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Synthetic Estrogens Pose Greater Clot Risk Than Natural Forms of Hormones

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I’ve been saying it all along, but we finally have more research explaining the differences between synthetic and more natural forms of hormones.

The only thing the article did not mention was the additional benefit of using natural hormones transdermally (on the skin) versus taking a pill. There is a huge difference in fewer side effects and less incidence in blood clots when using estrogen on the skin.  

More studies will be available soon on natural vs synthetic. It’s about time…

 

Synthetic Estrogens Pose Greater Clot Risk Than Natural Forms of Hormone | TIME.com: “”

Resilience

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There is so much I have learned about my town in Boulder Colorado. We are all in the midst of recovering from the impact of the flood that took belongings, homes, businesses and lives from many people.

What you learn from going through something like this is the amazing resilience that lies within each of us.

Resilience.  It comes from the latin word resili, which means to spring back, rebound. It is defined as the ability to recover readily from illness, depression, adversity or the like; buoyancy or elasticity. (dictionary.com).

Wow! Thats the truth. We all have that strength and capacity to bounce back. Get up when the situation has pushed us down. We don’t see or test that within ourselves unless we go through a trauma or unexpected event. Hurricane Sandy, Katrina victims and so many other devastating storms have destroyed what we have and what we have identified ourselves with until it’s just…gone. 

This is also the time to reflect on what’s important in our lives. Our family, friends and communities. Neighbors have come together to help out, support one another, take in evacuees or just to hold us while the tears of sadness and loss take over. 

It’s overwhelming but we will get through this!  This is a time to be patient with ourselves and open up our hearts to those less fortunate. Even those who may have had no damage to their homes can feel the heightened stress, anxiety and grief that so many are experiencing. So many are feeling a heavy heart from friends that have suffered great losses and watching their beautiful community change overnight and become a national disaster area.

But it’s resilience that will allow us to look back later and ask, “Where were you when the 100-year Boulder flood happened? ” We will each have our own stories to tell and we will be much stronger from it.

Hang in there Boulder!  I am so proud to be a part of this community…

6 Surprising Facts About the Microbes Living in Your Gut

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Bacteria

Microorganisms in the gut play a very important role in our health. It’s functions include communicating with the immune system, preventing growth of harmful species, synthesizing vitamins such as biotin and Vitamin K, and producing hormones that effect the storage of fats. 

This articles addresses a few specific benefits such as preventing obesity and how bacteria effects mood.

Altering gut microbes can improve insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance. Treatment especially with Bifidobacter species and Saccharomyces boulardii probiotics have shown less extraction of calories from food which means better weight control. In one study, mice were genetically engineered without their own gut bacteria and instead half were given bacteria from obese humans and the other half received gut bacteria from thin people. The mice with obese bacteria gained more weight indicating how these microbes effect the physical and metabolic traits of their owners.

As far as mood is concerned, we need to realize that our gut is considered our “second brain”. There is more serotonin in our gut than our brain, which makes it such an emotional center. Some of you may notice that when you’re anxious, you may feel nauseas, queasy or have diarrhea. High levels of Cortisol (stress hormone) irritate our gut and inflame the brain. Certain species of gut bacteria (Lactobacillus Rhamnosus) acts on our central nervous system that can calm our emotions.

We will be hearing a lot more about the importance of the trillions of bacteria in our gut and how its own genome can prevent (and maybe even treat) disease. Not sure if bacteria transplants will be the norm, but identifying each persons unique bacterial make-up will soon be common testing along side checking you cholesterol. 

 

6 Surprising Facts About the Microbes Living in Your Gut: “”