There are so many things you could do to help improve your hormones in your different life stages. If you want to maintain healthy bone density, endless energy and vitality, less PMS symptoms and keep up with good sleep and moods then this is for you.
Ideally, we want to make sure we don’t have to repair hormone imbalances but rather maintain strong hormone balance. Why not get ahead of the curve, read the below and take what you need.
Firstly, our lifestyle will impact hormone balance in a big way. If you aren’t sleeping well, exercising (specifically resistance training), managing your stress, managing caffeine intake and eating balanced meals then don’t read any further and start with where you are. Manage these simple areas before attempting to add a ‘supplement’ which simply supplements these lifestyle factors. Now if you feel you have a handle on the above, read on..
Why do we want hormone balance? Imbalanced hormones can lead to fertility issues, menstrual irregularities, fatigue, brain fog and more. Hormone imbalances can also make transitions into the different life stages a lot more difficult. Let’s look at some of our basic supplement options first:
Omega 3
Omega 3 regulates inflammation in the body. When we live in a more inflamed body we run the risk of throwing our hormone balance off. By lowering inflammation we can lower many hormone symptoms such as PMS. This is also an important supplement for supporting cognitive function and sleep as it is involved in the uptake and release of serotonin and dopamine.
Vit B12 and Folate
B vitamins are vital for the production and management of hormones.
B 12 is known as the energy vitamin as it is involved in the production of haemoglobin (carrying oxygen). This is so important when it comes to our monthly cycle, pregnancy and menopause and the need for more red blood cells.
Folate (known as folic acid- but this form is less absorbable than folate), is vital for women in their reproductive years. It plays a role in hormone balance and maintaining homocysteine levels (when elevated homocysteine can interfere with hormones).
Probiotics
Probiotics support our gut health as they provide our gut with beneficial bacteria. We can also feed this beneficial bacteria with prebiotics. Our gut is where elimination of excess hormones occurs and so we need a healthy gut to remove that which we do not need! Symptoms of an imbalance here could be PMS, weight gain, mood swings and fatigue. Probiotics may also help the inflammatory pathways and so, like Omega 3, inhibiting inflammation will inhibit hormonal imbalance.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is important for bone formation and strength. As you know, in perimenopause and menopause many women start to experience symptoms of osteoporosis. Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium, preventing this issue. Simply put, if you know you have a genetic risk for osteoporosis or haven’t lived the healthiest lifestyle.
Ashwaghanda
This is an adaptogenic herb meaning it helps the body adapt to stress. When we are younger it helps the body cope with stress in order for this stress to not cause hormonal imbalances. By regulating stress (cortisol), Ashwaghanda can prevent this cortisol from damaging and disrupting the balance of other hormones such as progesterone and oestrogen.
As we move into our 40s Ashwaghanda will play a role in those early symptoms (perimenopause) such as sleep difficulties, mood swings and increased anxiety. This is due to the management of cortisol just as it did in earlier years but the difference is now you may actually notice the difference when using this supplement.
Bonus: Ashwaghanda also enhances the production of thyroid hormones so if you have thyroid issues this could be an important supplement.
Magnesium
Magnesium is one of the most important minerals as it is involved in over 300 metabolic processes. One of the most important roles in relation to hormones is its role in HPA axis as this system regulates cortisol secretion. As we know from the above, having increased levels of cortisol will mean more disruption in hormone balance.
Mood swings, anxiety, sleep issues and hot flashes can possibly be helped by using magnesium.
Sulforaphane/ DIM
This is a compound found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli. This is known for assisting phase 2 of the bodies detox pathways. It neutralises and removes excess hormones and other substances. DIM is the more active supplement although both will be beneficial.
NMN
NMN enhances cellular energy production by improving mitochondrial function. As we age the declining levels of hormones can leave us feeling exhausted and so we can counteract these effects by supporting the important enzymes in energy production.
Special mixes
We also offer hormone supplement blends where a lot of the thinking has been done for you. An all in 1 if you will. Some of the ingredients in these blends may not have been mentioned above, enquire in store if you are unsure of any.
We hope to see you in store and balanced soon!
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