Your hormones are chemical messengers. They travel your body through the bloodstream to reach the cells. Dozens of hormones work every second to accomplish major physiologic functions. They are produced by glands and organs such as the adrenals, pituitary, thyroid, ovaries, testicles and pancreas. An imbalance in hormone levels can lead to all sorts of health issues such as constant hair loss, rapid weight gain, chronic fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, low libido and even infertility. A lot of people suffering from low or imbalanced hormone levels as a result of bad eating habits and a stressful lifestyle resort to hormone replacement therapy. Unfortunately, synthetic treatments like this only address symptoms at a superficial level and could lead to drug dependency as well as a slew of side effects. Needless to say, it’s always best to take the natural route.
Here are 8 ways to balance your hormones naturally.
1. Say yes to a healthy diet.
Make sure your meals and snacks are rich in essential micronutrients. If you rarely eat fresh, organic fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds, here are some quick tips on adding more superfoods to your diet. Limit your intake of simple carbohydrates, fatty foods,and heavily processed junk that satisfy cravings but offer no lasting benefit. On that note, keep in mind that milk is not as healthy as some of us think. In fact, certain non-organic dairy products are full of antibiotics and steroids that are sure to cause hormonal imbalance.
2. Don’t miss out on sleep.
The best thing you can do for yourself after a long and busy day is to get at least seven hours of sleep. Give your body a chance to recover from all imbalances it may have experienced throughout the day. If you always get less than seven hours of sleep or go to bed at different times every night, you need to improve your sleeping habits and take the right steps to improve sleep quality. Your hormones follow a schedule and you should too.
3. Beat stress.
Do you always have a hectic schedule that puts you in stressful situations and leaves you feeling drained every day? To make sure your busy lifestyle doesn’t disrupt your natural hormone cycles, deal with stress properly. I recommend setting aside a few minutes each day for resting and meditation. Check out these 5 easy stress-busting strategies as well as my blog post on meditation to get a closer look at its awesome power.
4. Up your intake of omega-3 fatty acids.
Your hormones will be able to do their job more efficiently if you eat plenty of omega-3 fatty acids that help keep cell membranes healthy. These fatty acids will maintain the health of cellular receptor sites so your hormones can easily bind with them. They will also balance out your omega-6 consumption, thus keeping chronic inflammation and serious diseases at bay. You can get your daily omega-3 fix from rich sources like fish, flaxseed, walnuts and chia seeds.
5. Don’t drink too much coffee.
It’s perfectly fine to kickstart your day with a cup of freshly brewed coffee. But as the saying goes, too much of a good thing can be bad. Copious caffeine consumption will not just ward off drowsiness. It will also wreak havoc on adrenal glands, elevate cortisol levels, and reduce thyroid levels. It’s best to stick to just one or two cups of coffee when you need a good boost. Or better yet, get your daily caffeine fix from green tea, which has cancer-fighting and weight loss properties.
6. Make your workouts more intense.
Working out for at least 30 minutes, three times a week will do wonders for your physical and mental health. But to reap the most benefits in terms of hormone health, try high-intensity interval training or burst training. This type of exercise can reduce stress, enhance your immune response, and improve metabolic function, all of which contribute to balanced hormone levels. When done correctly, HIIT can be very taxing for your muscles and nervous system, so it’s best not to overdo it. You should check out this comprehensive guide to HIIT. And if you can’t seem to make enough time for exercise, these tips should help you get started.
7. Get some sunshine.
Get your daily fix of vitamin D from the sun. Regular exposure to sunshine will not just help stabilise the secretion of insulin by the pancreas. It will also keep your immune system healthy, regulate blood pressure and maintain heart health. If you live in an area that doesn’t get plenty of sun, it’s best to supplement with vitamin D3.
8. Use the right supplements.
One of the most powerful supplements that can keep your hormones in check is coconut oil. It is rich in essential fatty acids that serve as the building blocks of hormone production and regulation. Don’t miss out on coconut oil’s amazing benefits; be sure to check out our Organic Coconut Oil, which comes in 1L and 650ml. Look for quality herbal supplements that can help keep your organs and glands functioning optimally. Dandelion, chaste tree berry, motherwort, blessed thistle, evening primrose oil , and Rhodiola are all excellent choices. And of course, take essential vitamin and mineral supplements, such as calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, vitamin E and all B complex vitamins.
