Hormones! We all have them, but if you are dealing with stubborn acne, weight gain, or mood swings, it may be time to take a closer look at your hormones and learn how to balance them naturally. Fortunately, there are natural and effective ways to balance hormones, such as through lifestyle changes, dietary modifications, and stress reduction techniques. In this blog post, we'll explore some of the best practices to help you balance hormones and optimize your health and well-being.
What are hormones?
Hormones are the mechanisms that control almost all activities in the body. They are chemical messengers that are secreted by endocrine glands, which then travel through the bloodstream and deliver messages to organs, tissues, and cells. Hormones help us process food into energy, regulate metabolism, maintain proper sodium, potassium, and calcium levels within our bodies, support skeletal development; and the list goes on!
So to sum it up, hormones are essential for life--without them, we would not be able to function properly or survive at all! So you can see why having them balanced is key to health.
My struggle with a hormonal condition – endometriosis
In 2022, I was formally diagnosed with endometriosis, a condition where the tissue that normally lines the uterus grows outside of it, causing pain and other symptoms. This condition affects 1 in 10 women and can impact fertility. Years before officially being diagnosed, I knew something was wrong and my body was not in balance. So that is when I started to dig deep into hormones in hopes of healing my body.
Living with endometriosis can be a challenging and painful experience. I struggled for years to find relief from the symptoms of this condition and tried everything to balance my hormones and improve my overall health. From changing my diet to incorporating daily exercise and practicing stress-reducing techniques, I was determined to find a solution that worked for me.
Through trial and error, I learned a lot about the importance of self-care, hormone regulation, and a balanced lifestyle. This condition is a huge contributor to how and why I live the lifestyle that I do today and why I am so passionate about health.
I am excited to share what I've learned and provide practical tips and strategies to help others optimize their hormones and achieve better health. Having balance hormones is not just optimal for people with PCOS or endometriosis, it’s critical for women, and men to have a balanced state. Follow along as I share with you different techniques to balance hormones naturally.
Drink bone broth
This is one of the easiest ways to improve your hormone balance. Bone broth has been praised for its numerous health benefits, including its ability to balance hormones. One of the reasons bone broth is so beneficial for hormonal health is its high nutrient content. It's rich in amino acids, collagen, and gelatin, which are all crucial for hormone production and regulation. These nutrients also support gut health, as the gut plays a significant role in metabolizing and eliminating excess hormones from the body.
In addition to its nutrient content, bone broth can also support the liver's detoxification processes, which is essential for maintaining hormonal health. The liver is responsible for breaking down and eliminating excess hormones, and bone broth can help to support this process. More on the liver later….
If you're interested in experiencing the benefits of bone broth I highly recommend and drink this bone broth from Kettle and Fire. It’s all clean ingredients and meets high-quality standards. Now just curl up with a warm mug of soothing bone broth and start feeling the benefits of this nourishing, hormone-balancing superfood.
Stay clear of toxins, chemicals, and BPS
I have always said the smell of clean smells like absolutely nothing! And it’s true. Clean does not have a smell. It does not smell like fake lemons or fruity scents. Exposure to environmental toxins and chemicals can disrupt hormone function and contribute to hormonal imbalances. Many don’t realize how inundated a household can be with toxic chemicals. To reduce your exposure to these harmful substances, opt for organic foods whenever possible, avoid plastic containers and packaging, and use natural cleaning and personal care products. Below are my quick tips on how to remove these endocrine disruptors.
- BPA is a hormone disruptor that's found in many plastics and canned foods. Use glass containers and look for the “BPA free” label on cans when purchasing canned food items
- Choose fresh food over packaged goods and organic whenever possible
- Don't drink from plastic water bottles. Instead, opt for glass or stainless steel containers. This will also help to reduce your waste on the environment.
- Remove all scents from your home. Yes this includes perfume and that pumpkin spice candle
Take control of your stress
Chronic stress can wreak havoc on your hormones, leading to imbalances that can impact your mood, energy, and overall health. The adrenals produce cortisol, which helps us respond to stress by increasing blood sugar and raising our heart rate. When they're overworked or under-rested, they produce too much cortisol--and that's when we start seeing symptoms like weight gain, high cholesterol, and even fatigue, hair loss, and depression.
To reduce stress levels, prioritize self-care activities like yoga, meditation, and deep breathing exercises. In my last blog, I discussed more about what stress is and remedies you can do today to reduce your stress. Check it out here.
Love your liver
Your liver is the body's detoxification powerhouse and plays a crucial role in hormone metabolism, processing, and eliminating excess hormones from the body. So it's important to support and optimize its performance.
To support liver function, eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats. Additionally, you may benefit from supplementing with liver-supporting nutrients like milk thistle, dandelion root, and N-acetylcysteine (NAC).
Another great way to detox your liver is through castor oil packs. There are certain properties in castor oil that when absorbed through the skin, help to detoxify the liver. Learn how to make them here. You can easily buy everything from Amazon. You will need to be consistent for a few months to see results but this is a great way to get to the root of detoxification.
Eat foods rich in fiber
One of the best things you can do for your health is to eat a healthy diet. Fiber is a great nutrient to help push out toxins and excess hormones that can contribute to imbalanced hormones. Eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other fiber-rich foods such as beans or lentils also helps prevent constipation and helps reduce menstrual pain by improving blood flow through the uterus.
I love making chia pudding which is packed with fiber from the chia seeds and all the blueberries I top it with. Find high-fiber foods you enjoy and make a commitment to eat them daily. As a reminder, it is recommended that women get 25 grams of fiber daily.
Closing thoughts
As you may now know, achieving hormonal harmony is a crucial step toward optimal health and well-being. I live by these practices, which help me manage endometriosis in my day-to-day life. Please note the tips shared above are not an all-inclusive list of what you can do to balance hormones. There is a long list of what you can do and the ones mentioned above in my opinion, are a big impact with low effort. Perfect for getting started.
Whether you're struggling with endometriosis or simply looking to optimize your health, I hope you find these tips to really impact your hormonal harmony. As always, happy flourishing!