Hormone balancing can be vaguely terrifying, but much needed. A seemingly easy fix is adding artificial hormones and getting hormone therapy,but it can knock the rest of your health off-kilter. Bloating, acne, bone and muscle changes, weight gain, increased risk of heart attacks, diabetes, and stroke, hot flashes, menopausal systems, and memory loss are known side effects of hormone therapy.
Sometimes, simply paying heed to what your body is saying and making fundamental changes that include hormone balancing foodsand the right lifestylecan put you in top form. It has an amazing track record in resetting your hormones provided you’re ready to fully commit to it. Apart from that, there are other natural tools to balance them for which you ought to read on.
Beware of Toxins
Certain substances – called xeno hormones – that are part of food supply and the environment can impersonate oestrogen and weaken the ratio between the sex hormones. They are commonly found in water bottles, plastic containers, body care products, household cleaners, aluminium cans, cosmetics, beans, legumes, and soy products among others. In addition, dairy and meat products such as chicken, eggs, and farmed fish are often injected with growth hormones which get passed on to us. It is best to choose organic food to avoid consuming extra hormones. Also, steer clear from storing in plastic or cooking food in plastic containers. Replace chemicals such as bleach and ammonia with organic household cleaners to keep safe from endocrine system disorders.
More protein on the menu
If you’re wondering how to balance hormones naturally via food, protein is your friend. Protein has appetite suppressing qualities, plummeting levels of your hunger hormone (ghrelin) so you feel full and satiated. Those who have had adequate amounts of protein experience increased fat burning and metabolism. For optimal hormone health, aim for 20-30 gms of protein per meal.
Get your supplements
Your body can’t really produce everything you need and some nutrition are off limits in the required quantities despite adopting the right lifestyle and consuming the right nutrients. So whenyou have your lifestyle, food, and environment under control, consider supplements that cushion your hormones. Vitamin D, magnesium, and Omega-3s almost function as hormones inside the body and serve well in keeping the levels of inflammation low. A safe bet is to talk to an endocrinologist doctor for guidance.
Pay attention to Leptin
While not widely known, leptin is an important hormone. Produced by your fat cells, it sends out signals to your body telling it that it has reached its energy storage goal. On the contrary, lower amount of body fat means signals going out push for more food in the system. It also closes sex hormone, adrenal hormone, and thyroid hormone production.
Leptin resistance is a condition where cells of your body are unable to get leptin even when its level are high. It can be caused by sleep deprivation, insulin resistance, chronic dieting, inflammation, undereating, and high cortisol that is a result of high stress, etc. That means, for perfect hormone balance, you need proper nourishment, restorative sleep, and support from your doctor in the case of conditions such as morbid obesity.
If you really want to take the high road,let medicines and therapy be your last resort. There is very little that a good diet and lifestyle cannot prevent, and hormone balancing isn’t one of them. That being said, hormone imbalances can come on due to a lot of other reasons and need to be medically intervened. Meet with your endocrinologist if you experience a symptom that’s not normal.
