Melatonin: A Deep Dive into the Science Beyond Sleep
You've been told melatonin is just a simple sleep aid, but that's barely scratching the surface. Despite recent, misleading headlines from the AHA , melatonin is one of the body's most potent protective molecules.
This deep dive into the research reveals its true role as the "body's night-shift supervisor". I explore its power as a master antioxidant that boosts glutathione and a strong anti-inflammatory. Discover its critical function in metabolic health, where it improves insulin sensitivity and allows your pancreas to heal at night. Learn how it's essential for neuroprotection, enhancing the brain's "glymphatic detox" system during deep sleep to clear beta-amyloid proteins linked to Alzheimer's.
I also bust dangerous myths about dosing (no, it won't shut down your natural production ) and explore why it's a far superior choice to pharmaceuticals like Ambien, which may reduce this vital brain-cleaning process.
Apolipoproteins: Key Drivers of Cardiovascular Health and Risk
Managing cardiovascular risk demands we look far beyond conventional cholesterol panels. The true drivers of atherosclerosis are the ApoB-containing particles, which I often refer to as the "bullets" that directly cause vascular injury. Today's article explores Apolipoproteins and how they are key drivers of cardiovascular health and risk.
Leaky Gut and Metabolic Health: Causes, Consequences, and Cures
The root cause of chronic insulin resistance and resulting conditions like visceral fat accumulation often begins in the gut. When the protective intestinal barrier fails, toxins like LPS flood the system, triggering chronic inflammation known as metabolic endotoxemia. Check out my latest article to learn more about the causes, consequences, and cures for leaky gut.
Statins: Common Perceptions Versus Clinical Reality in Women
Statins are widely prescribed medications, primarily known for their ability to lower cholesterol, but what is the clinical reality of statin use in women?
In my clinical practice, and supported by a growing amount of scientific literature, the approach to cardiovascular health, especially in women, necessitates a shift from a "cholesterol-centric" view to a holistic, hormone-optimizing strategy. While statins remain an option for secondary prevention, particularly in specific indications, it's crucial to acknowledge their limitations and potential collateral damage. The profound protective effects of optimized hormones, often able to reverse the very pathology statins struggle to address, present a compelling and evidence-based alternative or complementary strategy that is unfortunately underutilized and often misunderstood within conventional medicine.
Ultimately, empowering patients with this knowledge allows for true shared decision-making, where the full spectrum of benefits and risks from all available therapies, including hormone optimization, can be thoroughly considered.
The role of DHEA in Mental Health
I doubt anyone would disagree that you must first repair the foundation before you can expect the house to be stable. When it comes to our mental and physical health, our neuroendocrine system is that very foundation.
Prescribing an antidepressant for depression without evaluating for and treating hormonal deficiencies is akin to giving pain medication for a nail in the foot without removing the nail. You are masking the symptom without addressing the root physiological dysfunction.
By optimizing the foundational hormonal milieu first, you give the body the necessary tools to regulate itself. If depressive symptoms persist after hormonal optimization, then and only then should an antidepressant be considered as an adjunctive therapy. We must treat the patient, not just the symptom.
Hormones, Metabolism, and Refractory Depression: What is the connection?
What is the connection between hormones, metabolism, and treatment-resistant depression? Let's expose the elephant in the room that conventional psychiatry often overlooks.