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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.
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