HealthBeat News

Category: Hormones

  • Guys: Is Your Water Turning You Into a “Girlie-Man”?

    Guys: Is Your Water Turning You Into a “Girlie-Man”?

     

    By Nurse Mark

     

    Fellas, this is a subject near and dear to my, uh, heart (and other important parts too…)

     

    Did you know that some drinking water supplies in the US can change the gender of a fish? A US Geological Survey team reports finding a large number of male fish with female traits. In some Potomac River tributaries, nearly all the male small-mouth bass caught in the survey were abnormal. In the Potomac River itself, 7 out of 13 male largemouth bass had female characteristics. Some of them were even producing eggs!

    Gender-bending fish might not sound like a big deal to you, but this actually affects your health far more than you might imagine. The reason so many of these male fish are “turning female” is that they are exposed to environmental toxins in the water — toxins that resemble human estrogens. We call these toxins “estrogen mimickers,” and these estrogen look-a-likes have profound effects on humans.

    Estrogens in Men

    All men have a small amount of the “female” hormone estrogen. That’s normal and we need that little bit to keep all our parts running right. But when estrogen levels become elevated because of an outside source — like drinking water — serious health changes can result. Estrogen mimickers cause high estrogen and low testosterone levels in men.

    This altered estrogen/testosterone ratio causes the onset of feminine features. Once muscular “pecs” (you know, the chest muscles you used to have!) turn into soft, female-like “breasts buds” – AKA “man boobs.” A “spare tire” forms around the middle and the risk of prostate cancer goes sky-high. The high estrogen-to-testosterone ratio wreaks havoc with libido and sexual function and often results in a lack of energy. If all that isn’t bad enough, these sex hormone changes can cause feelings of hopelessness and depression. They can even elevate cardiac risk factors in men.

    You Can Run, But You Can’t Hide

    Estrogen mimickers can show up in drinking water from agricultural runoff (many pesticides and herbicides are estrogen look-alike’s), but here’s the real kicker. Chlorine — the stuff used to purify all municipal water supplies — is highly toxic and forms estrogen-mimicking organochlorides when it binds with organic matter. This means that unless you are drinking tested pure well or spring water, you are likely consuming estrogen-like compounds in your drinking water.

    Additional problems come from a couple of chemicals that have been in the news recently: BPA and Phthalates. BPA mimics estrogen, while phthalates block testosterone – a double-whammy for us guys! (and not so good for the girls either!)

    Bisphenol A, (BPA) is everywhere. Created more than 40 years ago, millions of tons are used each year in a wide variety of products including plastic bottles and food can liners. More than 90% of Americans have detectable BPA in their bodies.

    Phthalates are just as ubiquitous: these chemicals – used to make plastic soft and flexible – are even more widespread than BPA, found in everything from food packaging and plastic pipe and tubing to shower curtains and cosmetics.

    If you think buying bottled water is safer, I have bad news for you. Bottled water is no better than tap water, and may even be worse, on two counts:

    First, the FDA standards for bottled water are much lower than they are for municipally-delivered tap water. Much of what you buy as “purified drinking water” is nothing more than tap water that has been filtered. More than 25 percent of bottled water is actually just tap water from municipal water supplies, and another 30 percent of bottled water has chemical and bacterial  contamination above the levels considered safe by state and industry regulations.

    Second, bottled water “lives” in plastic bottles. The bottles themselves can leach chemicals that are “estrogen mimickers.” Can you say “BPA?”  Now do you see why bottled water isn’t such a good “alternative choice”?

    Your Best Bet for Safe Drinking Water

    Your best bet for safe, clean drinking water is install an under-sink or countertop water purifier. The reverse-osmosis type is very reliable. If you don’t want to invest the money to do that, a simple pitcher with a charcoal filter is better than most bottled water. You say you are on the road or away from home and you want pure drinking water? Here is a great idea, and really inexpensive – a filtered sports bottle!

    And don’t forget your shower-water! When you’re hot (and your skin’s pores are wide-open), you can absorb toxins from the water. Shower-head filters are inexpensive and reliable.

    A Good Water Filter is a Cheap Investment in Your Health

    A reliable, highly-effective under-sink water filter is an excellent health investment, especially when you consider how important water is to health. The human body is about 60% water. That means we can have 60% of our total body weight contaminated with estrogen-mimicking toxins if we drink lousy water. (And NO, beer, coffee and other beverages are not “safer”! Beer in particular can turn you into a “girlie man,” because it is made with hops, an estrogenic herb. Sorry guys – I love beer too!).

    The highest-rated water filters cost about the same as the cheap junk.

    Aquasana Water Purifiers  makes some of the highest-rated filters at the best prices.

    Bottom Line? “Just say no” to becoming a “girlie-man” and start drinking and bathing in estrogen-free water!

    References

    1.) McLean M. More “Intersex Fish” Found in the Potomac. Associated Press. Sep 6, 2006.
    2.) Persistence of pharmaceutical compounds and other organic wastewater contaminants in a conventional drinking-water-treatment plant. Sci Total Environ. 2004 Aug 15;329(1-3):99-113.
    3.) Pre-treatment optimisation studies for secondary effluent reclamation with reverse osmosis. Water Res. 2003 Mar;37(5):1177-84.
    4.) Comparing microfiltration-reverse osmosis and soil-aquifer treatment for indirect potable reuse of water. Water Res. 2003 Sep;37(15):3612-21.
    5.)Bisphenol A Mimics Estrogen, Phthalates Target Testosterone. Kristina Fiore, Staff Writer, MedPage Today. February 05, 2009
    6.) Estrogenicity of xenobiotics in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) using in vivo synthesis of vitellogenin as a biomarker. L. B. Christiansen, K. L. Pedersen, B. Korsgaard and P. Bjerregaard. Institute of Biology, Odense University, Odense, DK, Denmark 28 June 1999

  • On Tegretol, Retaining Water, And Needing Help…

    Carla writes:

    Dear Nurse Mark,
    I’m in desperate need of help!! I take Tegretol, which causes anti diuretic hormone excess but it’s the only medication that works for me, so I’m forced to continue taking it
    I’ve put on well over 20+ lbs. of water retention that I just can’t get rid of! I know that there are prescription drugs that work as “vasopressin antagonists” but they can be very dangerous. I’m searching night and day, for hours on end, for an alternative treatment for myself but I am really confused, I mean, I’ve read about aquaretics, osmotic diuretics and urea, all as natural treatments for the disorder but I need a professional’s wisdom and guidance. I can’t afford your full fee of $450 for the full telephone consultation but I’ve been told that you’re the best and was advised to contact you.
    Can you please, please help me??
    Thank you so much,
    Carla

    Hi Carla,

    We will do what I can for you, but I’m sure you’ll understand that our advice must be limited – it is neither legal nor ethical for us to provide detailed medical advice to someone who is not an established patient – that is, someone for whom we are not in possession of full medical records and related medical information. We have written about this several times before, and we have written to explain why we do not work for free.

    As you probably know, Tegretol, a drug which is approved as an anticonvulsant and specific analgesic for trigeminal neuralgia – is also often prescribed for the conditions of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. According to Novartis, the patent-holder and maker of the drug, it comes with some very serious and even life-threatening side effects. Water retention is one of the least-serious of it’s side effects!

    Just as Tegretol is a very serious drug, so too are any of those conditions for which it might be prescribed. Without knowing a lot more about you, about your medical history and condition, and about your living circumstances and lifestyle we would simply be shooting with our eyes closed – and that’s not a good thing!

    Since you say you cannot afford Dr. Myatt’s New Patient Consultation fee (which actually works out to somewhere between $27 and $41 per hour given that there usually 8 to 10 hours of research work done on your case before your hour-long consultation, and then 2 to 6 hours of research and report and recommendation preparation following your consultation – would a plumber work that cheaply?) I must assume that you are not likely to be able to afford vitamins or other supplements either. That is too bad, because an investment in Dr. Myatt’s skills and advice, and some carefully chosen supplementation could possibly save you from a lifetime of the expense, the risk, and the unpleasant side effects of a very toxic drug – to say nothing of perhaps actually correcting the condition that “requires” you to take this drug.

    Neurotransmitter testing might be a good idea – but it is not inexpensive, and the results are not easy for the layperson to interpret accurately so interpretation could be yet another expense.

    Corrective supplementation for neurotransmitter imbalances is not cheap either – and not likely to be covered by insurances like your Tegretol may be. Still, there might be something to be said in favor of a treatment lacking Tegretol’s potentially lethal side effects…

    So, what can we suggest that could be low-cost or no cost?

    A ketogenic diet has been demonstrated to be highly therapeutic for epileptic conditions. We have also had clinical success with the use of a ketogenic diet in other neurologic and psychiatric conditions and would certainly recommend this diet for someone suffering either schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. The Atkins diet is an example of a ketogenic diet. Dr. Myatt has improved upon Atkins, and places her patients on The Myatt Diet which in addition to being ketogenic is also corrective of a number of dietary deficiencies and resulting hormonal imbalances. (You did know that neurotransmitters are hormones, right?) Either way, you will be in ketosis when you are turning your ketosticks pink or purple.

    The ketogenic diet tends to act as a natural dieuretic and so is very effective at clearing the body of excess water.

    Another low-cost or no-cost corrective technique we have found is vigorous exercise – an hour a day of good, vigorous exercise such as gym-work, weight training, dance, vigorous hiking, biking, or swimming just to name a few examples has worked wonders for a number of Dr. Myatt’s patients.

    Patients with bipolar disorder (one reason that Tegretol might be prescribed) often benefit from taking the mineral lithium. Unfortunately the commonly prescribed form of lithium is lithium carbonate which must be given in large and potentially toxic doses since it is poorly assimilated. For this reason many patients do not tolerate it at all well and refuse to take it because of it’s side effects. A much safer alternative might be lithium orotate – it is much better assimilated, can  be used in far smaller and safer doses, and therefore tends to create fewer unpleasant side effects.

    For further information about neurotransmitters and corrective supplementation, please visit our webpages here

    More information and treatment suggestions for mood disorders can be found here

    We understand that money is tight – and that Dr. Myatt’s New Patient Consultation fee may seem steep. That is why Dr. Myatt has begun to offer her Brief Telephone Consultations at only $40. Many people find that even this brief time with Dr. Myatt can help them to clarify and focus their self-help efforts and to cut through the noise and misinformation of the internet that may be confusing them. For many folks even this Brief Telephone Consultation has been life-changing.

    I hope this has been helpful for you, and we wish you every success in your efforts to deal with your challenges.

    Cheers,
    Nurse Mark

  • More Thyroid Questions

    By Nurse Mark

     

    Thyroid continues to be one of the more common subjects for questions that we receive here, and it seems to be one of the most poorly understood by many folks. And no wonder – thyroid function, thyroid hormones, and hormones in general are a very complicated issue. The internet abounds with "Thyroid Information" – much of it incorrect and misleading – which only adds to the confusion

    Marilyn wrote to Dr. Myatt recently:

    Does your thyroid cytotrophin contain literally T3 and T4 hormones?  Also, does Maca inhibit the thyroid since it is a cruciferous vegetable and contains glucosinates?  Please let me know as soon as possible. Thanks so much!

    Here is Dr. Myatt’s answer

    Hi Marilyn:

    Cytotrophin does indeed contain T3 and T4, approximately 1/2 grain per tablet in a 1:5 ratio (T3:T4) as is the ratio made by the body. It cannot be listed on the label (or my website!) because then it is considered a drug and not a supplement.

    Glucosinolates can cause goiter (swollen thyroid gland with decreased activity) if taken in excess combined with a low-iodine diet. Though this is documented to occur with other glucosinolate-rich foods, it is not known if maca causes goiter.

    Anyone who has demonstrated low thyroid function should have an iodine test to determine if iodine deficiency is the cause of their hypothyroidism, but you probably knew that. And of course, if your iodine levels are low, they should be brought up to sufficiency.

    Thanks for your question and I hope these answers are what you were looking for!

    In Health,
    Dr. Myatt

    As you can see, there is nothing simple about thyroid function – and similarly there is nothing simple about what does and does not affect thyroid function. Iodine – a lowly, forgotten mineral – is intimately involved in thyroid function and health.

    What is, and is not a goitrogen is also the subject of confusion – this is another area where there are really no absolutes, and everything must be considered in it’s relation to everything else. That is not meant to sound like weasel-words – it is an attempt to describe the intricate and delicately balanced interrelationships and interdependencies of this marvelous machine that is our human body. I recently wrote about goitrogens in the article What is a Goitrogen?

    Dr. Myatt has written an excellent resource page on Hypothyroidism and a well-researched article titled Iodine: the "Missing Mineral" for Thyroid, Heart, Healthy Immunity and Cancer Protection. Since Iodine is so intimately tied to thyroid health anyone with thyroid concerns will want to consider testing to determine your Iodine levels. Dr. Myatt is highly skilled at interpreting this Iodine test, and at treating and correcting thyroid problems – a Telephone Consultation is be a wise investment.

  • Scary Chemical, Scary Advice

     

    Scary Chemicals, Scary Advice

    By Nurse Mark

    It never ceases to amaze us. Not that so many obviously unqualified people are so willing to dispense advice, but that so many of those that this advice is dispensed to allow themselves to blindly believe it without considering it’s source.

    Folks, I am a Nurse. I would not presume to advise you as to the best way to conduct your IRS audit – that is a job for your accountant. I would not presume to advise you as to the best way to conduct your defense in court – that is a job for your lawyer. I would not presume to advise you on rewiring your home – that is a job for your electrician. And so it goes – there are people who have become educated and trained and expert in their fields of work – and even though an accountant may work for an electrical company this does not make him qualified to rewire your house – he is an accountant, not an electrician.

    Similarly, just because someone owns or operates a Health Store they are not qualified to dispense medical advice unless they are also a qualified medical practitioner. Ringing up vitamins all day long does not infer a deep knowledge of chemistry, biochemistry, endocrinology, or cardiology, though that person may have some strongly held beliefs that they are more than happy to share.

    Fortunately, Janet and her husband were savvy enough to "get a second opinion" after hearing such frightening advice from their local Health Store owner – here is the letter that they sent us:

    Subject: dicalcium phosphate and magnesium stearate

    Dear Heathbeat Team,
    A Health Store owner told us the bovine, thyroid glandular my husband was taking was dangerous because it contains dicalcium phosphate, which, she said, can cause heart attacks. With TSH levels at -18.06 he has to take SOMEthing.  His doctor won’t prescribe anything but synthroid.  The bovine glandular mentioned above seemed to be helping, but now we’re afraid of it.  Should we be?

    Thank you so much for the wonderful, informative website; and a safe place to go to get the facts!
    Sincerely,
    Janet

    And here is the reply I sent back to Janet and her husband:

    Hi Janet,

    I’m assuming since this health store owner is apparently dispensing medical advice that she is a licensed medical practitioner, right? That would explain her obviously deep and cutting-edge knowledge of  chemistry, biochemistry, endocrinology and cardiology… NOT!

    Neither Dr. Myatt nor I are aware of any scientific evidence that dicalcium phosphate or magnesium stearate can cause heart attacks. We are aware that some people have a knee-jerk fear-and-loathing reaction toward anything with a scary-sounding chemical name. Please see my HealthBeat News article on this subject: http://healthbeatnews.com/news/archives/99 – while not specific to dicalcium phosphate and magnesium stearate it is an eye-opener with regard to scary-sounding chemicals and mineral names.

    I am happy to hear that the bovine glandular formulation that your husband is using is helping. Since it is helping, you should not be afraid of the very small amount of dicalcium phosphate and magnesium stearate that is used in the process of entabulation which is the binding the bovine glandular into a tablet form so that it is useable as a supplement. In an ideal world, neither of these things would be required, but since it is extremely difficult and hence very expensive to provide a supplement like bovine glandular thyroid formulations without these things we accept the trade-off that is the use of these fairly inert and innocuous "other ingredients".

    However, it sounds like you need some help with this issue – thyroid problems are quite involved, and are far more complicated than can be resolved by simply looking at a TSH level in isolation. T3, T4, iodine, and many other things come into consideration when Dr. Myatt evaluates thyroid issues. Why not consider making an investment in improved health by scheduling a consultation with Dr. Myatt? Please see her consultation information here: http://www.drmyattswellnessclub.com/consultations.htm

    Hope this helps,

    Cheers,
    Nurse Mark

  • Thyroid Questions again!

    Thyroid Questions again!

    Subtitled "Why we don’t work for free – episode number 687"

    By Nurse Mark

    The thyroid gland, and hypo/hyper thyroidism are very complicated and are misunderstood even by most doctors. With the wealth of information, misinformation and outright urban legend about thyroid function it is no wonder that this is such a difficult and frustrating and even dangerous area for the do-it-yourself health enthusiast to dabble in!

    The endocrine system (the hormone system) is a particular area of interest and specialty for Dr. Myatt as many of her very happy and satisfied patients know. The thyroid is a key player in that whole system, but it does not function in isolation.

    We get a lot of endocrine and thyroid questions, and it seems that most people with thyroid concerns are "armed" with at least minimal (and misleading and misunderstood) lab results that they want us to interpret via email and then use to provide them with a detailed plan by which to sort out their problems. Further, they generally want us to do so without their having to incur any further expense. Since they have been to a conventional doctor who has done conventional testing which has not solved the problem we are expected to somehow be able to use their minimal symptom list and the often inappropriate lab testing results done in isolation to conjure up an answer that will solve this medical dilemma (which has obviously stumped their regular doctor or they would not be writing to us for help!) – all at no cost.

    Folks, this is asking us to "shoot in the dark" and we just won’t do it – it is not fair to us, and certainly not fair to you!

    Just as conventional medicine does not have a "one pill cure" neither does Natural Medicine have a magic "one herb solution" to these very complicated problems. And even with Dr. Myatt’s knowledge and experience, she will never guess or offer "off-the-cuff" recommendations – good health is too important for guesswork!

    Further, let’s be very clear about something: "Natural Medicine" is NOT "no cost medicine". We rely on research and science not guesswork and tests, herbs and supplements are not free. (Though they are far less costly than patented prescription drugs!)

    Here is a series of emails that went back and forth here recently:

    Marilyn wrote to ask:

    Does your thyroid cytotrophin contain literally T3 and T4 hormones?  Also, does Maca inhibit the thyroid since it is a cruciferous vegetable and contains glucosinates?  Please let me know as soon as possible.  Thanks so much!

    Dr. Myatt took some time out of her schedule to answer Marilyn:

    Hi Marilyn:

    Cytotrophin does indeed contain T3 and T4, approximately 1/2 grain per tablet in a 1:5 ratio (T3:T4) as is the ratio made by the body. It cannot be listed on the label (or my website!) because then it is considered a drug and not a supplement.

    Glucosinolates can cause goiter (swollen thyroid gland with decreased activity) if taken in excess combined with a low-iodine diet. Though this is documented to occur with other glucosinolate-rich foods, it is not known if maca causes goiter.

    Anyone who has demonstrated low thyroid function should have an iodine test to determine if iodine deficiency is the cause of their hypothyroidism, but you probably knew that. And of course, if your iodine levels are low, they should be brought up to sufficiency.

    Almost a year later Marilyn wrote again to ask:

    Dear Dr. Myatt:  I was diagnosed with borderline hyperthyroidism a few months ago because my TSH levels were 0.3 even though I have every symptom of hypothyroidism.  Last month and the months before my basil body temperature has been consistently 97.6.  This month it is 97.  How could it go that low in just one month?  The only thing I’ve been taking is MACA and I’ve been on 5,000 mg for almost a year.  What can I do?  I took the Iodine Patch Test and within 10 hours, the patch was considerably faded.  Please let me know what I can do naturally as I cannot afford to go through more testing.  Please let me know as soon as possible what your opinion is.  Thanks!

    Dr. Myatt forwarded this to me with her comments – since she is up to her eyebrows in consultations and research and reports these days:

    In addition to needing T3 and T4 (the REAL thyroid hormone numbers), and probably iodine testing, she should stop maca, which is theoretically a possible goitrogen. And why is she taking such a high dose of this to begin with? She needs a consult, at least a brief one…

    Please let her know this,
    Dr. Myatt

    So, Marilyn, here is our opinion, at no cost:

    1. Stop the Maca – you are taking a very large dose and it is a possible goitrogen
    2. Get proper thyroid hormone testing done – not just the TSH which is misleading
    3. Have a proper iodine level test done – including bromide levels which can significantly affect health
    4. Stop worrying about your body temperature – it can be misleading and research shows that lower body temperatures can be a positive factor in longevity
    5. Book a consultation with Dr. Myatt! How long are you going to stumble around in the dark trying to find a no-cost do-it-yourself answer to your serious health issue? Would you go to court without a lawyer? Would you go to an IRS audit without an accountant? Would you build a skyscraper without an architect or a sewage plant without an engineer? Would you drive your car at night with broken headlights or in a rainstorm without windshield wipers?

    C’mon folks, there are plenty of things that qualify to be do-it-yourself projects and hobbies. Your health though is too important for you to think that you can fix through on-the-job-training and stumbling from one good idea to the next!

    And here are some useful links for you Marilyn:

    IODINE – The "Missing Mineral" for Thyroid, Heart, Immune and Cancer Protection

    Iodine testing – ("Spot" and 24-hour loading) – Including Bromide

    Comprehensive Plus Hormone Profile with HGH and Thyroid Hormones

    Brief Phone Consultations With Dr. Myatt