December 2008 issue

At the close of another year, we gratefully pause to wish you and your loved ones a happy Holiday Season and peace, health, happiness and prosperity in the coming New Year. 

It may be time to retest your saliva.

Give us a call to pick up a saliva kit and to book your follow-up appointment.

Visit our BLOG: http://alternativehormonesolutions.blogspot.com and share your opinions, experiences and comments with our other readers...

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?

Seasonal Affective Disorder (aka SAD) is a common mental disorder in which numerous people suffer from a depressive state in the winter months due to winter weather conditions.  

With the seasonal change, come shorter days and longer nights, colder weather, and less sunshine – these factors can affect our levels of melatonin. 

Melatonin is the hormone responsible for causing us to sleep, produced by the pineal gland deep within the brain.  Melatonin doesn’t seem to turn off adequately at dawn, causing morning drowsiness and oversleeping. Cortisol doesn’t seem to rise adequately in the morning which may contribute to lethargy during the day. Melatonin and cortisol influence serotonin function, and low serotonin levels are linked to depression in general.

The duration of melatonin secretions increase with the length of the winter nights because of more darkness, causing an increase in sleeping habits, and the culprit for SAD patients. 

SAD patients suffer from mood swings, often feeling “sad” or depressed. There are several factors implementing this mood change, but some common ones include sleeping too much, having less energy, and a change in diet involving an increase in appetite for sugar and starches.

So gaining control over Cortisol and Melatonin is key to feeling better.

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Symptoms of SAD

Perhaps, the most important symptom of SAD is that all SAD sufferers feel depressed. They feel guilty for the lack of energy and the overeating. They sense a loss of self esteem, hopelessness and despair. Many find it hard to work.

The number of "sick days" taken by the SAD sufferers in winter goes up dramatically. Many SAD sufferers will withdraw from the world and avoid social contacts.

The following symptoms are shown by some SAD sufferers; but not all...

• Anxiety: Tension, inability to tolerate stress, phobias.

• Social problems: Irritability, loss of pleasure in being with others and a desire to avoid contact, which could even turn to unwillingness to leave the home or bed.

• Loss of libido: Decreased interest in sex.

• Sleep problems: Tendency to sleep for longer periods. The sleep is restless and less satisfying. They wake up during the night.

• Mood swings: In the spring when SAD lifts, some sufferers experience a dramatic swing in mood and a short period of hypomania, a sudden surge of energy and enthusiasm which brings problems of its own.

• Menstrual difficulties: During the winter premenstrual tension may be worse than in other seasons, bringing irritability, sleep problems, appetite changes and low energy levels.

• Hopelessness: Feelings of desperation and hopelessness, which sometimes lead to over-dependence on relationships, work, home.

• Excessive eating and drinking: Carbohydrate foods, alcohol, coffee.

• Increased sensitivity to pain: Headaches, muscle and joint pain.

• Other physical ailments: Constipation, diarrhea, palpitations.

Regardless of the symptom, seasonal affective disorder is harmful to the body and the mind.

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Preventing the Effects of SAD

Although the effects of SAD generally only last for the winter months, no one looks forwards to the days of scheduled depression on top of our scheduled PMS!!! 

Here are a few ways to steer clear of the “dark ages”:

MAGNESIUM

Magnesium improves energy production.  A deficiency in magnesium can include low energy and fatigue by assisting several vital enzymes to convert carbohydrates, proteins, and fats into energy.  It also is extremely important in regulating potassium levels and maintaining the adrenal glands – both important factors in energy levels.  Some sources of magnesium include almonds, green leafy vegetables, wheat germ and whole grains, shellfish, and dates.

OMEGA-3

Get more Omega-3 – Animal-based omega-3 fats like fish oil and krill oil are linked to better emotional health. One study showed that people with lower levels of omega-3s were more likely to have symptoms of depression.

VITAMIN D

Vitamin D is synthesized by humans in the skin when it is exposed to UVB rays from sunlight.  Because the sun contributes significantly to the production of vitamin D, as little as 10 minutes a day of sun exposure is enough to prevent deficiencies!   If you live in the United States or Canada your vitamin D levels are probably too low.  Supplementation with a good Vitamin D3 year round

EXERCISE

Research suggests that exercise helps raise the levels of certain mood-enhancing neurotransmitters in the brain and boosts the ‘feel good’ endorphins.  Exercise also reduces cortisol, which is responsible for stress and anxiety.  Furthermore, exercise obviously improves your physical appearance so with all of these changes in your mind and body, there’s no wonder why the feeling of sadness, anxiety, stress, anger, and hopelessness vanish!

DIET

Insulin and sugar are strongly related to depression.  The cortisol connection may explain why SAD sufferers crave carbohydrates and gain so much weight. Eating quality fats when wanting 'carbs' may help suppress the cravings.  It is so important to reduce the intake of sugar and refined carbohydrates.

BRIGHT LIGHT THERAPY

Studies have shown that light therapy has been effective for treating SAD. 

It is basically a type of fluorescent light emitted from a small box, but the type of light and the intensity is unlike any other found around the household.  It mimics natural outdoor light, and has the ability to cause a biochemical change in your brain that relieves symptoms of SAD and lifts moods.

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PARTNERS IN NATURAL HEALTH & WELLNESS

We all know that health and wellness is not achieved by focusing on one facet of our body or our lifestyle.  At AHS, we focus on hormone health, but we also believe that achieving wellness is a balance of many things including hormones, nutrition, exercise, supplementation and stress reduction. 

This is a new effort to share with you those other health and wellness services in our community that share and support our interest in empowering women to make health choices and begin to feel healthy and full of renewed energy.

Nasty Free Naturals

100% All Natural Chemical-Free, House, Home & Beauty Products  nastyfreenaturals@shaw.ca

Balance Your Immune System www.balance-your-immune-system.com

Organic Grocer, Surrey, BC   www.organicgrocerweb.ca

Balanced Weight

Allan Lawry, Program Director,  Vancouver, BC

Programs to keep fat, muscle and bone within healthy ranges

www.balancemyweight.com  604-730-5550

Breakthrough Hypnotherapy and Wellness Centre

Alison L. Longley, Registered Clinical Hypnotherapist, , Burnaby, BC

www.breakthrough-hypnotherapy.com    604-616-6400

Espiritu Healing Arts Centre 

Physiotherapy, massage therapy, traditional Chinese medicine, rehabilitation exercise/core training, Pilates and yoga in North Vancouver.

www.espiritu.ca   604-982-0366

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What Our Clients are Saying...

WHAT’S NEW AT ALTERNATIVE HORMONE SOLUTIONS?

WE HAVE MOVED...

The Port Moody Clinic opened in October.  This move was prompted by the new road configuration around the Surrey Clinic.  Once the road construction in that area is completed, access to the clinic would have been extremely difficult.  The Port Moody Clinic is located at 2226 St. John’s St. 

There’s plenty of free parking in the area. 

The phone number is 604-936-1156.

The Vancouver Clinic was closed the end of October and we will be relocating January 1^st.  2009.

As many of you know, there was water damage and the decision was made not to remain there as there was the potential to the exposure of mould. 

The new office is relocated in West Vancouver at #9 - 636 Clyde Ave., just off Taylor Way.  It is still easy access for Vancouver area clients. 

The phone number however will remain the same for now – (604)738-3999. 

For those of you who choose not to travel across the bridge, we offer telephone consultations.  We have been providing phone consultations all along for women in other areas of the Province and Country. 

In addition, if you require supplements or saliva kits, we will be mailing them without the postage charge for the existing Vancouver area clients until the end of December.  However, due to the low mark-up on our supplements, the postage charge will be in effect January 1, 2009. 

Please let us know if you need a Supplement Order Form.

It's All About ME!!!

If any of you have a success story to share and would permit us to use it, anonymously on our website or in a newsletter, we'd love to hear from you!

Don’t Forget…. If it has been a while since your last visit, please call us for a follow-up visit to re-evaluate your symptoms &/or check your hormone levels.

And now you can post your own experiences and opinions on our new BLOG at: http://alternativehormonesolutions.blogspot.com

December Smiles

• You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests you think she’s pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.

• Never by afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.  A large group of professionals built the Titanic.

• A person who is nice to you but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person.

• If you look like your passport picture, you probably need the trip.

Contact Us

Alternative Hormone Solutions

WEST VANCOUVER CLINIC

Suite #9 -636 Clyde Ave, West Vancouver, B.C.

Phone: 604-922-3997   Fax: 604-926-3727

E-mail: info@alternativehormonesolutions.ca

We’re on the Web...  www.alternativehormonesolutions.ca