Have you been feeling a little off balance lately? For a woman, hormonal balance is essential to her health and well-being every day. It affects your sleep, your weight mood, and almost every aspect of your daily life.
Around the age of 35, a woman’s ovaries begin to be less efficient, while the production of estrogen and progesterone begins to decline at different rates. Since the reduction rates of the two are not the same, an imbalance occurs. Since the rate of progesterone falls faster than the rate of estrogen, a woman becomes estrogen dominant while actually being low on estrogen.
Progesterone induces a calming effect, so a reduced level of progesterone will naturally cause problems such as weight gain, trouble sleeping, bloating, changes in menstrual patterns, and decreased ability to handle stressful situations. Sadly, chronic stress restricts the effects of progesterone creating an endless cycle. Depleted progesterone is a major problem, but it is not the only problem. The imbalance between other hormones along with low estrogen levels contribute to menopausal symptoms.
Standard, though ineffective, treatments for menstrual problems, hot flashes, and mood swings are birth control pills and antidepressants. In fact, according to a recent study, antidepressants taken by women between the ages of 40 and 55 have a high potential to trigger night sweats. For women suffering from mood swings and hot flashes, St. Johns Wart is a more effective natural remedy with no side effects.
Birth control pills can cause problems. Either you are taking them to prevent pregnancy or you are taking them as an ill-advised remedy for menstrual problems. They contain a man-made form of progesterone called progestin. Progestin prevents ovulation but also suppresses the natural ability of a woman’s body to produce progesterone. When natural progesterone is depleted, it contributes to the side effects of the pill and shortly thereafter exacerbates symptoms related to menopause such as weight gain, bloating, irritability, and an increased risk of breast cancer.
The Best Natural Ways to Balance Your Hormones
Exercise: We have all heard that lack of exercise is detrimental to our health. But there are numerous degrees of exercise. Exercise like marathon training or “Iron Man” categories can trigger stress hormones and aggravate others. These types of exercises should be avoided. Try exercises that have a relaxing effect on the body such as yoga, light aerobics, or a 3 mph walk.
Manage stress: start by getting 7-8 hours of uninterrupted, restful sleep. Manage schedules so there is adequate downtime between the end of one and the beginning of the next. And be sure to schedule some relaxing activities.
Avoid Toxins: Wherever you look, there are toxins in our environment. So, this is what you should do. Keep an eye out for the following additives, and if you see them when reading those ingredient lists, put the item back on the shelf. And don’t limit your reading of food ingredients. Look at everything you wear or on your body. Try to avoid the following:
Propylene glycol
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Sodium Benzonate
High fructose corn syrup
Artificial sweeteners
Artificial flavorings
Try to choose foods with organic labels.
Chaste Berry – Also known as Vitex, it is an herb used to relieve PMS, menopausal distress, and irregular periods. One study revealed that Chase Berry reduced numerous PMS symptoms, including irritability, breast tenderness, and dyspeptic moods.
Dong Quai: This herb is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat menstrual problems. It is also effective in relieving menopausal symptoms and balancing estrogen levels.
L-Theanine: This amino acid is found in green tea and reduces elevated stress hormones. Improves sleep but does not cause grogginess. For best results, take 50-200 mg during the day to reduce stress or the same dose at night for quality sleep. When starting with the lowest (recommended) dose, the effects usually take about 30 minutes to take effect and usually last about 8 hours.
Black Cohosh is a plant source of estrogen. Increases estrogen levels in various areas of the body such as the brain. This results in reducing the onset of hot flashes. Other areas of the body are also affected, such as the bones, reducing the risk of osteoporosis, and the vagina, preventing vaginal dryness. Taking Black Cohosh along with St. John’s Wart has been shown to be effective in treating depression and menopausal symptoms. Once again, Mother Nature to the rescue.