In this episode, Dr. Toni discusses why it’s so important for perimenopausal mamas and their kids to get enough iron. Iron deficiency is the most common micronutrient deficiency worldwide and is crucial for optimal energy, mental health, sleep and brain function.
What is the Difference Between Iron Deficiency and Anemia?
Iron deficiency is a broad term and refers to low iron stores that do not meet the body’s iron requirements, regardless of whether anemia is present or not.
Iron deficiency anemia is when hemoglobin levels fall below the laboratory reference range.
Iron deficiency without anemia is when iron storage falls below ideal levels, but anemia is not present.
What are the Top 5 Reasons Why Iron is so Important?
Reduce fatigue and increase energy
Iron helps move oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body and helps your muscles store and use oxygen
Reduce heavy periods
low iron can impact your clotting and be a factor in your heavy periods, creating a vicious cycle
Mental Health
Being anemic can increase your risk of a mental health diagnosis and can increase your risk of experiencing an anxiety disorder, depression, psychotic disorders
Taking iron supplements if you’re anemic can reduce your risk of developing psychiatric disorders
Taking iron supplements of iron if you’re not anemic can decrease the risk of future mental health diagnoses
Anemic mothers were less responsive and had negative feelings towards their children than non-anemic mothers
Low hemoglobin is associated with postpartum depression
Low ferritin is linked with more severe depressive and anxiety symptoms
Brain and cognitive performance
Iron deficiency (with and without anemia) has been connected to poor cognitive performance in adolescents
Low maternal iron intake at the time of conception is associated with a greater risk of autism in the offspring
Low iron intake during the second trimester has been shown to increase the risk of schizophrenia in the offspring by 30%
Infants born with low serum ferritin have been shown to have poorer recognition memory, poorer school performance, difficulty with planning and attention and a higher risk of cognitive and socio-emotional problems including anxiety and depression into young adulthood
Sleep and restless legs
Being anemic can increase your risk of a mental health diagnosis and can increase your risk of experiencing a sleep disorder
Taking iron supplements if you’re anemic can reduce your risk of developing a sleep disorder
Restless Leg Syndrome is associated with low iron levels
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Iron Deficiency?
Pale skin
Fatigue
Cold hands and feet
Slowed growth and development
Poor appetite
Abnormally rapid breathing
Behavioral problems
Frequent infections
Unusual cravings for substances like ice, dirt, paint or starch
How can you Test your Iron Status?
Blood work can test for levels of:
hemoglobin (as part of the Complete Blood Count)
circulating iron and transferrin saturation – needs to be above 20%
ferritin (iron stores) – needs to be above 35
You can still be iron deficient if your levels of the above fall within the lab’s reference ranges!
How can you prevent iron deficiency in yourself and your kids?
Serve iron-rich foods – after beginning your baby on solids
Don’t overdo milk
Enhancing absorption – with foods rich in acid like vitamin C (ascorbic acid), such as citrus fruits, cantaloupe, strawberries, bell pepper, tomatoes and dark green vegetables, or apple cider vinegar.
Consider iron supplementation – unfortunately, an iron-rich diet does not provide enough iron to correct iron deficiency or anemia
Food Source:
Iron content (in mg Fe) per 100 g
Animal sources (bioavailability about 20%)
Liver (pork or veal)
18
Dry beef
9.8
Shells
8.0
Egg yolk
5.5
Beef fillet
2.3
Trout
2.0
Chicken
0.7
Plant sources (bioavailability about 5%)
Wheat bran
16.0
Sesame seeds
14.6
Soy beans
9.7
Lentils
8.0
White beans
7.0
Dried apricots
5.2
Spinach (limited due to oxalate content)
2.7
Whole grain bread
2.4
Green beans
1.0
Source: SPOG Pediatric Hematology Working Group
Today’s Mama Must Have:
Dr. Toni is a big fan of aloe gel to soothe the skin.
What’s Else is Happening?
Dr. Toni’s next HypnoBirthing session for expecting parents looking to decrease fear and anxiety to support their natural instincts around labour and birth is happening this fall. Join her at https://www.hypnobirthingcalgary.com/register
Join Dr. Lisa’s new Meetup group Wild Woman Adventures Toronto if you want to get out in nature, connect with other women and push yourself out of your comfort zone. Activities include: sunrise/sunset SUP, tree-top trekking, a new moon workshop and more!
We’d love you to subscribe, leave us a review and a 5-star rating if you enjoyed this episode.
You can also support us by visiting our Patreon page.
Please tell your perimenopausal mama friends about us, too!
Stay safe and healthy everyone!
Disclaimer:The information provided is not meant to replace treatment with a licensed health care practitioner. It is for informational purposes only. Consult with a Naturopathic Doctor or other licensed health care professional to determine which treatments are safe for you.
In this replay from December 2021, Dr. Lisa and Dr. Toni discuss all things perimenopause…what it is, what’s happening and how to test for it. Not sure if you’re in perimenopause or what is happening with your hormones? Experiencing hot flashes, irregular periods, mood swings and insomnia? Listen in!
What is the difference between menopause and perimenopause?
Menopause is when you have not had a menstrual period for 12 months.
Perimenopause is the transition period before you reach menopause and can last for 4 years, 8 years or longer.
What is happening with your hormones in perimenopause?
Perimenopausal symptoms, as well as your hormones, can be unpredictable and might fluctuate throughout perimenopause:
You may get PMS symptoms some months, not others
You may get other menopausal symptoms some months and not others
Changes that can happen around perimenopause and menopause includes bone loss and osteoporosis, shifts in weight and metabolism, brain and mood changes
The most common symptoms you may experience include:
Insomnia
30-60% of women experience in perimenopause
Research show correlations between plastic exposure and body care products and self-report insomnia (testing urinary phthalate levels – Hatcher 2020)
Your body’s normally predictable hormone cycle that happens over the month changes during perimenopause:
You might not ovulate every month or you might ovulate early
You have changes in your menstrual cycle length of 7 days or more (shorter or longer cycles) then have longer cycles and more skipped periods until you reach menopause
Your estrogen levels can go up and down more than usual
Your progesterone levels tend to decrease overall
Your FSH level may elevate or fluctuate
Your stress hormone cortisol and thyroid hormones can be impacted
See more info about stress and cortisol: Episode 24
Does every woman experience the transition from perimenopause to menopause the same way?
No!
You can have one of 4 different patterns of estrogen and 3 different patterns FSH levels, as well as different combinations of other symptoms at different stages of perimenopause.
Dr. Lisa is a big fan of this paleo crepe recipe that Stuart also loves:
Dr. Toni loves seeing Frankie play with simple wooden blocks and hand-me-down Lego blocks
Thank you for joining us today!
Email us or connect with us on Facebook and Instagram. We’d love you to subscribe, leave us a review and a 5-star rating if you enjoyed this episode.
Please tell your perimenopausal mama friends about us, too!
You can also support us by visiting our Patreon page.
Stay safe and healthy everyone!
Disclaimer: The information provided in this presentation is not meant to replace treatment with a licensed health care practitioner. It is for informational purposes only. Consult with a Naturopathic Doctor or other licensed health care professional to determine which treatments are safe for you.
We refer to this past episode from October 8, 2020 so often that we decided to re-release it! Is your thyroid the reason you are exhausted, depressed, constipated, forgetful and gaining weight? We discuss signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism, how to properly diagnose imbalances, how to eat to support thyroid health and how we approach assessment and treatment as Naturopathic Doctors.
One in eight women will develop thyroid disease at some point in their life and women are 5-8 times more likely than men to experience thyroid issues.
As Dr. Lisa shared previously in Episode 3, she realized that her thyroid wasn’t functioning properly after giving birth to her son. It is common for women to discover thyroid issues in the postpartum period. Proper blood work, addressing stress and taking dessicated thyroid were crucial for Dr. Lisa to feel her best.
Why is your thyroid so important?
Your thyroid gland regulates your temperature, energy production and metabolism. When your thyroid is under functioning, it is called hypothyroidism. High thyroid function is called hyperthyroidism.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism include:
Fatigue and exhaustion
Unexplained weight gain
Increased sensitivity to cold and temperature changes
Constipation
Dry skin and thinning hair
Puffy face
Cravings for sugar and carbohydrates
Muscle weakness, aches, tenderness and stiffness
Pain, stiffness or swelling in your joints
Heavier than normal or irregular menstrual periods
Depression and anxiety
as many as 15% of women on antidepressants have an undetected thyroid problem as the cause of their depression
Brain fog, poor memory and concentration
Studies of women in their 60s have shown that low thyroid function can cause dementia-like symptoms and treatment can improve cognitive function and have a protective effect on the brain
High cholesterol
Increased risk of heart attack, cardiac arrhythmias and congestive heart failure due to the regulatory control of the thyroid on heart rate and rhythm
Fertility issues, increased risk of miscarriage and preterm birth
Increased risk of prenatal and postpartum depression
Why do so many women have thyroid issues?
Possible Causes of Your Thyroid Issue Include:
Environmental exposure to different chemicals, xenoestrogens and heavy metals
Certain medications including birth control pill
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
Iodine, selenium, vitamin D, zinc, iron, vitamin A
Low calorie diets
Infections
Stress
High cortisol levels due to chronic stress:
reduces thyroid hormone production
inhibits your conversion of the inactive form of thyroid hormone T4, to the active form T3
Gut issues
Leaky gut (also known as intestinal hyperpermeability) and imbalances in your gut microbiome have both been shown to impact hormone imbalances and fluctuations, like when you are postpartum or in perimenopause
Autoimmunity
Environmental toxins, chronic stress, nutritional insufficiencies, leaky gut, food intolerances and having chronic inflammation are all factors that can contribute to autoimmune disease
Your immune system is triggered to produce antibodies that can attack your thyroid, which is what is happening when you have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
How do you properly test your thyroid function and the underlying causes of thyroid issues?
Blood work:
Full thyroid panel: TSH, free T4 and T3, thyroid peroxidase antibodies, thyroglobulin antibodies, reverse T3
Vitamin D, iron
Celiac screen
Gluten and other food sensitivity
Saliva and urine testing for hormones including cortisol, estrogen, progesterone
Urine testing for heavy metal exposure (eg. cadmium, mercury)
Temperature checks every 3 hours during the day to see if your body is using your thyroid hormones properly
What can you do about an underfunctioning thyroid?
Avoid raw goitrogenic foods – soy and Brassica family veggies like broccoli and cauliflower
Increase your intake of thyroid supporting foods
Seaweed like dulse for iodine, brazil nuts for selenium, pumpkin seeds and oysters for zinc
Reduce toxin exposure
Replace nutrient deficiencies
Consider adrenal and stress support:
Address your throat chakra – speaking your truth, asking for help
Herbal support with ashwagandha, kelp, bladderwrack, Coleus forskohlii
Thyroid hormone replacement with Synthroid or Dessicated thyroid
Take in the morning, on an empty stomach, away from caffeine
Why would you consider dessicated thyroid?
If you’re on monotherapy like Synthroid (T4), you still night suffer from anxiety and depression even if your TSH levels are normal
T4 may not be enough to restore your T3 levels in your blood and target tissues
It contains all four natural thyroid hormones – T4, T3, T2, T1, plus iodine, thyroglobulin
Today’s Mama Must Have:
Dr. Toni loves having a healthy and easy recipe like Egg Muffins from Amanda Naturally that the whole family will eat for breakfast or a snack. Check out Episode 5 for more tips for healthy food habits from Amanda.
Dr. Lisa knows that Dessicated Thyroid is an absolute must have for her!
Thank you for joining us today!
Connect with us at our website www.perimenopausalmamas.com, on Facebook and on Instagram. We’d love you to subscribe, leave us a review and a 5-star rating if you enjoyed this episode.
Please tell your perimenopausal mama friends about us, too!
This episode was originally released on June 18, 2020. We had such great feedback on the tips provided that we decided to re-release it. Even if you had previously listened to this episode, it is still useful to listen again to be reminded how powerful simple daily habits can make a world of difference when it comes to your health. (Note: for the month of August, we are re-releasing some “oldies but goodies” – popular previously recorded episodes. We will go back to releasing new episodes in September 2021).
The majority of your health, energy and vitality is determined by the small, consistent habits that you incorporate daily. In this episode, Dr. Lisa and Dr. Toni “go back to the basics” and uncover 10 simple (and free!) things you can do to support energy, immunity, hormone balance, mood, digestion, disease prevention and more. Pick 1 or 2 health habits that resonate with you and that are easy to incorporate. Every little bit helps!
In this episode, we cover:
Deep breathing
Prioritizing sleep
Drinking water
Practicing Hydrotherapy
Adding fresh herbs and spices to your food
Eating more veggies
Getting in “exercise snacks” throughout the day
Connecting to nature
Practicing gratitude
Being a part of a community
Deep Breathing
Dr. Lisa’s favourite technique is Box Breathing aka 4-4-4-4 Breath
This technique is simple and easy. You can notice benefits of box breathing even after 1-2 minutes
You can practice deep breathing while you are showering, working, walking, watching tv, driving or stressful transitions with your kids, like bedtime
It helps to reduce stress, anxiety, possibly blood pressure and cortisol
Boosts feeling of well being and ability to be calm and present
Dr. Toni’s enjoys repurposing the HypnoBirthing Calm Breath (inhale to count of 4, pause, exhale to count of 6-8) in addition to the HypnoBirthing guided relaxation track available on HypnoBirthing Institute website as a free download
Prioritizing sleep – aim for about 7-8 hours
Sleep is essential for mental and emotional health, in addition to proper metabolism and immune system function
Give yourself permission to make sleep a priority over other things you could be doing – let yourself sleep!
Add in an afternoon nap if you need to (especially if you have little ones still napping)
Drinking Water
Hydration first thing in morning can make a huge difference in your energy, reduce your frequency of headaches and migraines, improve your digestion function and bowel movements
You can increase the quality of your tap water by using a filtration system
Adding lemon or other citrus fruit can add in flavour and more benefits for your health:
D-limonene is the essential oil found in the rind of citrus shown to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant anti-stress and anti-anxiety properties, plus in animal studies shown to reduce triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure, protect against stomach ulcers
Practicing Hydrotherapy aka “water therapy”
30-60 seconds cold water spray at end of your shower
Boosts your alertness, energy and mood
Helps your skin and hair to have a healthy glow (flattens follicles)
Supports your immunity and circulation to our internal organs
May support your weight loss with the production of more brown fat that produces heat, increasing your metabolism and temperature
Reduces your muscle soreness and can speed up your recovery post-workout
Other hydrotherapy options include cold spray on your feet while waiting for shower water to warm up or wet warming socks at the first sign of a cold
You can check out the free mini-class online by Wim Hof with focus on breathing, cold showers and power of your mind
Adding spices and fresh herbs to your food
Provides extra antioxidants for a quick and easy win for your health
Cinnamon can lower your blood sugar level and reduce inflammation
Ginger – supports digestion, good for nausea (even in pregnancy), can reduce pain and inflammation associated with arthritis, migraines and menstrual cramps
Add cinnamon, nutmeg and ground ginger to your chia pudding, yogurt, oatmeal or smoothie in the morning
Oregano – antibacterial properties, helps prevent against damage to your DNA and cells, plus has nutrients like calcium, vitamin K, manganese, iron, tryptophan
Add oregano and thyme to pasta sauces
Turmeric- used to reduce pain and inflammation for menstrual cramps, arthritis, may help to prevent against cancer and dementia
Add turmeric powder to hummus, baba ghanouj, scrambled eggs or omelettes with some black pepper and/or a bit of healthy fat)
Garlic – antimicrobial properties can help treat and prevent candida, fungus and other infections, support cardiovascular health
Enjoy roasted whole and spread on bread or crackers
Add garlic, parsley and cilantro to salad dressings with lemon juice, olive oil, coconut aminos, salt and pepper
Add dill to homemade coleslaw or salads
Add rosemary to barbequed meat to reduce advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and roasted veggies like squash, sweet potato and potatoes
Eating more vegetables
Aim for at least 8 servings a day with a rainbow of colours
More variety of veggies provides more nutrients
Higher fruit and vegetable intake (5 servings or more) is linked to decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, especially:
Leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, swiss chard, mustard greens
Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, bok choy and kale
Also provides more fibre for improved digestion, balanced blood sugar and can help prevent hypertension, diabetes, cancer
How can you get more in? Try one new veggie per week
Add spinach or greens to smoothies or “green eggs”
Switch out a serving of pasta, rice, bread for cauliflower rice, vegetable pasta or konjac noodles/rice
Research shows that intake of starchier vegetables like potatoes, corn, and peas were linked with more weight gain
Getting in “exercise snacks” throughout the day
Great for switching up your emotional state, maintaining your muscle mass, your cardiovascular and lymphatic health, and spending time with your kids
Walking or running, outside or doing stairs or laps inside!
Indoor dance party in your living room
Set a timer to do some push ups, lunges and/or squats for 1-2 minutes every hour to reduce the amount of time you’re sitting during the day
Connecting to Nature
calming, connects me with something bigger than myself and my little problems, simple as being mindful and observing the trees in the yard and the neighbourhood park, grateful to live with large pine trees in front and back yard
Aim for at least 20 minutes 2 times a week
Studies show getting outside can lower blood pressure and stress hormone levels while boosting mood and memory
Induces calm and relaxation by reducing rumination
Can be done alone or with others (while physically distance as necessary)
Can include taking a nature walk in a park, forest bathing, sitting in your backyard or balcony, listening to nature sounds, looking at pictures of nature scenes or hugging trees (as they were urged to do in Iceland to help overcome social isolation
Doctors are starting to write prescriptions for getting out in nature
Practicing gratitude
Research shows that grateful people experience less pain and depression, plus better sleep and self-esteem
Can be as simple as feeling thankful for hugs from family, connecting to family and friends online, summer weather, having time to listen to a podcast for new information or getting to drink your coffee or tea while it’s hot!
Gratitude practice can include a gratitude journal or mental review in the shower or in bed before sleep
“Where your attention goes, your energy flows”
Being part of a community
Social isolation and loneliness has a bigger health impact than smoking on your risk for heart disease, stroke, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease
Reduces stress and anxiety
Options include:
Talking with friends and family over phone, WhatsApp or Zoom
Playing games with friends online
Online book clubs
Online groups like Mom Halo, Mamas and Co, Camp Hoo-ha, Business Networking International (BNI)
Volunteering
Today’s Mama Must Have:
Dr. Toni is thankful to have Arnica homeopathic pellets and ointment to safely manage the inevitable falls, bumps and bruises that happen in daily life with a toddler.
Dr. Lisa finds a real benefit from a gratitude journal and writing down what she’s grateful for in a regular ringed notebook from the dollar store. In the morning, she reflects on, and writes down: what would make today great; three amazing things that happened yesterday; plus people and opportunities that she’s grateful for.
Thank you for joining us today!
Find the show notes at stephanies48.sg-host.com or connect with us on Facebook and Instagram. We’d love you to subscribe, leave us a review and a 5-star rating if you enjoyed this episode.
Please tell your perimenopausal mama friends about us, too!
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