The brain is the most complex organ in your body with over 100 billion neurons. These cells act as messengers sending signals between the different brain areas that enable you to think, walk, talk, breathe, eat, sleep, learn, remember, and process information.
These neurons contain thousands of hormone receptors that regulate the release of neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins. Often called "the happiness hormones," they influence your moods, emotions, and mental health.
Have you been forgetful lately or just feeling funky? While several factors may contribute to these symptoms, it's interesting to note that the blues, dementia, depression, and Alzheimer's affect far more women than men.
Recent spikes in these debilitating brain conditions among women have prompted neuroscience researchers to find the culprit as well as possible treatments. With ongoing studies, the momentum to support women's brain health is gearing up.
Fostering a better understanding of the role hormones play in brain and mental health can lead to the early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of neurological disorders.
The estrogen connection
Medical scientists are now discovering the connection between hormonal balance and brain health. And the missing link could be fluctuating estrogen levels that plunge with age and the onset of menopause.
It's no secret that estrogen imbalance can cause hot flashes, fatigue, mood swings, and many other symptoms that often leave women feeling burned out. But a steady supply of estrogen also acts like a turbocharge to the brain, energizing your neurons and boosting the neurotransmitters into motion.
One new report1 by the American Academy of Neurology states: "Previous research has shown that rates of cerebrovascular disease increase after menopause, which is often attributed to the absence of hormones and estrogen, in particular."
Think of estrogen like biting into an energy bar for your brain. Another study2 shows how it regulates the six parts of the brain that control your moods and emotions, along with various cognitive functions.
Your reproductive hormones—estrogen, progesterone and testosterone—work together like a control panel to interact with every cell of your body and brain. When their levels flow in the right balance, everything runs smoothly. You tend to be happy, cheerful, energized, optimistic, sleep soundly, and think clearly. But if that delicate balance drops, the blues kick in, brain function slows, and your vitality dips.
Balancing act
CAITERA's doctor-formulated nutraceutical DIM'ME SOME™ can support your hormonal health. It provides an absorbable form of Diindolylmethane (DIM), a phytonutrient found in vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, turnips, radish, cabbage, and cauliflower.
DIM is a metabolite of Indole-3-carbinol, a natural compound made in the body and found in antioxidants. It can help your hormonal balance by promoting more efficient estrogen metabolism. Research3 also suggests that DIM may combat certain cancers, and further studies on this exciting prospect are underway.
At CAITERA, we believe that wellness means supporting your body from the inside out. Our sister company, SottoPelle®, can help you find a skilled provider and create a plan to support your hormonal balance.
Be balanced, be brilliant and be beautiful!
Sources
Association of Cumulative Lifetime Exposure to Female Hormones With Cerebral Small Vessel Disease in Postmenopausal Women. Neurology. 2023 Oct 18. Cole, Perron, Whittingstall, et al.
Estrogen, brain structure, and cognition in postmenopausal women. Hum Brain Mapp. 2021 Jan; 42(1): 24–35. Boyle et al.
Indole-3-carbinol: a plant hormone combatting cancer. Published online 2018 Jun 1. Version 1. F1000Res. 2018; 7: F1000 Faculty Rev-689. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.14127.1. Katz, Nisani, and Chamovitz.