Top 5 Hormone Superheroes: My 'Genius Bar'

Perhaps you've noticed that the level of discourse on hormones and how they drive what we're interested in... well, sucks. Women feel they either need to martyr their way through the years from 35 to 50-plus, or they consider taking hormones with tremendous fear and trepidation, as if they might as well be eating mercury-laden tuna from a can lined in bisphenol A.

Not true. There's another way.

Here are the hormonal "best in class." The following thought leaders are my "genius bar." Vanguards of new paradigm medicine, they aim to repair and prevent rather than to postpone the inevitable or mask symptoms with the latest antidepressant.

Change agents, super smartypants, nutrition radicals, early adopters, cultural creatives, bio hackers before there was such a term and -- oh yes! -- the voice of reason (guess who!).

These are the folks I go to when I have a question, and my usual suspects, such as Pubmed, come up dry. Wanted to share 'em with you. I'll show you mine if you show me yours.

1. Mary Shomon: Yes, top of the list is not a doctor. How subversive. But Mary has an almost mystic-like capacity to understand complex problems related to the thyroid, explain them succinctly and, frankly, no one has outpublished this fireball. Check out her latest book, The Thyroid Diet Revolution: Manage Your Master Gland of Metabolism for Lasting Weight Loss. If you have thyroid problems, you know how hard it is to lose weight. Let Mary demystify it for you. Currently, Mary is writing a book with former Baywatch star Gena Lee Nolin called Thyroid Sexy. They are going to rebrand the thyroid from the stuff of middle-aged frump to the hottest new hormone to address. They had me at sexy.

2. Jonny Bowden, Ph.D.: The "rogue nutritionist." Is anyone more cogent on the swinging pendulum of nutritional science? OK, besides Gary Taubes? With more than 15 books to his credit, the man knows how to balance hormones with how you eat, and he's got the formula for weight management. His latest book? The Great Cholesterol Myth, due this fall and co-authored with Dr. Stephen Sinatra. Did you know that cholesterol is the precursor to your sex hormones? Yes, indeed. Lower your cholesterol, and you lower your sex hormones. Traditional medicine has it all wrong... again. I believe Jonny.

3. Jeffrey Bland, Ph.D.: Another non-M.D.! As an exceptionally-gifted systems thinker and nutritional biochemist, Dr. Bland synthesizes complex data like no one else. He founded the Institute of Functional Medicine, and... hmm, he founded the entire field of functional medicine! I've learned more from him than any professor at Harvard Medical School, hands down. The matrix? Brilliant. Grateful. Neuroendocrine communication is a meaty topic and he rocks it. And I won't write anything cheeky about his facial hair.

"We need to listen to the patients' story and develop a response to it. The approach to complex syndromes may be much more profound than just trying to point a round peg into a square hole and get a singular diagnosis. " -- Jeffrey S. Bland, Ph.D.

4. Christiane Northrup, M.D.: Dr. Chris Northrup makes perimenopause so much easier. She delivers the data, but with soul. She feels like my adoptive mom yet I've never met her. How many feel that way after growing up with her books and wisdom-of-the-female-body message? I heard about Dr. Northrup before going to Harvard Med, on a PBS Special, and I said to myself, "I'm going to be that kind of a doctor." Thank you, Dr. Northrup, for shining the light for the rest of us. You inspired me then, 20-plus years ago, and you inspire me now.

5. Andrew Weil, M.D.: I love this man. I know, I know... that beard is a bit stuck-in-the-70s, but he's crazy smart, and I think we can all agree that he was the first on base when it comes to integrative medicine. Have you read his books? OK, I can't finish them either, but he is my go-to for the voice of reason when it comes to my wilder ideas about herbal therapies, green tea and nutrition. His latest book serves up smart medicine on cortisol and thyroid in particular.

Sometimes I feel like Andy Weil's and Chris Northrup's love child.

Now, your turn. Who's runnin' your "genius bar"? Or, if you've found great resources, share those too. Would love to hear from you.

For more by Sara Gottfried, M.D., click here.

For more on women's health, click here.

 

Comments

[lucillemarise]

01:32 AM on 06/13/2012

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Alena

Diverticulitis Treatment Diverticulitis Diet

[endAD]

12:44 PM on 05/25/2012

Yes, I agree, Mary Shomon should be at the top of the list. Her book, The Menopause Thyroid Solution should be required reading in med school! I just can't get over how useless regular doctors are when it comes to hormone problems, perimenopause, chronic diseases etc.

[DiTheHypnotist]

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[Rita Weber Shimniok]

12:54 AM on 05/22/2012

My top FIVE are all different from yours, which surprises me actually. First would have to be the book and works of bHRT pioneer Dr. John Lee. His books have changed my life, in particular his book "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Breast Cancer" as his nutrition chapter totally clicked. By then - I totally understood the hormone imbalances and causes from his pre-menopause book. SECOND would be Dr. Michael Platt, whose book on the Miracle of Bio-Identical Hormones is one I could not put down. He is working on a manual for MDs, which is very much in need. Third would be Christina Rollins, founder of www.natural-progesterone-advisory-network.com. Her site is educating doctors and the lucky individuals who come upon it. The search engine is an invaluable tool and the e-books are worth every penny. I have helped many clients using her site as a resource. Virginia Hopkins and Dr. David Zava, both co-authors with Lee, also provide invaluable information in their web-sites as well. These people easily make my top 5, although I am sure I could go to ten with all the resources I have in my library on the topic. If we want to toss in a bit about nutrition, my number one hero would be Dr. Russell Blaylock, and Dr. Joe Mercola..

-Rita S
http://purelyliving.blogspot.com

[Ilfeld]

11:48 PM on 05/21/2012

My genius bar are a mix of people who are at the forefront of the Pos Psychology movement (Martin Seligman et al) and amazing coaches (James Flaherty) who can turn the research into actionable differences for the people they help and serve.

[ThinkinPerson]

10:28 PM on 05/21/2012

I heard a talk you gave and it changed my life, now to put into action! I've tried to get my doctors to test my hormones since I started perimenopause and started having some of those symptoms that as you best described, I've had to soldier thru. What does a girl have to do to be able to get her hormones tested? What does one say to get the magic door to open?
I wish we could test at home!
LOVE your work! Inspired to check these people out!

[Rita Weber Shimniok]

05:54 PM on 05/22/2012

I used ZRT labs - bought the saliva kit and just did it myself. My MD doesn't know a thing about bHRT, and has yet to read the couple of books I gave her a couple of years ago. I decided to due my own diligence - fortunately, since I took charge of my health I am super healthy and go in for the "annual" check up and found a naturopath to work with if there is ever a need.

[ThyroidAdvocate]

09:53 PM on 05/21/2012

"Sara Gottfried, MD, Bay Area-based holistic gynecologist and author of the soon-to-be published book, The Hormone Cure, has a piece at The Huffington Post today, in which she names her "top five hormone superheroes," or, as she puts it, her "genius bar." I was very honored to be included on her list, along with some amazing advocates who I consider to be on my own "genius bar." In her article, Sara asks "Who's runnin' your 'genius bar'?" And it's a good question! So who would I would add? This is by no means an all-encompassing list, but here goes..."
http://thyroid.about.com/b/2012/05/21/who-are-your-hormone-and-thyroid-superheroes.htm

[Lyrica71]

08:18 PM on 05/21/2012

My geniuses seem to rotate yearly, but right now: Sally Fallon (Nourishing Traditions), Thomas Levy (The Primal Panacea) and Bruce Lipton (Spontaneous Evolution). Thanks to them, I'm eating real food instead of following the latest trends, using Vitamin C to prevent illness instead of fruitless dealing with the symptoms afterwards, and understanding the mind/body connection on a far deeper level.

[No death panels]

07:50 PM on 05/21/2012

I'd go to an endocrinologist before any of them.

[Steph Watanabe]

04:03 PM on 05/21/2012

Great to hear who you think the hormone super-heroes are out there (totally agree about Dr. Northrup) & look forward to looking into the rest.
P.S. I would totally add YOU to this list as well - you're a hormone rockstar!! xo

[No death panels]

01:05 PM on 05/21/2012

Aye carumba.