By the late 30’s it’s not uncommon for joints to experience changes.
For women lowered estradiol can lead to frozen shoulders.
Men seem to have more tendonitis and joint issues over time if estradiol and testosterone decline.
There are many things you can do to preserve your hormones but knowing their levels is key.
I evaluate the following when I’m looking at hormone health and joints:
- DHEA- sulfate
- Testosterone, free and total
- Estradiol
- Estrogens
- Progesterone
- Sex hormone binding globulin
- Antinuclear antibodies
- Rheumatiod arthritis factor
It’s not uncommon for me to see autoimmune antibodies as well as rheumatoid factor increase with age.
Autoimmune conditions are on the rise and they are related to what you’re eating, the air your breathing and the water you’re drinking.
Lowered estradiol will interfere with mucus membrane health.
The mouth, sinuses, throat, eyes, vaginal tissue and gut lining all can be impacted.
This is why over 40…
- dry eyes
- dental issues
- sinuse conditions
- dry mouth
- swallowing issues
- acid reflux
- gut issues
- chronic vaginal irritation
- an autoimmune condition called lichen planus
…and more show up!
The less estradiol in the system, the more likely you’ll have a leaky gut.
Leaky gut can lead to molecules getting into the blood stream and an immune reaction that can turn into an autoimmune condition over time.
Men and women can both experience this but it is more common in women.
I suspect this phenomenon is why you may be finding that you’re more sensitive to certain foods with age.
Work on the gut and the joints will have less inflammation over time!
How can you keep your hormones from messing with your joints as you get older?
- Test them and know how you are doing in the break down of hormones (DUTCH test)
- Consider bio-identical hormones or herbs to help with hormone support
- Eat closest to nature foods and avoid processed foods as much as possible
- Filter the air & water in your home with devices like air purifiers with UV light and countertop or water system filtration (fridge filters aren’t strong enough)
- Keep using your joints
One of the reasons men and women decline on hormones is due to decreased demand for them.
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Keeping up with daily exercise and weight training goes a long way to keep hormone levels up.
You can increase testosterone at any age with exercise and lifting in particular.
Testosterone back converts to estrogen and can help support estrogen when you’re declining on it’s production from the ovaries.
The body is driven to make testosterone for life in men and women.
Thus one of the most natural ways to support your hormones is through exercise.
While supplementing with hormones looks like an easy way to increase longevity and optimize your health…
…exercise is a faster and more direct way!
It’s not fool proof, a synergistic approach is necessary.
Because stress can sabotage your healthy habits, routines & exercise.
Put the stress in check and testosterone levels will rise.
The body makes the stress hormones as it does testosterone from the precursor hormone DHEA.
Preserve your adrenal gland’s ability to make DHEA by not over stressing your body and you will have good amounts of testosterone.
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What else leads to DHEA depletion?
- chronic insomnia
- overworking
- overtraining
- overthinking/worrying
- poor diet and lifestyle choices
- excessive alcohol consumption
- negative or pessimistic outlook on life
- trauma stuck in the body
- need to improve oxygen delivery to the tissues via breath work
You can even supplement DHEA and support the adrenals with adaptogenic herbs to preserve your adrenal gland’s ability to make hormones.
It’s best to assess your levels over 40 to get working on prevention.
Click HERE for an example of my DHEA and adrenal support aka “Joint Support Over 40” protocol for those of you finding your DHEA sulfate levels dipping below 80 and noticing increased joint pain.
Joint degeneration can occur with age but there are so many things you can do to prevent and manage these conditions.
So if you’re thinking, doc, my joints are trashed, I’m not sure what else to do…
…there are options for you!
Exosomes and stem cell therapies are two hot treatments that are proving to be effective over and over again for joint regeneration.
I just did a podcast last week with Dr. Jeffrey Gross and we talk all about rejuvenating the spine and more! Click HERE to listen in.
Here’s to your health,
Dr. J
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