Honey Why Are You Crying

(Women and Their Hormones)

Since time began, husbands have been baffled about how their wives could laugh one minute and cry the next. Helplessly, they would inquire as to the reason for their wife’s mysterious mood changed and feel totally at a loss when their wife would tearfully and irritably reply, “I don’t know!” Husbands have tried everything—buying her a new pair of shoes with matching handbag, a day at the spa, a few nights away from the kids, and although the situation may be temporarily alleviated, the old emotional rollercoaster pattern seems to resurface in no time. This same unfortunate scenario has been occurring in practically every marriage. The world has pretty much labeled this behavior as PMS and counsels men to just hang in there and hope for the best until the premenstrual storm blows over.

As a woman ages, estrogen levels can increase to double what they should be because of lack of exercise, plastics in cookware, hormones in the foods we eat (meat, dairy, etc.), over refined diets (from bad fats), pesticides, soaps, products that contain petroleum (including cosmetics and skin care products), medication (birth control pills, hormone replacement therapies, etc.) and even spermicides in condoms. Typically for women over 25, the main problem is estrogen dominance or too much estrogen circulating in their bodies for too long. The excessive estrogen becomes trapped in uterus, ovary, and breast tissues, and cause overstimulation of cell division. This can lead to abnormal growths such as fibroid tumors (tough, fibrous muscle tissue that develops in the wall of the uterus) and cysts (fluid-filled sacs that can develop in any major organ). The typical woman is functioning at about 120%-160% over the normal levels of estrogen just through daily living. Progesterone, on the other hand, with age can literally decrease to nothing, unable to counteract and balance the effects of estrogen dominance. When a woman is very low in progesterone, she will feel like nobody loves her—she will feel insecure, emotional, and nervous. She will also tend to be critical and always find fault with herself and others. She will never be happy with herself or her efforts.

The following are indications of an imbalance in progesterone or estrogen hormones: increased appetite, craving for chocolate, French fries, salt, chips, and dairy fats like ice cream (can I get a witness?), and even accelerated aging. We’ve all seen couples where the husband looks middle aged but the wife looks like a grandmother! Another indicator of having abnormal hormone levels is a gradual weight gain in the late 20s or 30s with no real change in physical activity or diet; unfortunately, as time goes on, this weight becomes harder and harder to lose. Menstrual irregularity is also a strong indicator. Periods are missed or come too close together; there is an increased flow which may last longer than normal coupled with increased emotional sensitivity for no apparent reason, characterized by feeling of not being appreciates, respected, or loved. New mothers may experience the onset of unexplainable and irresolvable depression after the birth of their child (sometimes called the “baby blues”). Other signs include gradual or sudden onset of allergies or chemical sensitivities, unusual intolerance of smells, perfumes, soaps, and others that can cause sinus headaches, mental dullness, and other symptoms. Women with hormonal imbalance often complain about increased worry, spells of anxiety, fearfulness without reason, and trouble sleeping. There can even be a change in vision, dryness of the skin, the onset of blemishes, joint pain, and gradual loss of bladder control.

Ladies, you don’t have to live like this. There is help that is affordable, safe, and simple! Nutritional supplements, for example, can help stabilize hormone levels naturally and effectively. I have treated many women with these types of hormonal problems and have seen a quick turn-around in their lives and relationships for the better. On a personal note, I identify with all the bewildered husbands out there because I also felt dazed and confused in the beginning years of my marriage. I did not know what my wife was going through and I did not know how to help her. I am grateful for the doctors that took the time to inform me of what was going on. Today, I have a great marriage with the same woman that I married over 20 years ago, and we are both thrilled to finally be off of that wild emotional rollercoaster ride.

If you would like to learn which supplements I recommend to help the liver process estrogen in your body so that you too can experience a more emotionally-balance and high-energy life, please email at dr.eric@elitehealthnow.com