb 2005 issue of the Sierra Club magazine this problem was addressed in an article entitled “The Chemical Connection: Is pollution making people fat?” It states: “Hormones like estrogen figure prominently in obesity studies, since several help regulate the size and number of fat cells, as well as appetite and metabolism. And if that weren’t enough, estrogen is also produced in our fat cells by conversion of another adrenal steroid hormone. And so, not only does excess estrogen contribute to the production and storage of fat cells, but these same fat cells produce more estrogen…and so, the “fat” roller coaster just keeps on gaining momentum. And we just keep on gaining weight…. This website, and the book on which it is based, (The Estrogen Alternative: A Guide to Natural Hormone Balance, 4th Edition, by Raquel Martin and Judi Gerstung, DC), is intended to inform and educate the reader as to the many issues surrounding hormone imbalance. Every effort has been made to provide a broad spectrum of information, references and resources. If you have questions or concerns regarding the application of this information, please consult a qualified healthcare professional. Dr. Judi Gerstung PO Box 337292 Greeley, CO 80633 dr.judi.dc@gmail.com © Copyright Dan's Fair Computer Repair, Inc. 2011.

Condition of the Month

WEIGHT PROBLEMS: THYROID/ADRENAL CONNECTION

Coming in as one of the major health conditions in America is the hyperinsulinemia and obesity. What used to be an adult problem is now increasingly more prevalent from toddlers to teenagers. This is of great concern due to its correlation with Type 2 diabetes and the early onset of high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Dr. Tedd Mitchell, MD addressed this issue in his Jan. 14-16, 2005 column “HealthSmart”, USA WEEKEND and tells us: “…disease once associated with aging – are growing increasingly common in elementary school children”. Childhood cancers and depression are other conditions that are showing up in the pediatric and teenage population in far greater numbers than a generation ago. In the same article, the Surgeon General of the United States, Richard Carmona states: “My top priority can be summed up in one word: prevention.”

One key to the prevention of these diseases is to recognize their connection with estrogenic overload. We need to understand that the excess estrogen in the environment is being absorbed by children’s tissues as well as by those of adults. It is even absorbed by the fetus during the 9 months of pregnancy. The impact is creating similar problems in both populations. And again we need to look at the food (and synthetic chemicals) we eat and drink and our overall sedentary lifestyles for clues to this obesity epidemic. However, a related issue is the relationship of our thyroid and adrenal glands with our tendency to gain weight.

This association is one in which excess estrogenic exposures:

Slows down thyroid activity;
Overburdens the liver; and
Stimulated excess cortisol production via the adrenals.

How Does Estrogen in Excess Impact Thyroid Functioning?

With respect to the thyroid gland, a clue that it is not functioning properly is an individual’s difficulty losing weight. Many people feel that even if they diet and exercise all the time, they never lose a pound. This is characteristic of a depressed and underactive metabolism: one that is simply responding to an overload of estrogenic hormonal messengers telling the thyroid gland to slow down. And, in the process, we find that our energy is zapped and our mood is depressed, not to mention our libido. The good news here is that restoring the balance between estrogen and progesterone activates normal thyroid activity, and thus stimulates metabolism, weight loss and energy levels. This is a wellness strategy that works without all of the side effects of the usual approach: the lifelong prescription of Synthroid.

Is There Any Connection Between the Functioning of the Thyroid and the Liver?

A long overlooked but critical connection to hormone balancing is that between the thyroid and the liver. In all too many cases of hypothyroidism it is generally thought that all one needs to do to restore proper functioning is to simply take thyroid hormones. We are now realizing that it’s just not that simple. And, as Ridha Arem, MD informs us, close to 80% of the conversion of T4 to its bioactive form, T3, occurs mainly in the liver as well as in other glands and organs. Furthermore, this conversion is only possible with a healthy, functioning liver. And that’s just not the case for those eating the average American type of diet – one that is overloaded with transfatty acids (partially hydrogenated fats and oils) and simple sugars. Yet, the medical community still wonders why so many women and men have slow thyroid function, or appear to, even in the presence of normal thyroid testing. Most often this is because the problem is not in their thyroid – it’s their congested and overworked liver. Yet, the most common of prescriptions is that of the synthetic version of the T3 and T4 hormones as found in Synthroid. What is interesting to note here is that liver dysfunction is often related to excessive exposure to environmental chemicals, toxins, and pollutants; again, those that add more estrogenic molecules to the system for the liver to process. And, the cycle continues in which our diet stresses out the liver, which fails to convert the thyroid hormone, which slows down our metabolism, which causes us to gain weight, which then produces more estrogen in the fat cells, which stimulates over production of cortisol, which causes us to accumulate fat in our abdomen, and on and on it goes…..

What Role Does Cortisol Play?

The connection between the adrenal glands and overweight/obesity is related to the overproduction of the hormone cortisol. Like estrogen, cortisol has numerous and important regulatory functions in our body. But it can also cause problems when too much is produced. And, coincidentally or not, the amount of cortisol produced is tied directly to our levels of estrogen. Thus, estrogen overload quickly leads to cortisol overload. Fortunately, in a study by Kenna Stephenson, MD, et al, of women with cortisol levels in the greater than normal range we learn that: “there was a marked decline in the levels of cortisol to normal range while they were using the progesterone cream as compared to placebo. They go on to confirm that: “stress activates cortisol, and an abnormal cortisol pattern has been associated with an increased risk of heart attacks, cancer, obesity and other diseases” as well as decreased bone density.

A direct consequence of the overproduction of cortisol is that it triggers fat storage to occur, especially, but not limited, to the deep visceral cells of the abdomen – sound familiar? This effect is under the influence of the adrenals because these glands govern our “fight or flight” mechanism, otherwise known as our stress response. Unfortunately, one of the factors in activating this stress response is an excess of estrogenic toxins resulting in excess cortisol production that then activates storage of fat. It does this to provide us with a surplus of quick energy in times of extreme stress (such as a sudden need to fight or flee). However, for most of us, our stress response is usually activated by chronic situations including our high fat, low fiber diet as well as continued exposure to the many chemicals and pollutants in our environment. Dr. Shawn Talbott tells us that even “moderate stress can make animals produce 48% more cortisol and become 26% fatter”.

In the Jan/Feb 2005 issue of the Sierra Club magazine this problem was addressed in an article entitled “The Chemical Connection: Is pollution making people fat?” It states: “Hormones like estrogen figure prominently in obesity studies, since several help regulate the size and number of fat cells, as well as appetite and metabolism. And if that weren’t enough, estrogen is also produced in our fat cells by conversion of another adrenal steroid hormone. And so, not only does excess estrogen contribute to the production and storage of fat cells, but these same fat cells produce more estrogen…and so, the “fat” roller coaster just keeps on gaining momentum. And we just keep on gaining weight….

This website, and the book on which it is based, (The Estrogen Alternative: A Guide to Natural Hormone Balance, 4th Edition, by Raquel Martin and Judi Gerstung, DC), is intended to inform and educate the reader as to the many issues surrounding hormone imbalance. Every effort has been made to provide a broad spectrum of information, references and resources. If you have questions or concerns regarding the application of this information, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Dr. Judi Gerstung
PO Box 337292
Greeley, CO 80633
dr.judi.dc@gmail.com