Some people see the world through rose-colored glasses and others… through hormone-colored glasses. Let’s face it; our hormones affect the way we feel every day. And, balancing them…well, that’s another story altogether. These tiny, but oh-so-important, chemical messengers are pretty much the rulers of your entire system. They influence and regulate everything from your appetite and weight, to your sex drive, cycle, digestion and more. But hormonal ping-pong isn’t just a random happening over which you have no control. The choices you make every day can cause your hormones to either take over or tank - and really mess with your body and your mind in the process. If you experience symptoms like weight gain (especially around the middle), fatigue, skin problems, trouble sleeping, constantly sleeping, PMS, endometriosis, infertility, mood swings and other issues – there’s a good chance you have some hormone imbalance going on!
But, how do you hang on to happy when your hormones are playing tug-o-war with your moods and everything else? Well, the best place to start is by balancing your body from the inside out. Hormone regulation is more than just a matter of taking a pill or smearing on a cream. It’s a delicate balancing act… too much of one and the others fall out of whack, or worse, confuse the body into stopping efficient production altogether.
When it comes to hormones, your daily choices are key. And, the better the choices you make, the better your chances of enhancing your body’s ability to boost and balance your hormones, naturally.
So, what should you do?
Squash the sugar monster – Sugar can take a real toll on your body. But, from a hormonal perspective… it’s the king of culprits. The organs that help to regulate your blood sugar – are the same ones that regulate your hormones. And, your body puts blood sugar regulation ahead of hormone regulation every time. By overtaxing your liver with that morning donut – it has no time to deal with your wonky hormones causing the very imbalances you’re hoping to avoid.
Need more reasons to quit sugar? It inhibits your immune response and suppresses immune function. It depletes the nutrients necessary for good collagen production, exacerbating the formation of wrinkles (yikes!). It has detrimental effects on your vital gut flora, and it is a major contributor to vitamin and mineral deficiency as the body must use its vitamin and mineral reserves to help deal with the onslaught of sugar. This depletes the body of necessary nutrients leaving them unavailable for use in other critical functions – like hormone regulation.
When it comes to sugar, “Just don’t do it” should be your mantra. Start slow by taking out the obvious like soda and candy. Then, step it up and eliminate “white” foods like bread, pasta and other starchy, processed goodies.
Cut down on the coffee – Oh, it’s so good! But, that caffeine wreaks havoc on your hormones… especially if you have other hormonal stressors going on like too much sugar, unchecked tension, or a lack of good dietary fat. It’s best to step away from that latte and check out the herbal teas instead. Or, at the very least, switch to an organic decaf. If getting rid of coffee is not an option… consider blending your morning cup with a tablespoon of coconut oil to create a healthy-fat morning blast that slows the release of the stimulant.
Find the good fat – You cannot create hormones without the right fats…it’s impossible. So steer clear of the non-fat milk and that non-fat yogurt and enjoy organic, full-fat instead. Consume lots of good oily fish like wild caught salmon. And, stay far away from those large clear bottles of oil in the super market. Vegetable oil, peanut oil, canola oil, soybean oil, margarine, shortening – they’ve all been chemically altered and will directly affect your hormones. Instead, choose coconut oil, grass-fed butter, and animal fats. All of these are great for cooking and eating. Olive oil is a perfect choice, too. But, it should only be used in room temp or cold preparations like salad dressings.
Take out hidden toxins – Your home could be full of endocrine interrupters. What are those? Man-made chemicals that mimic hormones and mess with the real hormones your body is trying to produce. Consider switching from Teflon-coated cookware to glass or metal pans. Never, ever heat or store food in plastic. Switch out your regular produce for organic whenever possible and check out the selection of organic meats while you’re at it. Avoid scented room fresheners and bathroom deodorizers. And, begin to move in the direction of natural cleaning products for your home and your body. There are lots of options on the market or you can make your own with a few easy steps. It’s hard to avoid everything… but try to keep an eye out especially for Parabens, Phthalates, and Bisphenol A (BPA) the next time you’re reading labels.
Catch some Zzz’s – Really! Good sleep is vital to balanced hormones. Make an effort to commit to a regular bed-time – and stick to it. Try your best to get a solid seven hours a night. This little habit alone can make all the difference.
Balancing your hormones can be a tricky endeavor. But, by starting from the inside out and implementing a few of these important guidelines – you’ll be well on your way to hanging on to happy.
But, how do you hang on to happy when your hormones are playing tug-o-war with your moods and everything else? Well, the best place to start is by balancing your body from the inside out. Hormone regulation is more than just a matter of taking a pill or smearing on a cream. It’s a delicate balancing act… too much of one and the others fall out of whack, or worse, confuse the body into stopping efficient production altogether.
When it comes to hormones, your daily choices are key. And, the better the choices you make, the better your chances of enhancing your body’s ability to boost and balance your hormones, naturally.
So, what should you do?
Squash the sugar monster – Sugar can take a real toll on your body. But, from a hormonal perspective… it’s the king of culprits. The organs that help to regulate your blood sugar – are the same ones that regulate your hormones. And, your body puts blood sugar regulation ahead of hormone regulation every time. By overtaxing your liver with that morning donut – it has no time to deal with your wonky hormones causing the very imbalances you’re hoping to avoid.
Need more reasons to quit sugar? It inhibits your immune response and suppresses immune function. It depletes the nutrients necessary for good collagen production, exacerbating the formation of wrinkles (yikes!). It has detrimental effects on your vital gut flora, and it is a major contributor to vitamin and mineral deficiency as the body must use its vitamin and mineral reserves to help deal with the onslaught of sugar. This depletes the body of necessary nutrients leaving them unavailable for use in other critical functions – like hormone regulation.
When it comes to sugar, “Just don’t do it” should be your mantra. Start slow by taking out the obvious like soda and candy. Then, step it up and eliminate “white” foods like bread, pasta and other starchy, processed goodies.
Cut down on the coffee – Oh, it’s so good! But, that caffeine wreaks havoc on your hormones… especially if you have other hormonal stressors going on like too much sugar, unchecked tension, or a lack of good dietary fat. It’s best to step away from that latte and check out the herbal teas instead. Or, at the very least, switch to an organic decaf. If getting rid of coffee is not an option… consider blending your morning cup with a tablespoon of coconut oil to create a healthy-fat morning blast that slows the release of the stimulant.
Find the good fat – You cannot create hormones without the right fats…it’s impossible. So steer clear of the non-fat milk and that non-fat yogurt and enjoy organic, full-fat instead. Consume lots of good oily fish like wild caught salmon. And, stay far away from those large clear bottles of oil in the super market. Vegetable oil, peanut oil, canola oil, soybean oil, margarine, shortening – they’ve all been chemically altered and will directly affect your hormones. Instead, choose coconut oil, grass-fed butter, and animal fats. All of these are great for cooking and eating. Olive oil is a perfect choice, too. But, it should only be used in room temp or cold preparations like salad dressings.
Take out hidden toxins – Your home could be full of endocrine interrupters. What are those? Man-made chemicals that mimic hormones and mess with the real hormones your body is trying to produce. Consider switching from Teflon-coated cookware to glass or metal pans. Never, ever heat or store food in plastic. Switch out your regular produce for organic whenever possible and check out the selection of organic meats while you’re at it. Avoid scented room fresheners and bathroom deodorizers. And, begin to move in the direction of natural cleaning products for your home and your body. There are lots of options on the market or you can make your own with a few easy steps. It’s hard to avoid everything… but try to keep an eye out especially for Parabens, Phthalates, and Bisphenol A (BPA) the next time you’re reading labels.
Catch some Zzz’s – Really! Good sleep is vital to balanced hormones. Make an effort to commit to a regular bed-time – and stick to it. Try your best to get a solid seven hours a night. This little habit alone can make all the difference.
Balancing your hormones can be a tricky endeavor. But, by starting from the inside out and implementing a few of these important guidelines – you’ll be well on your way to hanging on to happy.
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