Are your hormones happy? You may be wondering what this means and how do I know?
The truth is It is not easy to find out through the regular hormonal tests doctors prescribe as they usually test one or two hormones based on the symptoms we have they are looking to treat. And there lies the problem. They are trying to test and treat the symptoms not the cause and the cause is more complex.
Hormones are the most amazing substances. Our whole existence depends on them. The only problem is, when they get out of synch, they can make our life a misery.
“I feel awful. Does it really matter what it’s called?”
Four tiny organs produce hormones that regulate everything from our blood pressure and libido to our metabolism and stress response. That’s an enormous job!
These organs are the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands. They all work together as part of a complex system called the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal loop (a.k.a. HPA axis) and if one of them is falling or struggling the others have to work harder to compensate for it.
If you experience a single, stressful event —OR— prolonged stress you could experience HPA axis stress with symptoms including:
- insomnia
- weight gain, especially in the mid-section
- brain fog
- depression and/or anxiety
- hypoglycemia and other blood sugar problems
- all-day fatigue, particularly in the morning and mid-afternoon
- cravings for salt or salty foods
- recurrent illnesses or infections
- dizziness when standing
- blood pressure issues
- inflammation
- rise in allergies — food, chemical, or environmental
- low libido
- poor muscle tone or loss of muscle mass
- slow wound healing constipation
- inability to concentrate and focus
- memory problems — can’t remember why you walked into a room or where your car keys are
A long list I know. Any of those ring a bell? (I’m sorry if they do… 
)
Hormonal imbalances start to particularly affect us women, as we start transition and enter menopause. We experience what is called HPG axis stress. The HPG or the hormonal axis’s primary role is to control reproduction consisting of : Hypothalamus, Pituitary gland and Genitals (ovaries or testicles).
What makes understanding hormones even more complicated? These two axes HPA and HPG are not isolated – they are linked up and impact each other in a complex relationship! It took me a while to get my head around hormonal axes. They are complex!
So how do you keep them happy?
The good news is that hormones can be balanced naturally.
Actually it’s the ONLY way to truly balance hormones sustainably without any side-effects.
If you can’t take Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for whatever reason the natural way is your only way. If you are already taking certain medication you can still support your hormone balance in a natural way to complement your treatment.
There are some simple lifestyle factors that can help regulate hormones and prevent the HPA and HPG axes from interacting in a detrimental way and wreaking havoc on your hormones.
Here are some tried and tested helpful tips for you to get back control over you hormonal health:
- Enough good quality sleep 😴 plays a critical role in our hormone production and function. Getting at least 8 hours of high quality sleep is essential to avoid the HPA or HP axes stress. If you are experiencing issues related to hormonal imbalance and you are not getting enough sleep, then that is the first one you need to address with a good bedtime routine and sleep hygiene.
- Avoiding processed food and synthetic ingredients 🍕🍗as they may all contain environmental oestrogens that could interfere with your hormonal health. If you are ingesting hormones through food (especially animal products) your body is likely to produce even less and your hormonal imbalance is likely to get worst. So opt for whole, organic food options.
- Eating foods that support hormonal balance rich in phytoestrogens. Just eating healthy, and healthy is different for different ages, is not enough when you are trying to reset your hormones and bring them back in balance. Eating to keep you hormones in balance is important. Knowing which foods you can eat and which you should avoid is the first step in getting started with balancing your hormones naturally and sustainably.
- Exercising regularly with a mixed routine of moderate movement activity, like fast walking 🚶♀️, biking, 🚴♀️ , jogging 🏃♀️ or swimming is of great help to not just keep your body mobile but also your hormones happy. Strength and resistance training are important to the body as well as hormone production. So keep moving regularity and 2 or 3 times a week do strength building 🏋️♀️ (using weights) or resistance exercises to maintain muscle and bone mass and health.
- Stress management may not be on top of this list but is of top importance. When we experience stress, our adrenal glands produce adrenaline to power our body through the situation we are in that we perceive as threatening, and that can be as simple as experiencing hot flushes. From menopause on, our adrenal glands are also a source of oestrogen as our ovaries stop producing it. When our adrenal glands are activated too often, they don’t function as well. That leaves our oestrogen levels even lower than before. This can make symptoms like weight gain and difficulty sleeping worst. Finding way to destress is more important than ever for our adrenal health and hormonal balance. Walking, yoga, 🧘♀️ meditation, a relaxing self-care, routines like taking epsom salt baths with some essential oils 🛀 are few ways to help with managing your stress levels.
- Having a strong support system in your everyday life is of great help too. If your family is not understanding what you are going through and not able to support you are not alone. It is hard for them to understand what you are going through so if that is the case you need to build our own support system. Today that is not that difficult even in a world that is locked down with social distancing in place. Joining a community or support group on Facebook is a great way to connect with other women that are going through similar experiences.
You are more than welcome to join Thriving through Menopause Naturally on Facebook. A private and sacred space for women 🌼! It is a women’s circle of trust, support, and empowerment so we can navigate from perimenopause to menopause and beyond, with confidence and ease, not just survive but thrive in a natural and holistic way.
Keeping our hormones happy is one way to ensure we breeze through it and enjoy the later years of our lives, which we deserve to live full of joy, passion, vitality and enjoy to the fullest.
Click on the link if you would like to join our women circle, keep you hormones happy and thrive through menopause naturally 👇
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hackingmenopause/
Choose Happy 🌼🍂
Vasi
