Did you know that serotonin imbalance is one of the most common contributors to mood disorders?

Did you also know that some experts believe that low serotonin has become a virtual epidemic in Western society?

In fact, SSRIs, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, commonly called antidepressants, which are prescribed to treat mood disorders by targeting serotonin levels, are now a multi-billion dollar industry.

Antidepressants are Big Business

According to IMS Health, between 1996 and 2007, non-mental health physicians who wrote prescriptions for antidepressants rose from 59.5% to 72.7%.  Also according to IMS Health, in 2010 alone, $11 billion dollars were spent on antidepressants.  That breaks down to $30 million, 136 thousand, 986 dollars per day spent on antidepressants in 2010 – a staggering number.

What is even more disturbing, is that many, far too many of those sales and prescriptions were to women suffering from mood disorders associated with hormone imbalance. Physicians prescribe antidepressants to women struggling with hormone imbalance at an alarming rate.  And it certainly doesn’t help when the FDA funds a study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association supporting the practice.

But is this necessary?  Are antidepressants really the best solution for women who are suffering with hormone imbalance?  Some researchers and medical professionals believe they are.   However, I do not.  Treating hormone imbalance as if it is a psychiatric illness sends a message of shame and guilt to women.  Furthermore, if a woman believes that her mood disorders are rooted in unstable or irrational behavior, she will not seek the kind of help she needs to properly address her symptoms.

If you are suffering from mood disorders brought on by hormone imbalance, you do not need to feel ashamed or embarrassed.  You are not suffering from a psychiatric disorder, and you are not mentally unstable or irrational.  It is your brain chemistry that is out of balance, and treating the imbalance with foods, supplements, and hormones is by far the best solution!

Serotonin – The Brain Chemical of Well-Being & Happiness

Serotonin is one of fifty different neurotransmitters in your nervous system.  It is also a key chemical which contributes to your feelings of well-being and happiness. Serotonin defends against depression and anxiety, and also promotes feelings of relaxation, peace, hope, and optimism. On the other hand, if serotonin levels become unbalanced, the result can be a variety of emotional and mood disorders.

If serotonin levels are too low, for example, you may feel highly emotional and distressed.  You could also experience insomnia, rage, irritability, racing, panicky thoughts, anxiety, headaches, intestinal distress, and even alcohol cravings.

What Causes Serotonin Imbalance?

Many things can cause serotonin levels to become imbalanced: chronic stress, improper diet, and hormone fluctuations.  During times of PMS, perimenopause, and menopause, for example, when women experience unpleasant symptoms such as mood swings, rages, and depression, it is not just fluctuating estrogen and progesterone levels which are causing the symptoms, but fluctuating serotonin levels as well.

How to Raise Serotonin Levels Naturally

Estrogen is one of the first places to begin to naturally raise and balance serotonin levels. Estrogen is a natural antidepressant and mood stabilizer which works in direct concert with serotonin.  That is, when estrogen levels go up, serotonin levels go up as well.  Conversely, when estrogen levels go down, serotonin levels also go down. By balancing a woman’s estrogen levels, you are creating a chemical environment which supports serotonin function and production.

Estrogen makes tryptophan more available in the brain.  Acquired from food sources such as turkey and milk, tryptophan is an important amino acid and a basic building block of serotonin. Estrogen also increases the efficiency of serotonin receptors, making more serotonin available in your body. In turn, serotonin also allows for adequate estrogen production by the ovaries, which creates a positive, perpetuating cycle that maintains healthy levels of both estrogen and serotonin.

Amino Acids such as 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) will also naturally raise serotonin levels in the brain. Produced from tryptophan, 5-HTP is converted into serotonin.  Some people erroneously believe that since 5-HTP is naturally produced from tryptophan found in our foods, eating more foods will naturally increase 5-HTP production.  But, that is not true.  What will increase 5-HTP is supplementing.

Extracted from the seeds of the Griffonia plant, 5-HTP as a supplement is one step closer metabolically to serotonin.  That is, the process of converting from tryptophan to 5-HTP, and then to serotonin, is shortened when we supplement directly with 5-HTP rather than first acquiring tryptophan through food.

I Can Help!

I have used natural and healthy solutions such as 5-HTP, for over 15 years in my clinical practice to help patients suffering from mood disorders. Many women come to me at the end of their rope; stressed, agitated, and suffering with negative symptoms from antidepressants and other drugs.

Introducing 5-HTP as a supplement, in addition to addressing any possible estrogen deficiency or dietary issues, has enabled them to naturally raise their serotonin levels and free them from antidepressants and other unhealthy drugs.

If you are suffering with mood disorders and wish to be free of drugs and antidepressants, I can help you too!  Contact me or one of my staff here at The Center for Hormonal and Nutritional Balance .  We can help you take your life back and restore emotional and physical harmony and balance!

As if cigarette smoking is not bad enough, a report compiled by researchers at the University of Hong Kong, says that women should be aware that smoking may cause them to enter menopause earlier than non-smokers.

The report was compiled based on data collected from six studies of approximately 6,000 women the U.S., Poland, Turkey, and Iran. The data from the studies showed that non-smoking women reached menopause between the ages of 46 and 51, on average, while smokers reached menopause between the ages of 43 to 50, concluding that smokers were 43% more likely than non-smokers to reach early menopause.

In addition, researchers reached a general consensus that..”earlier menopause is likely to be associated with the larger number and higher risk of postmenopausal health problems, such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, obesity, Alzheimer’s disease, and the others.”

Dr. Jennie Kline, an epidemiologist from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health in New York, also said there are two theories for why smoking might mean earlier menopause:

1. Carcinogens from cigarette smoke may have an impact on how the body makes and/or gets rid of estrogen
2. Carcinogens from cigarette smoke may kill a woman’s eggs

The report didn’t state how many cigarettes smoked per day could contribute to early menopause or the length of time of smoking impacted the results.

[Read Rest of Article Here]

Did you know that bladder infections, aka, UTIs (urinary tract infections) are such a common and frequent health problem for women that they account for over 6 million doctor visits per year?

If you are one of those 6 million women, then you are likely all too familiar with the symptoms of bladder infections:  frequent and painful urination, urgency, burning during urination, cloudy or bloody urine, and pain in the lower abdomen.  If the infection spreads into the kidneys, it can also produce intense back pain, nausea, diarrhea, fever, and chills.

Why Do Women Get So Many Bladder Infections?

Most bladder infections – more than 90% – are caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli), a bacteria present in both the digestive tract and anal area.

One of the reasons women contract so many bladder infections is due to anatomy.  Not only is a woman’s urethra close to the anal area, making it easy to come in contact with bacteria, but it is also close to her bladder, making it easy for the bacteria to gain entrance.

With our anatomy working against us, most women have had at least one or two bladder infections in their lifetime, even with the most meticulous hygiene.

Antibiotics for Bladder Infections Are Not Always a Good Idea

Antibiotics are the conventional treatment for bladder infections.  While the occasional use of antibiotics can be quite effective, if you suffer with chronic bladder infections, antibiotics can create more problems than they actually solve.

Bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics over time, which means you may need to take stronger doses, and maybe for longer periods, to treat the infection; or you may need to switch to an entirely different antibiotic altogether.

If used too frequently, antibiotics are known to interfere with the natural, healthy, bacterial flora present in your digestive tract and vagina, which can make you more susceptible to secondary infections, such as yeast infections.

Fortunately, there are more natural and healthier alternatives which work with your body and not against it, and it just might be in your refrigerator!

Cranberry Juice for Bladder Infections

Growing up, many of us heard we should drink cranberry juice for bladder infections.  Our mothers and grandmothers, and their mothers too, passed down this wisdom because it actually works!

But, long before our mothers and grandmothers, and even modern medicine knew about the healing properties of cranberry juice, Native American Indians used it to treat their bladder and kidney infections.

When the Pilgrims arrived in the 1600s, the local tribes passed the wisdom on to them as well.  Soon after, physicians adopted it for use in treating bladder infections and to remove blood toxins.

For a long time, it was thought that the reason cranberry juice worked so well against bladder infections was due to its acidic properties, which, when present in urine, kill off bacteria such as E. coli, which cannot survive in an acid environment.  But current research now focuses on a substance found in cranberries called D-Mannose.

What is D-Mannose and How Does It Help With Bladder Infections?

D-Mannose is a simple sugar that is chemically related to glucose.  In addition to being found in cranberries, it is also found in vegetables and fruits such as green beans and cabbage, tomatoes, peaches, apples, oranges, and blueberries.  Some D-Mannose is also produced in your body.

When bacteria invade the bladder, they attach themselves to the mannose lining of the urinary tract where they colonize, developing into an infection.  What researchers have learned, however, is that the chemical structure of D-Mannose allows it to stick to the E. coli, wrapping it with a coating which makes the bacteria  unable to attach itself to the bladder wall.  If the bacteria are unable to attach, then they are able to be washed out of the body by the urine.

Although physicians have known for a very long time that cranberry juice is helpful not only in healing urinary tract infections, but also in preventing them as well, D-Mannose is still relatively unknown in the medical community and has not been tested in human trials. But, those physicians who do prescribe D-Mannose for bladder infections have had excellent results!

What is the Best Way to Take D-Mannose?

Though D-Mannose is found in cranberry juice, there does not seem to be enough to be effective, so it is recommended to take it as a supplement in either a pill or tablet form, or in powder form dissolved in water or liquid.

Precautionary Measures

Menopausal and post-menopausal women are more susceptible to UTIs due to low estrogen levels and vaginal dryness.  If you suffer from vaginal dryness and frequently contract urinary tract infections, you may need to seek help to balance your hormones.  In addition, take extra care to do the following:

• Drink plenty of fluids and do not hold your urine!  Go to the bathroom often.
• Do not use scented feminine hygiene sprays, powders or douches as they can strip your vaginal area of healthy moisture making you more susceptible to infection
• Do not wear tight fitting clothing
• Use good hygiene before and after sex
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol and spicy food – all of which can irritate the bladder.

If you are interested in becoming a patient, please contact us here!

In a study published in the Journal of the International Menopause Society, Climacteric, Italian researchers claim to have found strong evidence that low doses of DHEA, a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands, may be able to improve the sex lives of menopausal women and treat menopause symptoms.

Dr. Anna Fenton, co-editor of Climacteric, stresses however, that the study is a pilot study with a small sample, and will require further studies to confirm the initial promising results.  Whether the results suggest that DHEA will become a viable alternative to HRT still remains to be seen, but researchers and healthcare professionals believe the studies holds great promise.

{Read the rest of the article here}

Let’s face it. Modern, middle-aged women are stressed.

Many of us juggle careers, family life, marriages, divorces, single parenthood, and personal friendships; caring for aging parents, negotiate with cantankerous teens, and the list seems to run on forever.

Add in the unique challenges that come with menopause and not surprisingly, we find ourselves feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope.

While we may often dream of a deserted island oasis to relieve us from the stresses of our life, the truth is, we cannot abandon our life or our responsibilities.  But, it is important that we know how to cope and manage our life and responsibilities, or we run the risk of exhaustion and burn-out.

As a health practitioner, I have gained a lot of experience from over fifty years of living and communicating with my patients.  While I cannot offer you the perfect solution for every stressful situation in your life, I can help you lessen a lot of stress so that you can live the kind of life you want for yourself!

Change the Way Your Body Responds to Stress

Believe it or not, it is possible to retrain your body to respond differently to stress.  Unfortunately, what often happens when we are confronted with stress is that we tend to react first and think later. However, by learning to cultivate self-awareness, we can actively choose how we respond to stress.

When we are actively engaged and purposeful in our response to stress, we feel empowered.  When we are empowered, we are more in control, and when we are in control, we are better able to manage and cope.

Biofeedback, hypnosis, acupuncture, and NLP (neuro-linguistic programming) are wonderful therapies I recommend to my patients which help tap into your sub-conscious mind, and actually teach you how to respond differently to stress.

Biofeedback

Approved by the National Institute of Health as a complementary therapy, biofeedback uses monitoring devices to help you consciously regulate your heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature.  Once you become aware of the connection between your mind and body processes, you can develop different mental responses, and therefore positively affect how your body responds to stress.

Acupuncture & Hypnosis

Acupuncture alleviates symptoms of stress by releasing endorphins in your brain, your body’s natural pain-killers.  Acupuncture has been shown to increase circulation, decrease heart rate, and relax muscles.

Hypnosis is also a scientifically effective technique used to promote positive mental and physical changes in the body, by working with the conscious and sub-conscious mind.  By helping you achieve a deeply relaxed state, hypnosis can reduce stress through the power of subconscious focus and visualization.

Neuro-Linguistic Programming

Neuro-linguistic programming, or NLP, addresses our mind and language patterns, and teaches us how to change the way we perceive stressful situations, and what we say about it to ourselves.  Rather than simply knee-jerk reacting to stress, which triggers all sorts of physical responses such as anxiety and panic; we can learn to choose our mental and emotional states of being by changing our perceptions, and what we say to ourselves about the stress.

Mia’s Antidotes to Stress

In my book, Female Brain Gone Insane, I provide a list of antidotes to stress and encourage my patients to practice as many of them as possible. Here are a few that you can try as well.  They really work and can help change your life for the better!

• Laugh
• Lower the bar – stop being a perfectionist
• Get a massage
• Sleep more
• Cultivate new friendships and nurture old ones
• Take a yoga class
• Stroke a pet
• Walk in nature
• Pray

What Makes You Content?

How much time do you spend doing things that bring you peace and contentment?  Unfortunately, I would guess, like most women, not often enough. Most of us spend so much time caring for others and hustling and bustling from one demand to another, that we never make time for ourselves or the things that make us happy and bring us pleasure.

I encourage my patients to explore those questions and allow themselves to dream about what is important to them, and what makes them happy. When we give ourselves permission to ask these questions and to explore the answers, it helps us to articulate them.  In doing so we can actually start thinking about ourselves, perhaps set new goals, and pursue them.

Maybe you just want to spend more time with your friends, your husband, or your lover?  Maybe you want to spend a day at the spa, get a massage, and go to the theater or the ballet? Or maybe you just want to sleep.

Whatever it is, it is important that you give yourself permission to do those things.  Step back, take time to breathe, and become aware of your life and what makes you happy, content, and feel satisfied.

Remember! Baby Steps

It’s important that you do not try changing everything in your life at once.  When our lives are in a stressful rut, trying to decide how to get out of it can be as stressful as the things that got us there in the first place.

Keep it simple.  Give yourself grace and be kind to yourself.  Then, make just one promise today, that you will do something for yourself that makes you happy.  Remember, you don’t need to see the entire staircase to find your way out of a rut.  You just need to take one step at a time!

If you are looking for help and would like to be a patient, please contact us at The Center for Hormonal and Nutritional Balance. Our practitioners are here for you!

During times of hormone imbalance women frequently complain of overwhelming anxiety , along with racing, panicky thoughts. Sometimes the anxiety is so intense it leads to full blown panic attacks, causing women to feel they are losing control or going crazy.

If you are a woman coping with hormone imbalance and suffer from anxiety, rest assured that you are not losing control or going crazy. It is more likely you are suffering from biochemical changes and a brain chemical imbalance which can cause anxiety and a variety of mood disorders in women.

What is Anxiety?

Most of us know by experience what anxiety is:  feelings of worry, apprehension, nervousness, and unease.  Anxiety can also cause physical manifestations such as heart palpitations, sweating, shaking and feelings of knots in the stomach, rapid breathing, and a sense of not being able to catch your breath, also known as hyper-ventilating.

Causes of Anxiety – It’s all about Balance

In ancient Chinese medicine and philosophy, the idea of balance is understood and embraced.   Unfortunately, in our high-octane Western culture, where we burn the candle at both ends, balance is often sacrificed, and far too often at the expense of our health.

When we are stressed and our life is out of balance, it can manifest in our physical bodies in such ways as hormone imbalance, which can also lead to unbalanced brain chemistry, most commonly serotonin deficiency, low thyroid function, and over-stressed adrenal glands, all of which can affect our mood and cause anxiety.

Low levels of GABA, an important neurotransmitter in your brain chemistry, for example, can cause feelings of anxiety, in addition to restlessness and tension. On the flip side, if dopamine, another neurotransmitter in your brain, is too high, you can also experience anxiety, fear, and panic attacks.

In addition, chronic stress can exhaust and deplete your adrenal glands. When your adrenal glands become fatigued and tired, and your stress hormones are out of balance, anxiety and panic attacks are common symptoms.

Both unbalanced brain chemistry and stressed adrenal glands can negatively affect thyroid function as well.  If serotonin levels are low, or if there are high levels of the stress hormone cortisol present, both can lead to low thyroid function or hypothyroidism.  One symptom of hypothyroidism is anxiety.

Addressing Anxiety – What Can You Do?

With the complexities of our body chemistry and the interrelated biological processes which can be affected during times of stress and imbalance, knowing where to begin to address the symptoms is enough to cause anxiety all by itself.

It would be so much easier if we could simply treat isolated symptoms and be done with it. But, unfortunately, it is just not that easy.  Effectively addressing the causes of imbalance in your life which have led to anxiety requires a true holistic approach.

Begin with Supplements and Brain Nourishing Food

You may already strive for good eating and dietary habits.  But, there are many negative factors that are simply beyond our control, which not only affect our health, but can contribute to unbalanced brain chemistry as well.

Environmental toxins and poorly grown food sources, for example, can influence our health and well-being despite our best efforts to the contrary.  Because of this, we can always benefit from supplements, such as those offered in my Basic Supplement Plan, to help balance our brain chemistry.  In addition supplementing with 5-HTP, a perfectly natural way to raise serotonin and GABA a natural tranquilizer, will often reduce anxiety dramatically. See how to treat the “Revved up and Anxious Type” from Mia’s book Female Brain Gone Insane.

Remember!  Vitamins and minerals are the co-factors and co-enzymes that make virtually every biochemical process in your body function.  Without them your body cannot operate at its optimum.

Protein and Carbohydrates

Since we know that unbalanced brain chemistry and neurotransmitters contribute to anxiety, a diet rich in protein which supplies amino acids to support brain function is fundamental.  I recommend that my patients start their day with a protein smoothie, and then eat at least two more servings of protein during the day.

Complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables supply the glucose your body needs to provide energy to your brain nerve cells, which also helps balance brain chemistry. Carbohydrates also enhance the absorption of tryptophan.  Tryptophan is converted into serotonin in your brain, which helps promote calm and relaxation and quells anxiety.

Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are also necessary to properly nourish brain tissue and cell membranes.  Found in food sources such as nuts, nut butters, olives and avocados, EFAs help in the production of neurotransmitters, insuring they function optimally so your nervous system runs smoothly, and your moods are stable.

Balance Your Hormones

Estrogen is a natural anti-depressant and mood stabilizer, and progesterone is a natural tranquilizer.  When your hormones are in balanced you feel peaceful, calm and well.  The proper amount of estrogen and progesterone introduced at the right time, will not only calm your jangled nerves, but will promote restful sleep, stabilize erratic moods, help you feel calm and in control, and will ease anxiety.

It is important, however, that these hormones are bioidentical hormones and work with your natural body chemistry and not against it.

Paying Attention to Your Body & Understanding the Role of Stress

As women, we are naturally intuitive and connected to our bodies.  But, when we are under stress, whether chronic or short-term, we may miss very important signals our body is giving off. Chronic, over-whelming anxiety is your body’s signal that your life is out of balance.  If you are to treat it effectively, it is important that you listen to your body and pay attention.

Changing your eating habits, introducing nourishing supplements and balancing your hormones will not bring about the desired results if stress and the causes of imbalance in your life are not addressed.  As an educator and thought-leader in the area of women’s health, and hormone and biochemical imbalances, I can help you, step-by-step, restore a healthy balance and reclaim your life!

If you are interested in becoming a patient, please contact us at The Center for Hormonal and Nutritional Balance.

During the different hormone phases of life, women often experience dips and changes in their mood.

During times of PMS, just prior to the onset of their period, for example, women often complain of feeling irritable, angry, and edgy, juxtaposed with feelings of sadness, weepiness, and depression.

On the other hand, when a woman is going through perimenopause and her hormones are fluctuating wildly, she may experience severe mood swings with intense rages and debilitating bouts of depression.

Even during menopause, when women expect to be free of the nuisance of their monthly period and bothersome symptoms of perimenopause, they may still suffer with energy draining depression that takes the color out of their world.

Unfortunately, it is a medical fact that women are diagnosed with depression at a rate of 2:1 over men. While physicians, neurobiologists, and the mental health community continue to debate the actual causes of depression in women, I believe the culprit is often the biochemical changes and chemical imbalances that can result from hormone imbalance.

The Role of Brain Chemistry in Depression

In order for you to feel well emotionally it is important that your brain chemistry is in balance.  The neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine, GABA, and dopamine, are the brain’s chemical messengers which are primarily responsible for your mental health and well-being. When these important brain chemicals are out of balance, depression, and many other symptoms, can result.

There are many causes of brain chemistry imbalance.  For women, it is often the result of shifting hormones.  Estrogen fluctuations, for example, can cause serotonin to drop to low levels, which can severely affect mood.  This also helps explain why so many women suffer from depression during perimenopause and menopause.  The key to our feelings of happiness, serotonin plays a huge role in helping to defend against anxiety and depression.

But, it’s not just an imbalance in serotonin that contributes to depression. Dopamine and norepinephrine, serotonin’s counter-parts, also play a strong role in mood regulation as well. Associated with pleasure, dopamine levels rise when we engage in pleasurable activities such as sex, eating, or listening to music.  On the other hand, when dopamine levels are low, we may feel fatigued, sad, withdrawn, and depressed.  Likewise with norepinephrine.

Elevated during times of stress, norepinephrine is the most active when we are awake.  Norepineprhine helps us focus our attention, sharpens our awareness, and contributes to good memory function.  However, if norepinephrine levels are too low, we may feel apathetic, lacking in motivation and energy, experience poor memory function, and yes, also depression.

How Should We Treat Depression?

One of the best places to begin when dealing with chemical imbalance in the brain and depression is to understand the tandem role of estrogen and serotonin.   A natural brain booster and anti-depressant, estrogen plays an enormous role in the production of and maintenance of serotonin in our brain.

Estrogen and serotonin work in concert with each other.  When estrogen levels drop, so do serotonin levels, which can cause us to feel irritable, cranky, anxious, and depressed.  Conversely, when estrogen levels rise, so do serotonin levels, which improves our mood and restores a sense of calm and happiness.

Introducing the right amount of bioidentical hormones at the right time during a woman’s menstrual cycle will help rebalance her estrogen levels, and is a crucial step in helping combat depression.  Nutritional supplements, including amino acid therapy, are also necessary to help restore and rebalance the neurotransmitters serotonin, GABA, dopamine, and norepinephrine.

Vitamins, such as the B-vitamins, are essential to mental and emotional health.  Essential fatty acids, minerals, and a diet rich in healthy proteins and complex carbohydrates is also necessary to support good brain function, which in turn, leads to balanced brain chemistry.

To learn more about how balanced brain chemistry contributes to mood regulation and depression, read my book The Female Brain Gone Insane. Also be sure to check out my Basic Supplement Plan , an excellent foundation of nutritional supplements to help balance your brain chemistry and put you on the road to optimal health!

ScienceDaily (Dec. 5, 2011) — A new study at Örebro University in Sweden shows that children with ADHD have nearly 50 percent less of a protein that is important for attention and learning. The finding may mean that there are other biochemical disturbances in the brains of individuals with ADHD than was previously believed.”This indicates that several signal substances are implicated in ADHD and that in the future this could pave the way for other drugs than those in use today,” says Jessica Johansson, who is presenting her research findings in a dissertation in medicine at Örebro University.

Jessica Johansson belongs to the Experimental Neuropsychiatric research group that has mapped part of the biochemical changes in cells that underlie ADHD and other neuropsychiatric functional impairments and disorders. Head of the group is Nikolaos Venizelos.

“I usually say that I’m doing research on mental diseases and functional impairments at the cellular level. Many of these are assumed to be the consequence of excessively low levels of important signal substances in the brain, so cell biochemical analyses help us understand the processes that cause the changes.”

For the brain to be able to produce the substances required to send signals, it is dependent on various amino acids being transported to the brain. When it comes to ADHD, Jessica Johansson has studied the transport of amino acids tyrosine and tryptophan, which the brain uses in producing the signal substances dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin.

By analyzing a certain type of connective tissue cells’ (so-called fibroblasts’) capacity to transport these substances, the researchers can also reach conclusions about how well the transport into the brain is working. The findings from these studies show that the transport of tryptophan is lower in children with ADHD, compared with children without that diagnosis.

“This probably means that the brain produces less serotonin. Thus far the focus has mainly been on the signal substances dopamine and noradrenaline in the medical treatment of ADHD. But if low levels of serotonin are also a contributing factor, other drugs may be necessary for successful treatment.”

The head of the research group Nikolaos Venizelos says that the most unexpected discovery in the study, however, was the dramatically reduced amount of the so-called acetylcholine receptor in children with ADHD says. It functions as a receptor protein for the signal substance acetylcholine and is therefore necessary for key signals involving concentration and learning functions, for example. Drugs that reinforce the acetylcholine effect are used in treating Alzheimer’s patients, for instance.

The natural supplement Acetyl-L-Carnitine HCl increases the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Buy here>>>

Jessica Johansson has also studied biochemical changes in bipolar disorder (previously called manic-depressive disorder), as there are parallels between ADHD and bipolar disorder. Here it was instead the transport of the amino acid tyrosine that was disturbed, which indicates a reduced production of the signal substances dopamine and noradrenaline.

“Since we have previously seen the same thing in patients with schizophrenia, it’s an indication that both disorders have the same deviant amino acid transport, which might be caused by a shared genetic variant.”

Without question, one of the more debilitating and difficult symptoms for women to manage during times of stress and hormone imbalance is insomnia.

Not only does insomnia sap your quality of life, but if not addressed properly it can become chronic, putting you at risk for other serious health issues.

If you are suffering with chronic insomnia, it might be tempting to reach for prescription sleep-aids.  But, don’t.  There are far more natural and healthier ways to combat insomnia which work with your body to help you regain healthy and restorative sleep.

Bioidentical Progesterone

Bioidentical progesterone not only helps ease the symptoms of hormone imbalance, but as a natural tranquilizer, progesterone calms and soothes stress, and helps promote sleep.

Many women find that when they introduce the right amount of progesterone they are able to sleep better and more soundly at night, without the negative side effects often associated with prescription sleep-aids.  It is important, however, that you do not over-do it! Too much progesterone can also make you feel depressed, tired, and groggy.

Balancing Your Brain Chemistry

Being told to balance your brain chemistry may sound a bit like rocket science.  But, it’s not as complicated as it sounds.  While there are over fifty different neurotransmitters at work in your brain, it is four, serotonin, GABA, norepinephrine, and dopamine, which play a major role in your physical and mental well-being.

These important brain chemicals work together to promote the right balance between calm and relaxation, and excitement and energy.  Without a proper balance, sleep disorders, among many other symptoms, can result.

Serotonin and GABA are the neurotransmitters which promote calm and relaxation.  Both are necessary in order to experience deep, restful sleep.   When they are out of balance you may feel anxious, panicky, angry, irritable, and unable to sleep.

One way I help my patients balance their brain chemistry and break the cycle of insomnia, is by prescribing a formula of supplements which include the amino acids 5-HTP, L-theanine and the neurotransmitter GABA.  These amino acids along with GABA, help raise serotonin levels and promote calm and relaxation in their body.

Many women find that if they stay on these supplements, in addition to my Basic Supplement Plan, they feel calm and more at peace and their sleep improves.

Keep Regular Sleep Routines and Incorporate Daily Exercise

You’ve heard this before – we all have. But, the truth is, these two simple suggestions, coupled with balanced hormones and balanced brain chemistry, will absolutely help break the cycle of chronic insomnia.

It’s important to have a peaceful night time routine to help signal to your body that it is time to go to sleep.  Limiting your exposure to light and mentally stimulating activities close to bedtime is also helpful.  Turn the lights off at the same time every night and rise around the same time every morning.  This routine will train your body and your mind to relax and get ready for sleep.

Some form of daily exercise also helps promote restful sleep. Medical research has proven that simply engaging in brisk walking and exposure to sunlight for as little as thirty minutes per day helps increase serotonin levels in the brain.  It also helps reset our circadian rhythms (our internal body clock) and helps regulate sleep cycles resulting in more restful sleep.

Life Changes: Looking Inward

As much as you might like an easy fix for chronic insomnia, simply taking supplements, using progesterone, exercising, or balancing your brain chemistry is not enough.  If you suffer with chronic insomnia,  it is your body’s signal that your life is out of balance.

In order to be healthy and well, a true holistic approach is necessary.   Once you have addressed the physical and biological issues that may contribute to insomnia, an examination of your life is also important.

How did your life become so chaotic in the first place? Are you a perfectionist?  Are you a people-pleaser? Do you have a chronically negative outlook and expectations in your life?  Are you an over-worked, over-achiever who burns the candle at both ends, day after day, week after week?  If so, and you do not address these issues, all of your other efforts to the contrary will be for naught.

Take Time for Yourself and Engage in Calming and Peaceful Activities

We are reminded often that we should take some time for ourselves each day.  But, how often do we actually do it? The adage “stop and smell the roses” while cliché, is still an important one.  What makes you happy? What brings joy and self-satisfaction to your life, and when was the last time you did those things?

In Western culture the pressure to achieve is enormous. Yet, all of our achievements are meaningless if we cannot enjoy them because we are unhealthy and cannot sleep.  It is important that you seek a balance in your life between work and commitments, and give yourself the time to wile away the hours engaging in activities that bring meaning and pleasure to your life.

And remember, change does not occur instantaneously!  Dedicated effort, combined with healthy habits and  patience will bring wellness, calm and peace into your life, improving your health and improving your sleep!

Did you know that your brain represents only about two percent of your entire body weight?  Yet, it uses more than twenty percent of all your energy!

Your brain consumes half of the blood sugar that circulates in your bloodstream.  It uses twenty-five percent of your body’s nutrients and twenty percent of all the oxygen you inhale.

Yet, for all the work our brain does, it is often deficient in the necessary nutrients and sources of food it needs to be properly nourished.  Just like your muscles, bones, and other organs in your body, without the proper nutrients, your brain will begin to break down.

A well-nourished brain keeps you happy and healthy, feeling vibrant and well, and able to make good decisions about your life. On the other hand, if your brain is malnourished you may find that you suffer from chronic anxiety, depression, fatigue, insomnia, memory loss, difficulty focusing, and a general sense that you are melting down.

When your brain does not receive the necessary food and nutrients it needs, it can be manifested in your emotions, your moods, your thoughts, and your behavior. It is important to understand the type of nutrients your brain needs.  Just like exercise and proper rest, brain nourishing foods should be part of your daily wellness plan!

What Kind of Food Does Your Brain Need?

A well balanced diet consists of six basic nutritional components: protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and water. Without a sufficient balance of these components, your brain will fail to thrive or function at its optimum.

• Protein -  The amino acids found in protein are the building blocks for your brain’s network of neurotransmitters.  Most of us, regardless of how conscientious we are, will have a difficult time balancing our brain chemistry. Without the necessary amino acids there will not be a healthy balance of the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and GABA.

I recommend that my patients start their day with a serving of protein and at least two more servings during the day.  Excellent sources of protein are organic meats, cheese, eggs, fish, poultry, and game meats.

• Carbohydrates –  Carbohydrates are broken down into glucose by the body.  Glucose is the primary energy fuel used by the brain.  A diet low in carbohydrates will negatively affect brain function.  It’s important, however, that you eat complex carbohydrates rather than simple carbohydrates.

Simple carbohydrates found in junk food, for example, can you leave feeling hungry, dizzy, and tired.  Whereas complex carbohydrates such as those found in whole grains, fruits, beans, and vegetables, provide your body with necessary fiber, vitamins, and minerals your brain needs to have a steady supply of energy giving glucose.

• Fats – Your brain is composed of EFAs, essential fatty acids, which lay the foundation for brain nerve cells and neurotransmitters.  Without these essential fats, brain tissue becomes starved and nerve cells become hardened and shrivel. As a result, neurotransmitters are unable to gain entry to message carrying neurons, which affects our ability to learn, concentrate, focus our attention, and remember things.

Eating a diet rich in healthy, essential fatty acids will nourish brain tissue, improve the health of our cell membranes, and even improve the health of our skin.  Some of the best sources for essential fatty acids are nuts, nut butters, olives, avocados, coconut oil, butter, extra-virgin olive oil, and flaxseed oil.  Cold-water fish such as salmon, trout, sardines, mackerel, and herring, along with shark, swordfish, and tilefish are excellent sources as well.

• Vitamins & Minerals - Multivitamins contains vitamins, minerals and essential trace elements needed for your brain to function in a healthy fashion.  Without them, necessary biochemical functions are not able to take place properly, which can negatively affect mood and behavior.

A good multivitamin should contain all of the necessary B-vitamins, which your body does not store, along with folic acid, anti-oxidants such as vitamins C, E, and beta-carotene, and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, selenium, manganese, chromium, iron, and boron.

Foods to Avoid

Many of us -  women especially -  love red wine.  While in moderation, red wine has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, alcohol has a dramatic effect on brain function and is counter-productive when it comes to mood.

Alcohol not only depletes necessary vitamins and minerals in our body, but it also causes an imbalance in the mood regulating neurotransmitters.  While it may provide some measure of relaxation, in the long-term, too much alcohol can negatively affect not only your mood, but your over-all health as well.

Red food coloring and artificial sweeteners are both very harmful to the brain and have been linked to hyper-active behavior, impulse control issues, attention deficit disorder, migraines, depression, and even joint pain.

White flour and hydrogenated fats not only lack necessary nutrients to support good brain function, but they replace the good fats and fiber-rich parts of food that we need with chemically altered substances that impair good health.

For more information on my Basic Supplement Plan and foods to support healthy brain function, check out our store and my book The Female Brain Gone Insane!