Symptoms & Conditions

A Closer Look: Metabolic/Immune Dysfunction

Fatigue
Inflammation and Immune Disorders
Diabetes
Digestive Disturbances
Constipation

Fatigue:

Fatigue isn't just a sign that you aren't getting enough sleep. Disruption of any one of the pillars of hormone health - the adrenals, thyroid, or sex glands - can cause fatigue. The irony is that many hormone disruptions cause a sleep disruption.

Fatigue may be a sign of:

Low thyroid function
Depressed cortisol levels
Elevated cortisol levels at night
Progesterone deficiency
Low blood sugar
Immune deficiency
Vitamin B-12 or iron deficiency

Inflammation and Immune Disorders

There are several different presentations of inflammation in the body including allergies, food sensitivities, autoimmune conditions, and cardiovascular disease. Many factors play a role:

High levels of cortisol can depress the immune system, making us more prone to chronic infections.
Eating foods that our bodies do not tolerate which can lead to "leaky gut" and eventually food allergies, migraines, autoimmune aggravation, skin disorders
Medications can repress our body's ability to naturally fight disease and pathogens as well as tax the liver and contribute to increased toxicity
Environmental toxins from pesticides, organophosphates found in paint, heavy metals, and off-gassing from new carpets and furniture are just some examples of burdens on our body that can depress adrenal and liver functioning leading to inflammation and immune depression

Diabetes

The statistics on diabetes cases in this country has reached epidemic proportions. The number of people with "pre-diabetes" or insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome is even more astounding. Type II diabetes usually occurs later in life and is the result of poor dietary choices and lack of exercise. Hormones also play a role.

Cortisol increases blood sugar levels which in turn increase insulin levels followed by insulin resistance from cells over time.
imbalances in sex hormones can lead to cravings that perpetuate poor eating habits which lead to high blood sugar and obesity. They can also lead to depression and emotional eating which can result in the same.
poor adrenal and thyroid function leads to the body's inability to process sugars, fats, and proteins as efficiently and slows metabolism
ask about our U-Lite Program to reverse diabetes and teach you how to eat proper proportions and combinations of food to improve carbohydrate metabolism.

Digestive Disturbances

There are several types of digestive disturbances that plague us. For instance; heartburn, IBS, gas and bloating (from dysbiosis), and gall bladder pain are commonly seen in our office. If you have been given a medication for any of these issues, you are likely causing an acute scenario to become chronic or creating a myriad of other problems down the line by taking substances that decrease hydrochloric acid release from the stomach. A naturopathic approach to these conditions centers around diagnosing and treating any present infection, repairing damaged tissue, and re-colonizing the GI tract with healthy bacteria and adequate enzymes. All this can be done using natural herbs and nutrients that the GI tissue uses for nourishment. Side effects are non-existent, and cure is the end result vs. chronic reoccurrence because the cause was never addressed in the first place.

Weight Gain

Results from the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), using measured heights and weights, indicate that an estimated 32.7 percent of U.S. adults 20 years and older are overweight, 34.3 percent are obese and 5.9 percent are extremely obese. The number of people who are obese has doubled since 1980. We have to assume that lifestyle and stress play a huge role in these findings. Many people find it hared to lose weight they have gained which becomes even harder as we age.

Disruptions in several different pathways can lead to difficulty losing weight:

Low thyroid hormone levels can cause an overall decrease in the body's metabolism
Stress can cause elevated cortisol levels which can lead to abdominal weight gain
Not eating enough good fats and calories can cause the body to store fat as a protective measure
The natural process of aging leads to decreased functioning of our energy producing glands making it more difficult to lose stored fat

Read about our Ultra Lite and Weight Loss for Life program and see how over a million people have reached their desired weight and learned how to keep it off!