Dr. Kelly Simms ND, CNS

Naturopathic Doctor and Nutritionist, Fertility Course, Natural Women's Health, Preconception and Fertility

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in Women's Health

UTI: Are there alternatives to antibiotics?

Urinary tract infections (UTI) affect women more than men mainly due to the shorter length of the urethera. Bacteria has a shorter distance to travel to reach the bladder lining where it can cause infection. The most common pathogen that causes a UTI is Escherichia coli (e.coli). E. coli is actually a part of our normal (good) flora, but certain strains or overgrowth of the bacteria has the potential to cause harm. Additional risk factors for UTI in women include vaginal dryness. Dryness can cause recurrent UTI because as vaginal tissue loses moisture, there is less of the good flora inhabiting the vagina. Good bugs, like lactobacillus species that are found in the vagina in large amounts, keep the bad guys in check. Less moisture means pH changes and the good bugs thrive in an optimal pH of around 4. To prevent a UTI from occurring, there are a couple of strategies to consider:

  • Lactobacillus supplementation: lactobacillus species are good bacteria found in the gut and vagina. I believe that keeping the gut healthy will in turn keep vaginal flora healthy. In fact, when I see anyone with interstitial cystitis, I often quickly suggest we do a stool culture to assess the amount of good and bad bacteria they have living in their digestive tract. A recent study (1) suggests that certain lactobacillus species have the ability to block the bacteria that typically cause UTIs. The strains that showed most promising results were Lactobacillus salivarius and Lactobacillus acidophilus. Preventing UTI might be as easy as taking a high quality multi strain lactobacillus probiotic daily.
  • D-Mannose: according to a 2014 (2) study, participants that had recurrent UTI were randomized to no treatment, nitrofurantoin (antibiotic) treatment, and D-mannose powder. They took the medicine, supplement, or placebo for 6 months. Turns out, the D-Mannose group and nitrofurantoin group were tied for preventative results, but the D-mannose group came out on top for less side effects. The side effect profile of nitrofurantoin is normally very low, but think about the side effects potentially happening in the gut that are not evident! Shifts in gut flora and antibiotic resistance are two factors to consider when deciding if antibiotic prophylaxis (for any condition) is a good idea. The dose of D-mannose used in the study was 2 grams per day, which is pretty good dose! This study shows that compared to daily antibiotic treatment, there is a safe and effective alternative.
  • Vaginal estrogen: there are three types of estrogen that we make inside our bodies—estradiol (E2), estriol (E3) and estrone (E1). Estriol is the weakest of the three estrogens, meaning that it has weaker effects on the tissues and less likely to cause unwanted side effects of estrogen excess—such as breast or endometrial cancer (3). In menopause or perimenopause when there is a sharp decline in estrogen, estriol can be used as a tool to restore not only vaginal moisture, but prevent UTIs. A great study (4) demonstrated the powerful effects of estriol as a measure to not only restore moisture, but also shift pH and restore normal flora. The rate of UTI in this group was 0.5 per year with the estriol group and 5.9 per year in the placebo group! A very promising therapy for UTI prevention.

Ladies, if you have the annoying problem of recurrent UTIs, there are some great alternative ways to address the issue instead of relying on antibiotics! Prevention is key, so thinking about risk factors for UTIs is also important.

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References:

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28402532
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23633128
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10359406
  4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8350884

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Estrogen dominance, or unopposed estrogen, is a th Estrogen dominance, or unopposed estrogen, is a theory in which the level of estrogen outweighs the level of progesterone and other hormones in the body. Picture a seesaw. Estrogen is the person high in the air looking down at the progesterone (and other hormones)- sitting at the other end with their feet on the ground.

Our bodies need estrogen for reproductive, cardiovascular, and bone health. Estrogen is a very important hormone! Too much estrogen, however, can be linked to an assortment of conditions like: 
- Heavy periods
- Migraines
- Water retention 
- Fibrocystic breasts
- Uterine fibroids 
- Endometriosis
- Mood swings 
- Hormonal weight gain

High estrogen can be caused by certain medications, excess body fat, stress, alcohol, liver issues, and synthetic xenoestrogens, so some dietary and lifestyle changes may be needed to correct your hormone levels. And, what about supporting the other hormones? Picture the seesaw again. We can support healthy progesterone production with dietary and lifestyle changes as well!

Was this helpful? If so – like, follow, and don’t forget to comment below any questions you have about estrogen dominance!
There are few health conditions as frustrating to There are few health conditions as frustrating to address and correct as acne.

Courses of antibiotics, dozens of topicals, spironolactone, supplements, and the birth control pill are the main treatments most of my patients have tried before they come to me. While some may be effective, you might be still wondering: is there a way to heal my skin once and for all and not have to use this stuff?

Acne is so frustrating for many because it seems like there are a million things you could be trying. So, what are some NATURAL first steps you can take if you are struggling with acne?

1) Get your hormone levels checked. Knowing if you have any hormone imbalances can help your doctor to cater your treatment plan to your specific needs.

2) Address your gut health. Your gut is the foundation of your health and can be closely tied to skin issues.

3) Try going dairy free. I’ve found this is one food group that can be especially problematic for people that suffer with acne. The thing to know is that you have to avoid it for at least 30 days and also that in the future, you can probably have at least some dairy back. It’s usually not a forever restriction.

If you have questions about your struggles with acne, leave a comment below or send me a DM. I’d love to chat about potential solutions and help you get to the bottom of your skin concerns.
It’s time for another Sunday Supplement highligh It’s time for another Sunday Supplement highlight! Today, we’re talking about Magnesium Glycinate.

Magnesium Glycinate is a supplement that increases magnesium levels. Magnesium is vital in regulating muscle and nerve function, blood sugar levels, and blood pressure. It may also be helpful in the making of bone, protein, and DNA. 

I love magnesium glycinate because it is one of the easiest forms of magnesium supplementation for the body to absorb. It is also gentle on the digestive tract which means it is less likely to cause undesirable side effects such as an upset stomach or loose stool. 

Magnesium glycinate might be especially helpful for you if you suffer from:
- High blood pressure or heart disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Osteoporosis
- Migraine headaches
- Depression

Do you have more questions about magnesium glycinate? Leave a comment below, or shoot me a DM and we can chat!
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