The Easy Way to Balance Your Hormones: Change Your Daily Habits
The effects of hormonal imbalance can be nasty. How do the undesirable health effects affect you? Some of the symptoms women experience include acne, fatigue, depression, hair loss, low sexual drive, painful periods, and miserable menopause, among others.
There may be a better way to manage things from the start, even if all of those symptoms are enough to send you to the doctor. Here are some basic steps you can take to keep your hormonal health in check without having to see a doctor.
1. Make sure you get enough sleep
A good night's sleep is essential for your overall health. If you’ve ever experienced a late night or a night of broken sleep, or if you struggle with insomnia, then you know how devasting the effects can be. This is especially true the next day and even after.
Sleep helps regulate the hormones that give you the energy to perform daily tasks, think clearly, perform creatively, have a healthy immune system, and even maintain a healthy weight.
2. Stay hydrated
Perhaps one of the most effective things to maintain hormonal balance is staying hydrated. Hydration doesn’t have to be boring! In addition to pure, clean water, you can add nutrient-dense vegetable juices and antioxidant-rich smoothies. Coconut water is another option that can add variety to your hydration plan! Packed with electrolytes and natural sugars, coconut water may help you rehydrate faster if you’ve been exercising or sweating a lot. Water should be your first choice, though! Cheers!
3. Move!
Your skin is the largest organ, and it’s a key player in the hormone and detoxification game. Whenever you exercise, the movement gets your lymphatic system pumping. This helps scoop up excess hormones, cellular debris, and waste into the lymph nodes so they can be excreted either through sweat, urine, or stool.
Sweat not only helps regulate your temperature but also pushes toxins and salts out of the body. Saunas and warm mineral baths are other easy ways to induce healthy sweating. Get your glow on and bring on the balance!
4. Eat Healthily
What you eat impacts your hormone balance. For example, too much sugar will spike insulin. Over time, excess insulin production leads to insulin resistance, which stresses the body and triggers an adrenal response. Cortisol enters the scene, and you experience a trap of fatigue and stress that is difficult to escape.
Vegetables
4-6 cups of whole, seasonal vegetables daily (organic if possible). Green, leafy vegetables are hormone helpers, onion/leeks, and cruciferous veggies are detox divas! The fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in all vegetables help support overall health and hormone balance.
Green Tea
Green tea is rich in antioxidants and can boost your metabolism. Drinking green tea results in reduced insulin levels. The antioxidants contained in the tea also help regulate oxidative stress.
Protein
Protein is necessary for energy and balanced blood sugar. More is not necessarily better. The body converts excess protein into fat, so always aim for balance. Organic, pasture-raised meats, wild-caught fish, and eggs from free-range, naturally-raised hens are excellent choices if you enjoy animal protein.
If you enjoy a plant-based or vegan lifestyle, focus on a variety of colorful vegetables and protein-rich plant foods like quinoa, legumes, seeds, and nuts. Make sure to add protein to every meal of the day, even breakfast.
Healthy fats
Hormone health is dependent on healthy fats. Healthy fats include cold-pressed olive oil, coconut oil, macadamia nut oil, avocado, and olives. They help you regulate your blood sugar and provide the building blocks for your hormones.
Small steps
Small steps, taken consistently, are the key to supporting your health. When talking about hormones, you will be surprised by how much better you may feel simply by incorporating the healthy habits mentioned.
