The ZRT Laboratory Blog

Having just entered my forties, my radar’s perked for solid information coming out of the research community on the perimenopausal transition. What can I do to make this 10 or so years of transition useful and even helpful to the future postmenopausal me? As women, we’re no strangers to functioning in some level of consistent discomfort – whether cycle-related, birth control related, pregnancy or…

Tags: Menopause, Cardiovascular Disease, Estrogen, Progesterone, Hormone Replacement Therapy, Metabolic Health, Cortisol

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Sometimes you look back and wonder where all the time went.Let’s see - in my twenties, the younger, sexier me had been to University and embarked on a career in medical research, and I’d been very active in my leisure time – including hiking and skiing every year in the Alps. I was too invested in my career and hobbies to have children and wanted to put that off until the right time.In my…

Tags: Menopause, Estrogen, Testosterone, Androgen, Hormone Replacement Therapy, Sleep, Stress

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In my previous blog I discussed how the psychoactive component of marijuana (cannabis), mainly tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), can have a negative impact on your hormones. In this blog, I will delve into the world of cannabidiol (CBD), which has been making quite a buzz lately as a therapeutic panacea.Although they are derived from the same plant and have quite similar molecular structures, CBD is…

Tags: Endocannabinoid System, Immune System, Anxiety, Depression, Alzheimer's, Menopause, BDNF, Estrogen

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A symbol of femininity for so many women, our hair demands attention. Both deeply personal and superficially public, changes in the looks of our hair can inspire a range of emotions, driving us to willingly partake in its cutting, straightening, curling, bleaching, darkening, or other aggressive chemical treatments. Hair is part of who we are and how we present ourselves to the world. This is why…

Tags: Stress, Menopause, Cortisol, Progesterone, Estrogen, PCOS, Thyroid Health, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12

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Did you know that ZRT offers clinical case reviews for neurotransmitter testing? If you want to learn more, check out Dr. Kate’s Clinical Cases, a library of presentations, created by Dr. Kate Placzek, to assess patient issues with the aid of neurotransmitter testing. You’ll find case presentations focused on various conditions from anxiety and depression, ADHD, PTSD, insomnia and many others,…

Tags: Breast Cancer, Neurotransmitters, Menopause, Heavy Metals

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Looking for case studies on how neurotransmitter testing can help patients? Want to learn more about interpreting these tests? We invite you to discover Dr. Kate’s Clinical Cases, a library of presentations, created by Dr. Kate Placzek, to assess patient issues with the aid of neurotransmitter testing. You’ll find case reviews on conditions including anxiety and depression, ADHD, PTSD, insomnia and…

Tags: Neurotransmitters, Menopause, Mental Health

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I remember my great-grandmother’s hands. So capable, big and warm, covered in freckles, ready to comfort, unbending the clawed rigidity to softly wipe my tears. I remember her powerful, beautiful mind, endless with patience, tirelessly reading my favorite story over and over from a tattered book. I remember her, trapped in a creaky body, moving slowly around the kitchen in a sort of graceful dance…

Tags: Menopause, Estrogen, Microbiome

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Serotonin, or rather its deficiency, frequently steals the spotlight in conversations regarding depression. Initially discovered as a component of serum in 1948 to regulate vasoconstriction (serotonin = serum + tone), the role of serotonin in depressive disorders wasn't implied until a few years later. Since then, much effort has been dedicated by scientists and clinicians alike to understand the…

Tags: Menopause, Neurotransmitters, Depression

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Not quite menopause. Throwing blankets off at night, keeping awake. Fatigue and irritation punctuated throughout the day by heat dissipating from every pore, clouding thoughts, reinforcing forgetfulness. Hair falling out so stubbornly fast. Clothes choosing when to fit. Flooding periods coming sporadically, unexpectedly. They call it “the change of life” – but I feel like a different person…

Tags: Menopause, Neurotransmitters, Estrogen, Progesterone

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The diversity of the microbiome has profound implications for metabolic health. The micro-organisms that we host in our gastrointestinal tract maintain our gut integrity, break down complex carbohydrates to improve energy extraction from food, produce vitamins and minerals, aid in digestion and absorption, ferment dietary fibers and protect us against pathogens. Maintaining a delicate balance in…

Tags: Menopause, Estrogen Dominance, Metabolic Health, Weight Management, Microbiome

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