Natural Ways to Balance Hormones
So, you’ve done the research, and you’re pretty sure you have a hormonal imbalance. But you don’t want to go the pill-popping route to fix the problem. It’s completely understandable. The good news is you don’t have to. There are natural ways to balance hormones.
Here are some easy-to-follow steps you can start implementing into your life today. Best of all, they’re all-natural, and no medication is involved.
Create a way to document your symptoms, like a journal or an online document. Then when you experience symptoms, record them. The more specific you can be, the better. Document the time of day, the date, and your symptoms and how long they occur.
Record the following:
Keeping a journal may reveal causes or trends you weren’t aware of, and it provides you with a log you can share with your medical professional.
When you’re dehydrated, it affects your body’s glandular function, which can lead to hormonal imbalance. Drinking water helps flush toxins from your body and keeps your cells functioning at optimal levels.
You may be tempted to pick up an energy drink or juice to stay hydrated but think again. It’s best to steer clear of sugar-filled beverages, especially those with artificial sweeteners. They can cause spikes in your blood sugar and have a direct negative effect on your energy levels.
Eating a balanced diet will give your body the energy and nutrients it needs to function optimally. One hormone in specific your diet affects is insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas.
You may experience issues with your insulin levels if you are consuming lots of sugar-filled, processed foods. When insulin is improperly allocated in the body, it gets transformed into fat.
Consuming a combination of clean proteins, organic fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and herbs can help you avoid this. Doing so can aid in regular digestion and create an environment to allow for proper absorption of nutrients. Bonus, it can assist in weight management.
If you are deficient in a particular mineral or vitamin, supplements can be your best friend. Common hormone imbalance issues stem from a lack of calcium, iron, and vitamin D.
You can check with your medical professional about getting tested for vitamin deficiencies if you suspect this is the case for you. They may be able to recommend ideal levels of vitamin supplementation for your specific issues.
Following a plan of regular exercise can benefit your life in many ways, and one of them is helping you balance your hormones. When you exercise, the hormones affected include Human Growth Hormone (HGH) and progesterone.
Regular exercise helps our bodies produce HGH, a hormone that keeps our bodies growing and developing. Exercise, specifically high-intensity resistance training, also affects progesterone, a hormone that can aid in burning fat and keeping off excess weight.
Following a regular plan of exercise that includes cardio, strength, and stretching is most optimal. Unless you are training for a marathon or are a pro-athlete, there is no need to train for hours a day. Too much can actually negatively affect your hormone balance and cause more stress and trauma to the body than is needed. So, keep it simple!
Be aware of your contact with materials that contain BPA, DEHP, and phytoestrogens, which could possibly cause endocrine disruptions. The extended exposure to plastic water bottles, storage containers, and straws with these chemicals could be negatively affecting your hormones. Instead, consider using natural Bamboo, silicone, or stainless steel as an alternative to plastic-based containers, water bottles, and straws.
Your beauty drawer could also be causing you issues. Many cosmetics contain synthetic perfumes and dyes that can cause allergy or irritation to the skin. And it doesn’t stop there!
We also need to inspect our cleaning cupboard. Take a closer look at the products you use to clean your home. They can be filled with irritating ingredients, so look for natural-based and eco-friendly cleaners.
You wouldn’t think it, but scented products such as candles and air fresheners can affect your hormones, too. Who knew? Opt for soy candles instead of paraffin and try diffusing 100% pure essential oils instead of using synthetically perfumed room sprays.
Meditation is fantastic for relaxing the sympathetic nervous system, resulting in a reduction of prolonged and elevated cortisol levels. When you are in a constant state of stress, your body reacts by raising your cortisol levels. When those levels consistently remain high, it can contribute to unwanted weight gain.
High cortisol levels can also affect your body’s ability to regulate insulin. When your body is unable to control insulin properly, the glucose (sugar) in your body gets turned into fat instead of getting used for energy. To further de-stress yourself, you could try journaling or yoga!
You Have Options!
As you can see, you don’t have to turn to medication as your only recourse for balancing hormones. There are many natural ways to cope with an imbalance. Now you know some easy ways to do so without using drugs.
Are there any you would consider doing? Or any you’re not sure of? Leave a comment with your thoughts or questions. Or send us an email at info@nhicdesmoines.websitepro.hosting or info@nhicdesmoines.com.
Be Well & Thrive!
With Love & In Health,
Sarah Outlaw, MH, MSACN
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