How to Naturally Balance Your Hormones for a Healthier You
Why hormonal balance is key for overall health.
Hormones influence so many different parts of us: from our mood to energy levels and metabolism to reproductive health; these tiny chemical messengers help to keep our bodies and minds thriving. When we experience an imbalance in any of our hormones, our mood might start to shift, and we may experience physical symptoms as a result. Likewise, we may initially notice a shift in our physical bodies, leading to emotional challenges. Balancing hormones is sometimes a delicate dance, but there are many ways to naturally balance hormones.
Common Signs of Hormonal Imbalance –
Near the end of your cycle, it’s easy to tell when your period is right around the corner. You might start to feel agitated, have a short temper, or feel down in the dumps; however, there are many times in between our menstruation dates that we may feel emotionally “off” for no specific reason. One of the main causes of these unexpected mood shifts could be hormonal imbalances. Here are some common signs that our hormones might be out of whack.
Wild PMS or Irregular Periods: If your cycle feels like an up-and-down emotional rollercoaster, your hormones might be screaming out for some attention.
You’re ALWAYS Tired: Waking up tired even after a full night’s sleep or needing naps throughout the day could indicate that your cortisol or thyroid hormones are on the struggle bus.
Breakouts (YES, even when you’re out of the teen world): Chin and jawline acne (especially cystic) is often a red flag for hormonal fluctuations.
You Just CAN’T Lose Weight: Gaining weight for no clear reason or struggling to shed it, despite your best efforts, usually points to hormonal issues.
You’re a Moody, Anxious Mess: Feeling like your mood is up-and-down? One moment you love your man, and the next, he’s pissing you off because he put the spatula away in the wrong spot. Why? Estrogen and progesterone could be the culprits.
Key Nutrients for Hormonal Health
What you eat can either be a gnarly disaster for your hormones or a secret weapon for hormone harmony. Let’s work on adding these foods into your daily life to help naturally balance hormones.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Think chia seeds, walnuts, and salmon-these healthy fats help fight off inflammation which supports hormone production and health.
Magnesium: I LOVE MAGNESIUM. It’s key for relaxation. It helps to calm your nervous system and ease PMS symptoms like bloating and painful cramping.
B Vitamins: Essential for energy and mood regulation, these vitamins are your stress-fighting allies.
Adaptogens: Herbs like ashwagandha and maca root help our bodies adapt to stress and give our adrenals a much-needed break.
Lifestyle & Stress Management
Your lifestyle choices ultimately make or break your hormone balance. Fear not: small, steady, consistent changes will make the biggest, longest-lasting changes.
Sleep Like It’s Your Job: Aim for 7-9 hours of restful sleep each night. Your hormones need time to rest and recuperate!
Move Your Body: You don’t have to race to the gym and lift weights and run and run and run as fast as you can on the treadmill. Slow, gentle movements like walking, yoga, or strength training help to keep insulin in check and boost your mood.
Sayonara Toxins: Toxins are endocrine disruptors and put our hormones through the wringer. Swap out plastics and chemical-laden products for cleaning (bleach, Clorox, that pink sh*t people put in their toilets) to gentle and effective toxin-free ones. The Environmental Working Group has excellent ideas and lists of products for reducing toxins in our homes.
Find Your Chill: Stress is a huge hormone disruptor. Meditation, breathwork, yoga, or just taking a few minutes throughout the day to breathe and slowdown will work miracles on your hormones.
Conclusion
Naturally balancing hormones isn’t this crazy science that should only ybe restricted to doctors and medical professionals. When we listen and pay attention to our bodies, we can help support our hormones and bring them into balance simply by changing up our diets, moving a bit more, adding in some herbs, and reducing stress. Pick one or two changes to start with, and trust that even small steps can lead to big shifts over time. You’ve got this. Your body will thank you for it!
For more tips and tricks for how to balance your hormones through nutrition, check out my FREE “Hormone-Balancing Foods Quick Reference Guide” in the link below. In this guide, I list easy food modifications and additions you can make in your daily life to support your hormones.