Hormones are like chemical messengers and govern nearly every cellular action in our body.And a hormone imbalance can wreck havoc on our day to day life.
While very important, our sex hormones, like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, are actually not essential for our survival. They’re responsible for sexual functioning and fertility, as well as in more of a “beauty” capacity – keeping our skin, hair & nails vital and youthful looking.
On the other hand, stress hormones (like cortisol & epinephrine, also known as adrenaline) are critical to our survival. This is because they synthesize proteins, maintain cellular electrolyte balance, regulate heartbeat and blood pressure. They also transport glucose into our cells – essentially feeding our brain.
These hormones are so crucial, that in times of chronic stress, cortisol (the “hormone of stress”) will be made at the expense of sex hormones. No wonder we can start feeling whacked out at certain stages of life!
We can often experience a ripple effect, even when there’s a slight hiccup in hormone function.
Also, due to the fact that the interconnected nature of your endocrine system, one hormonal imbalance can lead to an additional one, causing multiple symptoms and overlapping health issues.
While there are many causes, here are the most common ones that have been identified:
Eat whole foods : Processed, packaged foods offering little to no nutritive value will also offer little to no fuel for your hormones.
Be sure to eat fresh over packaged foods. Include plenty of vegetables, fruits, and quality sources of free range and grass-fed meats and eggs. Also, if tolerated, nuts, seeds, and legumes in moderation.
Grains and dairy may cause or exacerbate hormonal problems for some people.
Eat more good fats: Good fats are essential for hormonal health because sex hormones need fat as a building block. And your body can only use the ones you give it.
Opt for sources of good fats from whole foods, such as avocados, raw nuts & seeds. Coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, real butter or ghee (grass fed preferable) are all excellent sources of good fats. A few more include wild-caught salmon, and free-range eggs – yes, you can eat the yolks!
Exercise daily : Working out on a regular basis, engaging in resistance (or strength) training, and incorporating a specific workout called HIIT (high intensity interval training) has been proven to be especially beneficial for keeping our bodies AND our hormones fit.
Better sleep : Getting deeper, more restorative sleep can be the key to supporting your hormones above all other measures. But that doesn’t mean you should ignore the other ones!
Stress management & self-care : The truth is, stress can be devastating for hormonal health.
We need to equip ourselves to manage the stress and “business” of everyday life. We can do this through the actions that bring back balance and wellbeing to our bodies AND our minds, like good nutrition, exercise and sleep!
Learn better coping mechanisms (like breathing techniques), practice mindfulness and be sure to engage in daily self-care.
Recipe:
Hormone-friendly Cho-Coco Fat Bombs
Ingredients:
½ cup almond or other nut butter, no sugar-added (if nut-sensitive, use sesame tahini or sunflower seed butter)
½ cup virgin coconut oil
3 Tbs raw, unprocessed cacao powder
stevia, xylitol or monk fruit to sweeten to taste
silicone candy mould or mini-muffin pan
Optional add-ins:
How to prepare:
Be mindful that each fat bomb is considered a full serving of fat – great for curbing the appetite, satisfying a sweet tooth, and supporting your hormones with the building blocks they need!
The post 10 Signs You May Have A Hormone Imbalance appeared first on No Limits Fitness.
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