Lori Wendell APRN - Optimize Your Health

12/24/2025

✨ Perimenopause Isn’t Just About Estrogen ✨
Why Testosterone Matters for Women

Most women are told perimenopause = low estrogen.

But here’s the truth 👇

🔥 Testosterone often declines FIRST — and estrogen therapy alone may not fix how you feel.

💡 Testosterone plays a vital role in women’s health, supporting:

• Libido & s*xual satisfaction
• Energy & motivation
• Mood & confidence
• Lean muscle & strength
• Bone density
• Brain clarity & focus
• Metabolic health

🚩 Signs testosterone may be low in perimenopause:

• Low s*x drive
• Ongoing fatigue
• Brain fog
• Loss of muscle despite exercise
• Low motivation or “spark”
• Mood changes that estrogen didn’t fix

⚠️ Why estrogen alone isn’t always enough
Estrogen helps hot flashes and sleep —
But it doesn’t fully restore drive, desire, or strength.

✅ When testosterone is used correctly

• Very low, physiologic female dosing
• Monitored labs
• Aimed at female reference ranges
• NOT masculinizing when done properly

📌 Curious if this applies to you?
Testing + personalized care matters.

Call us today fo your LAB REVIEW 📲 +1 (681) 549-7038


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12/22/2025

If you’re 🥣 eating “right,” exercising 💪🏽 and the scale still won’t budge — it’s not a willpower issue.

👉 Weight loss resistance is usually driven by hormones, not calories.

Common root causes we see in practice:

• Insulin resistance
• Cortisol dysregulation
• Thyroid conversion issues (T4 → T3)
• Blood sugar swings
• Inflammation
• Poor sleep & stress overload

When your body feels unsafe, it holds on to weight — no matter how hard you try.

This is why cutting calories lower and pushing harder in the gym often makes things worse.

✨ Sustainable fat loss happens when we fix the signals, not punish the body.

💬 Comment “METABOLISM” if this sounds like you

📌 Save this post — it’s not about eating less, it’s about healing first

12/21/2025

❤️❤️❤️

12/21/2025

Pamala Jean

Why We Dig Deeper to Uncover Histamine Responses ✅⚡️

🦠Histamine isn’t just about allergies. It’s a powerful chemical messenger involved in digestion, immunity, hormones, sleep, and brain function. When histamine 🦠becomes imbalanced, it can create widespread, confusing symptoms that often go undiagnosed.

🔍 Because symptoms are multi-system

Excess histamine 🦠 can affect many body systems at once, including:

• Skin (hives, itching, flushing, eczema)
• Gut (bloating, diarrhea, nausea, reflux)
• Nervous system (anxiety, headaches, insomnia)
• Cardiovascular system (palpitations, dizziness)
• Respiratory system (congestion, post-nasal drip)

Patients are often told “everything looks normal” because no single system explains the whole picture.

‼️‼️‼️

🧠 Because histamine🦠 mimics other conditions

Histamine overload can look like:

• Anxiety or panic disorder
• IBS
• Hormonal imbalance
• POTS or dysautonomia
• Chronic fatigue
• Perimenopause or PMDD

Without digging deeper, histamine is frequently missed or misattributed.

✅✅✅✅

🧬 Because root causes matter

Histamine🦠 issues are rarely “random.” They’re often driven by:

• Gut dysbiosis or SIBO
• Low DAO enzyme activity
• Nutrient deficiencies (B6, copper, vitamin C)
• Estrogen dominance
• Chronic stress and high cortisol
• Mast cell activation

Identifying why histamine is elevated allows us to treat the cause—not just suppress symptoms.

🧪 Because standard labs don’t tell the full story

Routine blood work often looks normal. A deeper approach may include:

• Symptom pattern recognition
• Gut testing
• Nutrient evaluation
• Hormone assessment
• Histamine triggers in diet and lifestyle

This explains why many patients suffer for years without answers.

🎉🎉🎉

🌿 Because treatment is individualized

Not everyone needs antihistamines. Some need:

• Gut repair
• Mast cell stabilization
• Hormone balancing
• Nutrient repletion
• Nervous system support

Digging deeper prevents unnecessary meds and supports long-term healing.

✅✅✅

✨ Bottom line

We investigate histamine🦠 responses because your symptoms are real, even when labs look “normal.” Understanding histamine gives us clarity, direction, and a path to lasting relief.

12/21/2025

Why We Dig Deeper to Uncover Histamine Responses ✅⚡️

🦠Histamine isn’t just about allergies. It’s a powerful chemical messenger involved in digestion, immunity, hormones, sleep, and brain function. When histamine 🦠becomes imbalanced, it can create widespread, confusing symptoms that often go undiagnosed.

🔍 Because symptoms are multi-system

Excess histamine 🦠 can affect many body systems at once, including:

• Skin (hives, itching, flushing, eczema)
• Gut (bloating, diarrhea, nausea, reflux)
• Nervous system (anxiety, headaches, insomnia)
• Cardiovascular system (palpitations, dizziness)
• Respiratory system (congestion, post-nasal drip)

Patients are often told “everything looks normal” because no single system explains the whole picture.

‼️‼️‼️

🧠 Because histamine🦠 mimics other conditions

Histamine overload can look like:

• Anxiety or panic disorder
• IBS
• Hormonal imbalance
• POTS or dysautonomia
• Chronic fatigue
• Perimenopause or PMDD

Without digging deeper, histamine is frequently missed or misattributed.

✅✅✅✅

🧬 Because root causes matter

Histamine🦠 issues are rarely “random.” They’re often driven by:

• Gut dysbiosis or SIBO
• Low DAO enzyme activity
• Nutrient deficiencies (B6, copper, vitamin C)
• Estrogen dominance
• Chronic stress and high cortisol
• Mast cell activation

Identifying why histamine is elevated allows us to treat the cause—not just suppress symptoms.

🧪 Because standard labs don’t tell the full story

Routine blood work often looks normal. A deeper approach may include:

• Symptom pattern recognition
• Gut testing
• Nutrient evaluation
• Hormone assessment
• Histamine triggers in diet and lifestyle

This explains why many patients suffer for years without answers.

🎉🎉🎉

🌿 Because treatment is individualized

Not everyone needs antihistamines. Some need:

• Gut repair
• Mast cell stabilization
• Hormone balancing
• Nutrient repletion
• Nervous system support

Digging deeper prevents unnecessary meds and supports long-term healing.

✅✅✅

✨ Bottom line

We investigate histamine🦠 responses because your symptoms are real, even when labs look “normal.” Understanding histamine gives us clarity, direction, and a path to lasting relief.

12/18/2025

🏃‍♀️ WHY MOVING YOUR BODY DAILY IS THE KEY TO HEALTH

Movement is not just about weight loss.
It’s one of the most powerful medicines we have—and it works at the cellular level.

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

🔹 Movement Regulates Blood Sugar

Every time you move:
• Muscles pull glucose from the bloodstream
• Insulin sensitivity improves
• Blood sugar spikes are reduced

📌 Even a 10-minute walk after meals can dramatically lower glucose.

🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

🔹 Movement Balances Hormones

Daily movement helps:
• Lower chronically elevated cortisol
• Improve thyroid hormone conversion
• Increase insulin sensitivity
• Support healthy estrogen metabolism

🚫 Sedentary stress is still stress.

💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽

🔹 Movement Improves Lymphatic Flow

Your lymphatic system:
• Has no pump
• Relies on muscle contraction to move toxins, waste, and immune cells

➡️ No movement = stagnant lymph.

🔹 Movement Builds Mitochondria

Mitochondria = energy.
Movement:
• Increases mitochondrial density
• Improves cellular energy production
• Reduces fatigue and brain fog over time

This is why consistency beats intensity.

🔹 Movement Improves Gut Motility

Daily movement:
• Reduces constipation and bloating
• Supports microbiome diversity
• Improves digestion and detox pathways

Your gut loves rhythm.

🔹 Movement Supports Mental Health

Movement:
• Increases BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor)
• Improves mood, focus, and memory
• Reduces anxiety and depression

📌 You don’t “think” your way out of stress—you move through it.

⚖️ DAILY ≠ INTENSE

This is where people get stuck.

✔ Walking
✔ Stretching
✔ Strength training
✔ Yoga
✔ Mobility work

Daily movement is non-negotiable.
Intense workouts are optional.

🔑 The Takeaway

Your body was designed to move every single day.
Not to punish it—but to signal safety, balance, and resilience.

Get UP AND MOVE 💪🏽

12/18/2025

A histamine response is the body’s immune and signaling reaction that occurs when histamine is released from cells—primarily mast cells and basophils—in response to a trigger. Histamine plays a normal, protective role, but excessive or poorly regulated release can cause symptoms.

🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠

𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚊 𝚑𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚎?

Histamine can be released due to:

• Allergens (pollen, mold, pet dander, foods)
• Infections or inflammation
• Stress (physical or emotional)
• Foods high in histamine or that trigger histamine release (aged cheeses, wine, fermented foods)
• Hormonal shifts (estrogen can increase histamine release)
• Medications (NSAIDs, opioids, contrast dye)
• Gut dysbiosis or leaky gut

🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠

𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚑𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚍𝚘 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚍𝚢?

Histamine acts on four receptors, each causing different effects:

H1 receptors

• Allergy symptoms: itching, hives, sneezing
• Nasal congestion
• Bronchoconstriction
• Headaches/migraines

H2 receptors

• Stimulates stomach acid
• Can cause reflux, nausea
• Flushing and rapid heart rate in excess

H3 receptors

• Neurotransmitter regulation
• Sleep–wake cycle
• Brain fog, anxiety when dysregulated

H4 receptors

• Immune modulation
• Chronic inflammation
• Autoimmune-type symptoms

🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠

𝙲𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚘𝚗 𝚜𝚢𝚖𝚙𝚝𝚘𝚖𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚡𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚑𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚎:

Symptoms can vary widely and often fluctuate:

• Itching, flushing, hives
• Nasal congestion, postnasal drip
• Headaches or migraines
• Anxiety, irritability, insomnia
• Heart palpitations
• GI symptoms: bloating, diarrhea, reflux
• Menstrual cycle flares
• Fatigue and brain fog

The key enzyme that degrades histamine is DAO (diamine oxidase), which is produced in the gut. Low DAO activity can be due to:

• Gut inflammation
• Nutrient deficiencies (B6, copper, vitamin C)
• Medications
• Hormonal imbalance

𝙵𝚞𝚗𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚖𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚌𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎

A histamine response is often a downstream signal, not the root cause. Common contributors include:
• Mast cell activation
• Gut permeability or dysbiosis
• Estrogen dominance
• Chronic stress and elevated cortisol
• Nutrient depletion
• Environmental toxin load

Support strategies (general overview)
• Identify and reduce triggers
• Trial a low-histamine diet
• Support gut integrity
• Address estrogen metabolism
• Ensure key nutrients for histamine breakdown
• Consider mast cell–stabilizing strategies when appropriate

Don’t get! Call us instead and let’s get to the ROOT of the issue 📲 +1 (681) 549-7038

12/17/2025

Why Testing Cortisol Matters 💡

Cortisol is your body’s main stress hormone—and when it’s out of balance, everything can feel off.🥴

You can have normal labs and still have dysregulated cortisol patterns. ⬅️ READ IT AGAIN

That’s why testing matters.

🧠 Cortisol Impacts:

✔ Energy levels
✔ Sleep quality
✔ Weight (especially belly fat)
✔ Blood sugar balance
✔ Hormones & fertility
✔ Immune function
✔ Mood & anxiety

If cortisol is too high, too low, or mistimed, symptoms can show up long before standard labs flag a problem. 📣

⏰ It’s Not Just the Number — It’s the Pattern

Healthy cortisol should:

• Be highest in the morning ☀️
• Gradually decline throughout the day ⚡️
• Be low at night so you can sleep 🌙

One single blood 🩸 draw often misses the full picture.

🧪 Best Ways to Test Cortisol

• 4-point salivary cortisol → shows daily rhythm
• Urine (DUTCH) testing → cortisol + metabolites
• AM serum cortisol → screening tool only

Different tests answer different questions.

🚩 When to Consider Cortisol Testing
• Chronic fatigue or burnout
• Anxiety or “wired but tired” feeling
• Trouble sleeping
• Weight gain resistant to diet/exercise
• Hormone imbalances
• Blood sugar swings

✨ Bottom Line

If you’re treating symptoms without understanding cortisol, you may be missing the root cause.

Test. Don’t guess.

12/15/2025

MUST READ 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽

Hydration 💦💦 plays a bigger role in weight loss than most people realize—both physiologically and behaviorally. Here’s a clear, science-based breakdown:

💧 Why Hydration Is Important for Weight Loss

1. Supports Fat Metabolism (Lipolysis)
Water is required for the breakdown of stored fat. Dehydration can slow lipolysis, making it harder for the body to access fat for energy.

2. Improves Metabolic Rate
Even mild dehydration can reduce resting metabolic rate. Studies show drinking water—especially before meals—can temporarily increase calorie burn through thermogenesis.

3. Helps Control Appetite
Thirst is often mistaken for hunger. Inadequate hydration can lead to:
• Increased snacking
• Larger portion sizes
• Stronger cravings

Drinking water 💦 before meals has been shown to reduce calorie intake.

4. Supports Insulin Sensitivity
Chronic low hydration can increase cortisol and impair insulin signaling, making fat loss—especially abdominal fat—more difficult.

5. Reduces Water 💦 Retention & Bloating
Ironically, dehydration causes the body to hold onto water. Proper hydration helps regulate sodium balance and reduces puffiness and bloating.

6. Optimizes Exercise Performance
Dehydration decreases endurance, strength, and recovery. Better hydration = better workouts and higher calorie burn.

7. Supports Detox & Gut Function
Water supports:
• Liver detoxification
• Kidney function
• Healthy bowel movements

Constipation and sluggish detox pathways can stall weight loss.

💡 Practical Tips for Weight Loss Hydration 💦💦

• Aim for ½ body weight (lbs) in ounces daily (adjust for activity)
• Start the day with 16–24 oz of water
• Add electrolytes if sweating, low-carb, or fasting
• Sip consistently—don’t wait until thirsty

🔑 Bottom Line

Hydration isn’t just about drinking water—it’s about metabolic efficiency, hormone balance, appetite control, and fat burning. Even slight dehydration can stall progress.

Now get to SIPPIN 💧💦

12/13/2025

𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚃𝟺 𝙳𝚘𝚎𝚜𝚗’𝚝 𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚝 𝙿𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚕𝚢... Reverse T3 Goes UP ⬆️

Most thyroid hormone produced by the body (or taken as medication) is T4 — a storage hormone.💡

T4 must be converted into active T3 to fuel metabolism, energy, brain function, and temperature regulation.✅

When this conversion pathway is disrupted, the body often shifts T4 into Reverse T3 (rT3) instead.

😵‍💫

⚙️ Why This Happens

The body uses different enzymes (called deiodinases) to decide what T4 becomes:

• T4 → T3 = metabolism ON ✅
• T4 → Reverse T3 = metabolism slowed (protective response) ❌

Under stress, the body prioritizes survival — not optimal metabolism — and diverts T4 toward rT3. 🚨

🚨 Factors That Block T4 → T3 Conversion

• Chronic stress & elevated cortisol
• Inflammation or chronic illness
• Calorie restriction or under-eating
• Iron deficiency (common and overlooked)
• Low selenium or zinc
• Poor liver or gut function
• Blood sugar instability
• Overtraining or poor recovery

When these are present, T4 cannot efficiently convert to T3, so rT3 rises instead.

🚫 And some patients have a genetic variant that doesn’t allow T4 — T3 Conversion

🧪 What This Looks Like on Labs
• Normal or high T4
• Low or low-normal Free T3
• Elevated Reverse T3
• Normal TSH (often misleading)

This pattern explains why many patients are told their thyroid is “fine” but still feel hypothyroid. 😴

🧠 Why High Reverse T3 Matters

Reverse T3 competes with active T3 for receptor sites.
So even when T3 is present, it can’t get into the cell to do its job.

Result:
❌ Low energy
❌ Brain fog
❌ Cold intolerance
❌ Weight resistance
❌ Poor exercise tolerance

Ask yourself this, DOES your Endocrinologist or P*P draw your REVERSE T3 as they are “managing” your thyroid?

12/11/2025

𝑁𝑜𝑡 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝐵12 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙 — 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑠 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑐𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑠．

💡Cyanocobalamin is the most common form, but it’s synthetic and not always well-utilized.

✅ For patients with MTHFR variants, chronic fatigue, neuropathy, anemia, or malabsorption, the form matters.

💡Better-absorbed, clinically useful options include:

• Methylcobalamin — active form that supports methylation, mood, and energy
• Hydroxocobalamin — long-acting, often preferred for injections and sustained levels
• Adenosylcobalamin — mitochondrial support, helpful for energy and neurological health

Choosing the correct form can dramatically change outcomes, especially in patients who haven’t responded to standard B12.

12/11/2025

❓Why Your Energy Crashes at 2 PM ❓

Most people think the afternoon crash is “normal,” but it’s usually your blood sugar talking.

Here’s what’s really going on:

1️⃣ Post-Lunch Blood Sugar Dip

If lunch is mostly carbs (sandwich, wrap, pasta, chips, fruit, etc.), your blood sugar rises quickly—then drops just as fast.

That drop is what makes you feel:
• Heavy
• Foggy
• Sleepy
• Craving more sugar or caffeine

This isn’t a lack of willpower—it’s physiology.

2️⃣ Lunch That Is Too Easy to Digest

When lunch is only:
• A smoothie
• Soup
• A protein bar
• A small snack

…it digests way too fast.
Quick digestion = quick crash.

Your body wants balanced meals that take longer to break down so energy is released evenly.

3️⃣ Lack of Blood Sugar Stability All Morning

If breakfast was:

• Coffee only
• A light snack
• Something sugary (muffin, cereal, granola, yogurt)

…you started the day with unstable blood sugar.

By the time 2 PM hits, your body is already on the rollercoaster.

⭐ How to Fix the 2 PM Crash

These work fast—usually within a few days:

✔ Add protein + fiber + healthy fats to lunch

Examples:

• Chicken + veggies + avocado
• Salmon bowl
• Turkey burger + side salad
• Eggs + greens + potatoes

✔ Never skip breakfast

Aim for 20–30g protein + fiber.
Examples:

• Eggs + berries + toast
• Greek yogurt + nuts + chia
• Protein shake + fruit + nut butter

✔ Reduce afternoon caffeine

Caffeine after 12 PM can worsen the crash and disturb cortisol rhythms.

✔ Add a 5–10 minute walk after lunch

Quickly improves blood sugar curves.