The other day I was talking to my friend. She said that she didn’t know what was going on. She is snapping at her husband and kids for no reason, she’s exhausted all of the time, she has zero libido and struggles to sleep through the night. I’m not a doctor but I told her that based on her symptoms, it sounded to me like she might be dealing with hormone imbalance.
Nearly 47% of women have experienced the symptoms of hormonal imbalance according to a 2019 survey.
For women, monthly hormonal fluctuations—which often result in mild symptoms like temporary fatigue, skin breakouts, a heightened sense of emotion, bloating, and/or food cravings—are a normal part of life.
However, if those monthly fluctuations become more-than-mild and start interfering with your life and happiness, it’s highly likely a hormonal imbalance is to blame.
We need much more progesterone than estrogen. The problem is that this can be hard to achieve because the environment in which we live is saturated with xenoestrogens, chemicals that mimic estrogen in the body.
Signs of hormone imbalance:
- Andropause symptoms
- Anxiety
- Bone-loss disorders
- Depression
- Digestive issues
- Fatigue
- Hot flashes (at any age)
- Infertility
- Insomnia
- Low libido
- Painful periods
- Perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms
- PMS
- Postpartum issues
- Sensitivity to cold
- Skin disorders
- Thinning hair
- Thyroid imbalances
- Weight-gain/inability to lose weight
The good news is, if you suspect your hormones may be out of whack, it doesn’t have to be super complicated to fix things. Here are 5 easy ways to balance your hormones naturally.
Eat Superfoods:
The following are a list of healthy foods that are incredibly powerful hormone balancing superfoods you can eat every day to protect your body’s endocrine system, support detoxification and create better hormonal balance and overall health.
Apples: This tasty fruit is rich in quercetin, an antioxidant that reduces inflammation. Research shows that apples fight high blood pressure, reduce risk of cancer, fight viral infections and much more.
Blueberries: These juicy blue balls have numerous health benefits; they improve heart health, prevent urinary tract infections, improve vision and much more.
Spinach: This leafy green is a nutrient dense food and a great source of a plant steroid (phytoecdysteroids), which has been proven to boost metabolism and lower insulin levels.
Almonds: This tasty nut can increase your body’s adiponectin hormone. This hormone is responsible for regulating blood sugar levels, which keeps your hormones in check. The hormone-balancing effect of almonds can also result in positive benefits for your complexion.
Wild caught Salmon: Wild caught salmon is rich in Omega 3 fatty acids and protein. Research shows that salmon reduces inflammation and helps control insulin.
Green Tea: One of my favorite beverages, green tea, contains theanine, a compound which reduces the release of cortisol (a stress hormone). It also has antioxidants that reduce inflammation and lower risk of disease.
Avocado: This heart supporting food is one of the healthiest fruits in the world. It is rich in healthy fats and fiber. According to research, avocado reduces absorption of estrogen and boosts testosterone levels.
Intermittent Fasting:
Intermittent Fasting is an amazing, gut healing, inflammation decreasing, hormone balancing tool. Fasting helps decrease insulin in the body while stabilizing blood sugar. Fasting is especially helpful for women who have estrogen dominance issues.
Estrogen dominance signs and symptoms:
- Irregular menses and heavy bleeding
- PMS
- Weight gain, especially in your hips, thighs and mid-section
- Fibroids/Endometriosis
- Fibrocystic Breasts and Gynecomastia in men
- Insomnia
- Depression/Anxiety/Irritability
- Low Libido
- Fatigue
- Breast CA
- Infertility/PCOS
According to Dr. Jessica Stefanski, the liver is responsible for metabolizing estrogen and when we fast, it unburdens the liver and helps with hormone metabolism.
Cut Chemicals:
The endocrine system is a network of glands and organs that produce, store, and secrete hormones. When functioning normally, the endocrine system works with other systems to regulate your body’s healthy development and function throughout life. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are substances in the environment (air, soil, or water supply), food sources, personal care products, and manufactured products that interfere with the normal function of your body’s endocrine system.
Synthetic chemicals in products like plastics and fragrances can mimic hormones and interfere with or disrupt the delicate endocrine dance. We’re exposed to these chemicals daily, and we’re especially vulnerable to them during phases of accelerated development—in utero and throughout childhood– adults are not immune either.
Indicators of possible endocrine disruption:
- Neurological and behavioral changes
- Reduced ability to handle stress
- Some EDCs have been linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes
- Some industrial chemicals and flame retardants can interfere with thyroid function
- Some classes of EDCs (DDT, BPA, phthalates, PCBs, others) can affect reproductive health by mimicking or blocking the effects of male and female sex hormones
- High exposures to EDCs during gestation can lead to low-birth weight
- Altered development
- Disrupted sexual development
- Weakened immune system
- Exposure to estrogen or androgen mimicking EDCs can promote breast and prostate cancer growth and/or interfere with hormonal cancer therapy
- Prenatal exposure to some EDCs may after mammary gland development and increase breast cancer risk later-in-life
It is very important to read labels and try to use natural products if possible.
| Common EDCs | Used In |
| DDT, Chlorpyrifos, Atrazine, 2, 4-D, Glyphosate | Pesticides |
| Lead, Phthalates, Cadmium | Children’s Products |
| Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and Dioxins | Industrial Solvents or Lubricants and their Byproducts |
| Bisphenol A (BPA), Phthalates, Phenol | Plastics and Food Storage Materials |
| Brominated Flame Retardants, PCBs | Electronics and Building Materials |
| Phthalates, Parabeans, UV Filters | Personal Care Products, Medical Tubing, Sunscreen |
| Triclosan | Antibacterial Soaps, Colgate Total |
| Perfluorochemicals | Textiles, Clothing, Non-Stick Food Wrappers, Microwave Popcorn Bags, Old Teflon Cookware |
Regular Exercise:
The endocrine system is composed of glands around the body that are responsible for secreting our hormones at the correct levels to keep everything in our bodies flowing along nicely. All hormones play a valuable role in our day-to-day lives. Excess estrogen, insulin, and cortisol are the hormones responsible for weight gain, while HGH, testosterone, and progesterone are the ones responsible for keeping us lean. Your body produces leptin while you sleep, so bad sleeping patterns can drastically lower the levels, causing you to store fat and gain weight.
According to personal trainer Jenni Rivett and creator of Body by Rivett, “The right exercise will positively boost HGH, testosterone. Both of these are lean-making and youth-boosting hormones. It will balance progesterone, which is key to avoiding weight gain and energy drains. High levels of progesterone will have you burning more calories at rest. Exercise will also drive insulin (a fat hormone) down, and levels will normalize while keeping cortisol (another fat hormone) in check to prevent it from taking over your body.”
Some of the best types of exercise for hormonal balance, according to Rivett, include:
- HIIT: 12 to 20 minutes, three times a week. There is no need to do any more than this.
- Strength training: A general full-body routine two to three times a week with lots of functional training (squats and lunges) for the lower body.
- Stretching: Five minutes after every session. Or, attend a yoga class, which will help with flexibility, and, of course, lower your level of stress hormones.
- Walking: Four to five days a week. Walking is an amazing exercise to add to your existing program.
- Don’t sit still: If you sit at a desk all day, get up every hour, and do something for two minutes, be it making a tea or walking over to chat with a colleague rather than emailing them.
Use Natural Solutions:
There are many things that can cause our hormones to become imbalanced — stress, lack of sleep, poor nutrition, pregnancy, puberty or menopause, to name a few. Hormonal balance is essential for our overall health and using essential oils and supplements as part of your self-care routine can be a great natural approach to holistic wellness.
Lifelong Vitality: These are amazing supplements for foundational health. They provide nutrition for optimum hormone balance and energy levels. They are also packed with nature’s most powerful antioxidants, anti-inflammatories and energy cofactors.
Phytoestrogen Complex: Is a natural form of estrogen-like therapy though it is not actually estrogen. It assists to not only balance deficiency, but also any excess of harmful estrogen metabolites. It also contains Genistein that promotes healthy breast tissue and brings balance to hormones.
ClaryCalm Essential Oil: This is a blend of Clary Sage, Lavender, Bergamot, Roman Chamomile, Ylang Ylang, Cedarwood, Geranium, Fennel, Carrot Seed, Palmarosa, and Vitex essential oils. ClaryCalm is a natural way to balance and regain composure. It can help support heavy periods, PMS, cramps, hot flashes, mood swings and hormone balance.
Lemon Essential Oil: A healthy liver is at the core of proper hormone balance. In order to keep your liver cleansed and keep the toxins flowing through it, you can add 1-2 drops of doTERRA Lemon essential oil to your water. Lemon essential oil is a natural cleanser and will help your body expel toxins.
Zendocrine Softgels: This powerful blend combines Rosemary, Cilantro, and Juniper Berry, known for their detoxifying properties and ability to support healthy liver function, while Tangerine and Geranium have purifying effects against unwanted substances in the body. Take 1 daily.
You can purchase the Hormone Balancing Kit here. Each Kit includes the products listed above, 12 months of discounted wholesale pricing, a 30 minute wellness consultation and access to my private Facebook group for continuing education. As a bonus, if you order in June 2021, you will get a FREE roller bottle of Breathe Essential Oil, our respiratory blend. After purchasing your Hormone Balancing Kit, you can schedule your wellness consultation here.
A woman’s hormonal system is complex and fragile. Hormones keep your body running smoothly. They help fight harmful bacteria and viruses and promote an overall clean function. It’s a challenge to be hormonally balanced these days, but empowered women don’t lose hope! Instead, they proactively care for themselves, because they know that hormones control everything in the body. Start by choosing one thing on the list above and go from there. You’ve got this!!
