January 2013 - Page 2 of 2 - Hormones Matter

100 Toxic Chemicals Found in Pregnant Women

Published on January 14, 2013

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Environmental toxins are everywhere. Not a day goes by that some report doesn’t warn us about this pesticide or that plastic or the host of toxic chemicals floating in the atmosphere. One has to wonder how we survive the toxic soup that has become our environment; but somehow we do – well, mostly. The rate of cancers, immune, endocrine and a myriad of other diseases are on the rise. Though experts argue about direct links between specific chemicals and diseases (correlation does not equal causation), no one can argue that bathing in a chemical cocktail is healthy. Yet that is exactly what we do and when we become pregnant so do our babies.

As part of the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES), 163 toxic chemicals from 12 chemical classes were measured from the blood, urine and serum of a representative group of 268 pregnant women. The results were not good. Researchers found widespread exposure to many toxic chemicals. Exposure to several classes of toxic chemicals were detected in 99–100% of the pregnant women tested including:

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) – are used as coolants and lubricants in electrical systems. Though no longer produced in the US, PCBs are still present in the environment, mostly in contaminated streams and rivers. Eating contaminated food (fish, meat or dairy) is the primary source of exposure. PCBs are also found in old (>30 years) fluorescent lights, refrigerators and TVs. PCBs are carcinogenic and exposure during pregnancy can cause developmental delays in infants and children.
Organochlorine pesticides – DDT and other pesticides (mosquito control) used in US from 1940-1960s. Many, though not all, are banned in the US. Organochlorines are neurotoxic and cause reproductive failure in animals.
Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) – are used to create stain and water resistant fabrics such as Stainmaster^TM, Scotchgard^TM, Teflon^TM and represent one of the most pervasively present chemical toxins today. PFCs do not appear to break down in the environment – ever, are linked liver and bladder cancer and cross the placental barrier. PFCs are linked to developmental and reproductive toxicity.
Phenols – are pervasive in the environment, found the resin in plywood, automotive and construction materials, the effluent of oil refineries and in the manufacturing of plastics (bisphenol A – BPA). Phenols are also found in a of medical products such as: mouthwashes, toothache drops, throat lozenges, analgesic rubs, and antiseptic lotions and tobacco. According to the EPA, no human studies have been done to determine the developmental or reproductive affects of phenol exposure, though animal research suggests phenols are weak carcinogens. Research on bisphenol A clearly suggests it is a highly estrogenic endocrine disruptor. Research on a class of phenolic compounds used oil refinery effluent that often leaches into nearby water supplies, reduces thyroid functioning in fish who swim in those streams.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) – are flame retardants that appear to be highly environmentally persistent – they don’t degrade – and have bio-accumulative affects that can be toxic to humans and the environment. PDBEs were only recently phased out of use in 2004. Exposure comes through eating foods grown in contaminated soils. The toxins can cross the placental barrier and are passed through breast milk. Though human research is still limited, PDBEs are thyroid toxic in rodents.
Phthalates, are pervasive in our environment from vinyls and plastics, to pesticides and solvents. Phthalates are present in most cosmetics and perfumes, though because of a loophole in the regulations phthalates are not often listed in the ingredients. They are also used in the coatings of many medications. Phthalates are endocrine disruptors and can cause congenital abnormalities in offspring of women who have been exposed.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) represent a group of over 100 different chemicals emitted when burning coal, oil and gas, garbage, tobacco and even charbroiled meat. Exposure comes from breathing, except in the case of charbroiled meats. Don’t burn the steak the bar-b-que!
Perchlorate or rocket fuel disrupts iodide uptake into the thyroid gland.

Though individually and with high enough exposure any one of these chemicals can have serious reproductive consequences. It is unclear, however, what chronic, lower level exposure to multiple chemicals would do, and yet that is exactly what most women face. How many products from the above list have you been exposed to? Chances are, most of them.

The Flu and You: Thoughts on Prevention and Treatment

by Susan Rex Ryan

Published on January 12, 2013

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Epidemic incidences of influenza are sweeping across the United States. This highly contagious respiratory disease—targeting all ages—is spreading with a vengeance. Forty-seven states have reported widespread “flu,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) current flu activity report. CDC officials estimate that the United States is only about halfway through a typical, 12-week flu season.

This season’s predominant strain of influenza is H3N2, a more potent type of influenza A virus that is statistically associated with more deaths and hospitalizations. What can you do to protect you and your family from this dreaded illness?

Is It Too Late to Prevent the Flu?

Proponents of the influenza vaccine are encouraging healthy people to get a flu shot, pronto. On the one hand, this season’s vaccine includes the H3N2 strain. On the other hand, anecdotal reporting suggests that some individuals who received the influenza vaccine have contracted the flu. However, it is too early in the season to understand the effectiveness of the vaccine.

Common Sense Approaches to Help Prevent the Flu

Frequently wash your hands. Keep your hands away from your mouth, nose, and eyes.
Enjoy nightly sleep of at least seven or eight hours.
Routinely exercise and consume a healthy diet.
Avoid crowds, if possible, as well as people who exhibit flu-like symptoms.

An effective approach to thwart the flu is to maintain a healthy immune system. Benefits of a substance called “Beta 1,3D Glucan” include strengthening the immune system. High-quality, beta-glucan supplements are derived from the cell wall of baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and available over-the-counter and online. Some healthcare practitioners exalt the effectiveness of taking a daily, beta-glucan capsule when your immunity may be threatened.

From a longer term standpoint, enjoying year-round, circulating vitamin D3 levels of at least 50ng/mL may be a proactive approach to fight influenza and other viruses. The direct correlation between influenza and winter seasons is no coincidence. Flu outbreaks typically occur during the season’s darkest days when little vitamin D is available from the sun’s rays. As a vitamin D advocate and writer, I emphasize the important role that vitamin D3 plays on the immune system. Activated vitamin D3 strengthens the immune system by producing peptides that combat viruses such as influenza. The more activated vitamin D3 in your body to bolster your immunity, the less likely you are to contract viruses such as the flu.

What Can You Do to Feel Better from the Flu?

Influenza strikes suddenly, usually without warning. According to the CDC, influenza symptoms include some or all of the following: fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, and fatigue.

You may feel as if you have been run over by a bus. Here are some tips to help alleviate your symptoms:

Staying hydrated. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day. Avoid beverages that contain caffeine and alcohol. Try decaffeinated tea with honey.
Enjoy chicken soup—a centuries-old remedy.
Add natural garlic, ginger, and lemon to your diet.
Stay home and rest. Misery likes company but no one wants your misery.

Lucine’s First Woman, Chandler Marrs, PhD, CEO and president of Lucine Health Sciences, says her flu remedy is black elderberry plus a vitamin cocktail and plenty of rest.

What’s your “tried and true” flu remedy? Join our conversation as we share tips about dealing with the flu.

A Personal Review of Endometriosis Diets

by Angela Wice

Published on January 11, 2013

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For me, food has always seemed to control my life in some way or another, let it be my endometriosis, eating disorder, IBS-C or food intolerances. I have grown accustomed to obsessing over food.

As a child I had reflux and can only assume it was from the pablum or baby formula. When I was a teenager, I began having migraines. The doctors told me to stop eating nuts, cheese and chocolate.

For 15 years, I didn’t know that there were some foods I should or shouldn’t eat, because I didn’t know that I had endometriosis until I was 27.

When I was finally diagnosed, I was still struggling with bulimia but in recent years, I have learned to eat better.

Sometimes I sit back and think that I am too obsessive about food, but every time the endo pain strikes, I am brought back to reality. Food matters. Some foods make me feel better, others make me feel worse. Here is what I have learned so far.

The Zone Diet. I lost 5lbs and it really taught me the meaning of healthier foods and portion control. I wasn’t able to stay on it. As a single mom, my focus was on keeping sane while getting everything done by myself.

The Endometriosis Diet. There are many versions of this, but most suggest no red meat (unless it’s organic), no sugar, no wheat, no dairy and no processed foods. I struggle on and off with this diet to this day. I don’t really like meat at all, so avoiding meat is not a problem, but, I have a hard time digesting vegetables especially raw vegetables. In fact, unless the vegetables are juiced or in a soup, my stomach cannot handle eating vegetables; I get severe bowel pain, indigestion, and bloating.

The Brown Rice Diet. I tried the brown rice diet that was suggested by my dietician. It lasted all of one day because I just couldn’t stomach plain rice for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I would gag at the sight of it.

Detox. I tried a lemon juice, cayenne pepper and maple syrup detox that was supposed to help heal and clear the bowels. It helped, but there are only so many days that someone can drink that concoction without feeling nauseated.

Yeast Busters. I was told by a naturopathic doctor that I candida, so I tried a yeast busters diet. It meant I couldn’t eat anything that contained yeast, sugar or gluten. Goodbye condiments and just about every other processed food. This diet was okay. I did feel it helped a bit but when the detox period of about 3 weeks was over. Then, I continued on with my life and same old pain returned.

Enemas. In 2010, I was at a crossroad. I just couldn’t handle the pain from my bowels any longer. I began using enemas weekly. After a year it turned into twice sometimes three times a week. I met a Naturopath that did some tests on me and said I had a wheat, dairy and spelt intolerance and that no nutrients were absorbing into my body. She said that was why I wasn’t feeling well. She prescribed about $300+ worth of supplements as well as some yeast herbs called Candicin. She said that I had candida in my large and small bowels. I was yeast and sugar free for one month along with gluten and dairy free for three months. I really felt a change for the better. The bowel pain was still there, so she suggested water enemas instead of what I was presently doing. The pain never left.

Paleo Diet. November 2012 I decided that I was going back on a gluten and dairy free diet because despite the pain in the stomach, my overall health was so much better. I did have a relapse over Christmas. It’s difficult for relatives and other people to understand that I just can’t eat the same foods they eat. Over the holidays, I gave in and ate what was served. I am now back on the diet and don’t plan to go off of it. A couple things I noticed. All that meat in the Paleo Diet was making me feel sick and the thought of eating anymore meat almost turned me off Paleo completely. However I did feel better with no stomach pain. In addition to removing gluten and dairy from my diet, I have also removed sugar, beans and grains. I found that not having beans and grains at all is what helped the most. Since there is no sugar allowed and I am prone to yeast infections, I can’t juice anymore which really upsets me as I really enjoy it.

After the first week, I the stomach pain stopped completely and I felt really good all over. I am not sure how many more diets

I have to try but I feel that I am getting closer to my optimum diet. I think that everyone reacts differently to different foods. My body just seems to not like anything other than soup and protein shakes.

What are some of your endometriosis diet wins and losses? Do certain foods trigger your pain?

Exercise, Ibuprofen and Your Gut

by Chandler Marrs, PhD

Published on January 9, 2013

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Ibuprofen and NSAIDs of other brands are used frequently by athletes around the world. Commonly referred to as Vitamin I, many athletes believe ibuprofen improves performance by extending the duration of pain free training or competition, despite evidence to the contrary.

A recent flurry of studies on male athletes indicates exercise induces a type of gut injury commonly seen in patients post surgery called splanchnic hypoperfusion or inadequate blood flow to the gut, kidney and liver. The abdominal distress common with intense training or competition, is really a state of reduced blood flow to the gut. The reduction in blood flow makes sense given the biological predilection to funnel energy away from digestion and metabolism during periods of fight or flight, even those that are self-induced.

GI hypoperfusion causes all sorts of mostly minor injuries, including general GI dysfunction, increased inflammation, increased permeability of endotoxins, but also, can cause more severe ischemic events – the complete cessation of blood flow to a particular abdominal region. Repeated periods of hypoperfusion may cause more damage.

To counter the pain associated with GI hypoperfusion and training in general, athletes often self-dose with ibuprofen. Research indicates that ibuprofen increases the GI damage and does not improve performance. In fact, ibuprofen users often experience more pain, abdominal and otherwise, and perform more poorly.

Consistently, the research on ibuprofen use by athletes is conducted with male athletes. What about about female athletes? More specifically, how does regular, though cyclical, often high dose ibuprofen use to relieve menstrual pain, affect GI function and athletic performance in female athletes? Are female athletes more susceptible to splanchnic hypoperfusion and the ensuing endotoxemia? Does the use of ibuprofen worsen the abdominal injury or perhaps even worsen the menstrual pain as time passes? Research on pain tolerance suggests that ibuprofen does not work at all for many women, despite the fact that women are the largest users of ibuprofen for a range of predominantly female conditions. Similarly, research on analgesic response across the menstrual cycle demonstrates clear cycle-related changes in analgesic effectiveness. Given the high usage rates of ibuprofen in women, especially athletic women, it would seem relevant to investigate gender differences in ibuprofen effectiveness and gut damage.

If you have research on these topics, please send them to us. We’d like to know and our readers would like to know.

Photo: by Dirk Hansen (Flickr) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Relating to Teens with Chronic Illness

by Jordan Davidson

Published on January 7, 2013

1768 views

A hallmark of being a teenager is rebellion. Puberty turns a once nice kid, into a hormonal, rebellious nightmare. No one enjoys puberty – one morning you wake up and the body you have been living with your whole per-pubescent life is no longer yours; it’s hairy, it smells, it’s awkward, your skin is constantly breaking out and half of everything you once loved is now uncool (your doll collection, your old friends, your parents, wearing matching outfits with your siblings, etc). Now add to this mix of hormonal hell, a chronic illness. Teens by nature want to rebel; but how do you rebel from a body that has rebelled against you.

It’s hard to treat teens, especially teenagers that have been dealing with illness the majority of their lives. Along with waking up one morning and hating everything, when dealing with a chronic illness that body hatred is one thousand times magnified. I have worked with young people with chronic illness before, and the overwhelming response is

“I want to be normal. I’ve had x condition my whole life and I’m going to have it for the remainder of my life. It’s not fair and I don’t want it.”

Just like any other teen, teens with chronic illnesses don’t want to be told what to do. Personally, when I was a teenager and in the hospital, I would disregard the advice of any doctor who tried to parent me. Chronically ill teenagers want to be treated like adults. If you are a doctor working with an ill young adult, talk to the patient – don’t direct the conversation towards the parents. At the end of the day it is the patient taking the pills and maintaining their care. All younger patients want is respect. They know their bodies better than you think and they just want to establish control in a relatively control free time of their lives. Treat the teen patient with respect and you’ll have much better results.

Marines, Male Breast Cancer and Environmental Toxins

by Chandler Marrs, PhD

Published on January 6, 2013

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Male breast cancer is rare. It accounts for less than one percent of all new cases and only about 2100 men are diagnosed annually. This is compared to ~288,000 women who diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011. Perhaps because it is so rare, male breast cancer does not receive the attention it deserves. That may change. A cluster male breast cancer patients, marines from Camp LeJeune, is bringing attention to this oft forgotten disease and may help re-frame the role of environmental toxins in all breast cancers.

Environmental Exposure and Breast Cancer

The American Cancer Society attributes only 6% of all cancers to environmental toxins. In contrast, a report by the President’s Council on Cancer, published in 2010 suggests that the connection between environmental toxins and cancer is grossly underestimated. The report points to the 80,000 unregulated chemicals on the market today that have either never been studied at all or have been studied only minimally. The report indicates that our understanding of environmental and occupational hazards is limited at best.

Increased Environmental Exposure and Higher Breast Cancer Among Troops

Young (25-35 year old) female military members are 20-40% more likely to develop breast cancer than their civilian counterparts. According to the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center from 2001-2011:

800 women were injured on duty in Iraq and Afghanistan
874 were diagnosed with breast cancer

Researchers speculate that the chemical toxins common in the military are to blame, but data are limited and funding for additional research has stalled in Congress.

Enter a group of scrappy, angry, male marines diagnosed with breast cancer from Camp LeJeune. Reported in Mother Jones, these male breast cancer survivors are fighting and winning the battle to connect breast cancer to environmental toxins.

Over the last several decades, marines and residents of Camp LeJeune were exposed to a chemical cocktail in the water supply. Higher rates of leukemia, birth defects and a bevy of other cancers have been observed. More interestingly, 80 men from Camp LeJeune have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Researchers speculate that the high incidence of male breast cancer observed at Camp LeJeune may provide the clearest evidence to date connecting environmental toxins to breast cancer, male or female. Large scale, case control studies are underway, with data expected in 2014. Until then, we are left to wait and worry.

To learn more about the grass-roots efforts that led to the cancer studies, join a discussion board and/or register a disease, see:

Migraines More Common in Women with Endometriosis

by Chandler Marrs, PhD

Published on January 3, 2013

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Endometriosis affects upwards of 176 million women worldwide – approximately 10% of the menstruating population. It is one of the more commonly reported diseases among followers of Hormones Matter, with most women reporting over 10 years of pain and suffering before a proper diagnosis.

Data suggest that at least a third of women with endometriosis may also suffer from migraines. Researchers from Italy found a significantly higher frequency of migraine (38.3%) in women with confirmed endometriosis versus healthy women (15.1%). The onset of migraine was five years earlier (16.4 years versus 21.9) in women with endometriosis and more likely to be a migraine with aura.

The co-occurrence of migraine and endometriosis has only recently begun to be investigated and clues to potential common causes are poorly articulated. There is speculation that migraines cause endometriosis or that endometriosis elicits migraine. Neither has sufficient supporting evidence. The search for clear genetic linkages between migraine and endometriosis is promising but remains in its infancy.

Perhaps we’re looking in the wrong places. As we reported in Endometriosis and Neuropathy, rodent models of endometriosis, suggest a clear neural-uterine connection that initiates endometriotic pain in some but not all. Specifically, some endometriotic tissue sprouts nerve fibers capable of sending pain signals to the brain. Regardless of the cause of the initial endometriotic implants, it is certain that the dynamic hormone biochemistry of the female body would regulate or dysregulate neural firing and pain signaling. The pain of endometriosis though regionally different, could be mechanistically similar to migraine pain. Just a thought.

Endometriosis, Medical and Naturopathic Doctors

by Angela Wice

Published on January 2, 2013

3135 views

During my endometriosis journey of the last 22 years, I have seen more than 40 doctors and specialists, including three naturopaths. I have come to realize that I have to be an advocate for my own health. If I don’t agree with the doctor’s suggestion or diagnosis, I get a second or third opinion. Here is my experience with medical and naturopathic physicians.

Early Menstrual Pain and Endometriosis

I began seeing doctors when I was 13 years old. I always went alone to the appointments. I guess I saw too many different doctors for anyone to come with me and support me. They thought I was just a hypochondriac.

For years, test after test showed nothing but mild scoliosis and thoracic outlet syndrome; they told me it was all in my head and that I should accept it and take antidepressants. I had doctors talk to me like I was an idiot and prescribe medications for conditions I clearly did not have. One doctor told me that he couldn’t be my doctor anymore because I cried too much. Several doctors embarrassed me in front of other patients because they were frustrated that my body was in so much pain and couldn’t figure out why. Twenty–two years later, I was diagnosed with stage IV endometriosis, proof that the pain was real.

Alternative Care

Frustrated with medical doctors, I went to a naturopath doctor that was hours away. I just wanted to see if she could find something the other doctors could not. She asked me to lie down on my back and then she walked around me, touched my arms, looked into my eyes. The rest I really can’t remember, it was long ago. The interesting thing was, without any tests, she said I had an overabundance of yeast and that my stomach was out of place. Then she moved it back into place! I swear it was so strange because for the first time I felt that I could breathe. It no longer felt as if someone was sitting on top of my chest. She told me to do a yeast free diet along with eating raw pumpkin seeds and some other items as well. It was an interesting visit. Later I found out that my stomach had been out of place. Scar tissue from the endometriosis pulled it out of place.

In 2009 I went to see a dietician. After a long interview, she said I had hypoglycemia, bone loss, and adrenal fatigue. This again is something that I would remember later on, as I put the pieces of my illness together. Because I was on Lupron, I have osteoporosis in my jaw. It is possible that the Lupron and the suppression of all the estrogens have caused serious bone loss elsewhere in my body. No one had considered sending me to get a recent bone scan. My last one was 12 years ago, so at my next GP appointment I will be asking for one.

In 2011, I went to another naturopath. She said I had food intolerances to wheat, dairy and spelt and that my body was not absorbing any nutrients, minerals or vitamins. She put me on a load of supplements to get my body going and for a time, it was working. While on the diet I had more energy, I was more alert and over all I felt great. Then I was put on Amitriptyline for nerve pain from the endometriosis and everything fell apart. The Amitriptyline made me feel groggy, crave junk food and I didn’t want to do anything. It was almost like the medication was making me depressed. I was on 70mg a night. The one good thing it did was help me sleep, something I have needed for years.

Back to a Medical Doctor

In 2012, I went to one of the best doctors of Canada. He pulled all of my files from all the doctors I had seen over the years. His office sent me a copy of everything. This was the first time I had access to all of my medical records. At least half the information in my file was wrong. (Ladies request your medical files!) Much of the information was new – tests that had not been ordered but that were in my file anyway, notes to disregard anything that anyone other than a medical doctor had told me. From these files, I learned that I must take all of my files with me and make notes. Otherwise, there is no guarantee the information will be accurate. If it hadn’t been for my persistence to research and find one of the best doctors for endometriosis, I wouldn’t be writing this article as we speak.

All in all, the Naturopathic doctors made me feel better and talked to me like a human being, while many of the medical doctors treated me like a piece of garbage, humiliated me and made me feel like I was crazy. I wasn’t crazy. The five hours of surgery to remove and repair the endometriosis damaged organs proved the pain was real. It had a cause.

Where I Stand Now

After years of suffering with endometriosis and being ignored and humiliated by medical doctors, it is difficult for me to listen to their advice. The errors and comments in my medical files showed a blatant disregard for my health. Many of my doctors thought I was crazy or faking it. I feel that I have wasted most of my life in and out of doctors’ offices. It was only through my persistence that I found the one doctor who was able to diagnose my endometriosis.

For now, I have decided to still take my birth control pills for my endometriosis – they seem to work. At least, the pills even out my moods. Eventually, I would like to come off of the pill and my other medications. As for everything else, it’s all natural and clean eating for me. I am also learning how to manage stress. Unless I am dying or I feel it’s 100% needed, I will never see a doctor again.

Have you had a similar experience? How long did it take to find your endometriosis? Share your story so that other women don’t have to suffer.

Lucine Medical Disclaimer: All material on this website is provided for your information and may not be construed as, nor should it be a substitute for, professional medical advice. The opinions reflected in patient posts reflect those of the writer and not necessarily those of the company.

January 2013 - Page 2

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