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Original of this artickle was Posted by Dr Kate Placzek, on ZRT Laboratory. Keeping awake, throwing blankets off at night. Fatigue and irritation punctuated throughout the day by heat dissipating from every pore, clouding thoughts, reinforcing forgetfulness. Hair falling out so stubbornly fast. Clothes choosing when to fit. Flooding periods coming sporadically, unexpectedly. They call it “the change of life” – but I feel like a different person altogether. What is happening?          In perimenopause, the physiological landscape is subject to tremendous change with estradiol and progesterone at the heart of the transition. Progesterone levels fall quickly – no ovulation...

Now the weather is colder and days are shorter and we turn our sights to indoor activities for the holidays, many of us inevitably start thinking more about and comfort foods. This is the right time of year for festive feasting, but that doesn’t always have to mean heavy, unhealthy meals. Here are a few suggestions from our docs for holiday foods that don’t have to weigh you down. Fresh Green Bean Casserole Ingredients: 3-4 shallots, in their skins 1 1/2 tsp Kosher salt 1 lb fresh green beans, stemmed and halved crosswise 8 oz cremini mushrooms, sliced (about 4 cups) 2 TB unsalted...

By Dr. Kate Placzek,  ZRT Laboratory. The diversity of the microbiome has profound implications for metabolic health. The micro-organisms that we host in our gastrointestinal tract maintain our gut integrity, break down complex carbohydrates to improve energy extraction from food, produce vitamins and minerals, aid in digestion and absorption, ferment dietary fibers and protect us against pathogens. Maintaining a delicate balance in the diversity of the host-microbiome relationship is crucial for disease prevention and healthy aging.  Studies on the microbiome are emerging as a new and exciting frontier of science. However, how the microbiome interacts with the endocrine system to modulate...

60 million American and nearly third of the UK population suffer symptoms of insomnia. Find out whether hormones contribute to your sleep loss. In a perfect world, the master stress hormone cortisol should be in sync with the master sleep hormone melatonin. Each hormone counter-balances the other in a precise rhythm – when cortisol is high melatonin should be low, and when melatonin is high cortisol should be low. For many, this rhythm is out of balance. With an estimated 60 million Americans suffering from some degree of sleep loss and *nearly a third of the UK population are suffering...

Now it is November, Daylight Savings looms and it brings darkness and rain for many months and for some of us, it brings seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Whether or not symptoms of SAD eclipse your normal disposition, there’s a good chance the sun's vacation this time of year will affect four key areas of your health. Vitamin D Ultraviolet rays from the sun catalyze the synthesis of vitamin D on contact in the human skin, and to a smaller degree we consume it in fish, eggs and mushrooms. This little hormone carries some big distinctions. It's been studied extensively in research for its...