Hormone Health Hub: Expert Insights on Testing, Balance & Better Living

By Tracy Tranchitella, ND ZRT Laboratory. The use of natural and alternative therapies for the prevention and treatment of viral infections focuses on key nutrients that inhibit viral entry, reduce viral replication and balance the inflammatory reaction to infection. While  avoiding exposure to SARS-CoV-2 is ideal, some may not be so lucky. Those who work with the public are at increased risk of contracting the virus; therefore, taking some reasonable precautions to decrease the chance of infection and reduce the severity if they do get the virus may be prudent. In this 3-part blog series, I will discuss 3 important...

As we face the current coronavirus pandemic, knowing our baseline level of vitamin D and supplementing appropriately has never been more important. Assuring that we have a healthy and balanced immune response that can effectively reduce viral load and suppress uncontrolled inflammation is crucial for prevention and recovery. Spending time outdoors and exposing our skin to a little bit of sunshine is also good for the body and mind.

Melatonin is far more than a sleep hormone. As a potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory agent, and immune modulator, melatonin plays a critical role in protecting against oxidative stress, suppressing harmful inflammatory pathways, and supporting the body’s defence against viral infection. Melatonin production declines progressively with age — a pattern that mirrors the increased vulnerability to severe illness seen in older adults. This article explores the science behind melatonin’s immune and anti-inflammatory functions, the relationship between melatonin decline and age-related disease risk, how to support melatonin production naturally, and how at-home testing can confirm whether your melatonin levels are adequate.

Hormonal acne is one of the most common and frustrating skin conditions affecting women across all life stages — from puberty and perimenopause to post-pill breakouts and PCOS. At its root, acne is an inflammatory condition driven by androgen excess, sebum overproduction, skin microbiome disruption, and immune activation. Diet, gut health, and hormonal imbalances all play interconnected roles. This article explains the science behind hormonal acne, the key hormones involved, the role of diet and the microbiome, and how targeted hormone testing can identify the specific drivers of your breakouts.

Iodine deficiency is a significant and underappreciated global health problem, with urinary iodine levels in many Western populations having fallen substantially over recent decades. As an essential component of thyroid hormones, iodine deficiency impairs thyroid function, promotes goitre, and has wide-ranging consequences for metabolism, cognitive development, breast health, and reproductive health. Women of childbearing age are particularly vulnerable. This article explains the causes and consequences of iodine deficiency, who is most at risk, and how at-home dried urine testing using ICP-MS analysis can accurately confirm your iodine status.