7 Steps to Restore Hormonal Balance

Image: It’s All About Balance

How to Achieve Hormonal Balance and Optimal Health

Being “Hormonal”

Hormones fluctuate throughout our life cycle, and this is a natural and important process for our health and well-being as women. Hormonal fluctuations that cause pain and uncomfortable feelings are not healthy for us; hormonal imbalance is not normal. A widespread misconception among women and traditional medical practitioners alike is that “female problems” are simply to be endured and are a normal part of being a woman.

It’s a Matter of Balance

Uncomfortable symptoms are a manifestation of a cascade of hormonal imbalances, and not just from the sex hormones. Other hormones involved include cortisol, insulin and neurotransmitters.

You can actually help re-balance these hormones yourself, often without the use pharmaceuticals!

The word “hormone” comes from the Greek word meaning “messenger.” Each hormone has a specific message to relay, and our hormones are interrelated and interdependent – like a symphony. So, if one of them is not playing in the right key, it will affect the whole symphony – causing symptoms. In perimenopause, symptoms often occur such as fatigue, moodiness, hot flashes, foggy thinking, loss of sensuality, anxiety, night sweats and weight gain (especially around the waist and hips).

Factors that Affect Hormonal Health

Many lifestyle factors affect hormonal health, including diet, stress, exercise and sleep. The main drivers of hormonal imbalance are food and stress. And you can control both! Remember: food is medicine.

Restore and Maintain Hormonal Balance

Here are some tips as to how you can help restore and maintain hormonal balance through your food choices:

• Eat more often to maintain a consistent blood sugar level.
• Include protein at every meal.
• Eat more variety: especially colorful vegetables.
• Add healthy fats, such as flaxseeds, chia seeds, almonds and avocado. Healthy fat actually helps you produce sex hormones and helps with brain health.
• Limit carbohydrate intake as much as possible.
• Be aware of sensitivities that you might have, such as to gluten or dairy.
• Manage stress.

Manage Stress

Stress is another factor that causes hormonal imbalance. For short periods of time, stress can increase our concentration and productivity, such as preparing for an upcoming exam or review. However, many of us carry chronic stress in the form of inadequate sleep, chronic illness, or over-commitment to busy schedules. You may not be able to eliminate stress, but you can manage it.

Assessment

Take time to evaluate your life, and rearrange your schedule to fit in activities that will help replenish you (and your hormones), such as exercise and meditation. Try to spend more time around those people who fill you up, instead of those who drain your energy. Make sure that you have some alone time to be quiet and reflect each day.

Give y0urself a change to recharge every day. Step away from technology; take some deep breaths. Those two steps will lower your heart rate, lower your blood pressure, lower your cortisol levels (all markers of stress), and help re-balance your hormonal jumble.

Give it Time

Lifestyle changes take time, but can be done, and are worth the effort when you start to feel energized and healthy, with a healthy hormonal balance.

Ask your holistic healthcare provider for more information and assistance! We are happy to join you on your journey to optimal health! Call us at (360) 882-7373, or click on purple “Book Appointment” button on our home page!