My Hormones Maybe out of Whack, Now What?

At any age, our hormones can wreak havoc on our health when there are imbalances that are not diagnosed and treated. There are more than 100 hormones in the body that all communicate with each other. If one hormone is off, it throws off another and another and the cycle continues causing a domino effect, which can result in a host of conditions and symptoms. Cortisol, the stress hormone leads the pack. If the adrenals produce too much or too little cortisol, all the other hormones are immediately impacted.

The word hormone comes from the Greek word messenger and therefore all our hormones carry messages to various part of our body – moving through the bloodstream sharing information, instructing and communicating with your organs and nervous systems. If there is an imbalance, the messages are not interpreted correctly.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the hormones that women often struggle with:

• Female sex hormones - estrogen and progesterone

• Stress hormones - cortisol and adrenaline

• Blood sugar hormone – insulin, regulates blood sugar

• Thyroids, regulates metabolism

• Leptin, regulates fullness

• Ghrelin, regulates hunger

• Serotonin, a natural anti-depressant

• Dopamine, responsible for our mood

Some conditions or symptoms associated with hormonal imbalance:

• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) (mood swings, painful periods, low energy, food cravings, fluid retention)

• Endometriosis

• Perimenopause (Hot flashes, memory problems, inability to focus, weight gain, low libido)

• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

• Fibroid

• Estrogen dominance

If you can relate to any of the above symptoms or conditions, then you may be asking, now what?

Here are a few things that you can do to start taking control of your hormonal imbalances:

• Request hormonal testing by your medical provider so you can know exactly which hormones are out of balance and work with your provider on an appropriate treatment plan that is right for you

• Adopt a balance diet, your hormones need wholesome foods for them to function optimally

• Lifestyle should be conducive to overall well-being, having a spiritual practice, incorporate movement, giving up smoking and large alcohol consumption, etc.

• Taking control of your stress levels by incorporating different ways to manage your stress such as meditation, yoga, a spiritual practice, other exercises, cultivating good relationships