It is time again for “Ask the Doctor.” I particularly enjoy this monthly feature because it gives me an opportunity to answer your questions and help you on your path to health and wellness. 

If you have a question or health concern that you would like me to address, please visit the Hotze Health & Wellness Facebook page and send me a private message. Mention Katy Christian Magazine in the subject line.

Protect Your Eye Health Naturally

I’m noticing a change in my eyesight as I get older. What are the best vitamins and foods to eat for your eyes? My grandmother has macular degeneration and I want to do everything I can to prevent that. What do you recommend?

When it comes to taking care of your eyes, the best place to start is with healthy, whole foods. Certain vitamins and nutrients are necessary in reducing the damaging effects of oxidation, preventing glaucoma, and reducing your risk of macular degeneration and cataracts. Without ample amounts of certain vitamins, minerals, and nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, selenium, zeaxanthin, and lutein you risk degeneration of your eyesight. 

Here is a list of some of the top foods for eye health:

• Leafy Greens, such as Kale, Collard Greens, or Spinach
• Carrots and Sweet Potatoes
• Cherries and Blueberries  
• Fresh Cold-Water Fish, Flax and Avocados  
• Seafood  
• Nuts, such as Almonds or Sunflower Seeds
• Citrus Fruits  

It’s often difficult to eat enough of these nutrient-rich foods to get the amount of vitamins and minerals you need, so I created my Eye Restore formula for optimal eye health. Not only can Eye Restore help you maintain your vision longer and reduce your risk of disease, it is a completely vegetarian blend of nutrients and antioxidants with superior bioavailability – all of which you should look for in a quality eye health supplement.  

My Eye Restore formula provides a broad spectrum of nutrients specifically selected to support the function of the eyes, and it does not contain any soy, GMO, gluten, or dairy. Visit www.physicianspreferencevitamins.com to order Eye Restore or call our Certified Holistic Nutritionists and Vitamin Consultants at 281-646-1659 today.

Benefits of Capsules and Creams over Pellet Hormone Therapy

I have been looking into starting on bioidentical hormones, and some of my friends are doing pellet therapy. Do you recommend pellet therapy to your patients? I don’t want to have anything inserted into my skin, but I am not sure which route to go.

This is a great question. Bioidentical hormone therapy is definitely the best, safe solution for any symptoms of hormone decline, such as low energy, poor sleep, weight gain, anxiety, depressed moods, low libido, and brain fog. More doctors are using pellet therapy today; however, it is not the best delivery method for bioidentical hormones. I believe that capsules and creams are superior to pellet hormone therapy.

Capsules are convenient and effective. They are able to deliver the exact dose that is prescribed by your doctor. Capsules allow your doctor to individualize your dose and also make it easy to adjust your dose in order to relieve your symptoms.

Creams deliver the hormones directly into your bloodstream through your skin. The higher the dose you need, the more cream you have to apply to your body. So, if you need a higher dose, then capsules may be the best fit for you. It is important to note that with capsules and creams, if a person still has symptoms, then the doctor is able to increase the dose immediately so symptoms can be resolved in a matter of hours or days. If the dose is too high, then skipping a dose for a few days is usually all that is needed to eliminate symptoms.

Pellet therapy uses implants that are placed under the skin that release hormones into your body. It can cause side effects such as pain or discomfort at the injection site, bruising, swelling, infection, or pellet extrusion. The pellets, which are a little larger than a grain of rice, contain hormones (either estradiol or testosterone) which are pressed into very small cylinders. (Progesterone can’t be used in pellets because it dissolves too quickly.)

Pellets are inserted under the skin through a small incision (lower abdomen or upper buttocks) with local anesthesia. The incision is closed with sutures or sterile tape strips. The pellets are replaced approximately every 3 to 5 months. Pellets are dissolved by the body so they do not need to be removed. Patients can begin to feel relief starting anywhere from 48 hours up to 2 weeks after the pellets are implanted.

A big drawback is that it is easy to overdose or underdose your hormones with pellet therapy. These implants are supposed to release small doses of hormones consistently, however this is not always the result. If too much is released, the pellets can’t be removed. If the dose is too high, then that person is stuck with the negative symptoms for several months until the pellets dissolve. Such symptoms could include women growing chest hair, losing hair on their heads, experiencing “roid rage,” and more. If the dose is too low, then they could take supplemental hormones, however it would be challenging for a physician to know how much to add.

Since 1989, my medical team at the Hotze Health & Wellness Center have had great success in treating over 33,000 guests with bioidentical capsules and creams, which are much safer and more effective than pellet therapy. Call Physicians Preference Pharmacy today for your bioidentical hormone needs at 281-828-9088.

Keep Your Questions Coming

I hope these suggestions are helpful to you and to others who are dealing with these common problems. Keep your questions coming! Send me a private message on Hotze Health & Wellness Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HotzeHWC/. Don’t forget to mention Katy Christian Magazine in the subject line. And remember, there’s no such thing as a dumb question. 

To learn more about the Hotze Health & Wellness Center and schedule a Free Wellness Consultation, call us at 281-698-8698 or visit hotzehwc.com.