How You Can Intuitively Handle Hormone Imbalances

We all know that mental, physical and emotional factors ALL affect our overall health and require a sense of balance; however, another factor that you’ve likely heard of, but may not be paying enough attention to is BALANCING HORMONES.

Hormones are chemical messengers made in the glands, that are secreted in the bloodstream into cell receptors throughout the entire body. You can think of hormones as the body’s web of signals that interacts and communicates with all of the other systems, impacting IMMUNITY, METABOLISM, REPRODUCTION, SLEEP, TEMPERATURE and more.

It is important to keep in mind that the hormonal system, for both men and women, is just as COMPLEX as it is FRAGILE. These chemical messengers play a major role in our wellbeing, as are responsible for regulating and controlling your appetite, weight and mood. Normally, your endocrine glands produce the PRECISE amount of each hormone needed for the various processes that take place in the body. When this happens, our hormones are balanced and we tend to feel really good: mentally, physically and emotionally. When this does not happen, however, is when problems can begin to arise.

Hormonal imbalances have become increasingly common in today’s fast-paced, go-go-go lifestyle. An imbalance occurs when there is too much or too little of a hormone being released into the bloodstream. Even the slightest imbalance may have noticeable effects on your overall health, mood and functioning.

These imbalances can often be the source of a WIDE RANGE of unwanted symptoms from fatigue, weight gain, itchiness, mood swings, poor sleep, etc. Furthermore, they can increase your risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and many other chronic health problems. What is important is to BE AWARE of any symptoms that you are experiencing, and make lifestyle changes that can not only RESTORE the balance, but improve your good health.

10 SIGNS OF HORMONAL IMBALANCE:

+ Mood swings

+ Heavy or painful periods

+ Low libido or sex drive

+ Insomnia, poor-sleep quality or fatigue

+ Unexplained weight gain

+ Skin problems

+ Fertility issues

+ Headaches

+ Weak bones

+ Anxiety or depression

Fortunately, eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet, exercising regularly and making small, consistent changes in lifestyle behaviors is usually enough to reverse the symptoms, improve your hormonal health and show up as your best self.

12 NATURAL WAYS TO BALANCE YOUR HORMONES:

1. EAT ENOUGH PROTEIN AT EACH MEAL - protein influences the release of hormones that control appetite and food intake (consuming an adequate amount of dietary protein is critical for providing the body with essential amino acids that it cannot make on its own and, therefore, must be consumed every day in order to maintain muscles, bone and skin health)

2. ENGAGE IN REGULAR EXERCISE - physical activity has a strong influence over hormonal health and it helps to reduce insulin levels and increase insulin sensitivity (insulin is a hormone that allows cells to take up sugar and amino acids from the bloodstream, which are then used for energy and maintaining muscle)

3. AVOID SUGAR AND REFINED CARBS - sugar and refined carbs have been linked to a number of health problems (fructose can increase insulin levels and promote insulin resistance, while increasing the risk for obesity, diabetes and other diseases)

4. LEARN TO MANAGE STRESS - stress can wreak havoc on your hormones, specifically cortisol and adrenaline (chronic stress causes cortisol levels to remain elevated, leading to excessive calorie intake, obesity and increased belly fat, while elevated adrenaline levels can cause high blood pressure, rapid heart rate and anxiety)

5. CONSUME HEALTHY FATS - incorporating high-quality natural fats in the diet may help reduce insulin resistance and appetite (healthy fats trigger the release of hormones that help you feel full and satisfied)

6. AVOID OVEREATING AND UNDEREATING - eating too much or too little may result in hormonal shifts that lead to weight problems (overeating increases insulin levels and reduces insulin sensitivity, while cutting calories too much can increase the cortisol levels, which is known to promote weight gain when elevated)

7. DRINK GREEN TEA - green tea is one of the most healthy beverages (not only does it contain metabolism-boosting caffeine, but it also contains the antioxidant EGCG, which has been credited with several health benefits)

8. EAT FATTY FISH OFTEN - fatty fish is the best source of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, which have impressive anti-inflammatory properties (also attributed to reducing stress levels, increasing mental performance and decreasing insulin levels in obese and insulin-resistant individuals)

9. GET CONSISTENT, HIGH-QUALITY SLEEP - regardless of how nutritious your diet is or how much you exercise, your health will suffer and symptoms will continue if you don’t get enough restorative and uninterrupted sleep (poor sleep is linked to imbalances of many hormones, such as insulin, cortisol, leptin, ghrelin and growth hormone)

10. STAY AWAY FROM SUGARY BEVERAGES - sugar-sweetened beverages contribute to insulin resistance, especially in overweight and obese adults and children (sugary beverages lead to excessive calorie intake, higher blood insulin levels, reduced insulin sensitivity and increased fat storage)

11. CONSUME A HIGH-FIBER DIET - fiber, especially soluble fiber, is a critical component of a healthy diet (not only does it increase insulin sensitivity, but it stimulates the production of hormones that control hunger, make you feel full and satisfied, protecting against insulin resistance and overeating)

12. INCORPORATE EGGS INTO YOUR DIET - eggs have been shown to beneficially affect hormones that regulate food intake, including lowering levels of insulin and ghrelin (eating the both the egg yolk and the egg white also helps to improve several heart health markers)

The BOTTOM LINE is that your hormones are involved in EVERY SINGLE ASPECT of your health, and you need them in very specific amounts in order for your body to function optimally.

If you suffer from hormone imbalance or want to simply work towards better hormone health, start by paying close attention to your BODY, your MOOD, and any SYMPTOMS that arise. Keep an open mind and begin to experiment with the various lifestyle changes that can help rebalance hormones on a behavioral level. Tuen in, re-evaluate any changes made and adjust as you see fit, doing what is best for YOU from one moment to the next.

If you need additional support in any of these areas or simply want someone to hold you accountable in the process, please feel free to reach out to me to learn more.

Xx, Leah Kutsch P.S. Keeping IIN Touch