Tips to Balance your Hormones Naturally
Did you know that your body secretes as many as 50 hormones to control many critical functions such as metabolism, sexual activity, homeostasis?
Hormones are like messenger molecules that one part of your body develops and other transports to different parts of the body. For instance, your pancreas is responsible for secreting insulin, a hormone that helps your body expend glucose to stay energetic.
But as you age, you will face hormonal imbalance that will either lead to overproduction or underproduction of the hormones in your bloodstream. As a result, you start experiencing side effects that are visible across your body. One dominant imbalanced hormone can also knock other hormones out of balance too leading to conditions like stress, depression, obesity, etc.
According to the experts of women’S health in Salt Lake City, hormones have a circadian rhythm. They are the highest in the morning and mellow down gradually throughout the day. When your hormones fall outside of the normal range, you will suffer the consequences of imbalance. Therefore, it is very important to maintain the hormonal balance for overall wellbeing.
Hormones cannot be defined as good or bad. However, they must be optimized to acquire a requisite balance.
There are a lot of reasons that can throw off the hormonal balance such as stress, obesity, underactive/overactive thyroid gland, toxins, poor diet, and lifestyle, etc. If you notice inexplicable weight gain or loss or suffering from sleep issues or high sensitivity to heat/cold, then you must get yourself tested for hormonal imbalance.
Having said that, you can use some of the following tips to try to restore some semblance back into your hormonal system.
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Reduce or eliminate your intake of sugar
Sugar is responsible for keeping your insulin elevated, knocking other hormones out of balance, encouraging your body to resist insulin. You should also keep an eye out for food sensitivities, such as gluten, that can increase inflammation and contribute to hormonal imbalance. According to research, you must consider switching to a gluten-free diet that not only helps in reducing inflammation but also insulin resistance.
Keep your stress levels in check
Chronic stress is one of the leading lifestyle disorders that are bad for hormonal balance. Research indicates that regular meditation practice can keep your insulin levels in check and improve stress levels. You can practice various techniques such as yoga, meditation, deep breathing or long walks.
Reduce exposure to toxicity
Chemicals are all around us – in the air, we breathe and the food we eat. Many of these chemicals, also known as hormone disruptors, can interfere with hormonal production and cause a lot of damage. The most common type of chemical, bisphenol A (BPA), is found in plastic which can impact your hormones in multiple ways. Therefore, you should consider reducing your dependence on plastic and switch to more natural materials such as glass water bottles, natural cleaners, organic produce, etc. You can also meet a professional to design your detoxification program as per your lifestyle.
Reduce inflammation
Hormonal imbalance can lead to an increase in inflammation that can further interfere with hormone production. When your adrenal gland secretes high amounts of cortisol, other hormones like insulin can get disrupted and lead to inflammation. The best way to avoid this situation and to curb discomfort is by consuming fibre-rich diet and incorporating wild-caught fish in your food. If you are not a fish eater, you can also consider eating anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil
Never compromise on your sleep
Did you know that an out-of-whack circadian rhythm can also affect many hormones, including ghrelin and cortisol? This is the reason it is very important to get an optimal level of sleep to allow your body to naturally fix the hormonal imbalance. However, in today’s plugged-in world, it is nearly impossible to achieve sleep hygiene, which is a habit of turning off your electronics at least an hour before bedtime. Additionally, you can also consider unwinding with the help of an Epsom salt bath and consider a supplement that can help you fall asleep easily, such as soothing chamomile tea.
Exercise regularly
It goes without saying that the right amount of exercise can have a positive impact on hormonal health. Apart from balancing the insulin levels, exercises can also boost your growth hormone, also known as fountain of youth, that keeps you lean and energetic. While research says that high-intensity workouts are most effective in maintaining hormonal balance, what really matters is the consistency of the effort.
Even though these natural remedies will work wonders in restoring your hormonal health, you can also seek help from a professional who can measure these hormones in your body and recommend the best therapy to correct imbalances.
March 3, 2020