When it comes to hormone health, we tend to think about just estrogen and progesterone for women, or testosterone for men.
But the reality might surprise you! Did you know your body houses an intricate network of over 50 different types of hormones, each playing a crucial role in various bodily functions?
As we enter the month of February, a time dedicated to celebrating love in all its forms, let's delve into the fascinating realm of the team within our bodies that orchestrates the beautiful feeling of LOVE – our hormones!
Understanding Hormones and Their Role in Your Body
When it comes to hormone health, it's not just about estrogen and progesterone for women, or testosterone for men. In fact, did you know your body houses an intricate network of over 50 different types of hormones, each playing a crucial role in various bodily functions?! I'm here to shed light on the fascinating world of hormones and provide insights into maintaining balance for overall well-being.
The Significance of Hormones: Chemical Messengers and Their Impact
Hormones act as the body's chemical messengers, orchestrating specific instructions to every organ. They influence a myriad of functions including mood, energy levels, weight, temperature, digestion, and more. From regulating energy production to controlling blood sugar and responding to stress, hormones are integral to our health.
Understanding Hormonal Imbalance: The Ripple Effect on Health
We often overlook the importance of hormones until they malfunction, leading to a cascade of health issues. Produced in glands such as the brain, thyroid, adrenals, pancreas, and reproductive organs, hormones must maintain a delicate balance. Imbalances can result in a range of problems, emphasizing the need for hormone harmony.
Examples of Hormones You Have Probably Heard Of:
Estrogen, Testosterone: Reproductive
Dopamine: Brain
Melatonin, Oxytocin: Pituitary
Adrenaline, Cortisol, Endorphins: Adrenals
Insulin: Pancreas
Thyroxine, TSH: Thyroid
Three Practical Steps for Creating Hormone Harmony Naturally:
Avoid Xenoestrogens with Mindful Product Selection:
Swap out cleaning products, makeup, and skincare in your house containing endocrine disrupting chemicals. Read labels on personal care products to avoid bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, parabens, and synthetic fragrances.
Reduce plastic use, especially in food and beverage containers.
Explore resources like the EWG Skin Deep website for product safety.
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Symptoms of Xenoestrogen Toxicity
A build-up of xenoestrogens contributes to many conditions that disrupt hormones. The most common signs of estrogen imbalance that can result from xenoestrogen toxicity include:
Bloating and digestive upset
Acne
Low libido
Heavy, light, or irregular periods
Tender, swollen, and/or fibrocystic breasts
Headaches
Weight gain
Hot flashes
Mood swings
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
2. Support Your Liver Health:
One of the liver's roles is to help regulate the balance of sex hormones, thyroid hormones, cortisone and other adrenal hormones. The liver transforms or removes any excess hormones from the body. Like all organs, your liver health can be impacted by a range of factors.
When I have a client dealing with hormonal acne, the first area we start to support is the liver.
Limit alcohol and refined sugar intake to support liver health.
Incorporate practices like castor oil packs and supplements such as Cellcore’s KL Support and Tudca. Use my Direct Code “TdAXcw0G” to order.
3. Create Lifestyle Habits That Support Healthy Levels of Cortisol:
Assess lifestyle changes to reduce cortisol levels. Focus on lower impact, intentional movement. Use both body weight and lift weight. Avoid high intensity workouts if you find you feel drained or spacey afterwards.
Consume 20-30g of protein within an hour of waking up to support adrenal and blood sugar regulation.
Explore Functional Testing: Gain Personalized Insights for Your Hormonal Health
For a deeper understanding of hormonal imbalances, liver function, and your specific level of exposure to environmental toxins that impact hormone health — you can have functional precision testing done. These tests can be repeated to monitor progress, providing valuable insights into your hormone health journey.
Embracing Hormone Health for a Balanced Life
Understanding and prioritizing hormone health is a crucial step towards overall well-being. By incorporating natural approaches and leveraging functional medicine testing, you can unlock your highest potential of hormone harmony.