HORMONES IN BALANCE

Sleep more and savour the aroma of essential oils to fix your hormones

Good health is all about striking the right balance between hormones because of they govern every function in our body. Even the slightest imbalance can lead to innumerable problems that affect our physical, mental and emotional health. Hormonal imbalance is said to occur when our body produces either too many or too little hormones. It is an extremely delicate balance to maintain which can easily be disrupted with a wrong lifestyle. Stress is one of the major triggers of hormonal imbalance because as cortisol (stress hormone) levels rise, it suppresses the release of several other hormones like thyroxine, DHEA, testosterone and leptin. This means, when the level of one hormone goes up, levels of around 4-5 hormones fall.

Apart from stress and chronic anxiety, other lifestyle factors could be poor gut health and chronic constipation, excess body fat as fat tends to store more estrogen, exposure to chemicals lurking in plastic, cosmetics, pesticides, household items, compromised liver function, overuse of oral contraceptives and hormonal pills and, most importantly, lack of quality sleep.

Symptoms of hormonal imbalance can range from infertility, irregular periods, loss of libido, vaginal dryness, depression and anxiety, mood swings, hot flashes, constant fatigue, hair loss, hair thinning, acne and breakouts, weight gain, facial hair. While there are quick fixes like birth control pills or hormonal therapy, getting to the root cause of this imbalance is the only way to heal you thoroughly. Here’s how to get your hormones back on track holistically?

HEY SUNSHINE If you have low vitamin D3, you are likely to have a hormonal imbalance. More than a vitamin, it is a precursor to hormones and it is what your body needs to synthesise hormones. Apart from vitamin D3, micronutrients like zinc, magnesium, selenium and vitamin B6 also support healthy hormone levels.

FIX YOUR SLEEP Hormones recycle and rebalance while you sleep. If you are running on less sleep, chances are that you feel irritated, frustrated and experience food cravings. These cravings are driven by the hormone ghrelin – which is a hunger hormone. A rise in ghrelin also suppresses leptin — a satiety hormone — so one may find themselves overeating.

ADAPTOGENS & ESSENTIAL OILS Nature has abundant foods that can balance hormones naturally. Adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha, licorice, tulsi, ginseng, maca have the capacity to adjust and adapt to the body’s needs and accordingly suppress or promote a particular function. Specific essential oils like lavender, fennel, sandalwood and thyme too can bring a hormonal balance. A lot of women undergoing the menopausal phase find relief in taking Evening Primrose oil.

A COUPLE OF DEEP BREATHS If your hormonal imbalance is due to stress, deep breathing is an easy and free tool to bring those hormones back on track. Deep breathing quickly switches your body from a sympathetic state to a parasympathetic state, lowering your cortisol levels and bringing other hormones back in balance. GO CRUCIFEROUS All sulphur-rich vegetables have a capacity to detox liver and promote healthy estrogen metabolism. So, think broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower! DETOXIFY YOUR SURROUNDINGS There are plenty of estrogen-mimicking compounds like BPA present in daily household items like cosmetics, detergents, floor cleaners, perfumes, plastics, non-stick cookware. Avoid their usage and choose healthier alternatives. Choose steel, glass or clay pots to store water. Go for organic and non-GMO fruits and vegetables to cut down estrogen exposure.

CONVENTIONAL DAIRY Today animals are pumped with growth hormones and estrogen in order to bulk up and overproduce milk. Choosing organic, hormone-free milk and meat slashes the risk of hormone imbalance to a great extent.