Table of Contents
Foreword Dr. Christiane Northrop, MD xi
Preface xv
Part I Educate and Illuminate: Understanding the New Hormonal Landscape
Introduction: Why Hormones Matter 3
1 Getting Started: Fill Out the Questionnaires 22
2 A Hormonal Primer: Everything You Need to Know About Hormones 42
3 Perimenopause: Your Own Personal Global Warming Crisis, Hypervigilance, and Tighter Jeans 56
Part II Assess, Diagnose, Treat: From Imbalance to Ideal Hormonal Specimen
4 High and/or Low Cortisol: Stress Case? Is Life Without Caffeine Not Worth Living? 71
5 Low-Progesterone Blues and Progesterone Resistance: Heavy Periods, PMS, Insomnia, and Infertility? 121
6 Excess Estrogen: Depressed and Chunky? 150
7 Low Estrogen: Are You Dry and Cranky? 178
8 Excess Androgens: Do You Have Pimples, Ovarian Cysts, and Rogue Hairs? 205
9 Low Thyroid: Weight Gain, Fatigue, and Mood Problems? 231
10 Common Combinations of Hormonal Imbalances 263
11 Hormonal Nirvana: Staying on Course 286
Epilogue 308
Part III Appendix
A The Gottfried Protocol, by Hormone Imbalance 313
B Glossary of Terms 321
C Hormones and Their Functions 331
D How to Find and Work Collaboratively with Practitioners for Your Hormone Cure 335
E Recommended Labs for Home Testing 339
F The Gottfried Food Plan 341
G Normal and Optimal Ranges of Hormone Levels and Related Laboratory Tests 343
H Fertility, Conception, Pregnancy, and Lactation Protocols 347
Paperback Q and A 361
Acknowledgments 381
Notes 387
Index 429