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Hormones are the regulatory chemical compounds secreted by various glands and organs, including your adrenals, thyroid, pituitary, pancreas, and ovaries.
The entire endocrine system works together to regulate the level of hormones that flow throughout your body.
If one or more is even slightly imbalanced, it can cause significant health problems.
Signs of Hormonal Imbalance
Hot Flashes
Night Sweats
Weight Gain
Mood Swings
Insomnia
Depression
Fatigue
Low Sex Drive
Vaginal Dryness
Foggy Memory
Traditional therapy to balance hormones usually includes birth control pills, insulin injections, thyroid medications, hormone replacement therapies, and more.
Unfortunately, for many individuals suffering from hormonal imbalances, relying on such synthetic treatments often does three things:
1.) It makes people dependent on taking prescription medications for the rest of their lives to keep symptoms under control.
2.) Most therapies mask the particular symptoms but don’t treat the underlying cause, which means that the patient can continue to develop disorders in other areas of the body while the disease progresses.
3.) Certain medications cause a higher risk of severe side effects such as osteoporosis, anxiety, stroke, cancer, reproductive problems, and more.
The good news is there are good ways to balance your hormones naturally.
5 Ways To Balance Hormones Naturally
1.) Limit the Caffeine
We all love coffee, but the truth is that too much caffeine intake can wreak havoc on the hormonal system, especially if there are other hormone stressors involved, like the presence of toxins, pregnancy, stress, or fat imbalance.
Cut down the coffee or replace it with beneficial herbal teas (e.g., green tea, ginger tea, etc.). If you do not cut the coffee, add one tablespoon coconut oil to each cup to sneak in your beneficial fats.
2.) Avoid Harmful Chemicals
Toxic chemicals found in plastics, household cleaners, pesticides, and even mattresses can contain hormone-disrupting compounds that keep the body from producing protective hormones.
Things like hormonal birth control pills can (apparently) do the same thing.
For those who are struggling to get pregnant or suffering from a hormone imbalance, avoiding these toxic chemicals is very important!
Cook in non-coated metal pans (no non-stick or Teflon) or glass utensils and avoid storing foods in plastic containers.
Find organic fruits, vegetables, and meat and don’t use chemical pesticides or cleaners.
3.) Exercise-The Right Way
For those with hormonal imbalance, intense, extended exercises and workouts can make the problem worse.
Focus on relaxing exercises like walking, yoga, and swimming, and avoid the extended cardio that tends to put the body in stress.
Consider doing rebounding exercise, which is an excellent gentle activity and has additional health benefits.
While intense cardio can be harmful, short bursts of heavy lifting ( deadlifts, squats, lunges, kettlebells) can potentially help since they trigger a cascade of useful hormone reactions.
Aim for a few sets (3-5) at a weight that challenges you, but make sure to get help from a professional trainer and consult your healthcare provider.
4.) Support Digestive Health
The digestive system has much more of an impact on circulating hormones than many of us realize.
Not only is the stomach and intestines the source of many essential neurotransmitters in the body, but an imbalance in the gut can result in an imbalance in hormones and neurotransmitters.
Serotonin, a necessary neurotransmitter for stress balance and sleep, is more concentrated in the GUT than in the brain!
75% of the immune system is in the gut and is the mother of several vital functions in the body.
Even the health of the thyroid has been linked to gut health. Eating foods high in probiotics is one of the critical components to improving your gut health.
Find out more about probiotic by reading What Are Probiotics & Why Are They Important For Your Health?
5.) Fix Your Leptin
Leptin is a crucial hormone made by fat cells that help to regulate energy balance by inhibiting hunger.
If you are resistant to it or if it is out of balance, no other hormones will balance well.
One way to fix leptin is by cutting carbs. Fixing leptin will also make weight loss easier, help boost fertility, lower inflammation, and improve sleep.
Final Thoughts
Take steps to balance your hormones, starting today for an improved quality of living tomorrow.
Have you struggled with hormone issues? Please share what helped you.
-Shameka
Results may vary. Information and statements made are for general purposes and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor. Her Own Health does not dispense medical advice, prescribe, or diagnose illness. The views and nutritional advice expressed by Her Own Health are not intended to be a substitute for conventional medical service. If you have a severe medical condition or health concern, see your physician.
