Magdalena Wszelaki, founder of Hormones Balance, is interviewed by host of the Anxiety Summit, Trudy Scott, Food Mood Expert and Nutritionist, author of The Antianxiety Food Solution.
Foods to balance your hormones and ease anxiety (part 1)
- Magdalena’s own journey with Graves’ disease, Hashimoto’s disease, adrenal fatigue, estrogen dominance and anxiety
- How hormonal imbalances can cause anxiety: low progesterone, low/high estrogen
- How over and underactive thyroid can cause anxiety
- The adrenals and anxiety and depression
Foods to balance your hormones and ease anxiety (part 2)
- How to test for hormonal imbalances
- The foundation to all hormonal health being: healthy gut, healthy blood sugar levels and optimal liver health
- Foods that support the production of the different hormones
- Seed rotation for balancing estrogen and progesterone
- The role of coffee in liver health, hormone metabolism and anxiety
In part 1 we discussed this 2015 paper: Sex hormones affect neurotransmitters and shape the adult female brain during hormonal transition periods.
Here we review the evidence from animal experiments and human studies reporting interactions between sex hormones and the dominant neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine, GABA and glutamate
The brain represents an important target for estrogen and progesterone effects.
major shifts in sex hormone levels seem to be paralleled by the incidence rates of mood disorders such as unipolar depression
A subgroup of women suffers from clinical level of premenstrual mood changes called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)… core symptoms include anxiety, irritability and depressed mood
Estrogen has been reported to have potent serotonin-modulating properties
progesterone and its neuroactive metabolites (allopregnanolone, pregnanolone) seem to facilitate GABAergic transmission
To summarize, neurotransmitter systems do not work in isolation and sex hormones act on multiple sites, highly intertwined with serotonin, dopamine, GABA and glutamate.
Magdalena shared these low estrogen symptoms:
- Forgetfulness
- Incontinence
- Skin elasticity problems
- Loss of muscle strength
- Feeling really blah
- Osteoporosis/osteopenia
- Warm flashes and/or night sweats
Magdalena shared these low progesterone symptoms:
- Tender breasts
- PMS
- Irregular periods
- Puffiness and water retention
- Mood swings and anger
- Anxiety and sleep issues
- Problems falling pregnant
If you had to give up either coffee or the internet for 2 weeks, which one would you choose? How about either coffee or sex for 2 weeks? If you’d rather relinquish anything to keep your coffee, you’d be on par with the majority of the people around you.
I shared my recipe: Carob Cinnamon Delight instead of coffee – a calming hot beverage and mentioned rooibos tea how it’s A Functional Food in the Management of Stress (an interview from a prior anxiety summit)
Magdalena mentioned the EWG/Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep site for checking your cosmetics – simply enter the name of the product in the search area.
We also mentioned Annmarie Gianni Skin Care, which is a natural skin care line made with organic ingredients that you can trust – and that actually work. This is the best and most natural skin-care line I have come across – anywhere! It’s organic, uses absolutely zero toxic ingredients and features gorgeous essential oils! You can try your Annmarie Gianni Skin Care sample kit here.
Magdalena’s gift: How to Rebalance Your Hormones with Food and Recipes
If you are not already registered for the Anxiety Summit you can get live access to the speakers of the day here: www.theAnxietySummit.com
Missed this interview or can’t listen live? Or want this and the other great interviews for your learning library? Purchase the MP3s or MP3s + transcripts and listen when it suits you.
You can find your purchasing options here: Anxiety Summit Season 1, Anxiety Summit Season 2, and Anxiety Summit Season 3.
I am having a difficult time finding the list of labs that your doctor should test for if you have thyroid concerns. Is /www.masteringhashimotos.com/ expired. I haven’t been able to log on to this site
Leslie
The tests are TSH, free T3, free T4 and the two antibodies antithyroglobulin and antithyroperoxidase
I’ll ask Magdalena to come and comment about the site
Trudy
Hi Trudy,
I’m 48yrs, perimenopausal and I always seem to wake up 4 hours after I go to sleep. This is usually between 1-3am. would appreciate any idea why this may be happening. I’ve been gluten free for about 6months now and have always been a healthy eater. That is, real food, healthy fats, omnivore diet.
I was wondering a similar thought because of consistently waking in the same time span in order to use the bathroom. Does this mean my liver never has a chance to detoxify?
Josie
Waking in the night can have many causes: high cortisol, low progesterone, low GABA, low serotonin, food sensitivities, SIBO, high estrogen, parasites, poor sleep hygiene (too light, clock radio, electric blanket, too warm etc). You’d want to investigate each area.
Trudy
I agree with Trudy that those areas should be investigated.
Moreover, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there is an organ clock that represents the time of the day when each organ is functioning optimally and has the most energy.
1-3am: LIVER – The liver’s role is to store blood for menstruation and to get us through the day. If you’re not sleeping at this time, you can quickly become deficient, especially if you are female because of the importance of blood for menstruation (even if going through menopause). The liver is also emotionally connected to anger. You may find that you wake up between 1-3am if you have repressed anger or long standing resentment. Symptoms of liver imbalances include irregular menstruation, anemia, chronic fatigue, and headache.
Hope this helps.
cis.
Thanks Cis – this is interesting and an area I’m not familiar with
Beverly
See my feedback for Josie please
Trudy
I too have difficulty staying asleep and wake around the same time as Beverley and Josie. It’s been difficult to find a Dr who is willing to run specific tests as Magdalena suggests (no qualified functional medicine doctors in my area). It’s such an expensive process for diagnosis and difficult to know who to trust. Can you or Magdalena offer any suggestions on any doctors that are trustworthy and educated in the information you are presenting. Thank you both for imparting your experiences and knowledge to help those of us who are suffering with symptoms of thyroid and other imbalances hormone/amino and continue to be told we’re fine!
Hi Donna, do you wake up between 1am and 3am or between 3am and 5am?
PS: I so sympathise with your situation. I too have experienced that far too often (doctors saying we are fine when we don’t feel fine)
Hi Donna,
I wrote an article about where to find good integrative practitioners: https://www.thyroiddietcoach.com/find-good-supportive-thyroid-doctors/.
Best, Magdalena.
You mentioned an optimal range for TSH being 1-2. What do you consider the optimal ranges for T4 and T3? Should TPO and Thyroglobulin be zero or is there an acceptable level for those? As you said, the labs list wide normal ranges for all of these. TSI is new to me, but if there’s a target range for that, it would be great to know. Many thanks for these talks!
From a functional perspective, Free T3 should be in the 3.2 to 4.4 and Free T4 is 1.2 to 1.7, I stress the word “free”, not “total.” Antibodies below 30.
Magdalena
Loved this talk – great info, and especially emphasis on cleaning and personal care products. I now use vinegar and water as my cleaning product where ever possible and for skin care use all the organic products from Oh Lief, which were orginally developed for babies http://www.ohlief.com – they are amazing!!
Wonderful Monica! I am not familiar with Oh Lief and see they are made in South Africa – how fun! I’m going to have to check them out further but at first glance they look wonderful – thanks for sharing
Hi Trudy,
Could you please provide website to check out lotions/makeup mentioned by Magdelena Wszelaki. Also you mentioned a product Anne Marie? Could you please elaborate.
Thankyou Kari
P.S. Great Summit
Kari
I just updated the blog with this information – thanks! I’ve just gotten a little behind
Glad you’re enjoying the summit!
Trudy
Taking more biotin helped combat my chronic yeast problem. For more info see Susan Owen’s research at http://www.lowoxalate.info/research.html.
thanks for sharing Lisa – I highly regard Susan Owen’s work
Hello Trudy & Magdalena,
I really enjoyed yours videos very knowledgeable with a wealth of information. I just started feeling my menopausal symptoms with night sweats and hot flashes.
I am going to try the seed rotation method, but is this also used for men, or can it benefit men. I do know that men also go through some changes, but none are really addressed that much in this summit, unless I miss it.
So, can I also share this seed rotation method with my husband, and will it help him balance any hormonal changes that he might be experiencing.
Thank you again for share all this with us all, and helping to lead us in to a more natural path of living! :)!
I look forward to your reply….Randa K.
Hi Randa
I’ll ask Magdalena to come and comment for you. So pleased you enjoyed this!
Trudy
Hi Randa,
The seed rotation method was developed for specifically for women, I do not have any data supporting men hormones. Also, the method addresses the estrogen/progesterone relationship where most men have issues with dropping testosterone and high estrogen, the latter being the leading cause of prostate problems. My work focuses on women but I suggesting doing some research on sites like http://www.chriskresser.com to get more education.
Best, Magdalena.
Trudy,
I will really appreciate if you can provide us with the names of some trustworthy doctors who treat depression and anxiety near my city (Minneapolis). I have been looking but can’t find them.
I also looked up to Julia Ross and Joann Mathews books but find nothing for y area.
Thank You.
Oh, Trudy, I missed Magdalenas Hormone Talk Part 1. Is there any chance I could have the opportunity to catch it? Please, please, please… Big thanks, si
There is a replay of the talk today!
Thank you for all the information in Magdalena Wszelaki’s talk. I just found out that I have the MTHFR mutation, estrogen dominate, and I’m low in magnesium, zinc and iron. I’ve made lots of changes but now I have even more info on what to change and address!I can’t wait to see the cracker recipe. I assume I would only use sesame and sunflower and not use anything that would increase estrogen. I’ve taken myself off coffee so I will definitely try the alternative.
Thank you!
I have candida and was given oral Progesterone as an attempt to help my insomnia. I had the exact opposite reaction for what Progesterone is supposed to do, I felt like I had the worst PMS symptoms. My ears really perked up when you mentioned this today in your lecture as my dr said my reaction was very unusual. You said that this reaction was probably due to the fact that I may not be processing Progesterone, that the receptors were not working correctly. Is there a way to get the receptors to work more efficiently? I also have MTHFR and don’t know if there is a connection with this as well. Thank you for the wealth of information!
You could try a cream instead, I react baly to oral progesterone, but cream wold well.
It’s very common to have the opposite reaction to Pg when you have candida – I see this with both creams and pills. You would need to clear up your candida first before going back on Pg.
Magdalena
Magdalena mentioned seed rotation to balance hormones. How would that work for someone who has gone through surgically induced menopause (no ovaries)?
No, it would not, sorry 🙁
Are there any tests for Candida?
Also, it was mentioned that when people have Candida, progesterone creams can make symptoms worse. Can you elaborate?
Many thanks for the wonderful summit.
Joanna – google “candida spit test” – I find it very accurate and a cheap test at home.
Candida can make Pg supplementation go the other way – for a woman to feel lethargic, depressed or her candida symptoms to get worse.
Magdalena
Where do I find the French Pate’ recipe mentioned?
http://www.hormonesbalance.com/uncategorized/easy-french-pate-2/
Magdalena, would you please share more specifically about what you do for the amino acid protocol (before and after amalgam removal so body is well equipped to carry toxins out.)
Elle
I’ll have Magdalena come and comment – please be more explicit as I don’t understand your question
Trudy
When Magdalena was talking about heavy metals in part 1 she said to do an “amino acid protocol” making sure to test before and after you have amalgams removed. She didn’t specify or explain what that meant just that you were also a fan of amino supplementation. 1. What lab does she use to test? 2. Which amino acids are important to support before and after mercury detoxing?
Hi Trudy & guest speakers. suffering from candida, MTHFR C677T one copy, pyroluria, adrenal fatigue, graves disease, low sex hormone levels, …should i concentrate on fixing candida first? just not sure where to start first because i gather some problems may be as a result of other problems, my heavy metals test was OK, gluten free (6 months). thanks, much appreciated, love Trudy’s anxiety summits.
Hi Cheryl
I really can’t say. I like to address the adrenals and candida
Trudy
I would start with the gut, meaning candida first and also support your adrenals gently as a starting point.
Unable to locate the liver pate recipe. It is not included in the free gift download.
Cindy
I’ll see if Magdalena can post a link to her recipe…stay tuned
Trudy
Here you go: http://www.hormonesbalance.com/uncategorized/easy-french-pate-2/
Thanks for asking about liver being the detox organ – and why it is important to eat – it has been my concern for a long time – so liver is the detox organ but does not store toxins so you are not at an increased risk for toxins by eating liver. Must use organic, pasture raised, best quality organ meats!!
Thank you – loving all the talks!!
You’re welcome and yes!
I have not been able to open part two of this lecture over the last 12 Hours. Please replay it if possible . Can any one address incontenence @ night. I am on quite a lot of supplements for low thyroid, leaky gut, fatigue and brain fog. Post menopausal and waking up at night 3 or more times with a full bladder or with incontenence. Do not have a bladder infection. Some hormone is out of whack . Currently eating autoimmune paleo. Life is better, but I can’t figure out the bladder control part and am avoiding the conventional pharmaceutical solutions or surgery. Thank you.
Hi Christine
I don’t have a quick answer for you on the bladder issues so will come back to this one
Please email support@everywomanover29.com about the replay issue (I’m not sure what the issue is) and feel free to vote for this as a replay
Trudy
Trudy:
The coffee discussion with Magdelena was very interesting. Mycotoxins were not mentioned, though Dr. Osborne said that is important but had no advice about how to find mold-free coffee. The mold talk was also fascinating, as I suspect mold is a big part of my chronic health problems.
Do you have any idea how serious the mold and coffee situation is? I don’t drink much but would like to know how to find mold free, if that is possible. My husband refuses to give up coffee, and he does handle it much better than I do.
Some speakers over the last couple of summits have mentioned bullet-proof coffee (with fat). Do you know why it is supposed to be mold/toxin free? Do you know if teas are as likely to be moldy?
Thanks.
Lynne
I have not delved in to the mold coffee area because I’m not a fan of coffee for anyone! But I know Bulletproof coffee is promoted as being mold-free so I’d suggest doing some more research into this for your husband and then later encouraging him to figure out why he needs to “self-medicate” with coffee and address the underlying cause.
I don’t know about tea or why coffee may be worse when it comes to mold.
Trudy
Thank you for the GREAT discussion. I am curious about a preferred brand of magnesium oil, and also would love that liver paté recipe. I looked for it in the free gift, and don’t see it. Thanks!
I am also very interested to know more about what to look for in the magnesium oil (brands that are good or what to avoid?) as this is the first time I’ve heard of this. Thanks!
I like to use Omica or Ancient Minerals.
Here you go: http://www.hormonesbalance.com/uncategorized/easy-french-pate-2/
What days of the cycle do you have females do the saliva sex hormone test if they are still of menstruating age?
Day 19 to 21.
This interview was nutrient dense! Thanks for the wealth of information!! I learned so much.
My questions are all about estrogen dominance (Hope I am using the term correctly).
For the seed rotation, if you have estrogen dominance, do you recommend eating phytoestrogens like flax, pumpkin (and I think sweet potatoes) during the follicular phase or should you just eat the sesame and sunflower seeds in the luteal phase and skip all phytoestrogens?
I have terrible PMS cramping. Can one become estrogen dominant from mercury poisoning and once detoxed and supplementing (zinc, b6 and primrose), eventually no longer be estrogen dominant?
Is caffeine from organic chocolate also difficult on the liver creating more estrogen dominance?
I was wondering what Magdalena Wszelaki thinks of morning nervousness feelings. It happens to me a minute after waking. Tends to wear off within a few minutes of getting up or max a couple of hours. It’s a physical feeling in my tummy/chest area, not in my mind. I can’t figure out what is causing it and it’s very unpleasant.
I’m already doing an adrenal protocol, removed some food sensitivities I’ve discovered, triend to tackle a gut infection (but will need to retest) but this started afer I’ve been working on those things just in the last month or so.
Hi Claire,
I find that when we address our gut issues, we are really able to see many symptoms just go away. I see it all the time and I therefore recommend a full commitment to restoring the health of your gut to see the morning anxiety go away.
Magdalena
I agree, restoring gut health is so key. While working on this, looking at high cortisol and low GABA/low serotonin may be helpful too
The gut infection may be an issue too
Is waking up every night between 1 and 3 am a sign of adrenal fatigue? I do this every night. I need sleep! Ty!
Rebekah – many factors may be involved – high cortisol, low blood sugar, liver issues, parasites, low GABA, low serotonin, gluten, SIBO. Each one must be looked at and addressed or ruled out
Hello, I so much appreciated Magdalena’s interview. I learnt so much from it and I’ve already visited her fantastic website full of interesting articles I can’t wait to read….
Thank you Trudy for putting together this amazing Summit!
So glad you enjoyed it Rita
I believe Magdalena mentioned sprouting in her interview and I would like more info from her if possible. Also she should know about Yasmina Ykelenstam’s Facebook group The DAO pea seedling experiment. http://thelowhistaminechef.com/dr-joneja-natural-diamine-oxidase-for-histamine-intolerance/. Since I read Sally Fallon’s cookbook Nourishing Traditions years ago, I’ve been eating sprouted lentils and started sprouting green peas this year and will be trying the shoots soon but am sensitive to salicylate so know I have to be careful. I currently cook the sprouted peas in a pressure cooker, skim off as many hulls as possible then process in a Nutribullet.
Hi Lisa – not sure what is the question. There is so much to say about sprouting – when, how, what, methods etc. I have an hour-long and a 40-page document on sprouting in http://www.cookingforbalance.com if this topic is close to your heart and you want to investigate deeper.
Dear Trudy,
I followed your previous web seminar and found it very good and informative, made loads of notes and learned a lot. Unfortunately I have not had time to do this last one.
I am trying to find out the opposite hormone to noradrenaline that also has DHEA as it precursor. I remember either a video or something telling me its name but I never wrote it down unfortunately.
I have been using 25mg a day of DHEA against panic attacks for over six months now and am finding it quite effective.
I have been reading something saying the it counteracts cortisone, but cannot find any reference anywhere to a counter hormone to noradrenaline.
Hope you can help,
Aaron
Aaron
Good to hear that DHEA is helping you with panic attacks. I’m not really clear on the question and if you heard me or one of the Anxiety Summit guests saying this?
Hi Trudy and Magdalena
We thoroughly enjoyed your talk on the Anxiety Summit Season 3. During the interview you discussed a liver pate recipe and that it would be listed on the speaker blog section but I cannot find it anywhere there. Have I perhaps missed it and where can it be found?
Many thanks.
Drew
Here you go – enjoy it! https://www.hormonesbalance.com/uncategorized/easy-french-pate-2/
Many thanks Trudy! I tried the Roasted Chicory Root Latte this morning and LOVED it. It closely rivals my Swiss water processed decaf #bulletproof coffee! 😉
Wonderful Drew! I love it when summit attendees come back and take advantage of the resources on the speaker blogs. Also, this is a much healthier option for you!
Thanks for a great resource Trudy. Yes, considering saying goodbye to decaf #bulletproof coffee Trudy…
Fabulous Drew!
How do I purchase your cookbook, I had estrogen positive breast cancer and a hysterectomy, can’t have hormone replacement, struggling for 4 years. What is the best meals for me?
Jodi
Magdalena is currently working on her first book. In the meantime her online program is a wonderful resource for how to eat for hormonal balance
Fantastic information, especially for people who are turned away by their doctor’s as blood tests look ‘normal’