Yes, kids have hormone problems that show up at early ages. They may not be the hormones you're thinking of though. We're referring to the stress hormones, manufactured by their adrenal glands. They control moods, emotions, behaviors, how we deal with stress, how we sleep, and how much energy we have. They also play a huge role in balancing the metabolism -- how we burn our food for fuel.
Hormones are like messengers. They circulate in the body and fit into hormone receptor sites just as keys fit into keyholes. The coordinated function of hormones is like a symphony orchestra with all its different "voices". All the instruments need to play together in harmony. For example; if the estrogen is too "loud", the progesterone cannot be "heard." It's ALL about balance.
Most pediatricians don't evaluate the stress hormones. This is a serious oversight. What happened on your child's last check up? Since they may seem healthy, a check up may only include height, weight, temp, a look in the ears and down the throat. What about testing metabolism, electrolyte balance and stress hormone (cortisol) levels? A simple saliva test helps to indicate if any of these areas are out of balance. And if they are out of balance, your child will show you signs.
Mood swings are prominent in pubescent girls and indicate the estrogen/progesterone levels are not "dancing" together. Most of the symptoms of PMS are categorized, from the natural perspective, as estrogen dominance. This means the estrogen outweighs progesterone, in influence on the body. This is the most common hormonal imbalance there is. It is often cyclical, but some people experience these feelings daily. As long as their hormones are out of balance, they will not be able to eliminate PMS.
Hyperactive children often show imbalances of their levels of cortisol. Depending on the patterns, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or thyroid imbalance may be the missing pieces to the puzzle of your child's behavior, metabolism, or sleep issue.
Cranky kids.... well... maybe it is truly their personality but more than likely -- it is hormonal. Sometimes the hormone levels even reveal inability to absorb their food properly. This can result from hidden food allergies or sensitivities.
In America, we are exposed to hormones from a variety of sources. We get extra hormones from eating meat and poultry (injected with hormones to stimulate growth), from plastic containers that emit estrogenic substances into the food/liquid they contain and from petrochemical by-products and pollutants. This can cause little girls to start menstruating at a progressively younger age. We have seen several young boys in our clinic with protruding breasts. These are a few examples.
Could your child's weight problem be caused by hormones? Possibly. An upset in the delicate balance of the human body causes different affects in everyone. The best way to find out is by checking the levels of the adrenal hormones, cortisol and DHEA, and by looking at the sex hormones as well: progesterone, estradiol and testosterone. The easiest and most effective way to do this is with a saliva hormone test. Saliva is simply collected in your home and then brought or sent to the specialty lab for analysis.
It is easier to help your children now before they take the imbalances with them into adulthood. Ask your doctor about having your child tested for stress hormones. Teenager should be tested for both - stress and sex hormones.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The products suggested, are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please check with your health care practitioner for your best health options.
No comments:
Post a Comment