DIM or Sulforaphane for Estrogen?
The answer is - it depends! First, this might sound greek if you’re not familiar with supplements or foods that support estrogen detoxification! I have another article on [DIM here](https://www.drcarriejones.com/articles/when-do-i-take-dim) to catch you up. It comes from mature broccoli and supports phase 1 estrogen detoxification. Sulforaphane predominantly comes from young broccoli sprouts and supports phase 2 estrogen detoxification! My personal favorite is to start with eating broccoli sprouts or using a broccoli sprout/sulforaphane product. This essentially works to open all the drains in your house so the water can drain out to the sewer line. In fact, sulforaphane seems to activate over 500 genes in your body..
Is Stress Screwing Up Your Blood Sugar?
Have you noticed in times of stress, especially chronic stress, that you feel puffier, thicker around the middle, or become immediately hangry? One of your main stress hormones is called Cortisol. If cortisol had a resume, the first thing it would say is, “I increase your blood sugar!” Unfortunately, this is not talked about enough as stress could be part of the reason your blood sugar is higher than optimal and playing a role in your symptoms. Cortisol is a nervous system hormone made by your adrenal glands that sit on top of your kidneys. Yes, you have two adrenal glands! Cortisol is known as a gluco-cortico-steroid hormone. “Gluco” because it raises glucose (blood sugar) in times of stress so you have it readily available for your brain and muscles to fight or run…
Do You Need DHEA?
DHEA and DHEA-S are the most abundant steroid hormones floating around in your body! They are considered androgens and are made predominantly by your adrenal glands and your ovaries. DHEA is a “pro-hormone” or “precursor” that goes on to make hormones known as androstenedione and androstenediol. These two “A” hormones can then make testosterone, estrogens, or other downstream androgen hormones. Think of DHEA as being near the top of the funnel for your hormone production!
Explaining Your Progesterone Options
Whether it’s time to start progesterone, you’re considering it, or just wondering about your options, you’re in the right place! Progesterone is a hormone made predominantly in your ovaries after ovulation. It does a lot in the body but it’s primarily known for its positive effects on your uterus and the calming effects on your brain. If you’re not ovulating anymore, or if you’re not ovulating as strongly as you once did, your progesterone levels can decline. Generally speaking, most hormone societies and laboratories say…
Is the Ringing in Your Ears Getting Worse?
The other night I was laying bed and my ears started ringing…again. I’ve been noticing this is happening more like 1-2 times per week instead of once a month. I especially notice it at night when it’s quiet. It doesn’t last long but it’s annoying. Turns out, it’s not an uncommon symptom in perimenopause. I posted on Instagram about it and received a TON of comments and dms from women like you experiencing the SAME THING. Ringing in the ears is called tinnitus. It can sound like ringing, a high pitched beep, shushing, loud white noise, whooshing, buzzing, or a number of other descriptive factors. There are several known causes for it such as…
Favorite High Cortisol Herbs
Stress sucks (mostly). It affects all aspects of our health, including pieces you didn’t even realize. Chronic stress can impact your hormones, your hair growth, the quality of your skin, your energy, your immune system and more. It can ramp up your anxiety, cause problems with your sleep, and ruin your symptoms of PMS. When I use the word “stress,” I mean anything that is physical, mental, emotional, environmental or otherwise that is messing you up. Of course there are good stressors - such as healthy exercise, planning a wedding you’re psyched for, and the travel day of a vacation. I’m not talking about that…
A Favorite Herb: Holy Basil/Tulsi
Every single night I drink tulsi rose tea. I even take it with me when I travel, that’s how much I love it. Tulsi is a sacred Ayurvedic herb that also goes by Holy Basil. It’s latin names are *Ocimum tenuiflorum* (or *Ocimum sanctum* L.) I’ll just call it Tulsi and explain why it’s also called, “Elixir of Life” given all it can do in the body for healing practices. I, personally, like the calming aspect of it. Tulsi is in the mint family but it doesn’t taste minty. Not to get nerdy but in human, animal and cell studies, it has been shown to be adaptogenic, metabolically supportive, modulatory to the immune system, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective (liver), antimicrobial, and have antidiabetic effects(1). Whew! That’s a lot!
What Phase Of Perimenopause Am I In?
I tend to break perimenopause into early, mid, and late. I, personally, am somewhere between early and middle perimenopause and here’s why. If you still get your period and have your ovaries, research says approximately 50% of women will experience menstrual abnormalities by age 45.5 years. Women who have experienced ≥3 months of amenorrhea (no period) are highly likely (about 95%) to become postmenopausal within the next 4 years.
What Hormones Am I Taking?
You asked and I’m answering - “Dr. Carrie, are you taking hormones and if so, what ones?” The short answer is YES! I’m taking progesterone. I’m not yet taking estrogens or testosterone. I’m probably going to start DHEA. The long answer is…I am in my mid-40’s pushing into late 40’s. About 2-3 years ago, my sleep started to suck as did my mood prior to my periods. Given all my hormone training, I figured it was time for progesterone. My labs indicated that I did ovulate (release the egg), however the resulting progesterone production was not that great anymore. I began taking…
What Exactly Are Bio (Body) Identical Hormones?
I recently received a great DM on instagram asking me to explain what bio (body) identical hormones are and how they are different from what is the birth control pill or what was looked at in the Women’s Health Initiative study. Bio or body identical are hormone preparations such as estradiol (an estrogen) or progesterone that look exactly like the hormones you have in your body. These are commercially available at your local pharmacy such as the popular estradiol patches or Prometrium (the progesterone pill). Estradiol and progesterone can also be compounded at compounding pharmacies. Progesterone cream is often available over-the-counter as well that is bio (body) identical.
Busting Melatonin Myths
Let’s bust some myths around the powerful hormone, melatonin! There are a lot of controversies out there that I want to clear up! Starting with the facts, melatonin has multiple jobs in your body. While it’s called a hormone, it’s a powerful antioxidant and has antiviral, anti-inflammatory and heavy metal binding properties. In fact authors in this paper(1) state, “Melatonin has been effectively used to combat oxidative stress, inflammation and cellular apoptosis and to restore function in a number of human trials.”
At What Age Should You Stop Your Hormones?
Years ago, I was taught in medical school that women should be on the lowest dose of hormones for the shortest amount of time. For many women, this was a period of 5-10 years then they would stop. I couldn’t understand why they had to stop as many of their symptoms would return! Imagine starting hormones at 45 years old and by 55 years old, giving them up. No surprise when they called reporting insomnia, weight gain, hot flashes, brain fog, mood changes, and more. Plus, increasing the risk for cardiometabolic disease, bone loss, and dementia…
Should The Menopause Definition Get Updated?
“Recognition that menopause, for most women, is a natural biological event, does not exempt the use of interventions to alleviate symptoms. Optimising health at menopause is the gateway to healthy aging for women.” Researcher Susan Davis, Monash University Women’s Health Research Program. Woo! Preach. However the treatment looks (hormones or not), this transition needs addressing for our long term health. In addition, their team are proposing a new definition of menopause that I personally love. They suggest instead of focusing everything around menstruation (or not), we instead focus on the ovaries and that menopause is the “final cessation of ovarian function.”
Is it Dementia, Stress, or Hormones?
Have you ever noticed that your brain doesn’t work as well as it used to? Maybe it’s just during certain parts of your cycle. Maybe it’s during times of high stress. Maybe it’s been worse in the perimenopausal transition. The fact is, your brain function absolutely CAN shift during this time! It turns out, high stress can affect a part of the brain known as the hippocampus. In short, this region helps with memory. Long term stress can affect the neurons in there and actually cause shrinkage to that area!
Phantom Smells are Annoying
I had my first phantom smell. Dr. LaKeischa warned me about them as a possibility but I didn’t realize it would temporarily make me feel CRAZY! Not long ago, I was in my bathroom and could smell a sewer smell. I asked my husband to see if he could smell it thinking we needed to fix the drain. Naturally, he couldn’t smell anything. “Smell harder!” I said as he’s sniffing as hard as he can while walking around the bathroom. “No, I don’t smell anything. It doesn’t smell like sewer gases.”
I was confused. It was SO CLEAR that the sewer gas smell was in my bathroom. A few days later while running errands out of my house, it happened again. Immediately I knew it was a phantom smell. <cue annoyed eye roll>
Surgical, Early, or Premature Menopause
Recently on Instagram, I asked what questions you wanted to know from my interview with brain researcher, Dr. Lisa Mosconi. I received SEVERAL questions around surgical, early or premature menopause and if #allthethings still applied here too. The answer is a resounding YES! Let’s define them for a second.
My DUTCH Test Results
I have done a DUTCH Complete test at least every year for about the last 10 years. I used to work there as their Medical Director and definitely had employee perks. However, I don’t work there now and still do the test to keep tabs on my health. Also, no. This is in no way sponsored. You might have done a DUTCH test or have questions about ones you have seen. I thought this might be a nice overview showing you MY results! First, some background on me…
When Do I Ask For Hormones?
I understand there is a lot of confusion around hormones in-general but even more-so when you get into perimenopause and menopause. First, be aware you will see it called Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT), or Hormone Therapy (HT). Technically, MHT is the newest term and yes it applies even if you’re in perimenopause. Regardless, let’s talk about hormones!
Annoying Intestinal Health Changes in Perimenopause
Here’s an interesting fact: You are more microbial cells than you are human cells in your body! Every time I read or hear that, it blows my mind. You have several microbiomes actually. In your intestines, on your skin, in your mouth and sinuses, and your vagina. Unfortunately, as you head into perimenopause and then menopause, the decline in estradiol really impacts it for the worse! It’s annoying and not fair.
Help! I can’t sleep anymore.
When I was much younger and in practice, my patients in their 40’s would tell me, “You wait. When you turn 45, you won’t be able to sleep.” I didn’t entirely understand and I surely didn’t think it would happen to me! I was wrong! It DID happen to me and it’s annoying. Sleep is CRITICAL to us as humans. It’s where we rest (literally), repair, detox our brains, and regenerate.