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Now onto the show…
Ever been told, after getting a hormone test back – whether it was testosterone, oestrogen, thyroid hormones, cortisol or anything else, that everything’s ‘normal’ and ‘you’re fine?’ – yet you feel totally NOT FINE? In this week’s show I chat to the wonderful Dr Carrie Jones who makes the trickiest of hormone challenges (male or female) feel like a fun puzzle to get to the bottom of – and I’m serious. Imagine turning the talk of hormone woes on its head and making it instead an interesting fun thing to figure out – it was this attitude of Carrie’s from following her Instagram feed and the generous sharing she does there, that said: I have to have her on the show and shake up the hormone conversation, that’s always such a Debbie downer!
Carrie is a Naturopathic Physician with a Master’s in Public Health having over 12 years in the field of functional and integrative medicine. As Adjunct Faculty for the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM), she has taught courses in both Gynaecology and Advanced Endocrinology. She has been the Medical Director for two large integrative clinics in Portland, Oregon and is currently the Medical Director for Precision Analytical, Inc, creators of the most cutting edge hormone test on the market, the DUTCH Test. So, come and listen while Carrie and I discuss the ins and outs of testing, what our results can tell us, how she doesn’t believe in Adrenal Fatigue (yes, you heard me right there!) and what it means when your cortisone and cortisol are off kilter. It’s such a great chat, and I can’t wait to hear what you guys think. I love what the Dutch test can offer us, so I was super thrilled to have Carrie join me for a general in-depth hormone chat as well as a deeper look into the capability of the Dutch test.
Here’s a little snapshot of the juicy bits in today’s episode…
- The Dutch test is a urine test that provides a comprehensive picture of the state of adrenals and sex hormones. It is a helpful test when recurrent blood tests show no conclusive evidence of a hormonal imbalance, but symptoms persist. Whether it is a struggle with recurrent migraines, infertility, persistent acne, or perimenopausal concerns, there is so much that can be revealed through this test when nothing else seems to help.
- Cortisol is what helps us handle stress and inflammation and helps our immune system and our blood sugar levels, but when we get too much of it, the body can deactivate it and turn it into cortisone. If you get a test that shows low levels of cortisol, it may not necessarily mean you don’t make it, it might just mean you turn it all into cortisone. An acute illness or long-term stress can trigger this process. The Dutch test shows exactly how much of the cortisol gets turned into cortisone. As fatigue is the usually the biggest symptom in that case, people often get misdiagnosed with chronic fatigue.
- Oestrogen is what helps your memory, contributes to bones health, helps with collagen production and more. Low oestrogen is a trigger for weight gain in many cases. The body needs oestrogen. When we have too much of it, oestrogen detoxification is an option: eating vegetables from the brassica family (broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, etc.), choosing the right supplements and getting rid of environmental toxins that impact our oestrogen levels can help but we need to pay close attention not to overdo it as we can quickly become deficient.
- Dr Carrie Jones believes adrenal fatigue is a myth. The fatigue symptom is real, but it’s the brain that ‘s the conductor. The adrenals don’t make decisions, they do what they’re told and when they shut down, they were told to by the brain. Stress and anxiety are the main culprits. Finding ways to manage our stress response is essential: happy thoughts on a post-it note, a gratitude journal and generally becoming aware of what are stress triggers are and choosing to respond differently. Vitamin B, and C are great supplements to help support adrenals as well as herbs such as Tulsi and Ashwaganda.
- In order to have the healthiest hormones, pat a dog! Patting a friendly animal improves your oxytocin and works wonders for your hormones. Also get off your phone before bed, in order to help with your melatonin production and support your sleep and reproductive rhythms.
And here are a few extra important resources:
You can find out more about Dr Carrie Jones and the Dutch test HERE.
Follow Dr Carrie Jones on Instagram.
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Low Tox. Happy us. Happy planet
