7 Steps to Healthy Hormones

If you’re just beginning the journey to optimal health, naturally balancing your hormones can seem like a daunting and confusing road to travel. Just take it one step at a time! I will be posting about some simple steps that  can help set you on the path to optimal hormonal health. But first of all, let's talk about what hormones do.

WHAT ARE HORMONES?

One of my colleagues gave this great description in explaining hormones. She refers to the three main hormones for women “Charlie’s Angels” – they are cortisol, thyroid and estrogen. Men have got the “Three Amigos” – cortisol, thyroid and testosterone. These hormones regulate metabolism, sleep cycle, energy levels, mood and sex drive. 

Think of them as a well-connected family that works together to manage all the important processes within the body. When they don’t work together well, it is as damaging as a dysfunctional family.

Hormones, such as estrogen and insulin, are chemical messengers that affect many aspects of your health as they travel in your bloodstream throughout your entire body.  Organs and glands like your thyroid, adrenals, pituitary, ovaries, testicles and pancreas regulate most of your hormone production and if your hormones become even slightly imbalanced it can cause major health issues.

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS OF HORMONAL IMBALANCES:

·                                        Infertility

·                                        Weight gain

·                                        Depression

·                                        Fatigue

·                                        Insomnia

·                                        Low libido

·                                        Hair loss and hair thinning

Unfortunately, modern medicine has taught doctors to throw a prescription at these problems and leave it at that. Learn to take responsibility for your own health. That is the first step towards making lasting changes to your hormonal health. Be educated, be informed. Put yourself in the driver’s seat of your own health and engage informed practitioners who will support your health goals. Know what your part is and what part you need help with. Then partner with trusted practitioner's who will work with you in supporting your goals for Healthy Hormonal Balance.