Glutamate (L-glutamic acid) and GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) are, respectively, the principal excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters in the CNS and play a significant role in HPA axis function and mood. These two amino acid-based neurotransmitters account for over 50% of the synapses in the brain, while the monoamines (serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine) account for only about 5%.…
Tags: HPA Axis, Hormone Balance, Stress, Neurotransmitters, Depression
When we talk about “stress,” or allostatic load, in terms of the perception of an event, we must realize that these “events” must first be translated into neurochemical signals before they trigger the HPA axis. Therefore, the sensitivity and outcome of translating these events (whether they are ongoing events, memories of past events, or stressful anticipation of unrealized events), is highly dependent upon signaling from other neurotransmitters.…
Tags: HPA Axis, Hormone Balance, Stress, Neurotransmitters, Depression
As we step into 2018, ready to deepen our understanding of the critical balance of hormones and neurotransmitters, as well as the role of elements in optimal health, we wanted to take a brief moment to reflect on the top stories of the past year. Following is a round-up of 2017's most popular posts for practitioners.…
Tags: Hormone Balance, Cancer, DHEA, Adrenal and Cortisol, ADD and ADHD
2018 has begun, and with it comes new opportunity to understand the role of hormones, neurotransmitters and elements in our overall health. Let's take a quick trip down memory lane to reflect on the top stories of 2017 that captured your attention.…
Tags: Hormone Balance, Xenoestrogens, SAD, Heavy Metals, Neurotransmitters
One of the primary objectives of the Women's Health Initiative was to see if postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) improved long-term risk of coronary heart disease, among other chronic diseases. However, the combined estrogen/progestin (Prempro) arm was halted in 2002, citing that the participants’ risk of cardiovascular disease outweighed any potential benefit of HRT in the prevention…
Tags: Hormone Balance, Menopause, BHRT, Research
You might ask what Brussels sprouts and estrogens are doing in the same sentence, but I am here to tell you that there is a connection. Brussels sprouts are the cruciferous connection to healthy hormone metabolism. These age-old options –including cabbage, broccoli, bok choy and cauliflower – have gained new acclaim today as dietary super foods. These plants, cultivated for centuries and originally…
Tags: Hormone Balance, Estrogen Metabolism, Estrogen, Xenoestrogens
When clinicians measure salivary cortisol and DHEA (DHEA-S) to assess stress and HPA axis function, it is common to find DHEA levels below the reference range in a number of individuals. A common explanation for the depletion of DHEA and other hormones (e.g., progesterone, testosterone) due to chronic stress is the phenomenon known as "pregnenolone steal." The pregnenolone steal notion states that…
Tags: HPA Axis, Hormone Balance, Stress, Pregnenolone Steal, Adrenal and Cortisol
Sometimes, when we endeavor to understand and describe complicated medical topics, there is a temptation to find a simple explanation to cut through the complexity. These explanations can help bridge the knowledge gap for a while, but as our knowledge grows, they lose some of their original usefulness (e.g., the notion of “good” and “bad” cholesterol). In some cases, those over-simplified…
Tags: Stress, HPA Axis, Hormone Balance, Adrenal and Cortisol
The nervous system and its communication with peripheral organs is under the continuous dynamic influence of hormones, neuroactive steroids, and neurotransmitters. This is why the underlying pathology of mood disorders can often be varied and complex. The hormonal piece is critical to our understanding of the imbalances when it comes to the complete neurotransmitter assessment. Hormones regulate…
Tags: Neurotransmitters, Dried Urine Testing, Hormone Balance, HPA Axis
As a hormone testing lab, ZRT understands the importance of a well-balanced endocrine system in maintaining overall health. Hormone balance is achieved through multiple feedback mechanisms, and when any part of the system is thrown out of whack by forces beyond its control, there is a knock-on effect on the rest of the body systems that are under endocrine control. Such forces can include extreme or…
Tags: Hormone Balance, Xenoestrogens, Heavy Metals, Toxins, BPA, Lead, Mercury, Cadmium
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