Hormones are responsible for controlling everything in your body from conception to death. They influence our energy levels, mood, heart rate, metabolism, and so much more. There are 5 main hormone producers within our endocrine system: the hypothalamus, thyroid, adrenals, pancreas, and gonads.
The hypothalamus is the driver of your entire system, linking the endocrine system to the nervous system. The thyroid is your metabolism regulator and is crucial to healthy development. Your adrenals produce hormones in response to stress, they help regulate blood pressure and glucose metabolism, plus balance the body’s salt and water levels. The pancreas is responsible for producing insulin and glucagon, which help regulate your blood sugar levels. The gonads: ovaries in women or testes in men, produce steroids that affect growth and development, while also regulating reproductive cycles and behaviors.
5 Ways to Balance Your Hormones Naturally:
1. EAT PROTEIN – Protein provides essential amino acids that your body needs for cell turnover and repair. Protein is known to trigger the peptide hormones which can suppress your appetite and help you feel full. The average adult is recommended to eat at least 20-30 grams of protein with each meal.
2. GET PHYSICAL – Exercise improves blood flow, which enhances the delivery of nutrients to your muscles and hormone receptors. It reduces insulin levels and increases the levels of your hormones that tend to decrease with age, and prevent the decline of muscle mass.
3. GUT HEALTH – Your gut biome regulates ghrelin (the hunger hormone) and has been known to moderate insulin resistance. Eating fiber rich vegetables, fruit, and beans will help prevent intestinal inflammation by providing the body with natural prebiotics and probiotics.
4. REDUCE STRESS – A body in stress fires the fight or flight response which sends your adrenals into overdrive, kicking out cortisol (the stress hormone). It's especially important to not subject yourself to chronic stress which can exacerbate the issue by stimulating your appetite, and that's usually not for healthy food choices either. Simple stress reducing methods like listening to music, prayer, meditation, or yoga can often do the trick.
5.
QUALITY SLEEP – Getting enough, quality sleep lowers your cortisol levels, plus increases your Human Growth Hormone (HGH) which helps maintain, build and repair healthy tissue in the brain and other organs. Everybody is unique and finding what works for you might be a challenge. I encourage you to start by developing a bedtime routine. I suffered with insomnia for over 20 years before finding natural solutions, so check out the
sleep category to read my blogs on the topic of sleep or check out my free 10 minute
Sleep Webinar - I tell you the 2 products that made the world of difference for me.
For my essential oil DIYers this Balance Those Hormones roller recipe is perfect to help keep your hormones in balance. In a 10mL roller bottle, add 15 drops Clary Sage, 10 drops Lavender, and 5 drops each: Ylang Ylang and Geranium. Roll on lower back, abdomen, and feet daily to support overall healthy hormones.
I'm always open to a conversation, so if this has spurred additional questions, please don't hesitate to
contact me. I'm here to help you feel confident and thrive!
xoDanette