The Impact Of Adrenal Hormone Dysfunction On Menopause And How To Restore Balance

Episode 68
In this episode of ReInvent Healthcare, we have a special guest, Dr. Kyrin Dunston, the host of the Hormone Prescription podcast and founder of the Her Hormone Club - an end-to-end membership that provides women with state of the art hormone therapy. She’s a speaker and has been featured in TEDx, CBS, NBC, Reader's Digest, The Huffington Post, Best Self and more. We dive into the topic of adrenal hormone dysfunction and its significant impact on menopause. Menopause is a natural transition in a woman's life, but the hormonal changes that occur during this phase can lead to various symptoms and health challenges. Hormones are the foundation of women’s health and must be in balance. We shed light on the crucial role adrenal hormones play in menopause and provide insights on restoring hormonal balance to alleviate these symptoms. Make sure to listen to the full episode to learn more.

IN THIS EPISODE:

The Crucial Role of Hormones
Hormones serve as the foundation for various bodily functions and processes, influencing everything from reproductive health to metabolism and emotional well-being.There are seven main metabolic hormones that are particularly important for women. These hormones include insulin, cortisol, estrogen, progesterone, thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), growth hormone, and leptin. Each of these hormones plays a unique role in regulating different aspects of a woman’s health. The key is asking the right questions, testing and not guessing, and comparing to optimal not “normal” lab values.

Cortisol’s Impact on Menopause
During menopause, when a woman’s reproductive hormone levels decline, the body undergoes significant hormonal changes. These hormonal fluctuations can lead to an increased production of cortisol, as the body perceives these changes as stress. Inappropriate cortisol levels during menopause can contribute to various symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, mood swings, and weight gain. When one hormone is out of balance, it affects other hormones, and your body will steal from one pathway to help another which leads to more imbalance. We cannot live without cortisol, so the body will sacrifice other hormones for survival.  Without testing and examining other hormone levels and stressors, practitioners can easily miss key findings. 

Cortisol Management during Menopause
 Managing cortisol levels is important. Hormonal changes can affect cortisol production, leading to symptoms like anxiety, irritability, and weight gain. Practicing stress reduction techniques, maintaining a healthy diet, supplementing when needed, and getting enough sleep are crucial for cortisol management during this stage. 

RESOURCES:

Dr. Kyrin Dunston

ReInvent Healthcare

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Ritamarie Loscalzo

Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo is a best-selling author and speaker known for her extensive knowledge, infectious energy, and inspirational message that encourages individuals to become their own best health advocate. She is an internationally recognized nutrition and health authority who specializes in using the wisdom of nature to restore hormone balance with a special emphasis on thyroid, adrenal and insulin imbalances. She founded the Institute of Nutritional Endocrinology to empower health and nutrition practitioners to get to the root cause of health concerns by using functional assessments and natural therapeutics to balance the endocrine system, the body's master controller.

Dr. Ritamarie is a licensed Doctor of Chiropractic with Certification in Acupuncture and is a Diplomat of the American Clinical Nutrition Board. She is a Certified Clinical Nutritionist with a Master’s in Human Nutrition, has completed a 2-year, 500-hour Herbal Medicine Program at David Winston’s Center for Herbal Studies and has a master's degree in Computer Science, which contributes to her skills as an ace problem solver.