Women’s health concerns are often due to hormonal imbalances. This does not only include obvious hormone-related disorders such as premenstrual syndrome, menopause, fibroids, endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome but may also play a role in other conditions that are more common in women such as lupus, depression, and rheumatoid arthritis. Women tend to be more sensitive to external challenges such as stress and environmental toxins both of which can disrupt healthy hormonal balance.
An author looking into female health problems called women ‘the canaries of the coal mine’: Coal miners used to take canaries into the mines and if they stopped singing and started to die the miners knew it was time to evacuate quickly as there was some toxic build-up. The canaries were much more sensitive to the toxins than the miners.
The same may be true for women who appear to be affected by environmental toxins more readily than men. As many environmental toxins, such as pesticides, dioxins and others, are hormone disrupting chemicals this may not be surprising. When the delicate balance of our female hormones is disturbed it affects the whole body.
Our livers are the main organ of detoxification and help us eliminate toxins but they did not evolve with the thousands of chemicals that surround us these days. And whilst our livers are busier than ever the BAD (British Average Diet) is unlikely to provide them with the nutrients they need for optimal functioning.
Interestingly the liver also plays an important role in our hormone balance as it helps us get rid of old hormones. Depending on how oestrogens are metabolised, which again depends on functioning of the liver, they can turn either pro- or anti-proliferative, which can have wide-ranging consequences for our health. Supporting the liver can therefore be important for healthy hormonal balance.
Nutritional therapy can help support the liver by providing the very nutrients needed for efficient detoxification and by looking into and advising on avoidance or reduction of factors, dietary and other, that may add to the load on the liver.
Mineral Analysis Test to help identify possible causes for health concerns.
Being deficient in minerals can lead to many health problems, from anxiety to infertility and muscle cramps to osteoporosis. Supplementation can help make up any shortfalls but can also cause problems. Just as important as absolute amounts of minerals is their balance, as minerals can work together or against each other.
Calcium is a good example. Many people supplement calcium and/or ensure high intake through dairy products to prevent osteoporosis. On its own calcium will not prevent osteoporosis. To build healthy bones the body also needs other minerals such as magnesium and boron, as well as certain vitamins. Without sufficient magnesium the calcium may not be built into the bones but instead deposited in other tissues such as joints or kidneys and lead to arthritis or kidney stones respectively.
A hair mineral analysis is a simple and non-invasive test that measures mineral composition of the hair. During the growth phase the hair becomes exposed to the internal environment and minerals can accumulate. The mineral concentrations in the hair can provide a reliable indicator of mineral stores in the whole body.
Apart from giving a good indication of mineral status and balance a hair mineral analysis can also detect heavy metals which are toxic and can impair the normal functioning of our bodies. The balance of minerals can also give an indication of certain endocrine and metabolic functions of the body. A hair mineral analysis can therefore help to identify possible causes for many health concerns.
by Dr Karin Elgar
