The ZRT Laboratory Blog

The fluctuation of hormones throughout the menstrual cycle is a normal process that supports ovulation and menstruation. Unfortunately, for some women, the inherent fluctuation of their hormone creates a rollercoaster of physical and emotional symptoms that can be extreme to the point of intolerable. While all women experience hormonal fluctuations throughout their cycle, some women experience only mild discomfort while other women feel as if their world is crashing around them. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) are premenstrual disorders characterized by physical and psychological symptoms that occur in the luteal phase (after ovulation) of the menstrual cycle. PMS affects 20-40% of menstruating women and common symptoms include fatigue, irritability, mood swings, depression, abdominal bloating, breast tenderness, acne, changes in appetite and food cravings. PMDD occurs in 5-8% of menstruating women and is characterized by extreme mood and physical symptoms to such a degree that it is difficult to function in daily life.…

Tags: PMS and PMDD

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Alzheimer’s disease (AD) can develop over the course of many years without obvious symptoms until it has become quite advanced and is potentially beyond the point of reversal. The research states that the root cause of Alzheimer’s has yet to be discovered; however, if we continue to look for that ‘one thing,’ we may never find it. The development of Alzheimer’s disease is likely due to several factors that contribute to neuronal degeneration over several years.…

Tags: Alzheimer's, Cardiovascular Disease

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The numbers are grim. It is estimated that by 2050, 13.8 million Americans will be living with Alzheimer’s disease of which over 9 million will be women. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and is the only disease of the nation’s 10 most common causes of death that has no highly effective pharmaceutical treatment.…

Tags: women, Alzheimer's, Estrogen

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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder in children; however, boys are diagnosed two to nine times more often than girls are. Girls do have ADHD, but it often goes unnoticed because it can present much differently than it does in boys. Girls tend to be quiet and inattentive whereas boys tend to be active and disruptive.…

Tags: ADD and ADHD, women, Menopause, Estrogen

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The human microbiome maintains a close relationship with the endocrine system, indicating that these systems engage in meaningful communication and have a deep influence on each other. This is especially true in the case of estrogen and the gut microbiome. The estrobolome is the portion of the microbiome that influences estrogen metabolism. First defined in 2011, the estrobolome is the collection of all enteric bacteria capable of metabolizing estrogen. The estrobolome can impact endogenous estrogen metabolism by modulating the enterohepatic circulation of estrogens thus influencing plasma estrogen levels.…

Tags: estrobolome, gut microbes, hormones

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Almost certainly, women between the ages of 60 and 90 remember the shocking healthcare news in 2002 with the unexpected, early termination of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), a long-term national health study. The release of the initial results of the trials rocked the medical establishment and profoundly changed the lives of many women. Additionally, the news altered the perception of the routine, menopausal hormone replacement prescription for years to come.…

Tags: Menopause, Hormone Replacement Therapy, Estrogen

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When women enter menopause about 45-50 years of age, their estrogen and progesterone drop precipitously, causing a long list of unpleasant symptoms such as hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep disturbances. The drop in estrogen also leads to greater risk for cardiovascular disease and accelerated bone loss that may lead to osteoporosis and increased fracture risk. Women are faced with making a decision to start taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to hopefully alleviate most of the symptoms and risks associated with menopause.…

Tags: Menopause, Estrogen, Progesterone, Hormone Replacement Therapy

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In a previous four-part series, we examined some of the main issues associated with long COVID, focusing on the central nervous system, ongoing inflammation and autoimmunity, mitochondrial dysregulation and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction. While the science regarding these topics is still evolving, taking a closer look at the effects of long COVID on epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol will provide some insight regarding the toll that COVID can take on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the HPA axis.…

Tags: Covid19, Cortisol, catecholamines

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Women who are in perimenopause, menopause or post menopause sometimes feel like they’re living in a different body. Many have a hard time losing or controlling their weight—whether it’s due to shifting and declining hormones, and a slowing down of metabolism combined with stress. We talked to integrative physician, Jade Teta, about the role of hormones and weight, why some women are having difficulty losing or controlling their weight, and what they can do about it.…

Tags: women, hormones, weight loss

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At the most fundamental level, the beneficial actions of iodine derive from its ability to function as both an antioxidant and an oxidant. These basic qualities also support its effects as an antimicrobial, antiproliferative and anti-cancer agent. How iodine functions within the human body is determined by its form, the tissue in which it resides and the overall physiological context.…

Tags: iodine, immune system, breast health

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