HORMONE HEALTH from the desk of our Health Coach

                       

Dearest Healthy Reader....

 WHAT ARE HORMONES?

    Hormones are chemical messengers that send signals that allow for communication across the body so that the processes we need to survive can be carried out. They regulate critical functions like sleep, stress and reproduction. Hormones work together in an incredibly complex system and when one gets off balance, it affects the next one and so on.

    Therefore, its always important to look at how to create hormone balance overall, in the body.

BALANCING YOUR HORMONES THROUGH LIFESTYLE PATTERNS

• EMPOWER YOURSELF

Ensure that you maintain this mindset at all times, even when your health is not perfect. Always believe that there is nothing wrong with you and you are not broken. You are whole exactly as you are. Show your body love and compassion and have confidence in its ability to heal itself by itself.

• REST

Sleep is a requirement for good health. Listen to your body and sleep when you’re tired. If you find yourself chronically exhausted and trying to push through the day, you might just be tired. Healthy adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep per night for optimal health, performance and well-being.

• BALANCE YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM:

The Sympathetic Nervous system state, also known as the flight or flight or stranger danger zone is when you feel startled by a surprising event like someone creeping up behind you or when you are in danger and running for your life. Your body does not know the difference between those literal stressors mentioned above and chronic work/relationship related stress. When your body is in this state, it cannot repair.

 Conversely, when you are relaxed and calm, your body is in the Parasympathetic Nervous System state which is also known as the rest and digest zone. This state is brought on by sleep, laughing, meditation, yoga and even intimacy like cuddles and sex. Your body has to be in this parasympathetic state to heal and evolve. The more you activate your parasympathetic nervous system, by relaxing and having more fun, the healthier you’ll be physically and mentally. 

• EVALUATE EXERCISE: 

Sometimes, the harder you work out, the more stress you actually put on your body. Depending on your constitution and condition, you may actually need gentle exercises like yoga, qigong and tai chi. Certain forms of rigorous exercise trigger the stress response so make sure you balance your hardcore workouts with yoga, meditation or even dance and see how your body reacts to this. Some have reacted by observing an outbreak of acne and/or belly fat.

• EMBRACE THE POWER OF COMMUNITY

Community has a powerful influence on personal health and developing a community of people to support you is crucial to balancing your hormones. When you feel alone and isolated, you’re more likely to overeat, feel depressed, and lack love and connection in your life. Reach out to 3 people this week, who you’d like to deepen your relationship with and notice how this impacts your energy and physical health over the next few months.

HEALING FOODS FOR HORMONE HEALTH

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES:

Anything natural and unprocessed is great for the body. The vitamins and Minerals in Fruits and Vegetables are extremely important for supporting hormonal health.

ORGANIC FOODS:

Conventional meat and dairy are often loaded with added hormones and toxins which don’t support a healthy system. Therefore, the extra cost of organic food is worth incurring.

LOCAL FOODS:

Foods as close to the source as you can get it will do your body great good. This could mean growing your own food or investing in community supported agriculture.

HEALTHY FATS:

Fats are the building blocks of hormones. Getting regular doses of healthy fats would help your clients to build beautiful, healthy hormones. Some healthy sources of fats are olive oil, ghee, avocados and nuts.

HARMFUL FOODS FOR HORMONAL HEALTH

PROCESSED FOODS:

Author and food activist Michael Pollen says, if it comes from a plant, eat it; if it was made in a plant, don’t eat it. A diet filled with processed foods is associated with chronic diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

SUGAR:

Processed sugar causes a lot of damage to the body. Sugary foods causes a spike in blood sugar followed by a sharp decline, this could cause a state of unregulated blood sugar in your body which usually becomes type 2 diabetes over time. Too much sugar in the diet can also throw off a woman’s estrogen balance which can lead to menstrual problems.

CAFFEINE:

Too much Caffeine can negatively impact your hormones. Caffeine stimulates the adrenals to secrete cortisol, the stress hormone. High stress and a lot of caffeine can lead to inflammation and can affect glucose tolerance, hence your glycemic index.

EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF ALCOHOL:

This will definitely impact your hormonal balance. Alcohol puts a stain on the body, particularly the liver and frequent consumption is associated with impaired fertility and blood sugar regulation.

HOW YOU EAT:

Eating from plastic containers and in a really stressful environment, can impact your hormones as well. Aim to use glass or ceramic containers whenever possible and take time to sit down, chew your food and eat slowly.

HORMONAL BALANCER HERBS FOR MEN;

ASHWAGANDHA

FENUGREEK

RHODIOLA ROSEA

TRIBULUS TERRESTRIS

SAW PALMETTO

HORMONAL BALANCER HERBS FOR WOMEN;

VITEX (CHASTEBERRY)

MACA

WILD YAM

RED CLOVER

LADY’S MANTLE

Remember, Dear Healthy reader, all these supplements are available in-store @ RWS Lagoon Shopping Complex, Oniru Lekki Lagos. Call 08077493667, 08023229968 to order for pickup or delivery.

Yours Truly,

Dr Omotehinwa Oluwatoyin

Health Coach, RWS