Blog — Mental Health

  Sleep is the cornerstone of our physical and mental well-being. However, for many, the pursuit of a good night's rest remains an elusive dream. While factors such as stress and lifestyle play a significant role in sleep disturbances, an often-overlooked culprit is hormone imbalances. In this blog, we will explore the link between hormones and sleep, the symptoms of sleep deprivation, and how the Sleep Balance testing can be your ally in identifying and addressing these issues. The Toll of Sleep Deprivation The effects of sleep deprivation can be both insidious and debilitating, impacting various facets of our lives....

Our brains are remarkable and complex organs, orchestrating an intricate symphony of activities within our bodies. At the heart of this symphony are neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers that allow our nervous system to communicate. But did you know that a staggering 86% of Americans have suboptimal levels of these vital neurotransmitters? Neurotransmitters: The Brain's Communicators Neurotransmitters are the unsung heroes of our nervous system. They are the messengers that relay information from one nerve cell to another, ensuring the seamless functioning of our brain and body. Think of them as tiny couriers delivering important messages that regulate our moods, thoughts,...

By Dr Beth Baldwing In part 1 of this blog post, we discussed the use of inositol for insulin resistance and related conditions. However, in the late 1990s and early 2000s researchers were largely focused on the effects of inositol on mood. A link between insulin resistance and depression has been established since, and may eventually provide one possible mechanism of action. (1) ​A 2014 meta-analysis suggested that inositol may be beneficial in depression, particularly premenstrual dysphoric disorder. (2) Numerous smaller studies found inositol to be effective for a spectrum of disorders that usually respond to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (3), including panic (4) and obsessive-compulsive...

By Dr Beth Baldwin, ZRT Lab We are living in an age of insulin resistance. Excessive intake of calories and refined carbohydrates decreased physical activity, and chronic stress increases insulin secretion and decreases insulin sensitivity. This creates a vicious circle of requiring more and more insulin to shuttle glucose into cells. Years or possibly even decades before the elevations in blood glucose and hemoglobin A1C associated with type 2 diabetes, fasting insulin increases, and this high insulin is at the core of metabolic syndrome and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Recently published research suggests that insulin resistance also doubles the risk...

By Dr. Beth Baldwin, ZRT Laboratory If one were to create a word cloud of our clinical consulting calls in 2020, the word “phosphatidylserine” would likely float to the center in a large, bold, brightly colored font. After a year spent coping with a global pandemic, record high unemployment, social distancing, and remote learning for students, accompanied by not only an extreme wildfire season but also a contentious presidential election in the U.S., people are stressed – and it shows. We are seeing plenty of patients with abnormal salivary cortisol profiles, absent, blunted or exaggerated cortisol awakening responses, and symptoms typical of both high...