Hi,
“I don’t feel normal.
I feel like I’ve lost control of my body.
What I used to do isn’t working anymore.
I’m just not as sharp.
I’m starting to lose it more with my kids…
My periods aren’t right, and I’m not comfortable with birth control as a solution.”
We hear this a lot…
There is typically a reason for feeling flat, gaining weight, or feeling like you are losing yourself…
It often lies in a deeper detail in pathology or something that may not be getting looked at.
Today, I wanted to share what I like to call “The Control Systems Quadrant” (see image on right below)
We all know that our body is made up of 80% water. (Human bodies to be more specific)
Women’s hormones play a big role in our overall feeling of health and vitality.
Our hormones are like signals that communicate through symptoms that something mightn’t be right.
I like to say, each symptom is a little warning sign that the body needs more attention or support.
The four body systems in this quadrant are largely effected by nutrients, minerals, and metals within the body.
Which is why we find our naturopathic philosophy to be so effective with our patients.
So let’s go deeper into this Quadrant and why getting control of these 4 body systems should matter to you.
The Gut Microbiome
So many people think that to have a “gut” problem, you must have issues going to the toilet, heart burn, acid reflux, IBS, IBD, or an inflammatory bowel issue like Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis.
But that’s not always the case.
It’s actually more common for us to see Inflammatory Symptoms associated with the gut microbiome like:
- Pain, Headaches, or Migraines
- Poor Immune Function (catching colds, flus, hay fever, nausea, etc – very easily)
- Depression, Anxiety, & Moodiness
- Bloating or Abdominal Discomfort
- Skin Issues like Rosacea, Rashes, Eczema, Dandruff & Psoriasis
- Digestive Issues like Diarrhoea, Constipation (or rotating), Heart Burn, Acid Reflux, Gut Pain, or IBS
The gut microbiome is a key part of letting us know that things aren’t right.
Initial symptoms often show up as a change in bowel movements, but we can often feel immediate relief by using things like coffee, antacids, or eating certain foods that stop that problem.
Then other issues pop up that we may pacify as “normal”. Maybe a dry scalp, muscle soreness, bloating – we think it’s something we ate, or maybe we went a little too hard exercising a few days ago…
If the microbiome is acting up, it’s like the first system to go down in the quadrant that can then trigger the next system.
The Liver
Think of the liver as the channel of filtration, digestion, metabolism and detoxification.The primary functions of the liver are:
- Bile production and excretion
- Excretion of bilirubin, cholesterol, hormones, and drugs
- Metabolism of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates
- Enzyme activation
- Storage of glycogen, vitamins, and minerals
- Synthesis of plasma proteins, such as albumin, and clotting factors
- Blood detoxification and purification
So if your “getting backed up” because the liver isn’t able to do it’s job, it doesn’t detoxify, filter or metabolise the body properly and often shows up in problems with oestrogen dominance or oestrogen excess, which leads us to the next system…
Reproductive Hormones
When the two body systems (liver & gut) aren’t working optimally, it’s very common for oestrogen to get involved!
Oestrogen is an inflammatory hormone. Progesterone is a calming hormone (and there’s 100x more progesterone during a menstrual cycle then oestradiol.)
Oestrogen dominance or oestrogen excess – You can feel it as:
- Sore or Tender Breasts, especially before your period starts.
- Weight Gain, especially breasts, hips, bum, thighs & arms.
- Mood Changes, especially sadness, depression, and snappiness.
- Intense Hunger before period starts.
Many women can pacify gut dysbiosis or suboptimal liver function until…peri-menopause or menopause sets in OR period problems stop them from doing everyday things (due to flooding, pain, fatigue, or other dramas).
Take Peri-Menopause & Post Menopause
During Peri-Menopause, Oestrogen raises.Progesterone lowers.
At Menopause & Thereafter, both progesterone & oestrogen are dropping.
Women know there’s a problem because the Metabolic Hormones and/or Gut Issues start to pop up between 37 and 55. Symptoms arise like:
- Weight Gain, especially around the middle: Often caused because the sex hormone gap slows metabolic hormone production, slowing thyroid hormones and/or increasing insulin resistance.
- Sluggishness or Fatigue
- Lack of Motivation and “Get up & Go”
- Brain Fog
- Muscle Aches, Joint Pain, and/or Period Pain
- Migraines or Headaches
- Catching Hayfever, Colds, Nausea, or Flus easily
- Constipation and/or Diarrhoea (changes in bowel movements)
- Sleep Challenges: This can be a stress response activating the next system, the adrenals, due to progesterone reducing.
The Adrenal System
So at the point the adrenal system is activated it can really make us feel out of whack.
If the adrenal system is in fight or flight mode it activates the stress hormones in the body, which can put the body into “protection mode”, further storing fat and preventing the breakdown of fat.
I saw a question on a social media group the other day from a mum trying to figure out how to lose weight, tossing up going to the gym instead of sleeping a full 8 hours. Believe it or not, we’ve had patients that find just sleeping through the night, and getting a full 8 hours naturally release 2-3 kgs without any strict diet or exercise.
Sleeping through the night is quite important.
Unfortunately, cortisol hormone levels are only looked at for extreme diagnosis like Addison’s disease or Cushing’s Syndrome.
When we are looking at the adrenal system, we look more closely at the levels of cortisol according to the circadian rhythm within a micro range.
Common Symptoms caused by Adrenal Disfunction:
- Flatlined energy
- Sleep Disruption (especially falling back asleep after waken up)
- Weight Gain
- Salt & Sugar Cravings
I realise today was a long email! I’m going to spend the next couple of weeks cover each of these systems a bit deeper in hopes to help further “connect the dots” to help you identify where you are in the process.
I hope you have found it helpful!
If you have any questions, or would like further support, please feel free to reply and we can organise a Free Introductory TeleConsultation with you.
Looking forward to connecting again soon.
Warmly,
Tiaan
