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Dr Mark Menolascino MD, MS, ABIHM, ABAARM, IFMCP Board Certified Internal Medicine, Board Certified Holistic Medicine, Board Certified Anti-Aging Medicine
MENO CLINIC - GUIDE TO HORMONES | (307) 732-1039 | MENOCLINIC.COM
Some specialists may say that you are simply experiencing the natural effects of ageing. In the world of functional medicine, however, we find that the “natural” process of ageing can be greatly influenced by lifestyle, personalised hormone therapies, and diet. Low oestrogen is one of those natural ageing processes that can be changed. And it is worth changing! Low oestrogen has been associated with accelerated ageing and ailments including heart disease, depression, Alzheimer’s disease and osteoporosis as well as issues like reduced sexual function that just make life less enjoyable.
The first step to restoring your oestrogen levels is to begin living the healthiest life you can. This doesn’t mean stressing out about health. It means reducing stress through health.
Choose Optimal Meats
If you like seafood, reduce your consumption of red meat by replacing it with wild-caught fish, which are full of the anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids. Try to avoid all factory-farmed animals and instead buy pasture-raised, grass-fed meats to reduce the antibiotics and foreign hormones in your body.
- Smoking removes oestrogen – if you smoke, stop
- Dramatically reduce sugar consumption
- Avoid anti-inflammatory drugs– their potential damage to gut bacteria can cause hormonal issues downstream
- Exercise every day – exercise is the best way to achieve balance in all the body’s systems
- Avoid gluten, casein, whey or any other foods that cause food sensitivity in your body
- Limit alcohol to one drink per day
- Avoid GMO foods – hormonal dysfunction is one of the emerging risks of GMO agriculture
- Work towards optimal body weight through quality food choices, not extreme dieting
- Consume estrogen-supporting foods including non-GMO soy, grapefruit, blueberries, tomatoes, kale, red onions and green tea
Intermittent Fasting
12-16 hours without food consumption between dinner and breakfast several days of the week is proving to have multiple benefits including hormone balance, body fat loss and metabolism optimization. Second, speak to your doctor about oestrogen replacement therapy, but here’s the catch: synthetic hormone replacement therapy has proven to increase the risk of breast cancer, blood clots, heart disease and strokes. Instead, ask your doctor about hormone therapy that uses biologically identical hormones backed by proper nutritional support and customised for your unique biochemistry and history.
To administer biologically identical hormones, we consider several methods to find the one that will work best for you. We also look at your unique individuality to determine if oestrogen therapy is indeed the right way for you to regain optimal hormonal balance. Our goal is always to use lifestyle and diet if possible and only use medicine if necessary. Regaining hormonal balance may be easier than you think.