THE HORMONAL CONNECTION

A hormone is a messenger of our body, whether it's adrenaline, catecholamines, DHEA, human growth hormone, or dozens of others secreted by the adrenal gland, the pituitary, the thyroid, or other glands. Hormones allow the body to function properly. When a hormonal system becomes imbalanced due to toxins in the environment—lead, cadmium, mercury, silver amalgam fillings in our teeth, fluoride or chlorine in our water, viruses, bacteria, or even electromagnetic stressors—a dysregulation can result. It can be subtle, with no obvious symptoms, but significant nevertheless because the person's metabolism changes, and his or her energy level generally does as well.

Metabolic changes can mean a state in which the body is not efficient in burning its fuel. The body stores more fat, the person is generally more fatigued, and then, because he or she is not as vitally energized as before, the individual begins to lose some of his or her earlier enthusiasm about everyday activities. In time, this can cause a depression that in itself can cause hormonal imbalances and the releasing of stress hormones.

After a number of years, the body adapts to a reduction in the central hormones and/or an imbalance in how they are used. Often careful examination and testing of a person's hormone systems can determine if that individual is out of balance. If that is the case, by going through a comprehensive detoxification program and then a hormonal rebalancing, the person is frequently able to lose weight without dieting, regain a sense of energy, and avoid the Yo-Yo syndrome (losing weight only to regain it). By contrast, placing people on high-protein diets or just giving them vitamins or having them count calories and skip meals does not correct the underlying imbalance.

Obviously, not everyone suffers from a hormone imbalance, but it is a good idea to rule out such conditions before embarking on your weight-loss program. Hormone problems are actually more common than you might think, and if your weight-control struggle is hormone-related, all the dieting and exercising won't automatically help you shed those extra pounds. Read the information presented here and if any of the symptoms sound familiar, make an appointment with an endocrinologist who can perform a simple hormone test to determine if you are producing adequate levels of melatonin, estrogen, thyroxin, and other critical hormones. If your tests come back normal, clearly your weight-control problem is not hormonally related. If they do identify an imbalance, the treatment you receive may improve both your weight and your overall health. Either way, the peace of mind you will derive is well worth the expense of having the tests done.

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